Lecture in London. What can you learn about a simple light bulb? A traveler or a farmer? Lecture in Paris. Back home. mother's death.

At the end of 1891, Tesla was invited to read a series of lectures in Europe. London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Budapest and St. Petersburg awaited his performances with the demonstration of extraordinary experiences, which we learned from articles published in popular American magazines.

February 1, 1892, Tesla lost his ship in London and was met with prominent scientists, members of the Royal Society. On February 3, the hall of the London Institute of Electrical Engineers Tesla read his first lecture in Europe for high-frequency currents. More than three hours lasted this unprecedented demonstration of the astonished audience with the novelty and surprise. Brilliant scientist appeared before the audience as a brilliant experimenter and an excellent lecturer.

Continuing to develop his ideas about the necessity of wide use of electromagnetic waves, Tesla said:

- Just as in nature, everything is an ebb and flow, wave oscillations, as in all branches of industry alternating currents, that is, the movement of electric waves, will rule all - the thought was in those years a remarkable prediction. And it was done after only five years since the discovery of the rotating magnetic field and one year after the transfer of Laufen-Frankfurt!

A year before this lecture, Tesla demonstrated to the American Institute of electrical engineers glow lamps and gas-filled tubes or vacuum under the influence of high-voltage high-frequency currents. Here in London, he again showed these experiments, but their considerable diversity. He passed through his body high-frequency currents and causes the light touch of the hand hollow lamp without electrodes.

Hundreds of amazed spectators witnessed not only the glow of the lamps, but also start and stop the electric motor ¹² at a considerable distance. Then, Tesla demonstrated the ability to heating under the influence of high-frequency currents of various subjects as conductors and insulators. All this could be used for a variety of practical purposes and opened up great prospects for electrical engineering.

Turning to the various structural details of some of its vehicles, especially Tesla expounded his theory of the proposed insulation using high-frequency currents and high voltages.

In order to avoid the breakdown of coils of high-voltage coils, Tesla once again invited to apply in the entire high-voltage equipment insulation oil, carefully freed from gas bubbles. This proposal soon found the most wide spread, and to date, high-voltage transformers and oil circuit breakers filled with mineral (transformer) oil. Here it is impossible not to recall the words of Tesla about the importance of insulation for the creation of modern electric power systems, high-voltage transmission lines connected.

- Only when the insulation oil and multiphase alternating currents, - he said - power transmission can be carried out on an industrial scale, by a distance exceeding a thousand miles.

Further, Tesla showed a gaseous medium (eg, air) as the vacuum is transformed from an insulator to a conductor, and the lower the gas pressure, the easier it passes electricity. Paradoxically sound while the assertion that under certain conditions, pipelines could serve as excellent highways for power transmission, with a guide to serve as a rarefied gas.

It would be possible to use layers of the atmosphere and for the transmission of electricity at very long distances without significant losses. Later, Tesla developed the design of the transmitter and received a patent for it, not only in the US but also in Russia, where getting expensive.

The fact that in the upper atmosphere, the air has conductive properties, perfectly well proven aircraft flying at high altitudes. Various problems with electric ignition caused by air conduction persists only when it is almost forgotten assumption Tesla was taken into account.

From Tesla's hypothesis of change in insulating properties of gases as they dilution should be that the earth is a giant condenser: the upper layers of thin air are charged one plate of it, the lower layers at normal pressure are an insulator, and the Earth itself - a second electrode is charged. This idea, as we shall see, has caused the development of an ambitious project of the Earth using an electric charge.

Tesla conducted many experiments on the use of a variety of refractory materials as electrodes for their lamps. One such refractory materials was not long before this artificially created silicon carbide (SiC). Experimenting with him, Tesla came to the conclusion that a small carborundum electrode that can withstand very high temperatures, will make it possible, using high-frequency currents, to obtain "at least 20 times more light than an incandescent lamp gives a modern".

Experiments with carborundum electrodes led Tesla to other remarkable findings. First of all, it is ascertained that the light intensity is set to not heat the electrode (filament) of the lamp, and the intensity of the gaseous medium in which the electrode. But how much receive incandescent gas leaving the electrode and slightly heated glass flask, in which they are placed? First of all, it is necessary to clearly imagine that the glass bulb is only necessary because otherwise there is no way to separate it from the vacuum in normal ambient air pressure. The use of the glass bulb, hence the "... done solely for this device could work as under normal atmospheric pressure, it is unable to act. In the flask, we are able to enhance the intensity of the process at any level."

The brightness of light emitted by the lamp reasoned Tesla, depends mainly on the frequency and voltage, but also by the electric current density at the electrode surface. To increase the density, it is necessary to reduce the dimensions of the electrode. Passing through a high-frequency current, we create repulsion gas molecules on the electrode. These molecules at a high speed hit the glass envelope and lost charge, with even greater speed to fly back electrode and pushed from it, the process is repeated from the flight electrode and back to the glass.

From strikes molecules electrode heating up stronger and stronger and soon begins to give its heat to the surrounding gas. This creates a glowing gas around the electrode as it were fire photosphere, similar to the solar photosphere. Applying refractory electrodes of diamond, silicon carbide, or zirconium oxide, it is possible to obtain the volume of the photosphere is a thousand times greater than the volume of the electrode. At the same time the electrical properties of the gas environment is fast approaching the properties of the electrode, and the photosphere as it merges with the electrode itself. In the future, molecular blows bounced off the glass bulb, not showered on the electrode itself, and on the photosphere, where it is surrounded by. This process increases with greater speed and produces an intense emission of light due to the heating of the photosphere.

During this observation lurk remarkable phenomenon, which drew attention to Tesla. Firstly, it is the principle of the smallest particles dispersal agent circulating between the electrode and the glass bulb and energy storing. It is well known that the principle of acceleration of particles used in modern installations - cyclotrons, and other betatons for production of so-called elementary particles to high energies by which made the study of the internal structure of atomic nuclei. Although these settings and are based on different methods of dispersal, the very idea of ​​particle acceleration to render them more energy in the bud is already contained in the lectures of Nikola Tesla.

Secondly, his observation of the process of movement of particles (corpuscles) in the bulb lighting lamp allows you to submit a picture of the phenomena that occur on the sun. Tesla believed that the central part of the Sun is like a red-hot electrode, surrounded by the photosphere, the host particle strikes, returning from the surrounding space. Another stream of particles with huge electric charges thrown out of the photosphere of the sun and sent into interplanetary space in the form of cosmic radiation.

Tesla not only suggested the existence of corpuscular radiation of the sun and the flux of cosmic particles and calculate their energy finding its voltage equal to hundreds of millions of volts. These data are similar to modern research.

The sun, as well as other red-hot heavenly bodies, behaves exactly the same way as an electrode having a "very high electrical charge. The Sun and the heavenly bodies do not have a glass flask, like the shell of Tesla tubes, and particles of them go at a high speed before meeting gas environments of other celestial bodies, such as Earth.

In the Earth's atmosphere, representing, as we have said, one of the capacitor plates, the particle fluxes cause an electric charge, which, in turn, causes a wide variety of atmospheric phenomena - the Northern Lights, rain, storms and other weather changes. At the same time the outer charge capacitor plates causes a corresponding change in the insulating layer (directly adjacent to the layer of the Earth's atmosphere), and the electric charge of the Earth.

It is known that this conjecture is confirmed by Tesla in modern cosmic ray research: it is from the Sun to the Earth there is a stream of material particles (corpuscles), along with the radio emission of the Sun has a huge impact on meteorological phenomena in the atmosphere. From the Earth is going to meet a stream of particles that reaches the sun. But suspicion is not proof, and Tesla's idea was met with great distrust. "This eccentric believes that the Earth really pours universe garbage has also fabulous energy reserves," - wrote about him one of the magazines in America.

Artificial Earth satellites equipped with appropriate equipment, and will help to explore the corpuscular and electromagnetic radiation from the sun and other celestial bodies, to find the relationship between them and the meteorological phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere to study their influence on the electrical potential of our planet. The beginning of this study put October 4th, 1957, when the first Russian scientists was established in the history of human society of Earth artificial satellite, engineers and workers, and started to study the upper atmosphere.

The lecture Tesla once again returned to the issue of economic lighting and possibility of competition between the different light sources. He said:

- None of the industry electrical industry improvements are not as significant as in the art of light. Every scientist, analyzing the current lighting and barbaric methods unacceptable losses, inevitable even in the best systems must ask themselves: how can there be the light of the future? Will it give a solid body tense, as in modern lamps or incandescent gas phosphorescent body, or some semblance of the burner, but much more effective?

- No, - he answers the question himself Tesla - not a gas burner will light source of the future. Economical production of light can be accomplished with electricity, and the improvement of it can go in three specified ways: the incandescent filament or bulb, incandescent or given in a special state of gas and, finally, the plasma tube - here three light sources, to improve which should work in lighting fixtures all countries. But in any case it is necessary to introduce into common use high frequency currents.

He described Tesla and experience, which is a harbinger of an electron microscope. Having put on a glass flask phosphorescent composition, he watched it enlarged image is in the center of the bulb incandescent bulb. Not being able to explain this phenomenon, Tesla still noticed it and mentioned it in passing. After more than fifty years on the basis described, they phenomena and apparatus for studying electron emission was built, which in turn became the starting point for creating an electronic microscope.

Concluding the lecture, Tesla pointed to a huge, immense scope for electricians who wish to develop this promising branch of knowledge:

- My main desire in presenting these data highlight was the open events and features, as well as to put forward the ideas that I hope will serve as starting points for the following starting points.

New thoughts avalanche fell on the audience, do not have time to follow the particulars and perceive the greatness of design as something that came from the distant future.

Institute Hall could not accommodate all who wish to hear Tesla. Therefore, after the lecture of the Royal Society leaders asked the guest with a request to repeat his message the next day in the ceremonial hall of the society, but Tesla did not like enthusiastic expressions of admiration of students, flatly refused the second lecture. It has been known that it is not in the nature of man to change his decision and there was no hope to persuade him to speak again.

However, the president of the Royal Society wonder instructed to negotiate with Tesla famous Scottish physicist Professor of the Royal Institute to James Dewar, who was known for his incredible persistence in achieving the goal. He invited Tesla to the hall of the Royal Society, sat him in a chair Faraday - a sacred relic of the English science - and again repeated all his arguments about the need to give a lecture. Dewar pointed to the fact that no scientist of the death of Faraday did not receive credit, provided by Tesla. During a conversation Dewar pulled out of the closet started a bottle of whiskey, unfinished at the time Faraday also kept here as a relic, and treated Tesla from the glass, which does not touch anyone's lips after the death of the brilliant English physicist. Such honor could not touch Tesla, and he agreed to give a lecture, but a slightly different content.

Emergency, an extraordinary meeting of the Royal Society of February 4, 1892 chaired by the eminent physicist, company secretary, John Rayleigh, as well as the other participants, the affected experiences and thoughts Tesla. It is not surprising that he has poured out against Tesla's highest praise, extolling his contribution to world science. But desire, which finished Rayleigh expression of his admiration for the skill of guest experiences, testified that he did not take full majestic Tesla designs.

- You are extremely talented scientist - said Raleigh. - My advice is to concentrate its efforts on one of your great ideas, develop it to the end, let the world the opportunity to take advantage of it as soon as possible. As for your desire to solve all the issues, so to speak, with the cosmic scale, it is the right time for this has not yet come. Do you want us too much.

We do not know what the answer was an English physicist Tesla. But this cosmic scale, with nothing comparable to the range of Born and bred them ideas were characteristic of all his work. Rayleigh Council was similar to as if the brave traveler who opens the contours of unknown countries, offered to be seduced by the beautiful nature of one of them and build a cozy farm. No, Tesla wanted to open this new country.

No, not to build a cozy farm, not to engage in the improvement of already found, and quickly move forward. Only it attracted Tesla. And he, in his aspiration could not catch the words in Rayleigh fair warning of the danger to leave for an exciting, but the wrong way. Leave alone.

A few days later we met Nikola Tesla as the greatest celebrity in Paris. February 18 he said to members of the French Physical Society and the International Society of Electrical his first London lecture, and she again was a resounding success. Experiments have made an extraordinary impression and gave a great material for the works of French physicists. Many articles in the French, Russian, German and Austrian journals describing experiments Tesla and expounded his original thoughts.

The next lecture was to be read in Frankfurt, but two days after the speech in Paris - 20 February - Tesla received a telegram from Gospic reported on the severe illness of the mother. The idea that he could not find her alive so scared scientist that he had hired a special express train, domchalis him to Zagreb. Часто меняя лошадей, Тесла за несколько часов приехал в Госпич и застал мать умирающей. Целый день мать и сын провели вместе. Джука Тесла одобрила планы Николы, советуя ему не поддаваться соблазнам, связанным с необычайными успехами в обществе. Наука, одна наука, одна страсть должна владеть им. Эти слова умирающей матери, единственного человека, понявшего полностью величественный замысел своего сына, были ее завещанием.

Ночью она умерла.

Наутро сестры Николы увидели на его голове тонкую седую прядь, резко выделявшуюся на иссиня-черных волосах, напоминавших блеск редкого черного янтаря.

Похоронив мать, Тесла заболел и две недели провел в Пласки у любимой сестры Марицы. В эти дни к нему со всех концов родной страны приходили приглашения побывать и рассказать о своей работе. Особенно настаивали студенты Загреба и Белграда.

И Тесла, отклонивший предложение о дальнейшей поездке в столицы Германии и России, поехал в Белград, показав всему миру, что родная страна бесконечно дорога его сердцу. Студенты Белградской высшей школы собрались перед домом, где он остановился, приветствовали великого ученого бурной овацией. В честь Теслы был дан большой обед.

Присутствовавший на обеде Иован Змай прочел стихи, напечатанные затем в газете "Сербский вестник". В них он назвал Николу Теслу гордостью сербского народа и подчеркнул его неразрывную связь с родиной:

...И тебя, Тесла, в ком Исполинских мыслей рой,

Неодолимо влечет вернуться,

Чтобы поцеловать свою родную землю.

Растроганный Тесла обнял и поцеловал Змая и, обращаясь к собравшимся, сказал:

- У меня есть кое-что, что, может быть, и является заблуждением - это часто бывает у молодых и восторженных людей. Но если мне выпадет счастье осуществить некоторые из моих идей, это явится полезным и добрым делом для всего человечества. Если мои надежды оправдаются, самой дорогой и приятной для меня мыслью будет мысль о том, что это дело серба.

Смерть матери и последние слова ее заставляли задуматься о многом. Наука, одна наука! А разве для него существует еще что-либо, кроме нее? Даже свои великолепные обеды, прославленные в Нью-Йорке едва ли не больше, чем приемы в Белом доме, разве и они не для науки? Не хотел ли он этим привлечь внимание передовых и мыслящих деятелей Америки к своим открытиям?

И все же он ловил себя на мысли о том, что обычный человек со всеми человеческими слабостями и привязанностями вторгается в жизнь большого ученого и мешает ему. Разве не было доли тщеславия в его жизни за последние годы?

Нет, мать права. Наука, одна наука, одна всепоглощающая страсть! Твердое решение изменить образ жизни, не расходовать ни одной минуты на что-либо отвлекающее его от науки придало Тесле бодрость. Расставшись с друзьями, он через Загреб и Вену проехал в Гавр и снова - в третий раз - пересек океан.

В начале лета Тесла уже был на Пятой авеню, среди своих необычайных приборов. Снова работа с утра до поздней ночи - вернее, до рассвета. Снова одинокая жизнь на этот раз в отеле "Гербах". Ни одного званого обеда, ни одного приглашения посетить лабораторию, хотя двери ее, как и ранее, были гостеприимно открыты для близких друзей.

Только семья Джонсонов по-прежнему часто видела его у себя. С Робертом его связывала все крепнущая, искренняя дружба. Катарин Джонсон, женщина красивая и умная, с большой душой и тактом, понимала, как нуждается Никола Тесла в теплом и чутком внимании. Она хорошо знала Теслу, видела все его достоинства и недостатки, разделяла его успехи и неудачи, уважала привычки и привязанности, его благородный в самом высоком смысле слова характер, твердость и настойчивость. Быть может, эта женщина и могла бы стать спутницей жизни одинокого ученого.

Но она была женой друга Теслы... И все-таки доброта и какое-то родственное влечение этой женщины к Тесле сыграли в его жизни большую роль. За много лет их дружбы она не раз поддерживала его в трудную минуту.

Тесла твердо решил отказаться от мысли о женитьбе и возвел это решение в принцип, утверждая, что женитьба нужна лишь "писателям и музыкантам, так как она способствует их вдохновению. Ученый же должен посвящать все свои чувства только науке, ибо, поделив их, он не сможет дать науке все, что от него требуется".

Одиночество стало для него привычным, и он считал, что только оно дает возможность настоящего творчества.

"Быть одному - вот то время, когда рождаются идеи", - писал он в одном из писем. Быть одному! Верно ли это?..

Бесспорно, Тесла был прав, считая уединение от суеты и шума, бесплодных споров и пустых дискуссий самой благоприятной обстановкой для глубокого, оригинального научного творчества. Именно в таких условиях были сделаны многие важнейшие научные открытия, созданы величайшие творения человеческого гения.

Но это уединение не должно отрывать ученого от жизни, от поставленных ею задач. Оно не должно отрывать ученого от широкого общения с другими учеными, от коллектива, ибо давно уже прошло то время, когда одному энциклопедически образованному ученому удавалось находить истину в тиши кабинета.

Тесла искал одиночества лишь потому, что хотел сделать как можно больше для науки, для блага людей. Ради этого он отказался от всех житейских удовольствий, замкнулся в научном творчестве. Но в тех случаях, когда его знания и огромный авторитет могли принести несомненную пользу, Тесла с кипучей энергией участвовал в общественной жизни. Многие годы он принимал участие в работе Американского института электроинженеров и был одно время его вице-президентом. Но в личной жизни Тесла был всегда одинок. Он часто вспоминал мать, ее последние слова, ее завет. Однажды утром, взглянув в зеркало, Тесла с удивлением заметил исчезновение седой пряди волос. Она снова была черной.