Infinite Life: Trapped in a lifetime

“On the EAST project, the two moments when I felt the most hopeful and exciting were, apart from the initial completion of EAST and its first completion of operation, the overall adjustment plan proposed by Mo Dao based on a more accurate approximate model. "

Professor Hong looked at Mo Dao and said something more.

Then he paused and said,

"Modern, controllable nuclear fusion is not necessarily achievable."

"No one can be sure about this until it actually happens."

"Science will definitely continue to progress. But it will never necessarily satisfy our wishes and will only abide by the laws of nature and the universe on which it is based."

"We may one day be able to achieve the controlled fusion we want, or we may prove to ourselves that this technology is beyond human reach."

"There are many such examples in the past history of scientific research."

"You have now officially entered the EAST project as a researcher, but it is possible that your life will be spent on something that is unachievable, has no results, and may even be meaningless."

“You may not be able to feel the actual benefits of this effort or see the results.”

Professor Hong's words seem to be somewhat contradictory.

He also said earlier that controllable nuclear fusion will one day be realized.

But the words at this moment expressed the opposite meaning.

This is actually based on Professor Hong's two identities.

As a researcher who has been engaged in research on controllable nuclear fusion for a lifetime,

He naturally believes and hopes that controllable nuclear fusion can be realized one day, even if he may not be able to see this day.

But at the same time,

As Mo Dao's teacher, he had to mention those words just now.

As Mo Dao's teacher, he should not turn the things he has not done into responsibilities and put pressure on Mo Dao.

There is no reason for Mo Daolai to bear this heavy responsibility.

"Professor Hong, I can accept doing fruitless research for the rest of my life."

Mo Dao looked at Professor Hong and gave an answer.

"I don't insist that I must achieve anything before the end of my life."

Professor Hong listened to Mo Dao's words and looked at Mo Dao's eyes in a daze.

Looking at Professor Hong, Mo Dao paused and said one more sentence,

"Professor Hong, controllable nuclear fusion cannot be achieved on EAST."

This is for sure. EAST is just an experimental device for controllable nuclear fusion.

It is neither an experimental reactor nor a demonstration reactor.

No matter how it is modified, it is impossible to use it as a controllable nuclear fusion reactor to generate electricity.

"However, I think, based on EAST, one day, the research on controllable nuclear fusion will have a result."

Mo Dao didn't say it was successful because it was still something uncertain for him.

Professor Hong listened, paused, and then seemed a little relieved.

"I trust you."

After finishing speaking, Professor Hong smiled again and said,

"In the process of realizing a great cause, there will always be some 'fools' following you. In this matter, you don't seem to be very smart."

Mo Dao smiled after hearing Professor Hong's words, then turned his head and looked into the distance.

…

After this conversation, there was no impact or change.

Professor Hong didn't really have to relieve his burden because of Mo Dao's words.

He is still engaged in the work at EAST as usual, but at the same time, he may feel that Mo Dao has graduated now and has some free time.

This year, Professor Hong once again brought in two PhDs and two masters.

Mo Dao, the school also suggested that he take two students.

Mo Dao did not refuse, and finally recruited two Ph.D.s, one in theoretical physics and the other in nuclear fusion research in applied physics.

At the same time, since researcher Mo Daoyi officially joined EAST, coupled with the trust accumulated previously.

The entire EAST research team basically began to operate with Mo Dao as the core of the research team.

Although the EAST experiment has entered a state of stalemate and stagnation,

But the work of the entire research team did not stop.

Even if the progress is slow, and sometimes even the numerical values ​​may regress after adjustments are implemented, it is impossible to give up research.

A Q value of 0.82 is already good, but this is not what the entire EAST research team wants.

Mo Dao also participated in this slow-progressing experimental research. In each experiment, he gave some suggestions based on the previous data.

Occasionally, there will be some small progress.

…

March 2019.

After the Spring Festival that year,

In fact, within a year, the Institute of Physics promoted Mo Dao's position as associate researcher to full researcher ahead of schedule.

For the EAST project, based on Mo Dao’s core position in the entire project research team and his previous contributions,

Mo Dao's position in the project was promoted to the position of deputy head of the theoretical group.

The person in charge of the theory group is Academician Zhang. This arrangement actually means that Mo Dao is in charge of the work of the entire theory group.

However, this has no impact on Mo Dao’s work content.

The entire EAST project itself cannot ignore the suggestions given by Mo Dao.

This year, the experimental progress of the EAST project is still slow.

"...The Q value is roughly 0.86."

Another experiment,

Standing next to Mo Dao, Academician Zhang explained the key values ​​of this experiment to Mo Dao and other researchers in the entire project.

All the researchers present applauded as usual.

Looking at the big guy in the indoor experimental field again, Academician Zhang smiled again and said,

"Actually, our progress is not too slow. It exceeds 0.3 in one year. If we keep grinding like this slowly, maybe before I retire, I will be able to see that the Q value of our Oriental Super Ring can be greater than one."

When progress is slow, compared with the previous leaps and bounds of progress, compared with the controllable nuclear fusion experiments of other countries,

Their progress is already pretty good, not to mention they are already in the leading position.

Mo Dao looked at the tokamak device, nodded, and said nothing more.

The biggest question now is not when the Q value will exceed one.

Mo Dao is almost certain that with this hard work and a little adjustment, the Q value will eventually exceed 1.

Mo Dao's memory can still allow him to remember some surprising information.

In previous lives, before he came back, the Q value of the controllable nuclear fusion experimental device was approximately 1.2.

But in fact, there is no essential difference from now.

It may seem a bit contrary to our cognition,

In this state, controllable nuclear fusion technology is far inferior to the current fission reactor.

Under ideal conditions, the Q value of a controllable nuclear fusion reactor should be thousands of times higher.

And even if we start from 1.2, it is still several orders of magnitude short of tens of thousands.

Now, what they need is a road that can continuously improve the self-sustainability rate and other data of the tokamak device to the current level of thousands or tens of thousands of times.

Otherwise, with the current method, even if the Q value can be achieved greater than 1,

How can it go from one to a thousand, or even ten thousand.

They need a different path.

And now, that path is clearly not seen.

This is the dilemma facing the entire research team now.

"Compile the data and prepare adjustments before the next experiment."

Mo Dao, as the actual person in charge of the theory group, just said this again.

Next to him, Academician Zhang also nodded.

Even if it is a difficult situation, it is impossible to overcome it.

At least, grind forward if you can, and it’s not too late to stop if you can’t grind anymore.