Infinite Life: Trapped in a lifetime

“Smarter Control Systems (AI)”

"A more accurately coupled model of the motion of ultra-high temperature plasma in a tokamak device."

"First wall materials more resistant to neutron impact."

"Room temperature superconducting materials (coil materials that can meet stronger magnetic constraints and withstand higher loads at normal and ultra-high temperatures)"

Mo Dao wrote these lines on the whiteboard in a small conference room.

The reason why the research of the EAST project has stalled is based on these general directions.

Strictly speaking, this is beyond the responsibility of the EAST project research team.

To a certain extent, the research dilemma of controllable nuclear fusion has essentially nothing to do with the EAST research team, nor is it their fault.

Just like based on room temperature superconducting materials or other more suitable materials, EAST researchers can certainly design a better tokamak device.

However, this material does not currently exist, and no other more suitable material can be found.

So what can EAST researchers do besides doing some "carving" work under the existing technical conditions and trying their best to use the existing materials to create flowers?

Even the EAST team has a collaborative materials research team that has been engaged in research in this area.

Even though the EAST team has been keeping in touch with other research teams working on superconducting materials,

But room temperature superconducting materials are still far away.

Mo Dao looked at the few lines of words already written on the whiteboard and drew an arrow downwards.

I wrote a few new lines.

“AI models in computers.”

"Turbulence Problems."

"Theoretical Issues in Materials Science."

This is a more essential question based on the above directions.

Nuclear fusion is mature in theory and there are not many doubts.

But this does not mean that there are no theoretical problems in the construction of nuclear fusion reactors.

The problems encountered in the realization of controllable nuclear fusion are still insufficient at the theoretical level.

The research process in materials science is like a blind box, without a relatively ‘scientific’ theoretical framework.

It is difficult to find materials that meet the requirements.

The same is true for AI. AI theory is not perfect.

This is especially true for the turbulence issues involved in the plasma motion model.

It seems that the technical problems in the construction process of controllable nuclear fusion reactors are still theoretical problems in the final analysis.

to some extent,

This is what human beings want to do without fully satisfying the ‘prerequisite theory’.

We want to achieve a controllable nuclear fusion reactor at the technical level.

This is certainly possible.

There is a lag in theory in many fields. As soon as the technology is available, use it first, and the theory will be discussed later.

However, this method becomes very difficult in the research of controllable nuclear fusion.

Mo Dao looked at what he had written on the whiteboard,

I thought about it for a long time.

Finally, the 'turbulence problem' and the corresponding 'more accurate plasma model' were circled.

If there is no room-temperature superconducting material, you can make do with high-temperature superconducting materials at minus one to two hundred degrees Celsius. Although it will bring design and consumption problems.

The same goes for the control system. If there is no suitable AI, a targeted program will be used first.

The material on the first wall that resists the impact of neutrons is also made do.

at last,

The breakthrough direction Mo Dao chose was a more accurate plasma model.

This direction seems to be the most difficult, but for Mo Dao, it is actually the most likely to be achieved.

Even if Mo Dao were to research the materials now, he still didn't know when he would be able to find them.

The plasma model involves turbulence issues.

Crucially, Modao didn't need to find a universal turbulence model.

He only needed to find a theoretical model for the single case of plasma within controlled nuclear fusion based on a tokamak device.

Whether it is physics or other fields, a single, special case question is always easier to find the answer to.

This undoubtedly reduces the difficulty.

Although this will also have problems, such as affecting the subsequent improvements of the controllable nuclear fusion reactor after its realization.

However, none of them have been realized yet, and it is really meaningless to consider further issues at the moment.

Looking at the words 'plasma model' on the whiteboard, Mo Dao paused for a while.

…

19 years.

After the Q value reached 0.86, the EAST experiment was not so ideal, with an increase of 0.3 every year.

In fact, it was a longer and more complete stagnation.

From 19 to 20 years.

Every experiment with the EAST device requires some adjustments as much as possible.

The most important Q value is still stuck between 0.86 and 0.87, fluctuating up and down.

Sometimes the changes are so subtle that it makes people wonder if they are due to experimental errors rather than the impact of adjustments.

September 20th.

Mo Dao, who was already the head of the theory group, stepped into Academician Zhang's office again.

The two had a long conversation about the future of the EAST project.

…

"...Academician Zhang, I hope to build a new, different, larger-scale tokamak experimental device or experimental reactor in addition to the EAST device."

"Mo Dao, do you have any new ideas?"

This was Academician Zhang's first reaction when Mo Dao mentioned this sentence.

With the previous precedent, Academician Zhang immediately thought that Mo Dao might have a plan to take the Tokamak device a step further.

But Mo Dao shook his head.

"No. I want a new experimental device to try more directions, collect more data, and establish a turbulence model for the Tokamak device."

Although the current EAST can be adjusted and modified,

its main body was determined from the moment it was completed.

All adjustments and experiments are affected by its main structure.

Minor changes are fine, but major changes are better than building a new one.

"... This may be difficult to establish a project."

After hearing Mo Dao's answer, even Academician Zhang showed hesitation on his face.

If Mo Dao has found a new direction to continue to improve the Q value or other data,

then it is of course appropriate to build a device based on a new design and theory that can be closer to a commercial controlled nuclear fusion reactor.

But what Mo Dao means now is that there is no new direction, and he wants to build a new device and find the direction while building it.

"Without a complete plan and breakthrough technology, it is difficult for the higher authorities to allocate such a huge amount of funds to build a new experimental reactor."

According to Mo Dao's idea,

it is tantamount to a gamble,

and it may be more than 10 billion yuan.

The gamble is not whether a controlled nuclear fusion reactor can be built,

but whether it is possible to find a new direction.

Mo Dao was not surprised by what Academician Zhang said.

It would be strange if it could be approved easily.

Even Mo Dao himself was not sure whether it was so meaningful to build a new controlled nuclear fusion experimental device at this time.

But Mo Dao was willing to give it a try and spend tens of billions or even hundreds of billions of funds.

And this project will definitely be approved in the end.

Because Mo Dao is ready to spend this money himself.

The investments he made and the capital he accumulated since this life are not for use at this time?

In addition, Mo Dao can use the whole world as an ATM machine to withdraw money at any time, which is definitely enough.

"I know, Academician Zhang."

"...Mo Dao, I can guarantee you. Apply for this project, but my face may not be worth that much money."

Academician Zhang looked at Mo Dao, paused, and said the same thing.