Niels Bohr, Soren Kierkegaard, and Copenhagen

Niels Bohr at the Univ. of Copenhagen (above), and Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen.

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

Evolution of the Hydrogen Atom. What can you say about this hadron?

Niels Bohr devoted much of his time to the hydrogen atom. In so doing he witnessed the transition from classical to quantum mechanics. Indeed, the present form of quantum mechanics makes sense to us thanks to Bohr's ideology known to us as the Copenhagen interpretation. We all are grateful to him.

Like all of us, Bohr had a great respect for Einstein. Whenever he mentions the word "space," he says "space and time" in his writings. He was very sincere to the questions raised by Einstein. Einstein's objection to the Copenhagen interpretation is well known, and is still being debated in the literature as the "EPR" problem. I have nothing to add to this debate on this webpage.

• Bohr did not introduce new dynamical variables to physics, but he introduced an important variable to physicists. His variable was "faith." He had his faith in physics and in his interpretation of quantum mechanics. How did he then develop the concept of faith?

  It is known that Bohr was influenced by a Danish philosopher named Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Since Bohr was born in 1985, he did not have personal influence from Kierkegaard. Yet, Kierkegaard was an important figure to all Danish young students at Bohr's time. He is still influential throughout the world as one of the originators of Existentialism. I do not know too much about this branch of philosophy, but I like Jean Paul Sartre who was the ultimate existentialist. Whenever I go to Paris, the Cafe Deux Magots is my favorite place, where Sartre used to preach young men and women. I go there to meet existentialists.

• Kierkegaard was a theologian and devoted much of his efforts to define the word "faith," and concluded that the faith always invites "doubts." This could be an influence from Immanuel Kant (people have different ways to look at the thing). Naturally, Kiekegaard's definition of faith did not sit well with that of the Danish Church, and he was a controversial figure while he was alive.

  It is very safe to say that Bohr had his faith in the Copenhagen interpretation. He knew that his faith would invite doubts. This seems to the reason why he enjoyed receiving doubts from Einstein, and kept his respect for him.

  While Bohr used the hydrogen atom as a tool for making the transition from classical to quantum mechanics, he never considered the possibility of the proton in other than the absolute frame. At his time, it was not possible to conceive the hydrogen atom moving with a relativistic speed. But things are different these days. The hydrogen atom became the proton with the quarks as constituent particles. These new hydrogen atom can move with a velocity very close to that of light.

• We all respect Niels Bohr. The best way to respect him is therefore to augment Einstein's Lorentz covariance to his hydrogen atom and to his Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics.

  Niels Bohr was not the only one with faith in physics. Albert Abraham Michelson had his faith in the absolute frame, and his faith invited doubts resulting in Einstein's relativity. Joseph Weber had his faith in gravitational waves, but he invited doubts from all directions. Yet, thanks to his faith, many bright people are working on detection of the gravitational waves these days. I always brag about my photo with this man of fath.

• Geoffrey Chew had a faith in his bootstrap dynamics. His faith was echoed by Freeman Dyson in 1965. I raised my doubt on Dyson's interpretation of bootrapism in 1966. Chew also raised his doubt on his own faith. Yet, the Chew-Frautchi plot became the starting point for internal space-time structure of hadrons in two ways. Click here for details.

  1. It became the starting point for string theory, whose ultimate goal is to understand internal space-time structure of particles.

  2. In 1971, Feynman and his students converted the Chew-Frautchi plot into harmonic oscillator degeneracy. This aspect is too easy to understand, but this has been my faith since 1973. Good physics should be based on simple mathematics. This is the only way to make contacts with the real world. With this faith, how far did I go?

  Geoffrey Chew's faith had an impact in the history of physics. Physics is a difficult and highly competitive subject. One cannot survive without faith. If there are doubts about your faith, they are important components of your faith. This is Kierkegaard's ideology transmitted to us by Niels Bohr.

I love Denmark!

I was born and raised in Korea and came to the United States in 1954 after high-school graduation. During my time, Korea was a predominantly agricultural country, and farmers constituted 80% of the population. I heard about Denmark as an advanced agricultural country. I still remember a quotation from a Danish poet saying "God gave us the empty land as his best gift." There are many Christians in Korea, and I heard about Soren Kierkegaard as an influential theologian.

Danish hospital ship "Jutlandia" in Korea. photo from the United Nations.

Mahogany cabinet in my house. It came from Denmark.

• During the Korean War (1950-53), Denmark sent to Korea a first-class hospital ship with 300 beds. The ship was called Jutlandia. I was once on that ship and became impressed.

  How did I get on the ship? My uncle got his PhD degree from Northwestern University (north of Chicago) in 1933, and became a big shot among Korean medical doctors after Americans came to Korea in 1945. He had to pay a courtesy vivit to this floating hospital, and I accompanied him. My uncle was 15 years older than my father, and he was like a grandfather to me.

• In 1959, while I was a graduate student, Charlie Misner came back from Denmark after spending two years at the Niels Bohr Institute. He came with a Danish wife. I was envious. How could I pick up a Danish girl?

  When I got married and bought a house, I had to furnish my house. I bought many items from Denmark. My dining table and chairs were made in Denmark. My living room sofa, dining room cabinet, and coffee table in my recreation room are all from Denmark.

• Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport is a convenient stop-over place in Europe. If you wish to go to Copenhagen, you should get off here. There are also many connecting flights.
  1. The Hilton Copenhagen Airport is a nice place to stay. Its bedrooms are furnished in Danish style.
  2. The Dining Room serves rich and healthy items. You can tell you are in an exemplary agricultural country. When I was there in 2004, the dining room hostess was quite knowledgeable about the Washington are where I live. She spent ten years working at one of the Hiltons in Washington. I had a photo with her.
  3. Korean Tourists. I become very happy whenever I meet Korean tourists. Korea was a one of the poorest countries when I left in 1954, but these days, Koreans are spending their vacations in Europe and North America. Koreans like to stay at Hilton hotels.
  4. Airline Ladies brighten hotel lobbies. Since this Hilton is so close to the airport, many airline crews stay there. I was fortunate enough to have a photo with these KLM ladies (2006).
  5. To Sweden. From this airport, we can take an east-ward train going directly to Sweden across a long bridge. There are many windmills planted in the sea.

  6. To Copenhagen. We can take a westward train to reach the Copenhagen Central Station.
  7. Trains coming to the Central Station and a view of the city. This photo was taken from the 15th floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel across the street from the Central Station.

• Tivoli Gardens is next to the central railroad station. This is an amusement park for the people of all ages. I have been there twice, and took a number of photos.
  1. Northern Entrance to the Tivoli.
  2. Chinese Pavilion.
  3. Boat-riding Pond.
  4. Comedians, and another set of Comedians. They should entertain those who do not understand Danish language. They seem to speak their bodily language very well.
  5. Enchanted Children and Parents. They are all happy.
  6. Light Classical Music.
  7. Students of All Ages, from different countries.

• Copenhagen's City Hall has its its history, but many interesting events take place at the city hall plaza.
  1. For Freedom. I asked one of of these picket holders what they are for or against. She said the city of Copenhagen does not give enough freedom to new immigrants. I had a photo with her. She said all men and women should be treated equally.
  2. Bodily Language. These people are expressing their views uing bodily language. Here is another scenc.
  3. Vikings! I asked these Vikings what they are for. They are supporting the Danish footabll team at an international match. Here is another group of football enthusiasts.
  4. Hyundai Festival. This Korean car maker is giving rock concerts and other advertising efforts at this city plaza, using two stages. The company is showing off one of their models appealing to young people. I was very happy to see this scene, because Koreans could make only oxcarts in 1950 when Denmark sent the first-class hospital ship Jutlandia to Korea.

• Entrance to Fredericksburg Street of the Latin Quarter, Copenhagen's main shopping district.
  1. One of the non-American Burger Shops.
  2. She is showing off her talent. Creative Art!
  3. Korean Tourists in one of the gift shops. They are engineers working for Samsung. I become very happy when I meet Korean tourists in Europe.
  4. There are many classy restaurants.

  5. The Original Campus of the University of Copenhagen is also in the Latin Quarter. This site is largely symbolic. Most of the university's teaching and research activities are taking place at many modern facilities throughout the city.
     • Statue of Niels Bohr.
     • Courtyard with an Old Tree.
  6. Our Lady's Church is next to the University, the oldest church in Denmark!
     • Interior of the Church.
     • This Obelisk on the Church Yard tells thus church once played a powerful role in Denmark.

  7. There are many Amber Shops. Ambers are collected from Copenhagen's Baltic coasts.
     • This Amber Museum contains a collection of jewelries once owned by a wealthy family.
     • This Ukrainian Lady is happy because I bought some items from her amber shop.

• Hans Christian Andersen wrote many enchanting stories for young people. His stories are also educational.
  1. Photo with Andersen. It was a pleasure to have a photo with this famous man in Copenhagen.
  2. Also with Ms. Copenhagen Mermaid.
  3. Delicious Fruits and Vegetables are expected from this agricultural country.
  4. Danish Pastry in Denmark. There are many Danish pastry shops in the United States, but the shop in Copenhagen was special to me.
  5. Jensen's Beef House. Danish ham known to be delicious. How about Danish beef? Great! I had a steak dinner inside this beef house.
• City Center Park. Denmark is known as a garden state. This park is located at the center of Copenhagen.
  1. Nice Place to walk around.
  2. This Old Building enhances the park environment.
  3. Bicycles. We heard that Copenhagen is a flat city.

  4. Copenhagen's Dockside is also a very nice place where people can relax. There are many cafes and restaurants.
  5. These young people are expressing their views at one of the dining places.
  6. Dockside Houses. There are many beautiful houses. One of these houses (red one) was once owned by Hans Christian Andersen.

• Independence Day of the Philippines. I met these two Philipino ladies at a drinking room in Copenhagen's Marriott Hotel where I stayed in 2002. They told me they were making preparations for the celebration of their country's independence day on the 12th day of June. They then invited me to the celebration. At that time, I was going to Sweden for a conference and was going to come back to Copenhagen a week later. I thus accepted their invitation, and went to the party.
  1. Traditional Dance of the Philippines.
  2. Another Dance Scene.
  3. My photo with a Philipino lady with her traditional dress.
  4. Another Photo. I always wanted to meet Philipino ladies with their winged dresses. I was very happy.
  There are many immigrants from different parts of the world. There are some social problems, but they are for politicians to worry about. The immigrants seem to be happy to be in Copenhagen, based on what I observed at this party.

• MacDonald's and American influence.
  1. Audrey Hepburn was born in England, but she represents the United States throughout the world.
  2. Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken in front of the City Hall.
  3. New Yorker. I saw another New Yorker store in Riga (Latvia), but I have not seen this store in New York. In either case, this is an American influence.
  4. Seven and Eleven at the Central Railroad Station.
  5. To Las Vegas. These young men are heading to the United States for vacation. They are going to Las Vegas. They expect to make money there to pay for their local expenses. An American dream!

To be continued. I have many more photos. Please come again!

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