From top student in college to scientific research powerhouse

Chapter 73 Direct Measurement? I advise you not to jump to conclusions!

The allure of verifying 100% conductivity of tinene and obtaining a material with 100% conductivity at room temperature is simply too great.

Zhu Bingkun, Xue Kun, and Fang Huimin and He Hui devoted all their energy to experimental research.

In the second experiment, Zhu Bingkun and Xue Kun worked together to prepare the substrate and monitor the growth of stanene, spending day and night in the laboratory.

Fang Huimin also brought He Hui along, and they spent a long time in the testing room testing the materials from the previous test.

They wanted to find other 'internal insulation' signals, and also wanted to directly measure the Ising superconducting signal.

In the study of Ising superconductivity, so far it has only been 'signal'. Even if it is said to be direct measurement, in reality it is just an inference based on data.

One reason is that the material surface is not so smooth. Under optical equipment, many adhesive areas can be seen when magnified, just like some 'patches' on a smooth white wall.

At those sticky areas, the tin atoms stacked together affect the Ising superconducting properties of the material's surface.

Furthermore, the laboratory environment cannot accurately verify the Ising superconductivity.

The conditions for an extremely strong magnetic field environment cannot be achieved; very few research institutions can provide such an environment.

In the entire laboratory, only a few of them were busy with experiments.

Other researchers, including doctoral students, are writing reports and papers because their research has made great progress. They have fabricated multilayer stanene films, measured definite topological edge state phenomena, measured Ising superconducting characteristic signals, and so on.

These breakthroughs in the field of tinene are themselves world-class.

Some doctoral students, such as Liao Shuyan and Chen Lanjun, are able to extract a portion of their own work progress to write their dissertations.

Associate researchers and specially appointed researchers have a higher level of participation in experiments, and some of them can publish one or two SCI papers on the progress of the experiments, which can enhance their personal resumes.

One research finding has benefited everyone on the project team.

Zhang Minghao doesn't need to write any papers; his research contributions are already included in the results report, and his name will be included in the final major paper published by the lab.

He was also concerned about experimental issues, but when it came to the actual experiments, whether it was substrate manufacturing, detecting tinene growth, or conducting tests, he couldn't get involved at all.

Zhang Minghao simply went to the ninth floor of Building No. 2 to finish up the semiconductor model project.

The semiconductor model project is almost complete.

With nearly six months to go, most of the data had already been sent to the startup company. He glanced at the remaining 'useless' data and sent it over as well, then communicated with the person in charge there.

After the project is completed, the company needs to conduct settlement and acceptance.

For experimental or technological research, companies will definitely send professional teams to conduct acceptance tests. However, since they are working on mathematical and computer projects, all they need are the data results, which have already been encrypted and sent over.

Therefore, the acceptance process can be skipped; just communicate with them and wait for the company to complete the settlement.

In the large R&D base of Xinchuang Technology, managers Wu Zhenqi and Shi Yaokun were also talking about the semiconductor model project.

"Zhang Minghao, he's really something."

Shi Yaokun sighed, "Two months ago, the accuracy of the semiconductor model's parameters was already very high. Later, there was data that could be corrected, but it was very little and not very meaningful."

"It's said that he did all the core verification work; he's a genius!"

"I've always heard that some math genius can do in a few hours what others do in a week, and now I've really seen it for myself."

Wu Zhenqi nodded and smiled, "He is indeed no ordinary person. He not only completed our project, but also made the news twice."

"One is the widely circulated 'Zhang's phenomenon,' which involves discovering a new physical phenomenon and perhaps winning an international physics prize based on it."

What Wu Zhenqi said was quite shocking.

Scientists discover phenomena or conduct research that leads to international academic awards; such stories usually appear in the news.

The young people who are now collaborating with them have discovered a completely new physical phenomenon, internationally named 'ZXZ', and domestically generally referred to as the 'Zhang's Phenomenon'.

This is a physical phenomenon named after itself.

That's amazing!
"And that invisible ball is also amazing; you can't see it at all unless you look very closely."

Wu Zhenqi continued, "In half a year, he did so much research, but perhaps he didn't put much effort into semiconductor models."

"He was indeed a genius, a mathematical genius, and a physics genius as well."

Shi Yaokun nodded and said, "However, I am more concerned about the semiconductor model itself."

"I and a few others in my group did calculations before, and based on the results, we improved the substrate of the C-013 device, and the effect was very good!"

"The efficiency and quality of the manufactured devices have been improved to a certain extent."

"Based on this model, we can make technological improvements in the manufacturing of various types of semiconductor devices."

"In high-end R&D, such as chip manufacturing below 10 nanometers, calculations can also be performed to correct substrate structures, improve processes, and increase yield..."

……

The startup was very satisfied with the semiconductor model project, and the project settlement went very smoothly.

Just two days later, Zhang Minghao received a notification that Xinchuang Technology had been confirmed.

There's no need for acceptance testing or report writing during the project phase. You just need to wait for the school to settle the accounts and transfer the remaining funds according to the contract.

The project has a substantial surplus of funds. The contract was negotiated for over 18 million yuan. After deducting the school's management fees, project stipends and subsidies for doctoral students, and large sums of labor fees paid out, there is still about 7.5 million yuan left.

"More than seven million..."

"The amount that ends up in an individual's pocket will probably be more than a million yuan in taxes."

This income is project settlement funds, and it is only for personal settlement. It still falls under the 'science and technology field' and is subject to a maximum tax rate of 20%.

He pondered taxation and suddenly realized a problem.

The previous 'wealth' display value was basically the same as the account balance.

"If I spend money to buy a house, a car, or stocks or gold, will these be considered within the scope of 'wealth' assessment?"

"Or is it that it can only be the account balance?"

He was somewhat uncertain because it involved complex issues, such as how to assess the value of the property.

Some properties cost tens of millions, but property prices can fluctuate.

Cars, needless to say, can depreciate by more than 20% when you buy a new car, drive it home, and then sell it as a used car.

"stock……"

"Yup!"

Zhang Minghao suddenly realized what was happening and immediately went to open a securities account.

After downloading the software and depositing 50,000 yuan into the account, I found that the system's wealth assessment value did not decrease.

Next step, I'll try buying stocks.

He carefully studied the recent rises and falls. Of course, laymen can't see anything when studying the stock market, and even if they do draw conclusions, they are likely to be wrong.

He simply slapped his forehead and bought all of 'New Creation Technology' almost without thinking.

There's absolutely no need to consider it!

With a semiconductor business model, emerging technology companies don't need to worry about R&D at least. Semiconductor companies rely on technology, and if the technology is greatly enhanced, even if the stock price falls...

Could that be a tactic to lure retail investors into selling?

He invested in the stock of a startup technology company and found that the wealth value assessed by the system had not decreased, indicating that the stock was also within the range of the 'wealth value' assessment.

After confirming that buying stocks wouldn't affect his wealth score, Zhang Minghao devised an investment strategy: buy 10,000 yuan worth of shares in Xinchuang Technology every trading day, intending to continue this for several months. Then he closed the software and stopped thinking about it.

……

The director's office on the second floor of the laboratory building.

Zhu Bingkun, Xue Kun, Fang Huimin, and Zhang Minghao gathered together for a small meeting.

They have conducted three experiments, and the materials obtained in the latter two experiments were similar to those in the first.

"Insulation characteristic signals were detected at some locations, but they were still just signals."

Zhu Bingkun frowned and said, "The scope is too small. It might be destroyed if we move it even slightly. Zhang Minghao, what are your thoughts? For example, should we change the design?"

"There shouldn't be any problems with the design."

Zhang Minghao thought for a moment, "That's the final solution. I think we've made progress, but we still need to focus on the numerical adjustments of the substrate and environment."

"If changes are needed, then we need to conduct several more experiments to find the most suitable control range for each change factor."

"I believe there are no problems with the experimental operation and control, but to create a material with insulating properties at the center still requires luck..."

The last sentence was spoken with a sense of helplessness.

This is a fact.

There were no problems with the experimental design, and there were no problems with the experimental control.

The applied electromagnetic laboratory is not a large research institution, but it has in-depth research on tinene preparation. If it were a large institution, the tinene preparation process would be the same, and the equipment performance would be similar. At most, the detection accuracy would be higher, and that would be all.

The problem now is that the manufactured 'multilayer tinene film' material has an internal tin atom stacking phenomenon, that is, the single atomic layer stacking is not flat.

Just like a bunch of A4 papers, due to manufacturing process or cutting techniques, some papers stick together, which affects the final material properties.

Single-layer tinene film is not paper; the process of atomic arrangement and stacking cannot be artificially controlled.

Their design schemes and experimental operations are, if not 'top-notch,' close enough.

So, it still depends on luck.

Perhaps in a certain experiment or during large-scale manufacturing, a region of tin atoms will be found to be arranged in an orderly manner, thus revealing its insulating properties.

This would allow us to obtain a piece of tinene material that is 100% conductive at room temperature.

The other three also realized what was happening.

Zhu Bingkun gritted his teeth and decided, "Continue the experiment!"

"Don't think about it too much!"

"If it doesn't work the first time, try the second time; if it doesn't work the second time, try the third time. You'll eventually make a discovery by doing more experiments!"

……

at the same time.

The project research results report and acceptance application from the Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory were submitted to the Division of Mathematics and Physics of the Science Foundation.

The laboratory's project, titled "Theoretical Design and Properties Research of Metamaterials," is a cutting-edge research project on the fundamental physical properties of materials science, funded by millions of dollars.

Professor Hu Chunjiang was responsible for reviewing the results of this part of the project.

Hu Chunjiang put the project acceptance application aside, glanced at the results report, and after only a brief overview of the results, he was immediately shocked and stood up.

"Directly measuring topological edge states?"

"A superconducting signal from Ising was detected? How is that possible!"

Therefore, an expert in the field would certainly know about topological edge states and Ising superconductivity, both of which are cutting-edge physical phenomena.

First, there are topological edge states, which involve the properties of two-dimensional materials. Only by using the most sophisticated equipment to analyze the signals and then performing computational analysis can the phenomenon of topological abnormalities be discovered.

This report, however, claims to have detected it directly?

The Ising superconducting signal is also a cutting-edge concept, and conclusions are mostly drawn through analysis.

The report also says that a signal was detected, but judging from the wording, the reason it says 'signal' instead of 'detection' is simply because the equipment environment does not allow it.

Their laboratory could not provide an environment with an extremely strong magnetic field to test the Ising superconducting properties of the material.

Hu Chunjiang was at a loss for what to do, so he simply took the report upstairs and found the office where Academician Meng Zhiyang was.

The office was bustling with activity. Academician Yuan Hui was talking to Meng Zhiyang, and Li Hao was in the next office.

As Hu Chunjiang entered, he called out, "Academician Meng, take a look at this!"

He handed over the documents as he spoke.

Meng Zhiyang took the document and said casually, "Chunjiang, what urgent matter could make you come all this way?"

He started looking at the documents as he spoke.

Yuan Hui also came over for a look and exclaimed in surprise, "Jiangzhou University's Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory? Isn't that Zhang Minghao and Zhu Bingkun..."

He was impressed by the applied electromagnetics laboratory.

The previous report stated that a physical phenomenon of 'electromagnetic interference fluidity' had been discovered, and he represented the Science Foundation to conduct the acceptance review of the findings.

On the way there, they made all sorts of guesses. Zhou Tiejun and Cui Ji didn't quite believe it, but in the end they found that the other party had indeed discovered a new physical phenomenon in the experiment.

With the publication of the paper, the new physical phenomenon has attracted widespread international attention, and several teams have announced that they will conduct research on it.

The new physical phenomenon was also named the 'Zhang phenomenon'.

Li Hao also realized what was happening and said, "It really is! They've made new progress again?"

"It's a project, basic research on metamaterials, but the results are very significant," Hu Chunjiang explained. "The higher-ups said they directly measured topological edge states and the Ising superconductivity phenomenon!"

Yuan Hui and Li Hao were immediately taken aback.

Yuan Hui immediately pressed on, "You said 'directly measured'?"

"Correct."

Hu Chunjiang nodded vigorously, "Just as you thought, they created the material, a multilayer tinene thin film, for direct measurement!"

"Sigh~~~"

Everyone in the office gasped.

After reading the report, Meng Zhiyang turned around, frowned, and asked the others, "They wouldn't be joking like that, would they?"

"Perhaps they've made a mistake..."

He began to have suspicions.

The direct determination of topological edge states and Ising superconducting properties sounds so amazing, it seems almost impossible.

Yuan Hui suddenly said, "Old Meng, I advise you not to jump to conclusions so easily."

"Don't guess, don't think..."