I am devoted to scientific research, but you want to trick me into having a love relationship?

Chapter 649 You've got quite an appetite, kid.

The small town of Princeton in the United States is busier than usual.

With the injection of 5000 million yuan, the superconducting thin film project has become much larger, with two laboratories and the team nearly halved in size, now reaching 62 people.

The goal is also clear: to produce high-performance, flexible iron-based superconducting thin films, LaNiO.

office.

Although Professor Maxwell's face was full of fatigue, his eyes revealed excitement.

"The topological experiment was very successful. We have been able to observe Majorona fermions on the surface of crystals. Once successful, it will provide a key carrier for topological quantum computing!"

Crane Xavier reported on the latest experimental progress.

His tone was also somewhat excited, as each improvement in performance meant that the gap with Xu Qingzhou's GDirect superconducting thin film was narrowing.

Previously, although China had made breakthroughs in the mass production of nickel-based superconductors and YBCO tapes, the United States still dominated in quantum computing, Europe in high-field magnets, and Japan in interface engineering.

China's advantage lies in its large production volume, but the United States still holds the advantage in high-end superconducting thin films.

But Xu Qingzhou's appearance immediately changed the existing situation.

"We want to try depositing a MoTe thin film on the surface of an ITER-level magnet. If all goes well, it could theoretically increase the local magnetic field strength by 15%. This is preliminary data."

Xavier handed over a few pages of report.

After reviewing the experimental data, Maxwell nodded and said, "It's a very interesting idea. You can give it a try. After all, the last thing we lack right now is funding."

"it is good."

At that moment, Professor Maxwell's cell phone rang.

He answered the phone: "Good afternoon, Mr. Williams. Okay, on behalf of the team, I thank the committee for their trust. I will do my best."

Two minutes later, Maxwell hung up the phone.

Seeing Xavier looking at him, he said in a deep voice, "The second phase of funding has arrived. Next Monday, 6000 million will be deposited into our account."

"Damn it, those misers at the Department of Energy are actually willing to spend so much money to support our experiments, unbelievable!" Xavier exclaimed.

"It's obvious they're in a hurry."

Professor Maxwell sighed and said helplessly, "Their negotiations with Xia Country are not going smoothly, and they are just about to impose sanctions in certain areas. As for Xia Country, it seems they have no intention of making concessions this time."

"Forgive my bluntness, but no normal person would back down. So they're pinning their hopes on us? Even at the current pace, it would probably take us a year to catch up with Xu Qingzhou's GDirect superconducting thin film. Technological progress depends on communication, and to be honest, I'd really like to see Xu Qingzhou's superconducting thin film."

"Communication? That's impossible, at least for the time being."

Professor Maxwell took a sip of coffee and said, "Xu Qingzhou is already in contact with German equipment suppliers, preparing to buy their equipment to develop controlled nuclear fusion. Buddy, the future won't be any better than it is now; the competition will only get more intense."

Xavier remained noncommittal, knowing that what the other party said was true.

"By the way, Brick will send people to participate in our experiments so that we can design superconducting magnets sooner."

Brick's team at Princeton is developing a miniature tokamak wrapped in a fully high-temperature superconducting thin film, aiming for a magnetic field strength of 25T to achieve a higher plasma pressure than ITER.

“Brick has a rival now.”

"Yes, having such a competitor is a matter of whether it's a blessing or a curse."

While the superconducting thin film experiments at Princeton were in full swing, Xu Qingzhou was extremely busy, spending several days in a row at the research institute.

Experts from the Institute of Plasma Physics have completed the blueprint design, and piling work has begun in the suburbs of Xiong'an New Area in preparation for the construction of a production line to produce superconducting magnets.

At the Max Planck Institute, they are also designing a suitable superconducting magnet for a stellarator based on the GDirect superconducting thin film, preparing for a major overhaul of the stellarator.

Almost every day, outside experts visit the research institute.

February 16th. A team from Southwest Jiaotong University visited. In the morning, they toured the institute's laboratories to learn about the performance of superconducting thin films. In the afternoon, after an exchange meeting, Academician Liu Fanyang and Xu Qingzhou went to the office for tea.

Looking around the office, Liu Fanyang smiled and said, "Your place is much more spacious. We only have one old laboratory building that we've been repairing and using for over ten years."

"If you like, you can bring your team over, and we will definitely provide you with the best laboratory building."

Xu Qingzhou poured tea for Liu Fanyang and said jokingly.

"You little rascal, I just brought people here for an exchange, and you're already thinking of poaching my whole team."

"Isn't it true that there's strength in numbers?"

Liu Fanyang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and couldn't help but invite, "Since you're so interested in controlled nuclear fusion, why don't you just work with us to develop a stellarator?"

"You're putting me in a difficult position."

"What, you think stellarators have no future?"

"If I thought stellarators had no future, I wouldn't have exchanged stellarator technology with Germany."

Xu Qingzhou said helplessly, "As you know, we are already short of manpower just to study tokamak, let alone simultaneously advance the research on stellarator."

Although he is very interested in stellarators, his energy is limited, and he needs to focus more on future compact fusion reactors.

Tokamak controlled nuclear fusion is sufficient to meet energy needs for the foreseeable future.

We should wait until the tokamak is developed before considering stellarators.

“I almost forgot you were still doing experiments on lithium dendrites and the shuttle effect.”

Liu Fanyang nodded with a smile.

Although Xu Qingzhou's research institute has only been established for half a year, its experimental goals are getting bigger and bigger.

Young people are more energetic.

"However, there is something I'd like to ask for your help with," Xu Qingzhou said directly.

"You said."

Liu Fanyang put down his teacup.

Xu Qingzhou said, "We are preparing to assemble a team for controlled nuclear fusion, and we are currently lacking a direct person in charge. You are an expert in this field, so we would like to see if you can recommend a suitable candidate for us."

"You still want me to help you poach people, huh?"

"The experienced experts weren't interested in our recruitment at all, so I had no choice but to take the initiative."

"That's true; stable scholars generally don't change jobs."

Liu Fanyang held his tea and pondered for a moment. After a while, his eyes lit up, and he said in a deep voice, "Now that you mention it, I think I do know someone."

"Who?"

"Academician Ren Nan, who is currently teaching at our school."

Liu Fanyang said a name.

"Academician Ren Nan. Are you referring to Academician Ren Nan of the Xia Guo Academy of Engineering Physics?"

Xu Qingzhou remembered who it was.

Ren Nan, a nuclear physics expert, is a physicist of the same generation as Liu Fanyang, Xiao Chenghan, and others.

(End of this chapter)