From top student in college to scientific research powerhouse

Chapter 95 Verification Successful! Important Conference, Experts Caused Much Harm...

The Theoretical Research Office was formally established in the Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory.

The theoretical office is located on the west side of the first floor, right next to the workspaces of several doctoral students.

Zhang Minghao joined the theoretical group, and later an associate researcher and a postdoctoral fellow decided to join, namely Zhao Linwei and Liu Lei.

Zhao Linwei and Liu Lei also decided to join after careful consideration.

The laboratory lacks theoretical researchers, and the study of the theoretical mechanism of the Zhang phenomenon will become the focus in the future.

Joining the theoretical group now to study the mechanism of a completely new physical phenomenon will offer a much brighter future.

The members of the theory group moved directly into the theory group office, without having to squeeze into other offices. Zhao Linwei and Liu Lei both moved in.

Several people can work in one office and discuss issues conveniently.

Zhang Minghao did not move into the theoretical research office; he was still a doctoral student and remained in his original workspace.

He is also a core member of the project team and has a lot of other work to do.

Theoretical research differs from experimental research; it is a long-term endeavor.

When Du Weicai arrived at the laboratory, Zhao Linwei and Liu Lei also had little experience. Faced with a completely new physical phenomenon, their first task was to gain a clear understanding of it.

So the first step is to review the experimental data and research papers to make everything clear.

Zhang Minghao is also studying.

He continued his research on condensed matter physics, mainly focusing on theoretical analysis and domestic and international research papers, covering a wide range of topics including superconductivity, magnetism, and quantum mechanics.

When you encounter content you don't understand, you can ask Du Wei for help.

Du Wei is very knowledgeable and highly professional.

He has conducted research on the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity and has a relatively deep understanding of the field.

This direction is extremely difficult.

The core of the high-temperature superconductivity mechanism is to study the interaction under which electrons form Cooper pairs, and how Cooper pairs form phase coherence and condense into superconducting long-range coherence.

This is a problem that the physics community has yet to solve.

Du Wei has conducted research for three years and has published several SCI papers, demonstrating a very high level of theoretical understanding.

In the theoretical research office, Du Wei was also talking about the research he had done. "My research can basically be explained with one word - strongly correlated quantum theory."

"Although there are no outstanding results, this is still a global problem."

"The normal-state physical properties of high-temperature superconductors are highly abnormal, and many of their properties cannot be fundamentally explained within the existing solid-state quantum framework."

"Everyone agrees that a new quantum theory of solids is needed."

"This is the theory of strongly correlated quantum mechanics."

Du Wei was not boasting about his experience, but rather using it to apply to the theoretical mechanism research of the Zhang phenomenon.

He continued, "The Zhang phenomenon is a very special phenomenon that cannot be explained by existing physics."

"To study its theoretical mechanism, we must first explore the problem of mysterious field forces."

"This is the general direction, but we still need to find a starting point."

Finding a starting point is difficult.

A completely new physical phenomenon seems to be accessible from any angle, but theoretical research can only rely on data.

Without sufficient experimental data, especially without more refined experiments, including measurements and calculations related to electrons and electron waves, theoretical research feels impossible to begin with.

Zhang Minghao would go to the theory office every day to discuss things with Du Wei and others.

Du Wei can help explain many difficult-to-understand questions.

He felt he had gained a lot of knowledge, and that knowledge could lead to an improvement in his thinking.

[Thinking +1.]

[Thinking level: 84.]

Without realizing it, I've become a little smarter.

Zhang Minghao is very satisfied with his improvement. He feels motivated because he can gain more knowledge and improve his data.

However, he has a lot of work to do.

The 'invisibility cloak' project, a collaboration between the Institute of Optics and Sun Wen, is also on track, with Sun Wen's team continuously conducting experiments.

Zhang Minghao is one of the project leaders. Sun Wen's team would send over the experimental data, and he would use this data to improve the model that maximizes the blurred visual perception.

This task is relatively easy because the model framework is already in place.

What we need to do now is to fill the framework with data, which is somewhat like perfecting a semiconductor model. Comparatively, it is relatively easier in terms of computation.

However, sometimes, when the framework is perfected and enters a new stage, or when problems are encountered, it is necessary to consider the experimental requirements.

This also requires some effort.

……

Meanwhile, leading experimental teams both domestically and internationally are vying to verify the latest findings on the Zhang phenomenon.

Domestically, the team led by Peng Jinquan at the Capital Institute of Condensed Matter Physics was the first to verify this, having prepared a nickel/alumina cermet material with a progressively decreasing nickel content from both sides towards the center, as described in the main paper.

They then measured the Zhang phenomenon and produced a high-flowability product with a strength of '570'.

"Our experiment produced a flow of 570, which is even higher than the results published by the electromagnetic laboratory."

"This shows that a more uniform distribution of nickel in cermet materials results in stronger fluidity," Peng Jinquan's team explained in their verification results.

Just one day after Peng Jinquan's team announced the experimental results, Cui Ji's team from Donggang University of Electronic Information also announced the results of the replication experiment.

Cui Ji's team went a step further in their replication experiments, announcing two results in one go, as they collaborated with the School of Chemical Engineering at Donggang Polytechnic University to prepare two different materials.

One type is where the nickel content gradually decreases from both sides towards the center, which is the material mentioned in the main experimental paper.

Another type is similar to cutting the first type in half, with one side having a high nickel content and the other side having a low nickel content.

The first material was measured to have a flowability strength as high as 630.

The replication experiment was extremely successful, demonstrating the professionalism of the School of Chemical Engineering at Donggang Polytechnic University in the field of laboratory materials preparation.

They conducted multiple experiments using the second material, and found that only in the lateral direction did they discover certain fluctuations.

Aside from further verifying the 'field force direction' data in the paper, almost nothing else was gained.

However, for an experiment, not gaining anything is also a gain.

The experimental results published by Cui Ji's team also made a special explanation for the failure of the second material: "When the material is placed vertically, with a high nickel content on one side and a low nickel content on the other side, nothing happens."

"This shows that it is important to keep the nickel content on both sides consistent during the experiment."

"It must be related to the underlying theoretical mechanism."

This is the conclusion of the experiment's failure.

After Cui Ji's team announced the successful replication experiment, several other teams subsequently announced their successful replication as well.

This also includes Yang Xuewen's team from the Condensed Matter Physics Center at Donggang University. Yang Xuewen's team is also very capable; they released their results only a few hours later than Cui Ji's team, and their measured fluidity reached 613, which is not much worse than Cui Ji's team.

Perhaps to avoid being noticed, their team simply released the results; the announcement contained only cold numbers, without a single word of analysis.

International research teams have also published their verification results.

The teams of Claire Feynman at the Max Planck Institute for Materials Research in Germany, Feng Xi at the University of Chicago, and Xu Qiujian at the University of Florida have all replicated the experiment and confirmed the detection of the high fluidity and continuous electric field characteristics of the Zhang phenomenon.

Claire Feynman also gave an interview, stating, "The breakthrough experimental progress by the University of Tokyo team has greatly enhanced the importance of the Zhang phenomenon."

"The Zhang phenomenon creates sustained high liquidity, which means it may be applied to the technology field in the future."

"In addition, this is also a completely new physical phenomenon, containing physical rules that are currently unknown, or even subversive rules."

"We should increase our experimental investment in the Zhang phenomenon; it may represent a broad prospect and a bright future..."

……

In major scientific research areas, the domestic higher authorities respond very quickly.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has been paying close attention to the verification of the experimental results.

After each team conducted experimental verification, the Ministry of Science and Technology quickly held an internal meeting.

The brief half-hour meeting resulted in two decisions: one was to convene a special research meeting on the Zhang phenomenon to demonstrate the importance of studying the Zhang phenomenon.

The conference was convened on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology, which extended invitations to relevant scholars and institutions.

The second decision was to allocate an additional ten million yuan in research funding to the Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory of Jiangzhou University in the name of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

The first decision was simply to hold a meeting to discuss the importance of research related to the Zhang phenomenon.

The latter decision, which may seem to be just about increasing funding, actually carries a hidden element of 'accountability'.

Accountability cannot be discussed publicly.

The reason for this is that the application for a National Natural Science Foundation of China project by the Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory was rejected.

Later, the Electromagnetism Laboratory applied for a provincial scientific research fund project in Dongchuan Province.

The research on the Zhang phenomenon was registered with the Ministry of Science and Technology, but the project application was rejected by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, while the project was approved in Dongchuan Province.
With such significant research findings, news of the grant application has already spread throughout academic circles in China and even in the media.

The review process for the National Natural Science Foundation of China has been questioned by both the academic community and the public.

Once this matter is raised, it will be discussed internally, and someone will inevitably be held accountable.

The review experts cannot be held responsible because they are invited to be reviewers. They cannot be held responsible for making mistakes in their opinions; otherwise, no one would be willing to be a reviewer in the future.

Therefore, the only one who can bear the responsibility is Zhu Wei, who decided to reject the application. Just as Liu Ming said, Zhu Wei will be responsible for any problems that arise afterward.

The meeting of the Ministry of Science and Technology has concluded.

Liu Ming immediately found Zhu Wei, briefly explained the situation, and said, "This matter has been defined as a serious dereliction of duty, and there will be disciplinary action later."

"I'm telling you in advance, so you should be mentally prepared."

"Based on my estimation, the most likely outcome is a demerit, not a demotion, but you'll need to be more careful in your future work..."

Liu Ming also felt a little regretful as he spoke.

A demerit is a serious offense; once you receive a demerit, you won't be able to get a promotion for several years.

Zhu Wei covered his face tightly and remained silent.

He had a lot of opinions, as most projects require the advice of review experts.

For the electromagnetic laboratory project, only Yan Lihua wrote a detailed suggestion, which pointed out that the project was going in the wrong direction and explained the reasons in detail.

He hasn't done scientific research for many years, and he doesn't understand a completely new physical phenomenon.

After consulting with experts, the project was naturally rejected.

Is this a serious dereliction of duty?
"Yan Lihua!"

“You ‘expert’ are really causing a lot of harm…” Zhu Wei immediately remembered Yan Lihua.

……

The applied electromagnetics laboratory has a large office on the first floor.

Zhu Bingkun, Zhang Minghao, and others were all there, and even the old professor Han Xiaoxu came.

"Five invitations, that's us."

With a broad smile and full of energy, Zhu Bingkun said, "A major conference hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, five invitations—we can all go together!"

The Ministry of Science and Technology's conferences are not open to just anyone.

These conferences invite top experts to discuss research on major research directions.

They have received five invitations to conduct research on the Zhang phenomenon, which is quite an honor.

This also demonstrates the importance that the Ministry of Science and Technology attaches to the Zhang phenomenon.

Zhu Bingkun, Xue Kun, and even Han Xiaoxu were all attending such a meeting for the first time, and they couldn't help but smile.

Zhang Minghao was also somewhat expectant. After talking with them for a while, he went out for a stroll and went to the theoretical research office.

Du Wei and the other two have gradually gotten into the swing of things and have begun to discuss the entry point for theoretical mechanism research.

The study of theoretical mechanisms is very complex, and to truly get into the research, you must find a starting point.

Du Wei believes that the approach should start with the 'mysterious force field', but he doesn't know how to begin.

The mysterious force field requires a lot of experimental data to support it, but there are only so many experiments and so much data available at present.

They are discussing this issue.

Zhang Minghao entered the office and sat down to listen for a while. The discussion among the group was quite in-depth, ranging from the motion of electrons to the theory of negative permittivity.

He added, "I'm certain that the mysterious force field is related to the negative permittivity."

"However, after careful consideration, I realized that approaching theoretical research from the perspective of mysterious force fields isn't a good idea..."

Du Wei asked in surprise, "Why?"

Zhao Linwei and Liu Lei also looked over.

Zhang Minghao said, "I think the best direction is to address the issue of materials that cannot be reused."

"As you all know, the experimental materials are all disposable. Why can't the same phenomenon be produced in the second experiment?"

What exactly has the material lost?

"This is the most important and crucial problem to be solved right now."

"If we can't find it experimentally, we can only start from the theory..."

　July is here.

　　I'm quietly asking for your guaranteed monthly votes~~~
　　thank you all!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)