Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 244 This is truly a miracle!
"With the participation of the great god Zhang Shuo, mankind is about to enter the era of nuclear fusion!"

"Zhang Shuo has made tremendous breakthroughs in mathematics and physics research. He will guide nuclear fusion control technology in a new direction and truly master nuclear fusion technology!"

"His new theory can support the use of electromagnetic regulation to stably control nuclear fusion reactions, thereby continuously outputting clean energy..."

"This will break the barriers of nuclear fusion control technology that have existed for decades..."

There are a lot of optimistic voices in public opinion.

Many people even began to imagine what it would be like when entering the nuclear fusion era, mainly because of their confidence in Zhang Shuo, because Zhang Shuo is the top academic star.

This kind of public opinion environment has even affected the financial industry and the international energy market.

Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal were affected and futures fell sharply the next day.

In the professional scientific research and academic fields, people are relatively more rational.

Since the nuclear fusion technology was proposed, it has not been able to achieve stable control until now. Its biggest limitation is that the nuclear fusion reaction is too intense. When the reaction breaks out, the temperature of the internal ionized reaction material will exceed 100 million degrees Celsius.

If the temperature is below 100 million degrees Celsius, the reaction cannot continue.

This is the biggest limitation.

How can we achieve continuous and stable control of such a high-intensity reaction?
The most effective control method proposed and mastered by humans is the Tokamak spiral magnetic field technology. A large number of experiments have proved that the Tokamak spiral magnetic field device can make nuclear fusion stable. However, due to the extremely high requirements of materials and control technology, the reaction time of each large-scale device built is not long.

Zhang Shuo proposed a new control method, which is to stabilize the reaction through electromagnetic regulation.

This is equivalent to proposing a completely new physics that breaks conventional cognition, and for the time being there is only "imperfect" theoretical support.

An imperfect theory is certainly not necessarily feasible.

Even if there is no problem with the theory, when you actually start the experiment, you may encounter various technical difficulties.

Of course, the perception of the scientific and academic circles does not affect public opinion.

This also caused some embarrassment for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization.

They are the world's largest and most influential international nuclear fusion scientific research cooperation organization, with more than 100 member teams and institutions.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization's main development direction is the tokamak device, and several of its member teams and organizations have built tokamaks.

If the new technical solution proposed by Zhang Shuo is correct, or to be more precise, can control nuclear fusion more effectively than the tokamak device, then wouldn't all their research and efforts be wasted?
That’s decades of hard work and investment!

The member institutions of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization are also discussing the issue of new directions. Some people even hope that what Zhang Shuo said is true, because their research will lose its meaning at that time, and they may even no longer receive funding to continue their research.

The same is true for the domestic 'artificial sun' project team.

They are also a member of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization, and one of the most important members.

The two leaders of the project team, Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang, were also discussing this issue.

Song Ruifei sighed, "No wonder Zhang Shuo came to visit last time. It turns out that he is also studying nuclear fusion, and he has found a new method. I don't know if it is correct."

"If the new approach is feasible, our project..."

He just shook his head as he spoke.

This is the embarrassing thing. If the new method proves feasible, the artificial sun project will undoubtedly be greatly affected.

Their project team is conducting research and development directly towards application, and hopes that in the next 20 years or more, they will be able to use their research to support the construction of a nuclear power plant supported by nuclear fusion technology.

But a plan is just a plan. We can only estimate a time now. It is still too early to talk about application.

Their greatest achievement is the realization of 400-second steady-state long-pulse high-confined mode plasma operation using a fully superconducting tokamak device.

This is a world record, which is very remarkable in the research of tokamak devices.

However, it is too far away from application.

For application, it must be able to be maintained all the time, and it also requires more active ionic substances, that is, to maintain a higher temperature inside.

There are currently many research directions in the artificial sun project. Even if there are breakthroughs in each direction, there is still a long way to go before it can be applied.

Shao Enjiang also had a bitter face. He thought for a while and said, "It has been proven that the origin theory is correct. At least the basics are correct."

"Professor Zhang Shuo is very strong in the field of theoretical physics. I think there should be no problem with the theory, but I am not sure whether he can be put into technical research."

"I think we should also start preparing. Projects are one thing. I am doing research on nuclear fusion, so at least we cannot fall behind in terms of technological knowledge."

Song Ruifei nodded in agreement.

If we put aside the artificial sun project, they are all top scholars in the field of nuclear fusion. They are outstanding internationally in terms of both technology and theory.

When a new technology comes out, they must at least not lag behind in terms of cognition.

If tokamak control technology does become obsolete, they will also be able to gain a foothold in the new technology field.

Song Ruifei thought about it and said, "How about this, there is no definite news in the public opinion, it's just some speculation, why don't we go and talk to Professor Zhang Shuo in person?"

"That's a good idea!"

Shao Enjiang said, "No matter what the new technology is, we can just ask in person. Then, we can prepare in advance."

……

Public opinion at home and abroad is discussing Zhang Shuo's participation in research on nuclear fusion, and even discussing whether nuclear fusion technology will achieve a qualitative breakthrough as a result.

Zhang Shuo just smiled at this. He did study a method to control nuclear fusion, but when it comes to the extreme of technical experiments, it is just "maybe feasible".

In addition, he did not intend to actually engage in experimental research.

Mainly, the cost outweighs the gain.

If it's just about controlling nuclear fusion, he has a method that requires less investment and lower requirements, and he is also preparing to conduct research on it.

First, the strength test is completed.

"In terms of strong force measurement, the artificial sun project device is better."

"The equipment at the Institute of Nuclear Physics can only meet initial needs. To complete the theory, the requirements will be higher."

This is also where the trouble lies.

The artificial sun project is too large, and they cannot adjust and modify the equipment for Zhang Shuo's research.

Whatever you think, will come true.

While Zhang Shuo was waiting for news from the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Song Ruifei, Shao Enjiang and a few people came to the Source Point Theory Research Center.

The last time they went to the artificial sun project experimental base, Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang received Zhang Shuo very warmly. This time, the other party brought people over, and Zhang Shuo also received them personally.

They walked into the Origin Point Theory Research Center together, visited the laboratory on the side, and then entered the main building of the research center.

Song Ruifei talked about the main topic, "Professor Zhang Shuo, your electromagnetic control method... is it feasible?"

The question was a bit rude, but he asked it anyway.

Zhang Shuo was not surprised. He said calmly, "It's just a theory."

Then he smiled and said, "There are many opinions in public opinion. In fact, I am not prepared to invest in research. I just elaborated a method to control nuclear fusion reactions based on theoretical research."

“It may work, or it may not. Once we get to the experimental stage, we may run into many technical problems that are difficult to solve.”

His words were very frank. Song Ruifei, Shao Enjiang and others were obviously relieved.

"It seems that the rumors are not credible." Song Ruifei laughed.

Shao Enjiang also nodded and said, "There has been a lot of talk in the public opinion, and some physicists have come forward, saying that you want to research new nuclear fusion technology..." He smiled and shook his head.

Zhang Shuo followed up the topic and said, "In fact, the research I want to conduct is indeed related to nuclear fusion. It is to measure the ion state environment during the nuclear fusion reaction."

"I've already said it last time. It's about determining the strong value. This is very important for theoretical research."

Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang nodded together.

The last time Zhang Shuo went to the artificial sun project base, he said that he wanted to study the strong force problem and also asked for a lot of experimental data.

Zhang Shuo continued, "I need not only data, but also internal measurements in experiments."

"After my last visit to your base, I went to the Institute of Nuclear Physics. They have a small tokamak device, and I decided to use that device to conduct experiments."

Song Ruifei asked doubtfully, "Can that device be activated? Even if it can be activated, it will only last for a short time, right? As far as I know, it should last less than five seconds."

There is no confidentiality in domestic nuclear fusion research. Everyone in the circle knows which institution has what kind of device.

There are several researchers in the artificial sun project team who are from the Institute of Nuclear Physics, and they are very familiar with the institute's nuclear fusion device.

This does not involve any confidentiality issues, because nuclear fusion research cannot be applied and can be classified as "pure investment" research.

Zhang Shuo was not surprised that Song Ruifei knew the situation. He nodded and said, "They said three seconds, which is indeed too short. It can only produce high-temperature ionic substances with a temperature of tens of millions."

Tens of millions, cannot reach 1 million degrees Celsius, and cannot keep the nuclear fusion reaction going.

He changed the subject and said, "I worked with others to study the internal structure and developed a new internal adjustment plan for them."

"The equipment is being modified according to the plan. If everything goes well, the reaction time may exceed ten seconds, and the temperature will reach the critical line of 100 million degrees Celsius."

"This maintenance time and temperature are about the same."

Zhang Shuo said this calmly.

Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang were both confused. They felt they could understand all the words, so why did they feel wrong when put together?

Internal design modification of the Tokamak device?
The duration is increased from three seconds to more than ten seconds, and the temperature can be maintained at 100 million degrees Celsius?

This is crazy!
Song Ruifei felt that he had misheard. He tried to digest it for a long time, then took a deep breath and asked in confirmation, "Professor Zhang Shuo, are you talking about modifying the internal structure of the device? Are you referring to the structure of the reaction pathway?"

Zhang Shuo nodded affirmatively, "The main body is the structure of the reaction pathway."

"This one……"

"This one……"

Song Ruifei held it in for a long time without saying anything, while Shao Enjiang said bluntly, "Isn't it possible?"

Zhang Shuo didn't care about the two people's reactions. Tang Hua and Zhang Bingqing had the same reaction at that time. He just said, "The transformation of that device should be completed soon. I'm waiting for news."

"If you don't believe it, you can go and see it."

……

Song Ruifei, Shao Enjiang and their group stayed at the Source Point Theory Research Center for an afternoon, visited the main building of the research center, and the laboratory at the back, and then walked out together.

When they set out on the return journey, Song Ruifei could no longer hold back his expression and said to Shao Enjiang solemnly, "Do you believe it?"

Shao Enjiang pursed his lips and shook his head vigorously, "By changing the structure of the reaction pathway, we can increase the duration of the controlled reaction..."

"I can't figure it out!"

"Tokamak devices are internationally unified, the only difference is the materials!"

"If adjusting the internal channel structure could have such a big effect, wouldn't it have been adjusted long ago? It has been like this for decades..."

"Yes!"

Song Ruifei nodded in agreement, "I also think it's impossible, but what if it is? Let's go and take a look."

"Then we must go and see it!" Shao Enjiang said calmly.

They have been engaged in nuclear fusion research and tokamak device research, and they found it incredible to hear that adjusting the internal passages could increase the maintenance time.

In this case, you must go to the site to have a look.

After returning to the artificial sun project base, Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang did not wait long before they learned that the Institute of Nuclear Physics was going to conduct device experiments, and they immediately led the team to the Institute of Nuclear Physics.

They arrived a little early, as there was still one day left before the scheduled experiment time.

The device is now being preheated and is also undergoing various tests in preparation for tomorrow's experiments.

Since they were all engaged in research on nuclear fusion and tokamak devices, Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang were not strangers. They knew Tang Hua and Zhang Bingqing.

The first thing Zhang Bingqing said when he saw Song Ruifei was, "Are you here to steal our technology?"

"This is not okay!"

If it were before, Song Ruifei would definitely have been dismissive. The artificial sun project has the country's leading tokamak device and would not even look down on the small device of the Institute of Nuclear Physics.

It's different now.

If the small device at the Institute of Nuclear Physics can maintain a reaction time of more than ten seconds, they really have to "steal" some technology back.

Although they arrived a day earlier, Song Ruifei and others were not idle. They are all professionals and also participated in the experimental preparation work.

The two teams also had a brief exchange.

When it comes to research on tokamak devices, Song Ruifei's team has a natural sense of superiority. Whether in theory, technology, or experimental equipment, they are better than the Institute of Nuclear Physics.

When talking about the transformation plan proposed by Zhang Shuo, the people in Song Ruifei's team could only listen.

Wu Xiaodong participated in Zhang Shuo's research on the scheme. He is very confident about the experiment to be carried out. "This is the scheme that Professor Zhang Shuo led us to research. There were a lot of calculations in the middle, and they all proved that the scheme is effective."

"I believe it can last for more than ten seconds. At least in theory, there is no problem."

Other people involved in the research also echoed, "It's indeed no problem, I am also very confident."

"It all depends on tomorrow's experiment!"

"Just wait for your surprise. Nuclear fusion technology will still depend on our Institute of Physics..."

The people in Song Ruifei's team could only remain silent. They had no idea what the renovation plan was, so naturally they couldn't express their opinions.

Song Ruifei and Shao Enjiang looked at the parameters of the small tokamak device together, including materials, performance, electronic systems, etc.

They can evaluate device performance based on simple data.

"Even if everything is normal with this device, it won't be able to maintain its response time for more than five seconds."

"The internal plasma temperature cannot exceed 60 million degrees Celsius, otherwise there will be problems."

"At this temperature, we can't even ignite it!"

"If it can really last for more than ten seconds and the temperature can reach 1 million degrees Celsius, it will really be a miracle..."

(End of this chapter)