2007-9-17

In the generation of the greatest revolution of the whole scientific history, he was recognized universally as a main espier in extremely indefinite and complicated universe in the atom, he was the first one entering this universe.

          --Lawrence
I.Profile
Ernest Rutherford(1871-1937)was a British physicist, who was born in an artisan's family in Nelson of New Zealand on August 30,1871 and grew up in New Zealand. He studied in Canterbury Institute of New Zealand and was awarded three academic degrees(Bachelor of Art, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Science)when he was 23 years old. After he graduated from New Zealand College in 1895,he was awarded scholarship by Cambridge University in Britain and entered Cavendish Laboratory,he hence became a postgraduate of Thomson. In 1898, recommended by Thomson, he acted as a physical professor in McGill University of Canada and worked there for nine years; in 1907,he returned to act as dean of Physics Department of University of Manchester in Britain; in 1919, he succeeded the retired Thomson and acted as the director of Cavendish Laboratory; in 1925, he was elected as President of the Royal Society in Britain;in 1931, he was conferred Nelson Baron; on Oct.19, 1937,he died of disease in Cambridge when he was 66 years old and was buried with Newton and Faraday.
II.Scientific Achievements

Rutherford is one of the greatest experimental physicists in this century;he has made significant contributions to radioactivity and atomic structure.
1.His study on radioactivity has confirmed that radioactivity originates from internal change in atom. Radioactivity can enable a kind of atom to change into another kind of atom, while this cannot be realized by common physical and chemical changes; this discovery has broke through the traditional concept that element cannot change and has enabled people's study on physical structure to enter a new level of the inside of atom,as well as has made creative contribution for opening a new scientific field-Atomic Physics.

2.Through the study that a particle is scattered by substance,he carried out unanswerable demonstrations on nuclear model of atom,and hence introduced the study on atomic structure to correct orbit,so he was reputed as"Father of Atomic Physics". Because electron orbit was a contradiction between stability of atomic structure and classical electrodynamics,which caused Bo'er to put forward revolutionary quanta hypothesis deviated from classical physics and he hence became a pioneer of quantum mechanics.

3.Realization of artificial nuclear reaction is another significant contribution of Rutherford. Since corroboration of radioactivity disintegration of element, people had been trying to realize artificial disintegration of element by all kinds of means,e.g.electric discharge by electric arc. However, only Rutherford found a correct channel to realize this kind of disintegration. This kind of method which uses particle or ray to bomb atom nuclear to cause nuclear reaction has become an important means for people to study atom nuclear and to apply nuclear technology.In Rutherford's late years, he could use artificially accelerated particle in laboratory to cause nuclear reaction.

III. Physicist awarded chemical prize
On Oct.25,1937, there were funeral music and dirge in Westminster Abbey of London, Britain. Ceremony for burying the bone ash of Ernest.Rutherford(New Zealand scientist with British nationality)was held here.
In noon,Rutherford's coffin was moved slowly by ten famous scholars including William Henry Bragg.President of the Royal Society) to"Science Corner"in the north of cemetery,later he was buried beside tombs of Newton and Faraday.

The scientist buried with Newton and Faraday won respect and memory from people by virtue of his epoch-making scientific achievements.Since the 20th century,there occurred a big trend for development towards two directions (i.e. macrocosm and microcosmic atom)in Natural Science.As for the founders of these two kinds of trends, the former was Einstein who created the Theory of Relativity,and the latter was Rutherford who was the pioneer of new atomism. He was the founder of nuclear science of the world.

The biggest achievement of Rutherford came from discoveries of atomic nucleus and atomic nucleus structure.
At that time,atomic structure popular in scientific field was atom model put forward by Thomson,i.e."spot rotates along each ring in uniform positive electric sphere".In 1908, Geiger and Marsden found the fact that ¦Á ray was scattered by big angle of gold atom,this caused Rutherford to doubt Thomson's atom model. From further study on scattering by big angle, he found that there were small-volume and big-mass central nuclear existing in atom. British physicist Rutherford (middle)was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 because of his findings in substance structure and radioactivity substance characteristic, and hence put forward an atom nucleus structure model similar to solar system structure in 1911. After two years when Rutherford put forward atom nucleus structure,Denmark physicist Bo'er published his Formation of Atom and Molecule, this article contained three parts which were called famous "trilogy",reasonably explaining stability of extranuclear electron moving along orbit. Therefore,atom nucleus structure model was called Rutherford-Bo'er Atom Model.

Discoveries of atom nuclear and atom nucleus structure were epoch-making contributions in physics history. These discoveries declared the birth of atom nuclear physics,and caused Rutherford to become a founder of nuclear physics, these discoveries also opened a gate for people to explore atomic structure deeply.
Rutherford's study on element reflectivity and atomic structure won him a worldwide reputation. He was also awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 by virtue of"study on chemical aspect of element transmutation and radioactive substance". On the banquet after prize-award ceremony,Rutherford said humorously that he once treated many different changes occurring in many periods,but the quickest change he met was that he turned himself into a chemist from a physicist in an instant.

Someone carried out a careful study on Rutherford and found that Rutherford had no thesis stating issues concerning scientific thoughts, scientific methods and study style issues. However,Rutherford cultivated eleven winners of the Nobel Prize and formed his unique scientific research style. Among winners of the Nobel Prize cultivated by Rutherford,besides seven persons from Britain(i.e.Sottil, Chadwick,Appleton, Bauer,Cockcroft,Walton,Blackett),there were HAAN from Germany,Bo'er from Denmark, Hiwish from Hungary and Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa from the former U.S.S.R.. Laboratories presided over by Rutherford in McGill University, University of Manchester and Cambridge University were recognized nurseries for cultivating excellent young scientists. Hence,"Rutherford school"was recognized by people. No wonder Mrs.Courier advised Britain in 1913 to conduct"recognition of Rutherford",and predicted"he is probable to give people valuable presents".

What could reflect characteristic of Rutherford School was a story arising from his nickname "crocodile".In 1923, when Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa was awarded philosophy doctor's degree of Cambridge University,he was very excited and wanted to play a joke on his teacher Rutherford.
Peter happened to met Rutherford at door of Cavendish Laboratory,he asked:"professor Rutherford, do you find that I'm smarter than before?"
The sudden question of Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa attracted Rutherford,so he asked:"why say so£¿"
At this moment,Peter could not control his excited mood in degree award ceremony,he said: "I was just awarded doctor's degree."
After hearing that,Rutherford said "congratulations" to Peter: "quiet right,you look smarter than before.",meanwhile,he looked at Peter carefully: "what's more, you have got your hair dressed."Then Rutherford laughed out loudly.

Peter said later:"in front of crocodile,this kind of madcap action is usually very hazardous. Because in most cases,he would let you get out without mercy; while in laboratory,as if only me who dare to run risks and show such a chutzpa action before him."
"Crocodile"was what Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa hence called Rutherford in letter written by Peter to his mother. Why he chose such a nickname for Rutherford?The reason was related to an old story in Russia,it was said a group of children wandered on a desert island and met a crocodile,at the dangerous moment,children let crocodile swallow a horseshoe watch,thus,as long as crocodile came closer,children could hear "clatter" from the watch,so they could run away quickly. Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa found a similar case,i.e. Rutherford had a high voice, his voice was always heard before his arrival, once lazy students heard his voice in laboratory,they would continue their experiments immediately. However,Bo'er had another explanation:when Rutherford came to lab in the morning,if he hummed "advance,Christ's warrior" in corridor,this indicated the laboratory was normal;if he hummed dirge,this indicated a certain precious apparatus was damaged or something wrong with precious apparatus.

However, Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa gave a public explanation on the nickname of"crocodile" on a ceremony. One day in February of 1932,an opening ceremony was held for the laboratory named after chemist Mond. This laboratory was specially set up by Rutherford for Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa to do high-pressure experiment. Celebrating people saw a special bedge with a crocodile pattern after they stepped into door of laboratory. This crocodile pattern was arranged according to idea of Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa and was made by famous sculptor Eric.Gill of Britain.
People looked at this bugbear and remained perplexed despite much thought,so some one invited Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa to give an explanation. Peter said: "this crocodile emblematizes science. You know, crocodile cannot turn around its head, just like science,it shall open its big mouth and go ahead by swallow everything".
How did Rutherford leave a "crocodile" image in the heart of Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa£¿Let's have a look at classic work of Recall Professor Ernest .Rutherford published by Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa in Issue 12# of Progress of Chemistry in 1937. Peter Leonidovish Kapitsa wrote:"he has a strapping figure and hearty mental status, his azury eyes always glitter happy expression. He has enough middle warmer energy and high voice, he cannot press his voice easily,and people know this. According to his tone,people can judge his mood. He is sincere and frank while talking with people,you can feel this while he is talking. He always answers questions concisely,clearly and exactly. Whatever you talk, he would give a response after hearing you,and you can discus any issues with him,he would be very glad to give his opinions at any time."
This was the secret of prosperity of Cavendish Laboratory in that year, this was personality charm of Ernest . Rutherford. No wonder someone said that Rutherford could turn a common person into a first-class talent;he never had one enemy and never lost one friend. Many students kept lifetime friendship with him.