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I Pioneered Scientific Magic - Chapter 501
🕑 Added 2024-04-12 23:36:41 +0000 UTCChapter 501: Wave Theory and Double-Slit Experiment
The temporary meeting next to the Holy City lasted several hours before finally concluding. Before dispersing, Harof announced an important piece of news: in three months, a grand academic symposium will be convened in the capital for wizards across the entire empire. Lynn Maxwell, interested in the developments in magical studies, had not been able to focus much on the field during his year of military campaigns, but the advent of the first-generation camera showed that the innovation in basic magical theory never ceased, even showing explosive growth.
The symposium was bound to be lively and would foster much exchange.
Magical development cannot occur in isolation; each breakthrough must withstand experimentation and public scrutiny.
Even after the meeting, the barrage of groundbreaking news kept the assembly members' discussions alive, with Lynn's wizard mass production plan being the most frequently mentioned.
Lynn Maxwell, always able to propose astonishing ideas, could indeed bring about the emergence of hundreds of thousands of wizards across the continent in just a few years. "Speaker Lynn, how much progress has been made in the construction and research of the Magic Network? Do you still need more personnel, and when can it be implemented?" Tiek asked enthusiastically as he stepped out of the meeting room.
The temptation to advance to a great wizard was immense, and Tiek was not the only one concerned about the Magic Network's construction; many members eagerly approached Lynn Maxwell, the star of magic, for insights.
According to Lynn, once the Magic Network was completed, every wizard could join and experience higher realms of power through it.
However, anyone with a bit of sense could tell that the computing power of the Magic Network would be insufficient, hence Lynn's comments about limiting the daily spellcasting of new wizards.
With at least five thousand third-ring wizards in the empire waiting for advancement, everyone wanted to access more computing power to perceive the power of a great wizard, which would inevitably lead to a first-come, first-served issue.
Nobody wanted to be the one left waiting, and this queue could stretch into years.
Thus, ingratiating oneself with Lynn, the creator of the Magic Network, became crucial—after all, accessing computational power to aid one's advancement was merely a matter of Lynn's say-so. Amid the enthusiastic crowd and flattery, Lynn was weary of such insincere interactions.
If it were a debate on magic studies, he could engage with these hundreds of members for days on end without stopping.
"The general model of the spell has been completed, and I am currently developing a spell that allows every wizard to connect to the Magic Network anywhere, anytime. We should see results in three days..."
Lynn responded succinctly to the inquiries. In reality, the Magic Ring could directly connect to the Magic Network, but this was too obvious and easily aroused suspicions, so he devised a small spell using magic projection and conscious transmission specifically for linking to the Magic Network.
Like a magical version of the internet, where magic serves as the transmitter, linking not computers but the minds of wizards! "Regarding the order of accessing computational power to perceive realms..." Lynn hesitated, as Tiek and others suspected, the Magic Network's computational power could not possibly serve so many simultaneously.
Allowing a third-ring wizard to briefly touch the realm of a great wizard was not simple; initially, the brain drained the power of nine third-ring wizards, allowing Lynn a brief experience of the great wizard's level.
After the war, these nine either died on the spot or became vegetative.
According to Lynn's estimate, without affecting daily life, it would take the computational power of at least thirty wizards of the same level.
Allowing ten third-ring wizards a minute of sensing the great wizard's realm each day was already generous, as not all computational power could be wasted here.
Lynn intended to distribute these slots fairly, having just become the speaker, and engaging in favoritism would leave a bad impression.
Lynn soon thought of a relatively fair and motivating method. "Let's just base it on contributions, whether it's military achievements, research in magical theory, or the development of new spells, all of which can be converted into corresponding points to buy usage rights for the Magic Network!"
"How many points are needed for one use? And how are military achievements converted?" a member asked, frowning.
"That's for you to consider." Lynn shrugged. The detailed regulations, of course, had to be discussed and drafted by the assembly, and he had no spare time to waste on this.
He was only responsible for agreeing or sending it back for revisions! Providing computational power was just one of many functions of the Magic Network, with more still under development. Lynn hoped that one day, the Magic Network could cover all aspects, truly living up to its name!
After setting the requirements for using the Magic Network, Lynn adopted an impartial stance, turning down many close invitations to banquets.
With the situation so perilous, Eila might return at any moment, and yet they still had the leisure to hold song and
dance parties?
Have you completed today's meditation? Have you learned the existing magical theories? How much have you mastered calculus and electromagnetic equations?
Under Lynn's relentless questioning, the surrounding members had no choice but to disperse reluctantly, understanding that it was unlikely to gain any advantage from this star of magic by resorting to shortcuts.
Lynn also took the opportunity to hint that he was persuading the senior members of the Secret Arts Society to see if the Magic Network could be linked with the microcosm to facilitate mutual aid, as a precautionary measure.
...
The news of Lynn's wizard mass production plan and the upcoming academic symposium, promoted by the Magic Daily, spread across the entire empire like the wind.
The previously complacent wizards, buoyed by the smooth progress of the war, immediately perked up, eager as if infused with new life.
Especially those third-ring wizards nearing the end of their lifespans saw new hope: once promoted to great wizards, not only could they extend their lives, but they could also enter the council and become members with decision-making power.
Even great wizards like Alade, who didn't need to perceive realms, might need the Magic Network's aid when advancing to legendary status in the future.
The magic power and energy consumed by the legendary advancement ceremony were astronomical, and these were not freely provided by the council; tangible achievements were needed in exchange.
Now, with the war against the empire drawing to a close and fewer opportunities to gain military achievements, the upcoming academic symposium became particularly significant. If one could obtain a few academic honors medals, they would surely get priority access to the Magic Network's usage rights.
Due to recent developments in optics, electromagnetism, mechanics, gravitation, and advanced mathematics, there were numerous fields to tackle, with any advancement in these areas sufficient to earn a Morning Star Medal. A breakthrough would securely earn a Silver Moon Medal!
Some wizards also placed their hopes on discovering the dozens of new elements missing from the "Periodic Table of Elements," while the kingdom's victorious musketeer corps received little attention during this period.
It was merely a matter of conquering a few cities today and dealing with a rebellion tomorrow.
Absolute technological supremacy, coupled with the collapse of the church's divine magic system, could not prevent the continual defeats of the empire's united aristocracy and military.
In just one month of the magic kingdom shifting from defense to offense, there had been seven instances of soldiers defecting on the battlefield—facing an armored onslaught and a sky-darkening fleet of airships without divine magic support, the empire's troops were best described as utterly collapsible.
To change this unfavorable situation, the empire's royalty and aristocracy devised several tactics.
For instance, sending a trusted guard to feign defection, then causing internal chaos from within, combining external attacks with internal subversion to achieve victory against the odds!
However, after spending some time in cities under the kingdom's control, these supposed defectors simply surrendered outright, selling out their comrades cleanly.
There was no helping it; the conditions offered on the other side were too good. Even as prisoners, they were treated better than as frontline soldiers in the empire, with rumors that those sent to mine or construct roads not only received sufficient food but also had two days off each month.
If willing to genuinely reform, they even had a chance to be released and start anew.
Under such circumstances, no soldier wanted to fight a war with no glimpse of victory.
Meanwhile, in the nearly depleted Lake Ells by the City of Fire Oil, the Thunder Wizards, having exhausted their magical power extracting kilograms of tritium and deuterium elements, devoted their remaining energy to academic research.
Compared to their comrades involved in the war against the empire, they, stationed in the safer rear areas, avoided the risk of death but also missed out on opportunities to gain military achievements.
Of course, hard work was still involved; the successful operation of the fusion reactor relied on their tireless efforts, with the nearly ionized Lake Ells as the best proof!
With so many sharing the credit, the portion reaching each individual was less, making it difficult to stand out and secure a spot for promotion to great wizard or legendary wizard.
Fortunately, being in a safe area also meant having ample time and resources for academic pursuits.
Those mastering thunder magic had a natural advantage in researching electric and magnetic fields, although Geoffrey, equally skilled in thunder magic, chose not to focus on electromagnetism because too many others were already doing so; he needed to find a different path.
And he was more interested in studying optics!
What is light?
According to previous wizarding knowledge, light might be an extremely minute element, invisible to the naked eye.
It's said this hypothesis originated from a great wizard specializing in optics, who one day, while bathing, saw particulate light as the sunlight filtered through the window into the steamy room!
But Geoffrey didn't believe this was anything more than light illuminating floating dust particles, a natural phenomenon that could be well explained by
Lynn's invention of the cloud chamber.
Another point further solidified his theory: the phenomenon of light diffusing did not comply with the so-called element theory!
This had to be wrong!
Geoffrey felt he was on the verge of discovering the truth, and his ambition swelled.
Optics was a crucial field, and Lynn Maxwell had promised that whoever could unravel the nature of light would be nominated for a Corona Medal!
With this achievement, he would be the first to be promoted to legendary status, right after the few speakers!
"Professor, the setup for Experiment No. 35 is complete!"
As Geoffrey fantasized, several wizard apprentices spoke cautiously, with seven experimental devices already set up before them.
Each device was equipped with a laser emitter, capable of emitting red, green, blue, orange, purple, and other colors.
Behind each emitter were several baffles with holes of various sizes drilled into them.
Geoffrey approached the experimental table and carefully observed the scattering of light as it passed through these baffle holes, furrowing his brows in deep thought after only a few minutes.
When a beam of light passed through a relatively wide hole, its path formed a very standard conical shape, aligning with the common understanding that light travels in parallel paths.
However, when passing through a very narrow slit, it was a different story; the scattering of light significantly increased, with a cone larger than the original light beam forming behind the baffle, and even faint circular light rings appearing in the surrounding shadows.
Geoffrey pondered for a long time, holding a piece of paper filled with conclusions from previous experiments, three of which were circled as certainties.
First, monochromatic light is indivisible. Second, the same medium refracts different colors to varying degrees. Third, all colors exhibit a diffusion phenomenon, and it does not disappear even as their intensity weakens.
Now it was time to explore the fourth key point, and the most crucial: the in-depth study of light diffusion.
Geoffrey tightly held an ink-dipped feather pen, yet hesitated to make a move for a long while.
"Professor, how about adding more holes to the baffle and trying again?" a male wizard suddenly suggested.
Their previous experiments had always involved single-hole baffles, but what about double or even triple holes?
"We could also change the shape of the holes, like triangular or rectangular, maybe we'll find something new..." another apprentice suggested.
Geoffrey suddenly saw the light, realizing he hadn't yet attempted these modifications.
"Let's try that."
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