December 31.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico.

Several engineers in hazmat suits are standing in a hemispherical device, overhauling the cooled equipment.

Z-machine, this is the name of this device, which is commonly known as Z-machine.

The capacitors densely packed inside the device can release up to 1,000 lightning bolts of electricity, and at the push of a switch, 20 million amperes of current will rush into a cylinder the size of an eraser in an instant, violently compressing the hydrogen atoms contained in it to the limit, and releasing terrifying fusion energy.

Affected by the demonstration reactor on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, the controlled fusion laboratory in the United States has been doing well recently.

Especially after witnessing the turmoil in the energy futures market some time ago, the congressional veterans finally took the controlled nuclear fusion technology that they almost threw into the garbage heap seriously, and no longer skimped on the money in their hands.

And in addition to the congressional elders, the major energy giants have also increased their investment in the technology. But for Sandia National Laboratories, a research arm of the Department of Energy, they are mainly doing experiments with federal grants.

Different from the NIF in California, the Z-machine is not an inertial constraint in the pure sense, but a magnetic cage formed by using the inertia of the fuel and a strong current to generate pulse ignition in a microsecond time range - if you can't understand this sentence, it can be simply understood as a mixed magnetic and inertial restraint method.

Although this machine is not as famous as the famous NIF, it once set a world record for the highest temperature in the world - 3.5 billion degrees. Even the researchers who designed the device themselves were surprised and confused by the unexpected temperature.

But to be honest, if you are using DT fuel, this temperature is purely superfluous. After all, for a fusion reaction to take place, 100 million degrees is enough. Even the ideal second-generation nuclear fusion fueled by He3 has a critical temperature of just over 600 million, and there is no need for such a high temperature.

It has to be said that the difficulty of controlled fusion research has never been in the means of heating, but in how to maintain the confinement of high-temperature plasma.

However, compared with other technical routes, the Z machine has at least achieved certain results in power output.

Sitting in the lounge area outside the lab, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry raised his hand and looked at the table below.

Almost as the hour hand ticked the hour, Dean Rofan, the chief researcher at Sandia National Laboratories, appeared in the door and walked over to him.

Waiting for Luo Fan to sit down opposite, Perry asked in a deep voice, "What was the result?" ”

Dean Rowan shook his head.

"It's too early to ask this question, whether the radiation resistance of the material can be solved, whether the tritium in the reactor can be self-sustaining, these are the most fundamental aspects of controlled fusion——"

Taking a deep breath, Perry interrupted him, "Listen, I need a specific time when you guys will be able to produce visible results." ”

Luo Fan couldn't help but say: "You are making it difficult for a strong man!" I can't give you a specific time, unless Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory can give us a time to tell us when the D-Li interaction-based neutron source will be available. ”

Perry had a headache: "So the key to the problem now is the neutron source?" ”

"Obviously more than ......" With a bitter smile on his face, Luo Fan was silent for a while and continued, "But if we solve the problem of the neutron source, we can at least do radiation resistance testing on the material." ”

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of footsteps outside the rest area.

Seeing the man hurrying from outside, Perry frowned and cast an inquiring glance at him.

"What's the matter?"

The man in the suit took a deep breath and spoke with a difficult expression.

"The phone from the White House, Mr. President, wants you to go back right now...... Tomorrow we have a very important meeting to be. ”

"Something happened."

"I've only heard......" the man in the suit said with a deep breath and a low voice, "there's news from our allies...... Twelve hours later, the demonstration reactor in Haizhou, Huaguo, is about to undergo an ignition test. ”

The moment he heard this, Perry's pupils contracted slightly.

And Luo Fan, who was sitting opposite him, bounced up from the chair and lost his voice.

"It can't be!"

……

Haizhou, STAR demonstration reactor base.

Looking up, the sky is cloudless, and when you look down, the sea is blue and the waves are surging, and it is calm as far as the eye can see.

In the shore base, both the researchers and the soldiers stationed in the shore are working in their respective posts in an orderly manner.

Since last evening, the farthest checkpoint has been set up 20 kilometers away, and with the cooperation of armored vehicles, all roads leading to the area have been blocked, and all tourists or pedestrians who approach have been discouraged. Heavily armed soldiers patrol the base and beyond, keeping out all potential threats and safety hazards.

Just three days ago, on the night of the day, the regimental combat units of this generation were stationed in order to possess heavy firepower and the fear of flying units. As an imaginary enemy, the terrorists conducted live-fire exercises, including ground-to-air, anti-missile, anti-carrier-based aircraft, and other subjects.

It is no exaggeration to say that they have taken into account any eventuality and are well prepared to deal with it.

At the same time, in the building where the reactor is housed, engineers from the nuclear industry group are conducting a final inspection of the equipment.

If STAR-1 is just a steel behemoth, then this fully assembled STAR-2 is a dragon armed to the teeth.

The SG-1 superconducting magnet is its running legs, the supercomputer makes up his brain, the plasma control scheme evolved by artificial intelligence tells him how to run, and the He-1 composite material makes up his internal organs, and the reciprocating liquid lithium is his blood......

In addition to these, there are many other things in it, and all of them are the result of the efforts of countless researchers.

It is a great honor that this project has finally been completed.

All the inspections were completed, and the engineers in the plant quickly left the site accompanied by security personnel.

On the other side, in the demonstration reactor control room on the other side of the base, everything is also going on in an orderly manner.

As early as three days ago, they had already completed the exercises of the ignition operation. The contents of the safety manual and the operating guide are already in the minds of every operator sitting here.

All they need to do now is repeat what they did three days ago on a real instrument.

"Superconducting magnet inspection complete! Liquid helium ...... being injected"

"After the liquid helium is injected, confirm that the temperature has reached a critical value, and start powering up!"

"The current reaches a critical ......"

"Magnetic field type adjustment completed......"

"Fuel it!"

Finally, it's time for the final step.

As soon as the ICRF heating antenna is turned on, all the work is done......

Looking at the button in front of him, Lu Zhou's heart suddenly hesitated inexplicably.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Academician Pan next to him.

"You'd better press it."

"No, it's better for you to come," Academician Pan shook his head and said with a smile, "I am already satisfied to witness the arrival of this day in my lifetime!" ”

All the researchers in the control room, everyone's eyes were focused on Lu Zhou's body.

The CTV's lens is facing this side, ready to press the shutter at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhou slowly stretched out his right hand.

From the 863 program to the present, Huaguo has been indissolubly linked to controlled fusion for almost half a century. And if you look at the world, this technology, which was born in the early fifties of the last century, is almost the same in age. He is the same age as the country.

And tomorrow is 2020.

People have been waiting too long for this day.

And now, the key to the new world is at hand.

No one, closer to the future than him.

The Adam's apple moved slightly, Lu Zhou looked at the dial on the console, turned his back to the researchers in the audience, and slowly spoke.

“…… It's an honor to witness this moment with all of you. ”

"We've done all the work, we've done everything to the best of our ability with a clear conscience."

"Success or failure, history will remember this day and will remember all of us."

With that, he pressed the button.

It's like the rising sun.

In that dark reaction chamber, the hottest energy of this star system is being lit up by a gradually dazzling light......