姚诗煌

　　真理不在蒙满灰尘的权威著作中，而是在宇宙、自然界这部伟大的无字书中。

　　——伽利略

　　过去五十年中，丁肇中做过五六个实验，开始都受到了反对，包括AMS实验。他说，物理学的进步，就是推翻所有人已知的东西而发展的。

　　五百多年前，没有伽利略的天文望远镜，人们不知道地球外面的世界是什么样的。直到一百年前，还有人认为地球是宇宙的中心；一百年后，人类对地球、对宇宙的认识，有了长足进步，再过五十年、一百年，人类的认识又将达到什么样的程度？七十五岁的丁肇中还在探索。而所有的科学研究，为的是人类的明天。

　　没有亲身体验，是理解不了科学研究的枯燥与辛劳的。任何一项成果和发现，都是对科学家的意志和耐心的巨大考验。

　　丁肇中曾把当年发现新夸克的实验，形象地比喻为在一百亿颗雨滴中，寻找一颗彩色雨滴。而今天寻找宇宙的反物质粒子，发现率或许更低于百亿分子之一。难能可贵的是，一个大科学家，在十七年的艰辛探索中，始终保持着一丝不苟的工作精神和科学探索的兴趣。正如他所说，“过程确实是艰辛的、枯燥的，但结果是令人兴奋的。”

　　面对浩瀚的宇空，这位"当代伽利略"正在继续探索着自然的真理。

　　时隔八年，我再次来到世界物理学家的“圣地”——欧洲核子研究中心（CERN）。满目苍翠的树林和田野在八月的阳光下显得分外谧静，使人很难想象世界上最强大的粒子加速器正在我们的脚下运转。两年前，当新建的大型强子对撞机（LHC）即将投入运行前，一个关于“人造黑洞”的传言，曾引起全球的恐慌；其实，这里什么也没有发生，周围的一切仍是那么安宁。只是近两个月，一辆辆载着参观者的大巴似乎打破了这里的宁静，目标是一幢新建的二层楼房——AMS实验楼。这里有一个中央控制室，就像航天中心的控制室一样，可以看到国际空间站的运行、彼此的对话和联系，几十位科学家昼夜值班，收集来自宇宙射线的密集数据。于是，不必进入幽深的地下、无需再冒核辐射的风险，人们在这里可以探知关于高能粒子和宇宙起源的奥秘。好一座“太空版的CERN”！而它的掌门人和灵魂，就是诺贝尔奖获得者丁肇中教授。

　　丁肇中的办公室在二楼，隔着玻璃窗可以俯视楼下的中央控制室。这个办公室同时也是会议室，特别设计的会议桌把他的办公桌包涵在内，室、桌都可两用，典型的“丁氏风格”：简约。我说：“丁教授，比起您原来的办公室，这里现代化多了。”他苦恼地摇了下头：“你看，这些遥控器该按哪个键，我老是忘，只好打电话请人来帮忙。”为了帮我把材料和照片复制到U盘上，他眼睛贴近了电脑显示屏，颇费力地一个一个查找。真是难为这位七十五岁的老人了。然而，一谈起AMS，他的自信和思维的敏捷、缜密，不逊当年的风采。

　　我遇到的反对，多极了！多极了!

　　我说：“八年前我采访您时，正是哥伦比亚航天飞机出事不久，我曾问，这会不会影响AMS-02的发射升空？当时您很自信地说：'对AMS的计划没有影响。’然而，后来计划不仅被推迟了，还一度被美国航空航天局（NASA）取消。当时，您有没有失去信心？”

　　“我从来没有失去信心。我相信一定会发射的，我仍然做自己该做的事。不能因为考虑到有这个人反对、那个人反对，就顾虑重重，无所适从。”丁肇中坚定地回答道。

　　其实，这期间丁肇中承受了巨大的压力。NASA不仅在2004年宣布取消AMS-02的发射计划，还放话说：政府已决定发展载人上火星的计划，所有的科学家都支持，只有一个科学家不支持。曾有记者问丁肇中，NASA说的这个人是谁？“这个人就是我。”丁肇中毫不含糊地说，一股山东汉子的倔脾气。

　　这七吨重的AMS-02，凝聚了世界十六个国家、地区的六十所大学、研究所共六百多位科学家、工程师的智慧和心血。所有的仪器和技术，都是世界上前所未有的：它们必须能在太空经受各种极端条件的考验，长期运行而不发生任何故障。这对可靠性提出了极其苛刻的要求。譬如，AMS-02上有六百五十个微处理器、三十万个电子感应元件，它们能否无故障地在太空工作十至二十年？国际空间站每九十分钟要经历一次昼夜变化，导致温度在零下40摄氏度和零上60摄氏度之间波动，但探测器的工作温度必须稳定在1摄氏度的变化范围内，这就对热控制系统提出了极高的要求。

　　这样的仪器现在能做出来吗？很多人不相信。反对的还有理论物理学家。他们认为，宇宙中的反物质是不可能存在的，AMS的实验没有意义。然而，丁肇中是一个认准了目标决不回头的人。他说：“研究物理，就是要不怕别人的反对，甚至所有的人都反对。我第一个实验，是1964年开始做的，测量电子的半径。当时，哈佛大学和康奈尔大学的著名教授，用了几年时间，做了两个实验，认为电子是有半径的。但根据波动理论，电子是没有半径的。那么，电子究竟有没有半径？我认为这事情很重要，就提出报告要求做这个实验。当时，我刚拿到博士学位，只是哥伦比亚大学的一个年轻教师，没有经验，所以没有人相信我能做出这样的实验，我所在的学校也不支持我，认为你从来没有做过，怎么能做这种高难度的实验？刚好德国有一个实验室欢迎我去，我就辞职到了德国。八个月后，实验做出来了，证明了电子是没有体积的。”

　　丁肇中感慨地说：“我遇到的反对，多极了！多极了！过去五十年中，我做过五六个实验，开始都受到了反对，包括AMS实验。但是，做实验物理，就不能考虑别人的看法，不能因为绝大多数人反对，你就不做。物理学的进步，就是推翻所有人已知的东西而发展的。你写一个报告，审查的人依据的是现有观点；而你要进步，就必须推翻现有的观念。于是，有很多好的东西，就在评审中被否定掉了。所以，做基础研究要对自己有信心，做你认为正确的事，不要因为大多数人反对而改变，甚至不能考虑自己的前途，要有义无反顾的精神。当然，现在反对我已经不太容易了。因为我从来没有做过错误的实验，大家都认为这个人的工作记录很好。政府也很支持我。即使有人反对做这么大的实验，已很困难了。”

　　NASA决定取消AMS计划后，支持这个项目的美国能源部找来世界上最一流的科学家，对AMS项目进行再评审。这样的评审一共进行过三次。这第三次评审是在2006年9月25日，地点在华盛顿，参加评审的有获得过诺贝尔奖的，有美国科学院院士，有最优秀的天文学家，共七八个人。评审结果认为：AMS-02的实验，可以进一步给人类带来新的知识。这个研究项目有一支非常强的国际团队，有很好的实验基础，又有很好的记录。这个项目应该继续进行下去。根据这一评审结果，能源部立即写信给NASA：根据最新的专家评审意见，我们认为应继续支持AMS-02实验。

　　2008年1月,美国参、众两院通过了一项6063号决议，为AMS-02增加一次航天飞机的发射。这项决议在两院是高票通过的，因此时任总统布什立即签署了这项决议。但航空航天局的主管仍一直拖延着不动；直到2008年11月，奥巴马当选为美国新一届总统，航空航天局局长也换了人。2009年1月23日，奥巴马政府上任后的第三天，美国NASA就宣布了运送AMS的航天飞机的班期。尽管以后由于天气的原因，班期推迟了6~7个月，但NASA这么快就能做出安排，说明下面工作部门也是理解和支持AMS-02项目的，实际上早就做好了准备。

　　丁肇中感慨地说：“科学的发展是必然的，谁也没有办法禁锢人类的智慧。五百多年前，没有伽利略的天文望远镜，人们不知道地球外面的世界是什么样的。直到一百年前，还有人认为地球是宇宙的中心；一百年后的今天，我们对地球、对宇宙的认识，有了如此进步，那么再过五十年、一百年，不知道我们人类的认识能达到什么样的程度？科学研究，为的是人类的明天。我希望那时的人们，能记得我们今天的探索。”

　　这么多年了，我只做一件事

　　当NASA于2009年1月宣布了航天飞机的班期后，整个项目组用超常规的速度，抓紧把仪器做完，到3月份已一切准备就绪，计划5月从荷兰的欧洲航天研究和技术中心运至美国肯尼迪航天中心。此时，一件事情的突然发生，又改变了原定的计划。原来，3月18日美国航空航天局宣布：国际空间站的工作年限，将从2015年延长到2028年。而AMS－02原来是依照在空间站工作到2015年设计的，现在空间站的工作年限一下增加了十三年，这就为AMS－02提供了能够工作更长时间的机会，若从2009年算起，能在空间站待上二十年。AMS－02的其它组件，在使用寿命上都留有很大的余量，继续工作十几年应该没有问题，只是其核心部件——超导磁体，没法工作到2028年，因为保持超导所需低温的液氦会损耗，只有三至五年的工作寿命。届时，又无法再上天为它注入液氦。这样，在以后的十多年间，AMS－02将失去磁性，探测器无法工作，成为国际空间站上的一块废铁。这怎么办？

　　丁肇中当即决定，将超导磁铁换为永磁铁，以延长AMS－02的工作寿命。AMS-01使用的就是永磁体，它是由中国科学院电工研究所制造的，使用效果很好。他决定把AMS-01上的这块永磁铁，装在AMS-02上继续使用。

　　这个决定自然引起了一阵波澜。一是时间已非常紧张，好不容易排上的航天飞机发射班期，又将推迟；更重要的是，已组装好的AMS－02还得施行“换心术”，这么大的“手术”，能否保证“术”后的“健康”？丁肇中是一个下了决心就再不会动摇的人。他力排众议，认为不管有没有困难，都要这样做。否则，三五年后AMS-02就没有用了，放在空间站岂不成了浪费。尤其三五年中收集的数据，与二十年收集的数据，将完全不一样。他的想法，最后得到了各方面的支持。考虑到永磁体的磁场强度比超导磁铁小，就再增加两层探测器，由原来的七层探测器，变成了九层探测器，以提高工作效率。经过反复论证，丁肇中于4月16日最后拍板，并定下时间表，要求到2010年7初改装完成。

　　整整大半年，在CERN的一个车间里，科学家和工程师们玩起了“连轴转”。无论是周末休假还是圣诞新年，都没有断过人影。丁肇中身先士卒，似乎回到了当年在布鲁克海文实验室不分昼夜工作的情景。他说，当时的“最高纪录”是连续六个昼夜没有睡觉。

　　2010年8月26日，美国空军的大型运输机C5降落在日内瓦国际机场。这是在日内瓦机场降落的最大型飞机，机场方面非常重视，降落后滑行时，为了避免机翼碰撞到跑道旁的物体，特地允许一位副驾驶员打开机舱，站立起来观察。一个小时后AMS－02被装上了机舱，飞机随即起飞，于当天安全抵达肯尼迪航天中心，降落在航天飞机降落所用的跑道上。

　　今年5月，AMS-02终于装入航天飞机。临发射前，丁肇中对大家说：“你们所有的人都离开，让我单独留在这里，我要一个人静静地想一想。”就这样，他独自坐在机舱内，将AMS-02的各个子系统、所有部件，再仔细地在脑海中过了一遍，思索还可能有什么问题。AMS-02在日内瓦组装时，他就曾要求组装好后再拆分开，然后重新组装，这样反复了三次。当时这样做有两个目的，一是再仔细地检查一遍，有没有地方会出错；二是想估算一下装上航天飞机、临近发射前，如果发现什么地方有问题，那么拆开后再重新装好，需要多少时间？所以，对AMS-02的整个系统结构和所有构件，他都稔熟于胸，清晰地印在脑海中。此时，整整四个小时，丁肇中就一直在机舱中坐着，面对着这台即将登上太空的探测仪，对每个细微之处都在脑中再仔细扫描了一遍。

　　这种“过电影”式的沉思，是丁肇中多年养成的一种习惯。尽管AMS-02项目涉及到多个学科领域的技术，知识非常新，要求又很高，但他对每一项技术都非常熟悉，对每一个细节都了如指掌，能及时地发现任何问题。我曾问他是如何做到这一点的？丁肇中说：“因为我不做别的事情，只做一件事。我空下来就在想，想实验的每一细节，反复想，想得很具体，一旦发现问题，就会立即打电话，给德国、意大利，或别的国家的科学家，与他们讨论，有时请他们过来。”他还说：“我基本不看文件，也很少看书，一有空就是想自己的实验。书都是别人写的，讲的是别人已有的知识，而我们做的完全是新的，是别人的知识所没有的，只有靠自己。这么多年了，我脑中想的，就只有这一件事。”

　　从航天飞机机舱出来后,丁肇中站在有五层楼高的发射塔上，环绕着航天飞机，最后又走了一圈。他边走，边审视着眼前的一切，思考着还可能有什么问题被忽视。因为这时候如果发现问题，他还来得及做出决定，暂时取消发射。他说：“这是国会通过的一个项目，一旦出错，负责任的，只有一个人，即是我。我必须慎之又慎。”进入发射指挥大厅后，他被安排坐在指挥席上。旁边的两位，一位是美国航空航天局的代表，一位是肯尼迪航天基地的指挥员。发射倒计时开始前的最后一秒，他们再次让丁肇中决定，是否要启动发射键。丁肇中点了一下头，说：“好，发射吧。”于是，5月15日8时56分，随着火焰的喷射而出，奋进号终于踏上了它的最后一次征程。

　　做得对，比早发表更重要

　　5月19日，奋进号抵达国际空间站，AMS-02安装在预定的位置后，经过四小时的调试，从当天的9点35分开始，就发回数据。这些数据先传到在美国的马歇尔宇航中心，再传到CERN的AMS实验室，前后不到一秒钟。

　　丁肇中每天早晨一到实验楼，就拎着包先走进中央控制室，坐在大屏幕前观看空间站的运行,向值班人员了解AMS-02的工作状况。他告诉我：这是在美国本土之外惟一可以接收国际空间站数据的控制室。中间这块大屏幕显示的是国际空间站的位置和运行轨迹。你看，它现在正在中国南沙群岛上空，往东飞行，将越过太平洋，向美洲靠拢。它每九十分钟绕地球一周，其中四十五分钟是在白天，四十五分钟在黑夜。旁边那两块小一些的屏幕，几乎每秒就有一条斜线穿过，这就是AMS-02接收到的宇宙射线，由于宇宙射线的数量很密集，屏幕上显示的不到其中百分之一，大量的数据都在计算机中。

　　大厅的两旁就是一台台计算机，值班的科学家都专心致志地盯着显示屏，注意着数据和曲线的变化。丁肇中告诉我：“现在我们这个组由两方面的人组成，即负责仪器设备运转的工程师和负责数据分析的物理学家。值班人员一旦发现异常情况，就要立即向我报告，无论白天还是晚上，我的手机都二十四小时开着，即使是晚上或出差在外，我每隔两个小时都要打电话来询问情况。”一位跟随丁肇中工作了二十多年的工程师告诉我，这是丁教授多年的习惯了，以前做L3实验时，他的“查岗”还要更严，连每个人正在做什么，都要问清楚。我曾问丁肇中：“您晚上每隔二小时就要打电话去'查岗’，自己还能睡吗？”他一笑说：“可以的，我习惯了，其实这样心里踏实，反而睡得着，我每晚能睡六小时呐。”

　　每天下午五点，大家都汇集到丁肇中的办公室开工作例会，主要是汇报当天监测到的仪器工作状况。尽管是很普通的会，但有两个显著特点：一是极其准时。大家五点不到就来到丁肇中的办公室门口，走道上、楼梯上，几十个人都站着，无论资深的科学家、年轻的研究生，一起静候着，准点一到，才鱼贯而入。二是安静。会议室绝没有丝毫杂音，谁在别人发言时发出细微的声音，丁肇中都会立即投以严厉的目光。

　　会议的认真，也是非亲眼所见难以想象的。为了与空间站的姿态调整取得协调，课题组起草了一封给NASA的信，希望国际空间站每次调整太阳能板和运行姿态前，能提前通知他们。就这么一封信，丁肇中每天都在会上主持讨论，亲自拿着一支激光笔，在投影屏上逐字逐句地斟酌、修改。这样，竟然天天讨论、修改了两个多星期，这封信才正式发出。

　　下午四点，是物理学家的会，分析收集的数据。这个会每个人都可以发言，也可以交头接耳。丁肇中说：“做物理分析，要求有天分，但更要鼓励创新思维。有时，一个很聪明的学生，可能提出很有价值的想法。物理学的事情，不在于你是否有名，是否是主任。”

　　尽管AMS-02仅三个月就获得了超过以往五十年的数据总和，但是丁肇中说他不会轻易发表文章。他说：“决不能提前发表文章，越是往后发表文章越好，做得对比发表早更为重要。一切都要做到最精确可靠。任何错误都会对国际上这一领域的长期发展带来消极的影响。”他告诉我，文章至少得一年以后才会发表。一方面是没有人和我们竞争，更重要的是一定要准确。严格地说，现在仪器还处于校准阶段，你要发表一篇文章，别人又不能检查，如果有误差，就可能对今后产生长远影响。所以一定要小心和谨慎。准确的数据分析，才是最重要的。

　　这种一丝不苟的作风，处处体现在这位诺奖得主的身上。一天，他把我叫去。原来，他应江苏省领导邀请，将于下个月赴南京，在一个国际性会议上做一次讲演，时间是十分钟。他让我听一下他的试讲。然后让秘书看好时间，一字一句地很认真讲了一遍。“用了多少时间？”他问。“九分半。”秘书看了一下表。“这样讲行吗？你提提意见？”他把脸转向我。我当即被这位科学大师的认真态度感动了，不知怎么说好。想了一下，就说：“您还有半分钟多余的时间，是否最后的两点结论，可以再讲得具体些。”他立即接受了我的建议。这时，我忍不住说：“教授，您就是超过一些时间，又有什么关系呢？”“不，我从来是遵守时间规定的。”他又告诉我，每次受邀请去演讲，他都要试讲五六遍，甚至多达七遍。他的身体力行，形成了组内的规矩：凡被邀请外出做演讲、报告，都要先在内部试讲。

　　兴趣是科学家从事基础研究的原动力

　　没有亲身体验，就理解不了科学研究的枯燥和辛劳。任何一项成果和发现，都是对意志和耐心的巨大考验。丁肇中曾把当年发现新夸克的实验，形象地比喻为在一百亿颗雨滴中，寻找一颗彩色雨滴。而今天寻找宇宙的反物质粒子，发现率或许更低于百亿分之一。十七年的艰辛，才只是刚迈出了第一步。今后，他们将守望着浩瀚的宇空，十年、二十年，在上千亿的雨滴中，寻觅那不同色彩的异常雨滴。这股能持久坚持的动力，来自什么？

　　“是兴趣。”丁肇中说，“兴趣是科学家从事基础研究的原动力。”

　　“您从事研究已几十年了，难道这股兴趣就不会减退吗？”我问道。

　　“因为我不断地在做新的实验，因此就不断产生新的兴趣。”他的回答很简单。

　　“但每项实验，都要经历好几年甚至十几年的漫长过程，您是如何保持这一兴趣呢？”我又问。

　　“过程确实是艰辛的、枯燥的，但结果是令人兴奋的。”丁肇中说。

　　这使人不禁想起了爱因斯坦的话：“工作的最重要动机是工作中的乐趣，是工作获得结果时的乐趣。”英国科学家贝弗里奇在《科学研究的艺术》一书中曾说：“只有那些对发现抱有真正兴趣和热情的人才会成功。”

　　丁肇中回忆说：“我开始学物理学，我母亲非常反对。因为当时学物理的人，不容易找到事情做。我父亲没有发表意见，但从来往的信件中看出，他当时也并不赞成。我就对母亲说：'我的兴趣和前途，是我的事情，让我自己决定吧。’母亲说：'既然你有如此看法，我就支持你吧。’我母亲是从事教育的，父亲是学土木工程的。他们都受过良好的高等教育，能理解我的想法，支持了我的兴趣和选择。”

　　当年父母对自己志向的理解、支持，也延续在丁肇中身上。他有两个女儿、一个儿子，都不是学物理的。他风趣地说：“我两个女儿最感兴趣的，是怎么管理我这个爸爸。”儿子刚大学毕业，也有自己的志向。这次奋进号发射成功后，儿子在庆贺的酒会上说了一番话，让丁肇中很是感慨。那天，大家正谈得欢，儿子突然站起来，说要讲几句话：“今天，对我是很重要的日子，因为我更懂得了自己的父亲。我父亲总是一件事、一件事地做，每件事都做得很不容易。父亲开始做这件事时，我还是个孩子，现在我都大学毕业了。父亲对我的影响，真是很大……”

　　为了科学研究，丁肇中长期在欧洲的实验室，与妻子、儿女离多聚少。他第一个夫人是一位事业心很强的建筑师，由于其职业在欧洲工作受到限制，最后不得不与他分手，但始终保持着友谊，包括与丁肇中现在的夫人苏珊，彼此也是好朋友。苏姗是一位心理学博士，为了帮助丁肇中的事业，她放弃了自己的专业，参加AMS项目组的工作，负责实验项目行政方面的重要事务，包括与政府部门的来往和方方面面联系。每年向政府的汇报，图表、文字、预算，都由她做。如今，她已成为组内的重要一员。

　　丁肇中崇尚简单的生活。在靠近CERN的法国境内，他的住宅就像一座农宅，茅草的屋顶、原木的桁梁。屋后有两排高大挺拔的松树。他说，当年就是看中了这些树，才买下这幢房。这里空气清新，远离城市的喧嚣，距离实验室也只有半小时的车程。他自己开车，早出晚归，周六和周日也都去实验室。他平时的锻练，主要是游泳和健身器骑车。他说：“游泳和听相声，是我业余的爱好。前几天去台湾，饭店设有游泳池，我早晨六点起来，就游泳半个小时，在五十米的泳道上，游二十圈。感觉精神特好。也只有在游泳时，才不会想AMS。其它的时间，脑中都无法摆脱对这件事的思考。”

　　丁肇中对自己的生活要求不高，更淡泊于名利。他告诉我：“这次发射成功后，有不少大学希望我到他们的学校去，给我的薪水比现在要高3倍。我说，钱对我个人来说没有意义，我不可能离开麻省理工。我是麻省理工惟一不教书的教授，学校对我非常支持。已经快五十年了，从1967年至今，五任的学院院长，以及校长，都很支持。我获诺贝尔奖时，校长是肯尼迪政府的科学顾问。我是麻省理工物理系第一个获诺奖的教授。学校聘我为讲座教授，拿出很大一笔科研经费支持我的研究工作。你说，我怎么能一成功就走呢？”

　　我说，AMS实验是一项有再次获诺贝尔奖希望的工作，教授摇了摇头说：“科学研究不能为得奖而工作，尤其是老想拿诺贝尔奖，这是很可怕的。”我问：“您当年发现新的夸克粒子时，想到过会得奖吗？”他说：“根本没有想到。那天，我正在实验室，接到从瑞典打来的电话时，还以为是在开玩笑呐。后来，得知真的是获诺贝尔奖了，我还在想，肯定是评委们一时糊涂了。”他笑了一下又说：“物理学的发展太快了。一个人再有名，只能代表过去的贡献；你没有做出新的事情，很快就会被人忘掉。如果五十年、一百年后，人们还能记得我们这项工作，我就心满意足了！”

　　确实，过去几百年，人们对物理世界的了解，大多来自实验物理。正如丁肇中所说：实验是科学的基础，理论没有实验的证明，是没有意义的；实验可以推翻旧理论，创建新的理论。为此，他经常提到实验物理学的开拓者——伽利略：当年，伽利略的比萨斜塔实验，就是第一例加速器实验；他又第一个用自制的望远镜观察天体，证明了哥白尼的“日心说”，开辟了天文学的新时代。

　　伽利略曾说，真理不在蒙满灰尘的权威著作中，而是在宇宙、自然界这部伟大的无字书中。今天，面对着浩瀚的宇宙，伽利略的后人们正在继续探索着自然的真理。他们传承了伽利略不畏权威、追求真理的科学精神，他们是“当代伽利略”。

　　1979年，当罗马教廷为伽利略平反时，曾邀请世界著名科学家组成委员会，而丁肇中就是其中一位。

　　是历史巧合，抑或苍穹有意？

YaoShiHuang

Truth is not be filled with dust in the works of authority, but in the universe, nature of this great without the evidences.

-Galileo

Over the past 50 years, DingZhaoZhong had five or six experiments, began to have been the opposition, including AMS experiment.He said, the progress of the physics, is all the known thing to overthrow.

More than five hundred years ago, no Galileo's telescope, people don't know the earth the outside world is like.Until one hundred years ago, and people think that the earth was the center of the universe;After one hundred years, humans on the earth, understanding of the universe, had great progress, then after fifty years, one hundred years, and human understanding and will reach the extent of what?The seventy-five-year-old DingZhaoZhong are exploring.And all of the scientific research in order to human tomorrow.

No experience, is understand scientific research of boring and hard.Any a results and find, all is the will and the patience of scientists a great test.

DingZhaoZhong had found that new quarks experiment, compared to ten billion in the image of the star in the rain, looking for a color rain.And today looking for the universe of antimatter, found that the rate may be more less than yuan and one of the molecules.Valuable is, a big scientists, in 17 years of hard exploration, kept a meticulous work spirit and scientific exploration of the interest.As he puts it, "process is really hard, boring, but the result is exciting."

Facing the vast empty space, the "contemporary Galileo" are continuing to explore the truth of nature.

Eight years later, once again, I came to the world physicists "holy land" of nuclear research center-Europe (CERN).A green trees and the field in August sunshine look particularly MiJing that it was hard to imagine the world's most powerful particle accelerator is our feet operation.Two years ago, when the new the large hadron collider (LHC) is before operation, about a "man-made black hole" rumour, who caused global panic;Actually, there is nothing happened, everything around him is still so quiet.Just nearly two months, floral carrying the visitors bus seems to break the peace of here, and the target is a newly-built building floor-AMS lab building.Here is a central control room, as the control room of the space center, can see the international space station of the operation, each other's dialogue and contact, dozens of scientists on the day and night, collected from cosmic rays dense data.So, need not into a deep underground, need not take the nuclear radiation risks, people here can discovery about high energy particles and the origin of the universe mystery.Good a "space version of CERN"!And its chief executive and the soul, is of the Nobel Prize winner DingZhaoZhong professor.

DingZhaoZhong office on the second floor, across the glass window overlooks central control room downstairs.The office is also meeting rooms, special design of the table with his desk inside, the room, table can be amphibious, typical of the "DingShi style" : contracted.I say: "professor ding, compared with the original office, here you much more modern."He noted with shake head: "you see, the remote control according to which the key, I always forget, have to call people to help."In order to help me put the materials and photo copy to U disk, his eyes close to a computer screen, easily a quite a find.It's really hard, the seventy-five-year-old old man.However, one about AMS, his confidence and thinking agility, meticulous, below the belt that year of elegant appearance.

I met opposition, wonderful!Wonderful!

I say: "eight years ago I an interview with you, it is the space shuttle Columbia accident soon, I asked, it will affect the launch of AMS-02? Were you very confidence to say:" have no effect on the plan of AMS. "however, then program not only was postponed, also once was NASA canceled. At that time, you have lost confidence?"

"I never lost faith. I believe that will launch, I still do the thing you should do. Can't because considering with this man, that person opposition, against heavy, disoriented. It concerns"DingZhaoZhong firmly replied.

In fact, this period DingZhaoZhong under enormous pressure.NASA not only in 2004-02 announced the cancellation of the AMS planned launch, still put words: the government has decided to develop manned Mars plan, all the scientists support, only one of the scientists do not support.Once a journalist asked DingZhaoZhong, NASA said who is this?"This man is my."DingZhaoZhong unequivocally said, a stream of shandong man obstinate temper.

The seven tons of AMS-02, condensed the 16 countries in the world, the 60 universities, research institute with more than six hundred scientists and engineers of the wisdom and efforts.All of the instruments and techniques, is unprecedented in the history of the world: they must be able to withstand in the space of the test of the extreme conditions, working for a long time and does not produce any fault.It puts forward the extremely hard to reliability requirements.For example, AMS-02 has six hundred and fifty micro processor, three hundred thousand electronic sensing elements, whether they will be able to work in space without ten to twenty years?The international space station every ninety minutes a day and night to experience changes that lead to a temperature of minus 40 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius above freezing between fluctuation, but the probe work must be a stable temperature in Celsius within 1 changes, the thermal control system puts forward the high requirements.

This instrument can now make?A lot of people don't believe it.Opposition and theoretical physicists.They think, antimatter in the universe is not possible, AMS experiment has no meaning.However, DingZhaoZhong is a look the target never return.He said: "study physics, is to not afraid of others, even against all of the people are against it. The first one, I began in 1964, and the measurement of the electronic radius. At that time, Harvard University and the famous professor at Cornell university, in a few years time, made two experiments, think electronic is a radius. But according to wave theory is no radius, electronic. So, what if any electronic radius? I think that it's very important, puts forward the reporting requirements to do this experiment. At the time, I just got Ph.D degree, just the Columbia University a young teacher, no experience, so no one believed me that can do this experiment, I school also does not support me, think you have not made, how can you do this difficult experiment? Just a laboratory in Germany welcome me to, I'll quit to Germany. After eight months, the experiment have proved, there is no volume of electronic."

DingZhaoZhong regrets ground say: "I met opposition, wonderful! Wonderful! The past 50 years, I have five or six experiments, began to have been the opposition, including AMS experiment. But, do the experiment physics, can consider the opinions of others can't because most people oppose, you don't do. The progress of physics, is all the things people to overthrow known. You write a report, the review of the people is the basis of the existing view is, and you want to progress, we must overthrow existing opinion. So, there are a lot of good things, just in the review is denied away. So, to do basic research to have confidence in yourself, do what you think is right, because most people don't change, can't even opposed to consider his own future, want to have the spirit of sublimity. And, of course, now against I have not too easy. Because I was never a wrong experiment, everyone think that the man work record is very good. The government is also support me. Even if someone is against it experiment, already very difficult."

NASA decided to cancel AMS plan, support the project for the U.S. department of energy to the world's most of first-class scientists, the AMS project review again.This review had altogether three times.This review is the third time in September 25, 2006, the location in Washington, participates in the evaluation of have won the Nobel Prize, academician of academy of sciences of the United States, with the most excellent astronomers, a total of seven or eight others.The results of the think: AMS-02 experiment, can further brought new knowledge.The research project has a very strong international team, has the very good experimental basis, and have a good record.The project should continue to do it.According to the results of the review, the energy department immediately wrote to NASA: according to the latest expert evaluation opinions, we think that we should continue to support the AMS-02 experiment.

In January 2008, the United States and senate passed a resolution 6063, for AMS-02 increase a space shuttle launch.The resolution in the senate is high ticket through, so the President bush immediately signed the resolution.But NASA supervisor still has been putting off motionless;Until November 2008, Obama was elected to the United States the new President, NASA's chief also changed.On January 23 2009, Obama after his government of the third day, NASA announced that the delivery of the space shuttle AMS schedule.Although later because of the weather, postponed the schedule of six to seven months, but NASA so quick to make an arrangement, the department is work that understanding and support of the AMS-02 project, in fact had prepared well.

DingZhaoZhong regrets ground say: "the development of science is inevitable, who also have no way to imprison human wisdom. More than five hundred years ago, no Galileo's telescope, people don't know the earth the outside world is like. Until one hundred years ago, and people think that the earth was the center of the universe; today, one hundred years later, we have to the earth, understanding of the universe, such progress, then in fifty years, one hundred years, don't know we human understanding can achieve what kind of degree of scientific research, to human? Tomorrow. I hope that people can remember, we today's exploration."

So many years, I only do one thing

When NASA announced in January 2009 after the space shuttle schedule, the project team with exceptional speed, the instrument to finish, to march has everything ready, plan may by the European space research and technology center shipped to the United States the Kennedy space center.At this time, of a thing happen suddenly, and changed the original plan.Originally, March 18, NASA announced: work on the international space station fixed number of year, from 2015 in 2028 to extend.And AMS-02 is the original work in accordance with in the space station in 2015 to the design, the work of a fixed number of year now space station added 13 years, this is the AMS-02 provides the opportunity to work longer, if from 2009, starting in the space station can for twenty years.AMS-02's other components, in service life on a bore a surplus, continue to work more than ten years should be no problem, but its core part--superconducting magnets, can't work until 2028, because of the low temperature superconducting required to keep YeHai will loss, only three to five years of work life.At the appointed time, and can't god for its infuse YeHai.So, in the later ten years between, the AMS-02 will lose magnetic, the probe will not work on the international space station as a piece of metal.This do?

At the DingZhaoZhong decisions will change and superconducting magnets for magnets to extend the working life of the AMS-AMS-01 use is the permanent magnet, it is by the Chinese academy of sciences institute of electrical manufacture, use the effect is very good.He decided to put the AMS-01 on this ever of magnet, packed in AMS-02 continue to use.

The decision natural caused a stir.One is the time already very nervous, very not easy row of the shuttle launch schedule, and will be delayed;More important, already assembled good AMS-02 still have to execute "just change", so much "surgical", can you guarantee "art" "healthy"?DingZhaoZhong is a determined it won't be moved.He LiPaiZhongYi, think that no matter whether the difficult, want to do so.Otherwise, 35 years later AMS-02 there, on the space station not become waste.Especially 35 years of data collection, and twenty years to collect data, will be completely different.His ideas, and finally got the support.Considering the permanent magnet field strength than superconducting magnets small, add to it two layers of detector, from originally of the seven layers detector, and turned into nine layer detector, in order to improve the work efficiency.After repeatedly demonstrated, DingZhaoZhong in April 16 the decider, and set a timetable to require early July 2010 completed modification.

Exactly, redeemed in CERN's a workshop, scientists and engineers playing "LianZhouZhuan".Whether the weekend vacation or Christmas and all through the New Year no broken figure.DingZhaoZhong example, seems back on day and night in brookhaven lab work situations.He said, when the highest "record" is a continuous six days and nights without sleep.

On August 26, 2010, the United States air force transport plane landing in Geneva C5 large international airport.This is the most landing in Geneva of large aircraft, airport very seriously, after landing taxi, in order to avoid the wing to the object of the runway collisions, specially allows a co-pilot open the cabin, and stand up and observation.An hour later AMS-02 was placed onto a the cabin, and then the plane take off, in the day that the security arrived at the Kennedy space center, landing on the space shuttle landing on the runway.

In may this year, AMS-02 finally into space plane.Before the launch, DingZhaoZhong say to you: "you all leave, let alone I stay here, I want a silent think about it."In this way, he sat alone in the cockpit, AMS-02 each will subsystem, all parts and then carefully in the back of my mind after a time, thinking may also have what problem.AMS-02 in Geneva assembly, he asked assembled again after open separate, then reassemble, such repeated three times.At that time to do so has two purposes, it is again a careful check it again, is there any place will be wrong;Two is to estimate a space shuttle, near the remove theatrical makeup and costume before launch, if found where there is a problem, then open again after pack good, how much time?So, the entire system of AMS-02 structure and all components, he RenShou in the chest, clearly printed in the mind.At this time, for four hours, DingZhaoZhong have been sitting in the engine room, faced with this one is on the space detectors, for every slight place again carefully in the brain scan it.

The "movie" type of meditation, are DingZhaoZhong formed a habit for many years.Although AMS-02 project involves multiple disciplines technology, knowledge is very new, requirements and high, but he for each one technology are very familiar with, to every detail his hand, could be found any problem.I once asked him is how to do it?DingZhaoZhong said: "because I don't do anything else, do only one thing. I'm empty down to, want to experiment in every detail, repeated want to, want to very specific, once found, it will be immediately, call to Germany, Italy, or other countries, and they discussed the scientists, sometimes please them over."He also said: "I don't see the basic document, read a book, a few free is want to own experiment. The book is all other people write, tells the existing knowledge, and others we do is completely new, is the other people's knowledge, not only on their own. So many years, I think, only the brain this thing."

From the shuttle engine room it out, DingZhaoZhong stood in five floors high towers, around the space shuttle, and then left again a circle.He walking, the side at the sight of all, thinking about may also have what problem is ignored.Because by this time if found the problem, and he also had time to make a decision, suspended launch.He said: "this is a project through congress, once the error, responsible, only one, that is me. I must be doubly cautious."Enter the hall after launch command, he was sitting on the table for the command.The next two, one is NASA's representative, one is the commander of Kennedy space base.Launch countdown began to until the last minute, and again they let DingZhaoZhong decide whether to start launch button.DingZhaoZhong with a nod of his head, and said: "good, launch it."Then, on May 15 at 8 56 points, with the flame of the injection, and the endeavour finally got on its last journey.

To do so, more important than made earlier

On May 19, endeavour arrived at the international space station, AMS-02 installed in a predetermined position, after four hours of commissioning, from the day of the 35 points, nine starts, it sent the data.These data to the first in the United States the Marshall space center, again to CERN AMS laboratory, before and after less than a second.

DingZhaoZhong every morning to a building, carry the bag first walked into the central control room, sitting on the big screen, to watch the space station before the operation, the officer on duty to know AMS-02's work conditions.He told me: this is in the outside the United States only can receive the international space station the control room of the data.Among the big screen is the space station's position and running track.You see, it is now China over the nansha islands, flying to the east, will be across the Pacific, close to America.It around the earth every ninety minutes a week, including 45 minutes is during the day, 45 minutes in the night.The two pieces of small next to some of the screen, almost have a slash per second through, this is AMS-02 receives the cosmic rays, because the number of cosmic rays is very crowded, the screen is less than one percent, a large number of the data in the computer.

The sides of the hall is YiTaiTai computer, scientists are on duty of concentration on staring at the screen, pay attention to the data and the shape of the curve.DingZhaoZhong told me: "now we this group of people who by two aspects, namely responsible for instrument equipment operation engineers and responsible for data analysis of physicists. The officer on duty once found, will be immediately abnormal report to me, no matter, day and night my mobile phone is open 24 hours, even at night or on a business trip, I once every two hours to make a phone call to come to asked about the situation."A follow DingZhaoZhong work more than 20 years of the engineers told me, this is professor of the habit of reading for many years, do before the L3, his "ZhaGang" even more severe, even everyone is doing what, all want to ask.I once asked DingZhaoZhong: "you every two hours at night to call 'ZhaGang', oneself still can sleep?"He a smile to say: "yes, I am used to in the heart, actually such steadfast, but sleep every night, I can sleep six hours yet."

Every afternoon, five, everyone gathers in DingZhaoZhong office for work meeting, mainly is the day to report monitoring instruments work conditions.Although is very ordinary, but there are two significant characteristics: it is an extremely on time.Everyone less than five DingZhaoZhong came to the office door, the aisles, stairs, dozens of people were standing, whether senior scientists, young student, together with forward, on schedule a to, just crowd cheered as.2 it is quiet.Conference room away without any noise, who in others speech a small sound, DingZhaoZhong will immediately cast with harsh glare.

The meeting seriously, also is seen hard to imagine.In order to adjust the attitude of the space station to achieve harmony, task group drafted a letter to NASA's letter, hoping that the international space station every time adjust solar panel and running before the attitude, can advance notice them.So a letter, DingZhaoZhong every day in the meeting discussion presided over himself with a laser pens, in the projection screen to consider, modify word for word.So, should discuss, modified every day for more than two weeks, this letter was officially issued.

At four o 'clock in the afternoon, is a physicist's will, analysis of the data collected.This will everyone can speak, also can whisper.DingZhaoZhong said: "do physical analysis, the request has talent, but more to encourage creative thinking. Sometimes, a very clever student, may put forward valuable ideas. Physics things, is not whether you famous, is the director."

Although AMS-02 only three months for the past 50 years of data sum, but DingZhaoZhong said he would not easily published articles.He said: "never published an article in advance, the more the article published back good, published early more important. Contrast everything to do the most accurate and reliable. Any mistakes will to international this field of long-term development brings negative impact."He told me, the article at least a year later will be published.On the one hand is not and we competition, more important is must be accurately.Strictly speaking, now instrument is still in the calibration stage, you must make an article, others and can't check, if there is error, it is possible to produce long influence to the future.So be careful and cautious.Accurate data analysis, is the most important.

This kind of meticulous style, is reflected in the laureates of the body.One day, he called me.Originally, he should invite leaders in jiangsu province, will next month to nanjing, in an international conference a speech, time is ten minutes.He let me listen to his try to speak.Then let secretary bullish on time, slowly seriously spoke 1 time."With the how much time?"He asked."Nine and a half."The secretary looked at the table."Speak thus do? You advise?"He brought his face turned to me.I was immediately be the master of science is serious moved, don't know how to say yes.Thought once and say: "you have half a minute of extra time, if the last two conclusions, can speak some specific again."He immediately took my advice.At this time, I could not help but say: "professor, you are more than some time, what does it matter?""No, I never is abide by the provisions of the time."He also told me, every time be invited to lecture, he will try to speak five or six times, even as many as seven times.He's example, formed in the group rules: all who are invited out making a presentation, a report, first in the internal try to speak.

The interest is the driving force of the scientists engaged in basic research

No experience, would not understand the scientific research of the boring and hard work.Any a results and find, all is the great test will and patience.DingZhaoZhong had found that new quarks experiment, compared to ten billion in the image of the star in the rain, looking for a color rain.And today looking for the universe of antimatter, found that the rate may be more less than one over ten billion.Seventeen years of hard, is only just taken the first step.In the future, they will watch the vast empty space, 10, 20, in the hundreds of billions, rain, looking for the different colour abnormalities of the rain.This can insist the power lasting from???????

"Be interested."DingZhaoZhong said, "interest is the driving force of the scientists engaged in basic research."

"You're engaged in research has for decades, is the interest is not fall?"I asked.

"Because I kept doing new experiment, and thus created new interest."His answer is very simple.

"But every experiment, all have to go through several years or even more than 10 years of a long process, how do you keep this interest?"I ask again.

"The process is really hard, boring, but the result is exciting."DingZhaoZhong said.

This makes people can not help but think of the words of Einstein, "work the most important work of the motivation is fun, is for the fun of the work."British scientists bei fritz strange in the scientific research of the arts, "a book once said:" only those who have to find real interest and enthusiasm of the talent will be successful."

DingZhaoZhong recalled, "I began to learn physics, my mother is very opposed. Because at that time learn physics, and not easy to find things to do. My father didn't comment, but the letters from whom, that he was not in favor of. I said to his mother:" my interest and the future, is my thing, let me to decide. "mother said:" since you have such views, I'll support you! "my mother is engaged in the education of civil engineering, father is to learn. They all had a good education, higher can understand me, support the idea of my interest and choice."

That parents to their ambition understanding, support, also continued in the DingZhaoZhong body.He has two daughters and a son, are not learn physics.He quipped: "my two daughters are most interested in is how you manage, I the father."Son just graduated from the university, have their own ambition.The endeavour after the success of the launch, son of the cocktail party in celebration of the words said, let DingZhaoZhong is very mixed feelings.That day, all are talked about huan, son suddenly stood up and said to say a few words: "today, is important for me, because I know more days for their own father. My father always one thing, one thing to do, everything is very not easy. Father began to do it when I was a child, now I have graduated from college. My father told me, the influence is a great......"

For scientific research, DingZhaoZhong long-term in Europe's laboratory, and his wife, and children from much less together.He first lady is a great enterprise architects, because its professional work in Europe is restricted, finally had to break up with him, but maintained a friendship, including DingZhaoZhong now wife Susan with each other, but also good friends.Susan is a psychologist, in order to help DingZhaoZhong career, she gave up her own specialty, attend AMS project team, and responsible for experimental project administrative important affairs, including and government departments and contact with all aspects.Every year to the government report, charts, text, budget, are made by her.Now, she has become an important part in the group.

DingZhaoZhong advocate the simple life.Near the French territory in CERN, his house is like a farming curtilage, thatched roof truss beam, log.There are two row lofty and forceful to the back of the pine tree.He said that it was eyeing the trees, just bought this house room.Here the air fresh, away from the noise, the distance from the laboratory also only half an hour's car ride.He drive, setting out early, Saturday and Sunday all go to the laboratory.His regular exercise, main are swimming and fitness implement ride.He said: "swimming and listen to crosstalk, is my amateur hobby. A few days ago to Taiwan, and hotel has a swimming pool, up at six in the morning I go swimming for half an hour, in the 50 m lanes, swim 20 laps. Feel spirit is especially good. Also only in swimming, won't want to AMS. Any other time, the brain can't get rid of all of this thinking."

DingZhaoZhong to own life demand is not high, the more indifferent to fame and wealth.He told me: "after the success of the launch, many university hope I to their school, my pay three times higher than it is now. I said, the money to me it doesn't make sense, I can't leave MIT. I was not the only teaching MIT professor, school to my great support. It's almost fifty years, from 1967 to now, five as dean of the principal, and were very supportive. I won the Nobel Prize, the principal is the Kennedy administration science adviser. I am of the physics department at the Massachusetts institute of technology's first winning the Nobel professor. The school to give me the lecture professor, take out for a large sum of scientific research funding support my research work. You said, how can I be a successful away?"

I said, AMS experiment is a again the Nobel award want, professor shook his head and said: "scientific research can't for the prize and work, especially old to get a Nobel Prize, this is terrible."I ask: "that you find new quarks particles thought would win the prize?"He said: "never thought I was laboratory. On that day, from Sweden, received a telephone call from, the thought is kidding yet. Later, that is really has won the Nobel Prize, I also think, affirmation is the judges was stupid."He at a smile and say: "the development of physics too fast. One man to represent only the famous the contribution of the past; you have no make new things, will soon be forgotten. If fifty years, after one hundred years, people can still remember we the work, I will be satisfied with!"

Indeed, over the past several hundred years, the people to the understanding of the physical world, mostly from experimental physics.As DingZhaoZhong said: the experiment is the foundation of scientific, theory of no experiment proof, is of no significance;The experiment can overturn old theory, create a new theory.For this, he often mention the pioneers of experimental physics, Galileo: that year, Galileo's Pisa experiment, is the first case of accelerator experiment;And he made the first in the telescope objects, proof of Copernicus "heliocentrism", opened up a new era of astronomy.

Galileo had said, and the truth is not be filled with dust in the works of authority, but in the universe, nature of this great without the evidences.Today, facing the vast universe, Galileo's people are continuing to explore the after the truth of nature.They inherits the Galileo not authority, to pursue truth of scientific spirit, they are "contemporary Galileo".

In 1979, when the Vatican amounted to Galileo, who had invited the world famous scientists constituted committee, and DingZhaoZhong is one of them.

Is history coincidence, or to heaven?