Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

The changes within Sandaokou University naturally did not escape the notice of some observant individuals.

"What's going on... Why are all these roads closed for no reason?"

Several male students walked through the campus of Sandaokou University, their faces filled with frustration.

"Could it be... that a very important person has come to the school?"

A boy looked at the blocked road and made a guess.

Another boy slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "It shouldn't be anyone important. I just checked the forum, and it seems like all the roads leading to the nuclear physics lab are blocked!"

"What?"

"A nuclear physics lab? Does that mean they're going to conduct some kind of nuclear test over there?!"

The boy nodded solemnly: "I don't know if you've heard the news, but the nuclear physics laboratory at Sandaokou University has been conducting research related to controlled nuclear fusion."

"Plus the news about ITER a while back... do you think it's possible that a nuclear physics lab is conducting controlled nuclear fusion experiments?"

This guess is clearly much more plausible than the previous ones.

"Hiss... If that's really the case, doesn't that mean my Xia Kingdom is about to master controlled nuclear fusion?!"

Hearing his classmate's words, the boy who made the guess rolled his eyes in annoyance: "How could that be?!"

"This is controlled nuclear fusion!"

"I reckon this is an experiment."

"My advisor told me last time that controlled nuclear fusion will still take at least several more years to truly mature!"

……

Meanwhile, inside the nuclear physics laboratory at Sandaokou University.

"Everyone, cheer up!"

"Check the working condition of all components of the stellarator. If there are no problems, prepare to power on and begin the first fusion test!"

At Lü Yongchang's command, the researchers in the laboratory went to their work stations and began the investigation.

"Cooling system is working properly!"

"Laser generator is working properly!"

"The superconducting coil is in good condition!"

"..."

As reports came in one after another, the expressions on Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu's faces gradually became serious.

Once the final inspection was completed, a flicker of excitement crossed Lü Yongchang's eyes, and he firmly issued the order: "Start connecting the power!"

The researcher next to him pulled the switch, and a low hum slowly rose up. An extremely powerful current instantly passed through the superconducting coil outside the stellarator!

"Magnetic field strength?"

"I asked loudly," Lü Yongchang said.

A researcher responsible for monitoring the magnetic field strength shouted in response, "The current magnetic field strength is 50T!"

Lü Yongchang nodded slightly.

A magnetic field strength of 50T is more than enough!

After all, this was just a test, not the real start of controlled nuclear fusion!

"Then... let's begin the first controlled nuclear fusion ignition experiment!"

As he spoke, Lü Yongchang reached out and pressed a few keys on the computer in front of him!

A small amount of deuterium-tritium mixed gas is injected into the reactor.

The heating device started up the next moment.

Under the operation of the heating device, the deuterium-tritium mixture is heated to an extremely high temperature until it completely transforms into a plasma state!

The plasma-state deuterium-tritium mixture will be firmly confined to its orbit by the strong magnetic field inside the stellarator!

Countless parameters flashed on the computer screen in front of him, and various colorful curves and numbers jumped up and down in Lü Yongchang's eyes, forming a beautiful picture!

"Alright! Get ready to ignite!"

Lu Yongchang said in a deep voice.

Fang Xu, who was standing to the side, swallowed hard and pressed a button on the control panel in front of him.

The next moment, an extremely intense laser beam shone directly onto the plasma-state deuterium-tritium mixture!

boom!

The curve on the temperature sensor instantly traced a beautiful arc, rising upwards with a slope approaching ninety degrees!

In just a few seconds, the temperature of the plasma-state deuterium-tritium mixture reached hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius!

The fusion fire has been ignited!

Nuclear fusion has begun!

At extremely high temperatures, a deuterium atom and a tritium atom react to produce a helium atom and a neutron!

In this process, a huge amount of energy is released!

"The temperature has reached the critical point!"

"A large number of neutrons detected!"

A researcher shouted excitedly and urgently!

Everyone present exchanged a slight glance.

As professionals, they all understood the implied meaning behind those words.

Nuclear fusion has already occurred inside the stellarator in front of us!

Looking at the extremely stable data on the computer screen, Fang Xu's eyes revealed a hint of excitement.

"We...we did it!"

Perhaps due to excessive excitement, Fang Xu's face was flushed and his lips were trembling slightly.

In comparison, Lü Yongchang's reaction was much more subdued.

A slight upturn of his lips revealed a faint smile.

After all, it was just an ignition experiment!

……

Because this was just an ignition experiment, the amount of deuterium and tritium gas was not very large.

A few minutes later, the fusion fuel was exhausted, and the fusion reaction in the reactor slowly stopped.

Lu Yongchang's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately shouted, "Quick! Check the condition of the stellarator!"

"Now is not the time to be happy!"

Several researchers looked down at the computer screens in front of them.

"The cooling system is functioning well, and the external temperature of the stellarator is currently stable!"

The first report came from afar.

Lu Yongchang asked in a deep voice, "What's the outside temperature now?"

"...25 degrees Celsius!"

Lü Yongchang nodded in satisfaction.

It seems that the cooling equipment is working well.

The next second, he turned his head and asked the researcher on the other side loudly.

"How's the reactor?!"

"...The reactor is in good condition; no radiation damage has been detected!"

Only then did a bright smile appear on Lü Yongchang's face.

The first stage of controlled nuclear fusion has been a complete success.

The next thing to consider is the control system for controlled nuclear fusion.

And the issue of selecting power generation equipment.

Is it to continue humanity's glorious tradition of boiling water, or some other, more advanced solution?

These questions swirled in Lü Yongchang's mind.

"Snapped!"

A hand slapped him hard on the shoulder.

Lu Yongchang trembled slightly, jolting him out of his reverie.

Turning his head, he saw Fang Xu looking at him with a big smile.

"I said, the ignition was successful, what are you still thinking about here?"

"Come on, come on, it's my treat tonight!"

"I'll treat you to a nice meal to celebrate!"

……

That evening.

A news item was quietly published on the official website of Sandaokou University.

Warmest congratulations on the successful operation of controlled nuclear fusion at the Sandaokou Nuclear Physics Laboratory!

Meanwhile, the trending topics on Weibo also quietly changed.

The Xia Kingdom's first controlled nuclear fusion experiment was a complete success!

In an instant, countless netizens who were watching the drama unfold late at night flooded the comment section.

"Holy crap?!"

"Really? It worked?"

"I remember, Xia Guo just withdrew from ITER, didn't it? Could it be that the rumor is true, and Xia Guo really stole the relevant data?"

"Come on, upstairs! Isn't this killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? I don't believe China would do something so stupid!"

"Leaving aside these unlucky things, I believe that even without ITER, we can develop our own controlled nuclear fusion device!"

"..."