Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 456 Professor Li, who won the Nobel Prize, came to Northwestern Polytechnical University to build the Department of High Energy Physics!

High-energy physics, also known as particle physics or elementary particle physics, studies the structural properties of matter at a level deeper than the atomic nucleus, as well as the phenomena, causes, and laws governing the interconversion of these substances at very high energies.

Anyone who has studied high school physics knows that Chadwick bombarded atomic nuclei with alpha particles and extracted neutrons from them. From then on, people realized that atomic nuclei are composed of protons and seeds, which falls under the research scope of high-energy physics.

In later generations, based on the quantum entanglement effect, we will study quantum communication technology. When the development of silicon-based computers with the von Neumann architecture reaches its bottleneck, quantum computers will be on the verge of emerging...

If Northwestern Polytechnical University wants to seize the commanding heights of the future, it needs to offer courses like high-energy physics and has the most outstanding talents in this field!
Professor Li, standing before us, is one of the most outstanding talents in this field. In 1956, he and Yang Zhenning jointly proposed the non-conservation of parity in the weak interaction of microscopic particles, which broke the general understanding of symmetry in traditional physics and can be said to be revolutionary.

Inviting such a person back to Northwestern Polytechnical University is of great significance.

At this moment, Professor Li was clearly still hesitating.

"Qin, I know that Northwestern Polytechnical University has a special magic that allows us to be number one in the world in everything we do. But... pushing high-energy physics to its limits is not easy. For example, electron-positron colliders. So far, there is no such project in the East. Even if I go back, I can only do theoretical work and can't get verification."

The equipment needed for high-energy physics research in the East has been launched and canceled seven times. The last time was in 1980, when the country made major adjustments to the national economy and reduced various investments. The high-energy physics experimental center project was canceled at this time.

Professor Li was quite enthusiastic about the Institute of High Energy Physics in the East. He was very surprised when he learned that the project had been canceled. The power of the administration made him feel powerless at times. If high energy physics research had to go through various adjustments, how many opportunities would it miss?
Because the government cancelled the project, funding for dozens of Eastern scholars studying in the United States and Europe was cut off. At that time, Professor Li gave his full support and contacted many schools and scientists to ask for their help, which solved the problem of their study expenses.

These people almost all returned to China in 82 and 83 and became the backbone of the Eastern High Energy Physics Experiment.

In 1981, Professor Li organized a non-governmental working seminar in his personal capacity to study what kind of high-energy accelerator East should choose. A large number of top international scholars attended the seminar and discussed the issue together. The final conclusion was that East should build an electron-positron collider.

At the end of that year, Professor Li also met with the old leader of Dongfang. After his report, the old leader readily nodded in agreement: This project must be done, and there can be no more hesitation!
However, even though the project has been approved, it hasn't started construction yet!

In this matter, Professor Li demonstrated strong support for high-energy physics research in the East, but... he was very realistic.

Without research tools, what's the point of going back?
"Professor Li, rest assured, the capital government's electron collider project will officially break ground in six months at most. However, this electron collider is still too small. Our Northwestern Polytechnical University will promise to start construction on the hadron collider within five years. Once completed, it will be the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator."

Electrons are located outside the atomic nucleus, while hadrons are located inside the atomic nucleus. The energy required for the two is on completely different orders of magnitude.

After repeated discussions, the East decided to build an electron-positron collider in the capital, but this was only due to factors such as funding. As for Northwestern Polytechnical University... we have no shortage of money!

If we're going to do it, then we should build the world's most advanced hadron collider!

Professor Li took a deep breath: "Qin, do you know the scale of this hadron collider?"

"It will be about 30 kilometers in circumference. We need a circular tunnel that will circle our city of Chang'an. It needs to be built between 50 and 150 meters underground. The materials alone will require about 50,000 tons. However, if we want to discover the Higgs boson, we can only use this kind of project."

"What? You even know about the God particle?" Professor Li's eyes widened.

"The Higgs boson, predicted by British physicist Peter Higgs in 1964, has zero spin, no electric charge, no color charge, is extremely unstable, and decays immediately after being generated. In subsequent research, it was discovered that the first particle of the Big Bang was very likely this thing. Therefore, it is the beginning of the universe and is called the God particle."

Qin Liang didn't know the specifics of the research, but he did know the basic theory.

“Professor Li, as long as you go to the East, you will be the first to create the God particle in an experiment! This will also free you from the shadow of someone else. Your strength is no less than his.”

Professor Li took a deep breath: "Alright, I'll go to the East!"

"So, our Department of High Energy Physics at Northwestern Polytechnical University will officially begin enrolling students in the second half of the year?"

"Yeah, no problem!"

Qin Liang's final persuasion was the real reason that made Professor Li make up his mind.

In previous years, Professor Li and Professor Yang collaborated and made many significant discoveries, writing dozens of papers. In every single paper, Professor Yang's name came first. When asked why, Professor Yang insisted on using the first letter of their names to determine the order.

In the scientific community, those listed first in the authorship are generally considered to have made the greatest contribution.

Professor Li was very dissatisfied, had an argument with Professor Yang, and then... they parted ways.

The two became rivals from that point on, the kind who would never speak to each other again. Moreover, Professor Li always hoped to make greater contributions beyond what Professor Yang could achieve.

Discovering the God particle is absolutely the highest level of achievement in this field!

Therefore, he is willing to go back for this ideal!

Qin Liang extended his right hand: "Professor Li, on behalf of Northwestern Polytechnical University, I welcome you to join us!"

"Oh, you two, so you've been here all along!" Just then, someone rushed over: "You've already visited the monument and are discussing which restaurant to have lunch at."

"Oh, we'll be right there!"

Northwestern Polytechnical University.

As is customary, summer vacation begins in July, although Northwestern Polytechnical University has never had a break during winter and summer vacations.

Upperclassmen work on projects, while lowerclassmen make the most of their time to learn upperclassmen's courses. Completing four years' worth of courses in two years has become an unwritten rule at Northwestern Polytechnical University.

That way, when we're in our junior year, we can work on projects together!

It's June now, and final exams are about to begin. Students are spending all their time in the library and study rooms. They have many subjects to take, and some exams even overlap, with the first and second halves possibly taking place in different exam rooms.

The Academic Affairs Office of Northwestern Polytechnical University became even busier.

Niu Guishan has been having some headaches lately. To help his students achieve good results, he has to try his best to coordinate the times of different exams and stagger them as much as possible to avoid students running out of time. Fortunately, there are enough classrooms now, and it's easy to set up the exam rooms...

"Old Niu, the principal wants you to go to the conference room for a meeting!"

Niu Guishan rubbed his temples: "Another meeting? What's up?"

"You'll find out when you get there; it's probably a new project that Liangzi brought in!"

"Okay, let's go now!"

Inside the meeting room, Principal Luo was beaming with excitement.

"Everyone, we just received news from the United States that Comrade Qin Liang has invited Professor Li to join our Northwestern Polytechnical University. We will be establishing a new Department of High Energy Physics!"

"Which Professor Li?"

"Could it be that person who won the Nobel Prize along with Professor Yang?"

Everyone immediately started discussing it.

"That's right, it's this guy. Comrade Qin Liang even promised to build Professor Li the world's most advanced hadron collider," President Luo said. "Our Department of High Energy Physics at Northwestern Polytechnical University will become the most advanced department in the world!"

Niu Guishan felt his forehead throb even more.

"Old Niu, the construction of this new department will require a lot of effort from your Academic Affairs Office."

Niu Guishan rubbed his temples as he spoke, "President Luo, the campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University is already extremely crowded. With so many teaching buildings and experimental factories built, there's simply no room left. I'm afraid there won't be enough space for the new High Energy Physics Department!" "Yes, Comrade Qin Liang has already proposed a solution. Northwestern Polytechnical University should build a new campus!"

"A new campus?" Everyone was taken aback.

In later generations, after the expansion of higher education, many universities no longer had enough space. At the same time, various regions were engaged in construction and real estate development, and in order to support urban development, universities were needed, and there were even dedicated university towns.

In this context, many universities have built new campuses.

It's only the 1980s now, which school would build a new campus? Northwestern Polytechnical University would definitely be the first!

"We've already spoken with the municipal government, and they're very supportive. No matter which plot of land we're interested in, they'll expedite the approval process. All approvals should be completed within a month. During the summer break, after two months of construction, we can build one teaching building and one dormitory to meet the needs of the High Energy Physics Department when it opens. Other construction will proceed gradually..."

Principal Luo explained with a smile: "Currently, our existing campus covers an area of ​​only 1100 mu, which is seriously insufficient. Therefore, the next new campus will cover an area of ​​nearly 4,000 mu!"

Four thousand acres! That's four times the size of the existing campus!
Everyone was stunned.

"Old Niu, you can put the work in the Academic Affairs Office aside for now. Next, focus all your efforts on promoting the construction of the new campus!"

"Yes!"

Niu Guishan nodded excitedly: "Please rest assured, leaders, even if I work myself to death, I will make sure the new campus is built!"

"Well, the second thing is that Comrade Qin Liang has taken on several research and development tasks for us from the United States, and we need to assign them. The first one is to develop a carrier-based stealth attack aircraft for the US Navy..."

Professor Liu from the fifth department immediately felt his eyelids twitching.

"Principal Luo, you came from our Fifth Department, so you should know that our Fifth Department currently undertakes the most research tasks! Grinding and resurfacing European fighter jets is already a makeshift operation. As for developing a brand-new carrier-based stealth attack aircraft for the US Navy, well... we simply don't have enough manpower!"

"Of course we have. Now that this batch of second-year students has finished their exams, we can select a group from them, right?" Principal Luo glanced at Professor Liu. What else could you possibly be worried about? Every single one of these students looks up to Qin Liang as a role model, and they wish they could start working on projects right from their freshman year!

"No... project leader." Professor Liu said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Our most experienced group of people all came from Class 5381. They are all busy with our own projects, especially the fourth-generation fighter jet. We can't be careless with those; we have to get them to the most advanced level. Those who don't have enough experience are taking on foreign projects, like those from Russia or Europe, to practice on..."

What's left are complete novices with absolutely no experience!

"Is there really no one left?"

Professor Liu was about to nod when he suddenly remembered something: "Qin Liang's cousin, Qin Ming, is experienced and capable of handling important tasks, but..."

"Let's choose him. Qin Liang's cousin's family is doing business in Chang'an right now, and their loyalty is beyond question. Let him take the lead!"

Professor Liu nodded: "Okay, I'll make the arrangements!"

"Next, the second project is to cooperate with Boeing on a spaceplane..."

Professor Liu's head hurts even more than Niu Guishan's.

"Principal Luo, our Fifth Department is really finished, it's hopeless!"

Are you kidding me! You want to build a spaceplane? We've already expanded our recruitment tenfold, and we still don't have enough people!
"Well, it wasn't said to be placed in your Fifth Element. Since it's going to fly out of the atmosphere, let's leave it to the Eighth Element."

Department 8, Aerospace Engineering Department, or simply Space Engineering Department, once you leave the atmosphere, that's the realm of spaceflight!

Professor Wang stood up: "Okay, no problem, leaders, our Department of Eight guarantees to complete the mission! It's just... I don't know what the project's targets are? If it's like taking off directly from the runway and flying into space, even a god couldn't do that!"

Back then, Qian Xuesen chaired a meeting, and after discussion, concluded that spaceplanes would be the next big thing. However... as it turns out, the ideal was very rich, but the reality was very harsh. Taking off horizontally and flying out of space was extremely difficult!
"According to the message sent back by Comrade Qin Liang, the current plan is still to use a rocket to launch the spaceplane vertically, as long as the project can return safely."

"That's similar to the American space shuttle!" Professor Wang frowned. "What's the point?"

"This is just the beginning. The spaceplane we are developing for the Americans will also use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engines. However... we can conduct in-depth research on this project, for example, by replacing it with our pulse detonation engine."

Principal Luo's words were a revelation to everyone present.

Even if the Americans wanted to cooperate with Northwestern Polytechnical University, they had a backup plan. Just like when building large passenger planes, the Americans' idea was to use engines to restrict the East. Unexpectedly, Northwestern Polytechnical University cooperated with Rolls-Royce and perfectly broke the deadlock!

In the early stages of the spaceplane project, it could only be launched by rockets. Even the most powerful rockets in the East could not carry the spaceplane. In other words, the project was entirely for the Americans to study, and the East could not use it.

In fact, the East also has its own technological path!
After several years of research and development, the pulse detonation engine has become quite advanced and can be used in hypersonic missiles. With further development, it can be used in spaceplanes!

The oblique detonation engine allows the aircraft to reach speeds of Mach 16!
The first cosmic velocity is only Mach 23.2!

"Our large aircraft development is progressing smoothly. In the future, we should have a space carrier with a speed of over Mach 3. We will use it to carry the spaceplane. After launch, the spaceplane's detonation engine can accelerate from Mach 3 to Mach 16, which is enough to fly out of the atmosphere. Then, we can start the rocket engine and easily enter orbit."

Principal Luo introduced their technical solution: "In fact, even without a rocket engine, a flight speed of Mach 16 is enough to fly around the world in a few hours."

By then, the West will still only be able to use rocket engines to propel spaceplanes, making them several generations behind us in technology!
Everyone became excited.

Across the ocean, Boeing.

"The civil aviation market is only so big, while the aerospace market is still a blank slate. I agree with Boeing's involvement in the aerospace industry!"

"That's right. After the Apollo program, there was a huge gap in the space market. Relying solely on the space shuttle was not enough. A spaceplane is indeed a good project!"

"Developing a spaceplane is technically very difficult, and we definitely can't do it on our own. Cooperating with the East is probably the best option. Moreover, even if they can't use it after the cooperation, all the results will be ours!"

Steiner was quite surprised to hear the discussion among the people present. He hadn't expected that cooperation with the East had taken such deep root in people's hearts that not a single person had raised any objections!

"Speaking of which, does Northwestern Polytechnical University have advanced rocket engine technology? In the future, even if we are not needed, we can easily complete the spaceplane project?"

Sure enough, there are still some clear-headed people.

"Probably not. The East currently only has the technology for toxic rocket engines. At most, they can use low-thrust hydrogen-oxygen rocket engines on the third stage of rockets. They simply don't have the capability to develop high-thrust hydrogen-oxygen rocket engines or liquid oxygen-kerosene engines..."

Before Steiner could finish speaking, Dick Taylor walked in.

"Gentlemen, the Air Force has approved the spaceplane development project, and they're even allocating ten million US dollars for pre-research funding without any bidding process. We can now get the project started!"

"Great! Let's go find Northwestern Polytechnical University to cooperate. By the way, where's Qin Liang? Is he still in the United States?"

"exist."

"where is it?"

Lockheed Corporation.

(End of this chapter)