Volume 1: Student Life Chapter 416: Lighthouse
"Theoretically, it is predicted that the mass of the lightest scalar glueball (JPC=0++) is between 1 and 2 GeV, but is it possible that the mass of glueballs with other quantum numbers will be higher than 2 GeV?"
"In the past, experimental physicists have done a lot of work to search for the glueball state in experiments."
"In addition to discovering the existence of 0++ meson states near 1.5 GeV, which exceeds the number predicted by the quark model, it is believed that this may be a mixed state composed of quark hadrons and glueballs."
"At present, there are no other more definite conclusions. Therefore, our thinking can be more divergent."
"Of course, I don't mean that we should skip the 1.5 GeV or 1-2 GeV range. After all, too many theoretical calculations give results in this range."
"I mean, we can do more..."
At the seminar , only Friedman's voice could be heard.
Others, like Chen Zhou, listened and thought at the same time, or just recorded Friedman's "golden words".
Finally, Friedman began to assign follow-up work.
As for the next experimental arrangement, it was placed at the end.
After all, this thing is a collider.
Plus, this old guy is not young.
Therefore, after this experiment, PEP will have to be stopped for a while.
It may take as long as one year or as fast as half a year.
Therefore, taking all factors into consideration, Friedman scheduled the next experiment for April next year.
The time left for PEP inspection and adjustment is just over half a year.
This was also within Chen Zhou's expectations.
The fact that he happened to catch up with this experiment was already a result of luck for him.
The only thing that surprised Chen Zhou was that Friedman assigned corresponding research tasks to both Matheson and Coyle at the seminar.
But he didn't.
Not at all.
This made Chen Zhou wonder, was he really here just to go through the motions and observe the experiment?
In particular, Cross did not hear Chen Zhou's name and looked at Chen Zhou in confusion.
This made Chen Zhou feel a little depressed and embarrassed.
But Chen Zhou also believed that Friedman would not just let him observe the experiment so easily.
After all, I am also an assistant researcher...
The seminar is over.
Friedman briefly explained a few words to Matheson and Coyle, then left with Chen Zhou.
Looking at Chen Zhou's departing back, Matheson and Coyle were also confused.
They couldn't figure out what Professor Friedman's purpose was in bringing Chen Zhou here.
On the way back to the hotel, Cross was driving, while Friedman and Chen Zhou sat in the back seat.
Cross carefully observed the expressions of Friedman and Chen Zhou through the rearview mirror.
Friedman always looks calm.
Chen Zhou occasionally showed a confused expression.
Cross drove silently, waiting for Friedman's follow-up arrangements.
The car drove away from SLAC's experimental area after some time.
Friedman finally turned to look at Chen Zhou and asked softly, "Isn't it strange that I didn't assign you any work?"
Chen Zhou nodded gently: "Yes, professor, I don't think you brought me here just to let me familiarize myself with the experimental equipment."
Friedman chuckled when he heard this, but did not explain.
Then he turned to Cross, who was listening attentively, and said, "Let's go to the beach in the Bay Area."
Cross quickly responded, "Okay, Professor Friedman."
SLAC is at Stanford University, and Stanford University is in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This place is not too far from the beach in the Bay Area.
In terms of distance alone, it's about a two-hour drive.
However, when the seminar ended, it was already past 6pm.
Going to the beach in the Bay Area again this time is actually a bit blind.
But Cross wouldn't say this. Others might not know it, but he has been with Friedman for so long.
But I know that every time Friedman came to SLAC, he would go to the beach in the Bay Area after finishing his experiment.
Cross also went with Friedman several times.
But Friedman just kept looking at the sea quietly, without saying a word.
Cross once curiously asked Friedman the reason.
But Friedman just smiled and said: "The sea breeze can calm him down and make him think better."
Cross disagrees with this.
Friedman didn't say another word along the way.
Chen Zhou also kept his temper and didn't ask any more questions.
What needs to be said will always be said.
Cross drove south from Stanford University on Highway 1.
This place is south of Half Moon Bay.
Speaking of which, there are quite a few attractions on Highway 1.
For example, the famous check-in spot, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is located on Highway 1.
However, Friedman apparently had no intention of going that far.
After driving for a while in Cross, Friedman rolled down the window and took a look.
So he asked Cross to pull over.
Here, besides being able to see the sea, you can also see Highway 1.
Other than that, nothing.
Not only Cross, Chen Zhou was also a little confused as to why they stopped here .
Friedman did not explain much to the two men. He just walked to the side of the road and looked at the Pacific Ocean that had fallen into darkness.
Chen Zhou walked up to Friedman and, like him, felt the sea breeze and looked at the dark Pacific Ocean.
Friedman then turned and pointed to the faint lighthouse in the distance: "That's the Pigeon Point Lighthouse."
Chen Zhou looked in the direction of his finger, but apart from the faint light, the lighthouse itself was completely unclear.
Although the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, also known as the Pigeon Lighthouse, is the tallest active lighthouse on the west coast of the United States.
Friedman put down his hand pointing at the lighthouse and said slowly: "The lighthouse is the hope of ships sailing in the Pacific Ocean. Although the light is very weak, it is a reassurance in the hearts of countless crew members."
Chen Zhou nodded gently: "In the long period of navigation, the role of lighthouses is irreplaceable."
Friedman chuckled and said, "If the Pacific Ocean is compared to our particle physics, then the lighthouse is the theory of particle physics."
Chen Zhou looked at Friedman with some surprise. Is this Nobel Prize-winning guy going to start?
Friedman continued: "It can also be said that the lighthouse is a combination of theory and experiment, guiding the development of particle physics and also indicating the danger zone for us."
"Professor, is this why you like coming to the beach?" Cross asked.
Friedman nodded, but then shook his head: "I don't like the sea, I can't even swim. But the sea with a lighthouse always gives people a sense of security."
Faced with Friedman's answer, Cross was a little confused.
But Chen Zhou seemed to be thinking about something.
He felt Friedman was talking about himself.
The world of particle physics is the dark Pacific Ocean before our eyes.
And his job is to be a beacon that illuminates the Pacific Ocean.
The sea is not scary, but the dark sea is scary.
If there was no faint light from the lighthouse, they would not be able to see the sea that was occasionally illuminated.
Just like particle physics, without that surprising discovery, this dark world of particles would never have been known to the world.
Perhaps this is Friedman's place of meditation.
As Chen Zhou was thinking this, he heard Friedman calling out, "Go back."
