Great Country Academician

Xu Chuan didn't know what happened on Fuxing Road.

But for him, whether Lao Aerospace cooperates or not does not have a big impact.

Just like the development of the field of controllable nuclear fusion, Chen Mingji's existence has not affected his research and development.

The development of science and technology is the eternal pursuit of mankind.

From the past to the present, humans have always been exploring and discovering new technological ideas to improve productivity and living standards.

Whether it is energy, materials, information or other fields, any cutting-edge technology is being developed and applied.

These technologies are shaping the future and will bring profound changes and new economic, social and cultural challenges.

Just like the steam engine was crushed by the internal combustion engine and then disappeared in the process of history, this is the general trend and no one can resist it.

Of course, it would be great if the old aerospace group could form mutual cooperation and support with him.

Electric propulsion systems do have great advantages in the aerospace field, but they are not without their shortcomings.

Although the thrust of 500KN is already very large in the field of electric propulsion, and considering that the entry method and wiring of electric propulsion are different from traditional fossil fuel launch vehicles, it can send a maximum of about fifty to sixty tons of items into the near earth. On track, that's about as far as it goes.

For traditional fossil fuel rockets, this number is only one-tenth of that.

For example, SpaceX's starship can carry items weighing 550 tons into low-Earth orbit. Even the domestic Long March 9 can carry hundreds of tons of cargo to the sky.

In terms of transporting large-mass cargo, traditional fossil fuel rockets have their own unique advantages.

In fact, in Xu Chuan's consideration, fossil fuel rockets also play an important role in this manned spaceflight and moon landing project.

He had previously communicated with scientific researchers and general managers of Aerospace Science and Industry, including cooperation and poaching in the field of satellite acquisition technology, partly to prepare for this aspect.

The space shuttle carries people to space, and the fossil fuel launch vehicle transports large-mass cargo into orbit. Then the two dock in low-Earth orbit to complete the transfer of materials. The space shuttle then goes to the moon to complete the moon landing and subsequent projects.

This method can maximize the combination of the advantages of the new space shuttle and the traditional chemical fuel launch vehicle.

The former can carry far more than fifty tons of materials, but the thrust is not enough to send more materials from the ground into low-Earth orbit, breaking away from the gravity constraints of the earth.

But once it leaves the earth's gravity field and enters low-Earth orbit, if the material transfer is completed in space, the space shuttle can carry hundreds or even thousands of tons of materials to the moon.

This is something that traditional chemical fuel launch vehicles cannot do.

Combining the advantages of the two will not only be able to send more materials to the sky and the moon, but also save more money.

After all, propelling hundreds of tons of materials to the moon in space and carrying hundreds of tons of materials into space are two completely different concepts for the space shuttle.

The former can be said to be a piece of cake, while the latter requires several or even ten launches.

After returning to Jinling from the capital, Xu Chuan's daily work fell on the construction of the space shuttle.

In early November, after almost a year, the miniaturized controllable nuclear fusion reactor modified through the Helix-7X data was finally completed in the core laboratory of the Institute of Energy Research.

Compared with the Huaxing fusion device, which is more than ten meters in diameter, this newly assembled small fusion reactor, or compact fusion reactor, is only three meters in diameter and less than two meters in height.

A reactor of this size looks extremely mini when placed in a laboratory.

"It's unbelievable that the fusion reactor can be so small. How did you do it?"

In the core laboratory, Yuan Yingcai, who came specially from the Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation to discuss cooperation, stood in the empty laboratory and looked at the small fusion reactor in front of him, which was not much taller than himself. His face was full of shock and surprise.

Although he had guessed that there would be a breakthrough in small-scale controllable nuclear fusion technology before he came, he was still shocked when such a small-scale fusion stack was placed in front of him.

Xu Chuan smiled and explained calmly: "It's not too difficult. The two items of permanent magnet stellarator + superconducting material with high critical magnetic field are the basis. If these two problems are solved, the fusion reactor volume must be completed. Miniaturization is not that difficult.”

Hearing this, Yuan Yingcai recovered from the shock, and the corners of his mouth moved unnaturally.

It's not very difficult.

This is really enough to pretend to look down on miniaturized and controllable nuclear fusion technology, as if it can be solved easily.

But soon, he was keenly aware of the key point in this sentence, and quickly asked: "Permanent magnet stellarator? Stellarizer? What you are doing in miniaturized controllable nuclear fusion technology is stellarator. route, not the Tokamak route?”

In fact, not only is the Xinghai Research Institute studying the miniaturization of controllable nuclear fusion technology, but the Aerospace Science and Industry also has related projects.

But for now, they are still taking the route of miniaturizing the tokamak device.

After all, the composite tokamak device has successfully achieved ignition. When it comes to making the size smaller, we naturally hope to make it bigger based on the technology that has been realized.

However, from the establishment of the project to the present, Aerospace Science and Industry has not made any effective results.

One year is not enough for their expert professors to fully understand the controllable nuclear fusion technology, let alone complete miniaturization on this basis.

What he didn't expect was that the miniaturization route taken by Xinghai Research Institute was not tokamak, but another magnetic confinement path, the stellarator.

I have never heard of this news before.

And what new technology is the permanent magnet stellarator?

For a while, Yuan Yingcai had too many doubts and questions.

Xu Chuan smiled and nodded, saying: "That's right, this small reactor follows the path of a stellarator rather than a tokamak device."

"Because when the tokamak device is running, it is difficult to solve problems such as plasma magnetic surface tearing, distortion, and plasma magnetic islands caused by high-temperature plasma in the chamber."

Yuan Yingcai frowned and asked quickly: "But hasn't the Dawn Fusion Device already solved this problem?"

Xu Chuan shook his head and said with a smile: "No, the Dawn Fusion Reactor is only forced down by expanding its volume, enhancing the critical magnetic field, and changing the structure of the outer magnetic field of the fusion reactor."

"The issue has not been fully addressed."

"As the size of the fusion reactor becomes smaller, this type of problem will become more and more serious. On the tokamak device, when the size is as small as about five meters * five meters * five meters, conflicts and tearing related to high-temperature plasma will occur. The split is irreconcilable.”

"So we chose to change to a route that does not have problems such as plasma magnetic surface tearing, distortion, and magnetic islands, and the stellarator happens to have its own advantages in this regard."

Xu Chuan briefly explained the miniaturized fusion technology, and then said: "Just in time, the relevant inspections have been completed. Next, we are going to conduct an ignition experiment on this small reactor. Mr. Yuan, do you want to come over and take a look?"

Hearing this, Yuan Yingcai nodded vigorously and said, "Of course, if it's convenient."

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "There is nothing inconvenient, come with me."

As he spoke, he walked towards the main control room of the core laboratory.

Here, many scientific researchers and staff are busy in an nervous and orderly manner.

"How is the situation? When can the ignition be started?" Xu Chuan asked Liang Qu in the control room.

Although he proposed the route of the miniaturized fusion reactor and solved some of the core problems, he did not have much involvement in the overall design, manufacturing, assembly and other processes. They were all controlled by Liang Qu.

Seeing Xu Chuan, Liang Qu said hello and replied: "The preparation work has been completed. The final inspection is now being carried out. In about half an hour, the test will be completed and the ignition experiment will begin."

Xu Chuan nodded and took Yuan Yingcai to the other side to wait.

Half an hour was not long. Under the auspices of Liang Qu, the first ignition experiment of the miniaturized fusion reactor began.

Despite the experience of Huaxing fusion device, the test experiments of small reactors still started from the hydrogen and helium three simulation experiments.

Compared with the fusion of deuterium and tritium raw materials, although the hydrogen-helium three simulation operation cannot produce a complete fusion reaction, it has more advantages in increasing the temperature and controlling the plasma turbulence.

Of course, the more critical thing is that it can test the overall condition of the fusion reactor without causing widespread damage to the fusion reactor.

After all, if deuterium and tritium are directly added, if one does not control it well, the energy generated by fusion will definitely cause huge impact damage to the reactor and chamber.

Even considering the amount of raw materials used for fusion, the high temperature and plasma created instantly cannot be underestimated.

There is nothing related to nuclear testing that is not dangerous.

[Steady-state magnetic field strength reaches 78.55 Tesla, goal achieved! 】

[The fine-tuning magnetic field has been corrected according to the instructions, and the magnetic field in the reaction chamber has reached the target plan! 】

【.】

[Helium III raw material has been injected! 】

[ICRF heating antenna startup is completed. The current temperature has reached 47 million degrees Celsius and is expected to reach 80 million degrees Celsius in ten minutes! 】

【.】

In the main control room, Xu Chuan sat quietly on a chair, watching Liang Qu's command of the small reactor simulation experiment, and listening to the various work reports fed back to his ears.

For today's Energy Research Institute, completing a hydrogen-helium three simulation experiment is not a cause for concern.

If this was not the first time the small reactor had been ignited after assembly and the stakes were high, Xu Chuan would not even bother to take a look.

After all, he has done relevant experiments countless times. Even for other people at the Energy Research Institute, completing nuclear fusion experiments is not an unusual task.

Everyone is at their posts, steadily and orderly advancing the operation of the small reactor.

Until, in the control room, an exciting report was delivered

[Deuterium-tritium fusion reaction detected! 】

A brief report excited everyone in the control room.

The deuterium-tritium ignition experiment of a small reactor was successful!

Looking at the beating curves and data on the main control screen, Xu Chuan also had a faint smile on his face.

Just as he expected, the small reactor successfully completed the ignition after undergoing countless experimental simulations and data adjustments of the Huaxing Fusion Device.

Although some parameters and experiments still need to be adjusted in the future, they have already passed the most core and critical step!

In the control room, Yuan Yingcai, who was invited to participate in the ignition experiment, felt a little dazed after watching the entire simulation experiment and ignition process and feeling the cheers in the control room.

This...is this a success?

Didn’t it mean that this was the first ignition experiment of a small reactor?

Is this done?

what's the situation? Is it a little too relaxed, a little too fast?

He didn't feel any tension and expectation throughout the whole process, right?

Noticing the movement here, Xu Chuan smiled and said, "How do you feel?"

Hearing this, Yuan Yingcai came back to his senses, swallowed and couldn't help asking: "Why don't I feel anything? It doesn't look like the small reactor test was successful at all."

After a pause, he then added: "An important experiment like a small reactor has been successful. Where are the cheers? Where is the joy? Where is the celebration? Are you a little too calm?"

Hearing this, Xu Chuan smiled calmly and said: "For Xinghai Research Institute, the technology of small reactors is already quite mature."

"Early before this experiment, Huaxing Fusion Device had conducted countless ignition and operation experiments through simulations. With this experience and data, the ignition of small reactors is not difficult for us."

"As for celebrating with joy and joy, of course there will be, but not now."

"When the celebration banquet comes, they will naturally cheer and celebrate."

"As for now, there is still a lot of work waiting for them."

As he spoke, he pursed his lips, pointed to the researchers who were still working at their posts, and continued: "This time's experiment, in addition to ignition to complete deuterium and tritium fusion, also requires running time and plasma temperature limits. Tests, device flip stability tests and other experiments.”

"Because this small reactor is used on the space shuttle, we need to conduct the most detailed experiments and tests under various conditions it may encounter during operation, and obtain relevant data to judge whether it is truly successful. ”

Standing in the main control room, the expression on Yuan Yingcai's face was not only shocked, but also a bit complicated, and even a little suspicious.

In fact, even now, he still can't believe that the miniaturized fusion reactor has successfully ignited.

Not only were there doubts about whether the technology itself could be done, there were also doubts about the calm behavior of these people in the main control room after the experiment was successful.

Everyone, including Xu Chuan, was so indifferent to the success of the ignition that he had to doubt whether the ignition was really successful this time, rather than fabricating experiments and data to deceive him.

But the facts displayed in front of him at this moment, including the data fed back to the control room, the high-temperature plasma running in the small reactor chamber, and the electrical energy output outward, at this moment, all those things in his mind The idea was completely shattered.

Small pile, they really did it!