As the birthplace of China's controlled nuclear fusion project, the Southwest Institute of Nuclear Physics has a decisive influence in the field of controlled nuclear fusion in China.

It is not only home to the HL-2A, the first large-scale tokamak device with a deflector in China, but also plays a pivotal role in promoting Huaguo to join the ITER project.

As a witness to this historical moment, Pan Changhong can be said to be one of the veterans of the domestic controllable nuclear fusion cause.

Even though he has been retired for some years, his concern for the development of the domestic controllable nuclear fusion industry has never stopped.

It is precisely because of this that when Lu Zhou invited him, he agreed without hesitation.

In a country of 1.4 billion people, energy issues will always be a top priority.

If the energy problem can be solved, many problems will no longer be a problem.

A stellar mimic does not necessarily mean the future of controlled nuclear fusion, but if a stellar mimic is chosen in the future, China will at least not be disconnected from the world in this field.

Otherwise, it will be another decade of catch-up, or even fifty years.

"Yo, rare guest," Seeing Academician Pan Changhong who appeared at the door of the office, Academician Zhou Chengfu smiled, "What kind of wind blew you here?" ”

"Good thing." Academician Pan Changhong smiled and sat down on the sofa next to him.

Academician Zhou smiled and said, "Oh? What's good? Let's hear it. ”

"We negotiated an agreement with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany, and if nothing else, they agreed to sell us the EGA device."

After listening to what Academician Pan said, although Academician Zhou still had a smile on his face, the smile was a little subtle.

“…… Oh? EGA device? ”

"Yes, the prototype of the Spiral Stone 7-X," and without seeing the unnatural smile on Academician Zhou's face, Academician Pan nodded with a smile, "I didn't expect Professor Lu to really talk about this matter, to be honest, I'm quite surprised until now." ”

Although the technology-for-technology is a win-win situation, and the Max Planck Society does need this kind of carbon-based superconducting magnet with lower engineering difficulty, in terms of results, Huaguo still has a slight advantage.

After all, even though the EGA device has been discontinued, as the predecessor of the Spiral Stone, it still contains many key technologies.

Being able to master these technologies will greatly shorten the time for Chinese scientific researchers to catch up with the international cutting-edge level in their research on stellarators.

Academician Zhou was not as happy as Academician Pan, but asked thoughtfully: "If they are willing to sell this equipment, I'm afraid they will have to spend a lot of money, right?" ”

Academician Pan: "It's not a question of how much money, if we buy it back and digest the technology, we will hopefully catch up with the international frontier level in the field of stellarum research in a short period of time." Even if it can't immediately reach the level of Japan and Germany, there is no problem in catching up with Australia. ”

Picking up the thermos cup on the table, Academician Zhou took a sip of tea, suddenly raised his eyebrows, and said lightly.

"Is this necessary?"

Hearing this, Academician Pan was stunned and frowned slightly.

"What...... Is it necessary? ”

Putting down the thermos cup, Academician Zhou said unhurriedly.

"In the field of tokamaks, we have reached the level of the world's leading level, and instead of catching up with others in the stellar simulator, we should just follow our own path. Is it necessary to use hundreds of millions of dollars to support other people's research? ”

Hearing this, Academician Pan was stunned.

He didn't expect that his former colleague, the old friend who had looked forward to the light of controlled nuclear fusion blooming on the land of Shenzhou as much as he did, would say such a thing.

No matter how much the media praises it, no matter how proud or optimistic the public is, as a researcher, you should remain objective and calm, be cautious about the phased results, and never be complacent.

However, from his tone, he heard a hint of disapproval, or disdain.

Hopefully, it's just my own delusion......

Restraining the smile on his face, Academician Pan's expression straightened slightly, ended the previous topic, and said with a light cough.

"I'm not here to argue with you about the superiority of the technical route, no matter which tokamak or stellar seems are more achievable, we shouldn't put our eggs in one basket. Even the United States is the same, they are taking both technical routes. We fell behind on the stellarumer, but now that Professor Lu has helped us win this opportunity, we can't just miss it. ”

After a pause, he continued.

"We want to organize a delegation to Germany, and I want to borrow about twenty researchers from you. I've made the list, and I hope you will approve it. ”

Without looking at the list at all, Academician Zhou said expressionlessly: "The stellar mimic is not in our research plan, so I can't help you." ”

Academician Pan's eyes narrowed slightly, "You don't plan to release people?" ”

Academician Zhou said quietly: "We have our own arrangements, there is no need to cooperate with your work. ”

Academician Pan slapped his thigh and stood up: "That's okay, I'll take the list to Beijing and ask Minister Wang for someone." ”

Staring at Academician Pan, Academician Zhou said meaningfully: "Old Pan, do you really want to help him and fight against me?" ”

Academician Pan also looked at him meaningfully and said.

"Zhou Chengfu, you have changed. There is no progress in academics, but the means of forming gangs and factions have improved. ”

"Changed? I've never changed. Academician Zhou said expressionlessly, "I just don't want to fool around with you." ”

He is an authority in the field of tokamak research, and his opinions must be listened to even by those in power. Since the fart. Sitting here, he will naturally spare no effort to ensure the dominance of the tokamak technology route in domestic controlled nuclear fusion research.

He doesn't deny that there is selfishness in this, but he also believes that he is right to do so.

Putting your eggs in two baskets may spread the risk evenly, but having all your eggs in one basket naturally has its benefits.

What's more, this basket is still your own.

The reason why Huaguo's controllable nuclear fusion project was able to surpass Britain and catch up with the United States in the tokamak and set one exciting stage after another world records is inseparable from the high concentration of resources on this technological route, and it is also inseparable from his leadership.

Engaging in stellar mimic research?

Of course.

But don't expect support from him.

In particular, Lu Zhou, a Nobel laureate who appeared out of nowhere, not only suddenly announced that he would participate in the research of controlled nuclear fusion, but also set up another portal next to his mountain without even saying hello.

What scares him the most is that this young man has gained the trust of the country's top leaders through "rhetoric".

Even if Lu Zhou didn't fight against him, now there are two voices in the field of controlled nuclear fusion, which in itself is a challenge to his authority.

Academician Pan said angrily: "What is nonsense? Are you sure that you can go this way, and the other roads will not work? I think you're foolish! ”

With his hands behind his back, Academician Zhou said expressionlessly: "I am sure that my choice is correct. ”

Standing next to him, Jia Liang, who had not spoken, saw that the atmosphere was wrong, so he hurriedly smiled and stepped forward to play a round game.

"This ...... Academician Pan, it's not that we don't want to help, it's that we really can't help you. Academician Zhou's temper straightened a little, and he may have said a little impulsively. But you also know that we are all engaged in tokamaks, and suddenly let us learn about stellarators, and we can't find the right person? ”

Academician Zhou did not speak, but just drank tea unhurriedly, neither denying Jia Liangcai's explanation nor making an affirmative statement.

Seeing this, Jia Liangcai suddenly understood and continued with a smile.

"Or ...... Why don't you go to Luyang and ask again? Maybe they'll be able to allocate people? ”

It's obviously a round, but in fact, it's already starting to drive people out.

Academician Pan smiled, a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes, but in the end he was not angry.

"Okay, let's start sending off guests, right?"

"Since I'm not welcome here, I'm afraid it's useless for me to say anything."

After a deep glance at Zhou Chengfu, Academician Pan turned away.

Looking at the back of Lao Pan leaving, Zhou Chengfu said expressionlessly.

"No."

After Academician Pan left, the office fell silent.

Staring at the closed door, Jia Liangcai restrained the smile on his face and asked with some concern.

"He's not really going to ask for someone from the minister, is he?"

"Hmph."

The thermos cup slapped on the table, Zhou Chengfu snorted coldly and said casually.

"What if you find it? What if it comes? Without my consent, I'm going to see who dares to go. ”