Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

"Ma Yan, where are all of you going?"

"Go check out the EAST control room. Have you had lunch yet?"

"I just ate. I remember it's not your turn for equipment maintenance and updates in Room 4 today. What are you going there for?"

"have a look."

Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, Lü Yunming, and others encountered colleagues from other research labs on the way. They chatted briefly before running off with vague excuses.

The four or five people in another research lab sensed that things weren't that simple.

So, the group of people followed Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and others without making a sound, wanting to see what had happened.

People might not be so free at other times, but they've just finished eating and have plenty of time, so they naturally want to indulge in some gossip.

……

Dean's Office.

Shen Yun had just returned from outside and hadn't had time to coordinate with the research institute yet.

Suddenly, the secretary walked in from outside. "Dean, I have something to report to you."

Shen Yun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Go ahead."

The secretary pointed outside and said, "I just saw Chen Yuan. It seems he went to the control hall of the Oriental Superconducting Equipment with Academician Li."

"Um?"

Shen Yun looked doubtful. "Are you sure Xiao Chen and Lao Li went to the Oriental Superconducting Equipment Control Center together?"

The secretary nodded and said, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei and others from Research Lab No. 4 were also following behind. I don't know what happened."

Shen Yun could roughly guess the situation and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing serious. Since Xiao Chen and Lao Li have gone to the control hall, I'll go there too... Call Vice Dean Zhang and Vice Dean Xu over as well."

He sensed that Li Jian's invitation to Chen Yuan to the control hall of the Oriental Superconducting Tokamak was not so simple; perhaps he intended to seek advice. He and several vice deans were very familiar with Chen Yuan's research on nuclear fusion, so they were naturally curious and wondered if Chen Yuan would offer any constructive suggestions to the Oriental Superconducting Tokamak. Therefore, he wanted to take all the vice deans along to find out.

Yes, Yu Xu is still in Beijing because of a problem with the project approval application form.

……

The control hall of the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) system.

When Chen Yuan and Li Jian arrived here, they saw a giant device inside that was more than ten meters high, seven or eight meters in diameter, and probably weighed several hundred tons.

The device is surrounded by auxiliary equipment such as power supply and cooling systems.

The core ring structure of the device resembles a doughnut.

Needless to say, this is a fully superconducting tokamak device – EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak).

Because it was after lunch, there weren't many people in the control hall, only about a dozen.

Chen Yuan glanced around and asked, puzzled, "Academician Li, do we have foreigners here?"

Li Jian explained, "As one of the most cutting-edge international open platforms in the world for magnetic confinement fusion devices, the EAST has attracted scientists from many countries and regions around the world to carry out cooperation and exchanges. These foreign scientists are all here for exchange and collaborative research."

Chu Yingying thoughtfully introduced, "Boss, do you see that bald guy? His name is Andrei. He is a senior scientist at the China-US Fusion Laboratory, an internationally renowned plasma physicist, and the deputy director of the China-US International Tokamak Collaborative Research Center. He has made significant pioneering achievements in the fields of high confinement and magnetohydrodynamic instability of tokamaks, and has promoted the development of advanced high-gain steady-state operating modes of tokamaks internationally. He is here for a visit and exchange."

Chen Yuan was surprised to find that the bald scientist was actually a leading figure in international nuclear fusion research, and couldn't help but take another look.

A dozen or so people noticed Chen Yuan, Li Jian, and Chu Yingying, and stood up one by one to greet them.

"Academician Li."

"You've arrived?"

Most people just approach and say hello.

Only Andrei stepped forward with a smile and hugged Li Jian, saying in English, "Oh, my old friend Li, it's been a long time since we last met. I'm so happy to see you all here today."

Li Jian hugged the other person and replied in English with a smile, "I'm just as happy to see you."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Li Jian introduced, "Andrei, this is Chen Yuan, a senior nuclear fusion researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics."

Andrei did not underestimate Chen Yuan because of his youth.

He extended his hand and said, "Hello, Chen."

Chen Yuan shook hands with him and said in English, "Hello, Mr. Andrei."

Andrei asked curiously, "Li, are you here today because the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) is about to conduct a new round of startup experiments?"

As a fully superconducting tokamak experimental device, the EAST tokamak is started up in batches and in stages, with each run typically lasting from tens to thousands of seconds.

After each experiment, the device requires cooling, maintenance, diagnostics, and readjustment, a process that can take anywhere from several days to several weeks.

Therefore, it is not activated every day or every few days, but only when the next round of experiments is ready.

When Andrei saw Li Jian approaching, he naturally guessed whether a new round of experiments was about to begin.

Li Jian shook his head and said, "I'm here for routine inspections. The new round of experiments will be in two days."

He then looked at Chen Yuan and switched to Mandarin, saying, "Mr. Chen, do you think the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) system can be improved?"

Chen Yuan said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I only see the main unit; I don't know any information or data. How am I supposed to improve it?"

He had seen the design drawings of the EAST superconducting ring, but those were the original drawings.

The device has been constantly being improved; who knows what it looks like now?

"Yes, yes, it was my mistake."

Li Jian slapped his forehead and said, "I'll show you some device information and data, but the design drawings are classified and I may not be able to show them to you."

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "I've seen the original design drawings for the device."

"Hmm?" Li Jian asked疑惑地, "You've seen it? When?"

Chen Yuan blinked and said, "It's not convenient to say."

Li Jian understood. "Okay, I'll show you the other information and data."

As he spoke, he called over a staff member in his thirties and asked him to bring over information about the EAST device and some experimental data.

During this time, Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and other researchers from the research labs came in one after another.

Many researchers usually come here every day, so no one was surprised to see this group of people come in.

Chen Yuan sat down at someone's workbench, staring intently at the information and experimental data of the EAST equipment.

Well, actually his attention wasn't on this information and data at all. Instead, he was completely focused on examining the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) and then using quantum analysis to dissect the current specific structure of the entire device.

To be honest, without the skill of quantum analysis, he really wouldn't have been able to offer any suggestions for improvement before seeing the specific structural diagram of the current device. After all, how can you offer suggestions if you don't even understand the structure?

After figuring out the structure, Chen Yuan entered the realm of quantum mechanics and used quantum computing to make a small "upgrade" to the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) based on the structural information he had just observed.

It is indeed a minor upgrade, unlike the previous large-scale simulation of more advanced "epoch-making" science fiction technology using design blueprints.

As Chen Yuan pondered this, more and more people arrived at the location.

In addition to the four leaders, Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and Xu Gang, researchers from an unknown number of research labs also came.

At a glance, there are probably hundreds of people.

Li Jian completely ignored the others, instead bending down to approach Chen Yuan and asking, "Mr. Chen, can this be improved?"

improve?

Could it be that Academician Li wants this young man to improve the EAST device?

Most of the researchers present did not know Chen Yuan and were a little confused when they heard this. They did not understand why a nuclear technology research expert like Li Jian would seek advice from a young man.

Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, Lü Yunming, and others knew some of Chen Yuan's skills, but not much. So when they heard this, they were very curious and wanted to know if Chen Yuan could come up with an improvement plan.

Needless to say, the four deans or vice deans, Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and Xu Gang, were also involved.

They knew Chen Yuan's talent all too well and were filled with anticipation.

Chen Yuan didn't even look up, and said directly, "Sure, if we improve it according to my idea, it might be able to increase the long pulse time of the Eastern superconducting ring by several times."

what?

Based on your proposed improvements, could the operating time of the EAST torsion ring be increased several times over?

Most of the researchers present were stunned, unsure whether Chen Yuan was exaggerating or genuinely confident.

This includes Andrei, whom I just heard translated by someone else.

If we had to say who didn't have any doubts, it would probably be four leaders: Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and Xu Gang.

Not only did they not doubt it, but they were all excited after hearing this, eager to know Chen Yuan's suggestions for improvement.

Unlike the others, Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and Lü Yunming did not question or have high expectations. They simply listened attentively to what Chen Yuan had to say and to see how many skills he would demonstrate that they did not know about.

Li Jian humbly asked, "How can we improve it?"

Chen Yuan turned around and said, "Should I tell you now, or should you record it?"

Li Jian took out his phone. "I'll record this on my phone. You speak now, and I'll write it down."

Chen Yuan nodded. "Okay, I'll offer some suggestions for improvement. If they're not entirely appropriate, I hope you won't take them to heart."

Now it's finally time to speak.

Ma Weixing was incredibly excited.

Shen Yun pricked up his ears.

Whether it was the leaders or the hundreds of ordinary researchers, everyone became completely focused at this moment!