On the second day of the conference, the topic was still sub-research projects in the field of nuclear fusion, and the most attractive ones were the latest advances in atomic probe technology and the outlook for STM and AFM technologies.

At first glance, this topic seems to be closer to the field of materials science, and it seems that it is not so suitable for this conference, but in fact, when mankind is facing the major problem of the first wall material, how to find a better way to develop new materials is actually an important step to reach nuclear fusion.

With the help of heteroatom modification technology, human beings have the ability to "program", or combine, at the level of a single atom to obtain the desired material properties.

The technology isn't new, but even after 20 years of development, it's still relatively rudimentary.

At extremely low temperatures, humans can modify single or multiple heteroatoms with a very small needle tip to achieve a strong affinity for the target atom within a certain range, so as to manipulate the single atom.

However, such "manipulation" is obviously extremely rudimentary.

Even after 10 years, its biggest role is just to use atoms to pose a few shapes and words like playing tickets.

Therefore, this topic is more of a counterpoint to a boring meeting, like an interest discussion assigned by the teacher in the classroom during school.

Chen Nian is very interested in this, after all, in the past few years, he has invested the most in the direction of materials science.

However, Sebastian on the side was a little bored.

On the one hand, he didn't understand what he heard, and on the other hand, he had something in his heart.

So he was drowsy during the whole report, and it wasn't until the end that he recovered a little bit of energy.

"What a boring report, are you interested in this? I've noticed that you seem to have listened very carefully. ”

Chen Nian nodded and replied:

"Atomic manipulation is a very interesting subject, imagine that if we can make new materials on the atomic scale, then we are not far from the position of the Creator."

"That's the crux of the matter, how could we get so close to the Creator so quickly?"

Sebastian spread his hands and continued:

"Although I am not an expert in this area, I also know that, as the old guy on stage said just now, if we want to achieve atomic manufacturing, we still have at least several technical thresholds to achieve."

"A supercomputer with huge computing power, an STM with ultra-high accuracy, and . . A technology that can manipulate atoms in the truest sense of the word. ”

"You see, I can't even name this technology because it doesn't exist yet."

Chen Nian nodded slightly and replied:

"That's true, but people have to be imaginative, don't they?"

"That's fine-—— but it's not something I can see anyway."

"Not necessarily."

A mysterious smile appeared on Chen Nian's face, and Sebastian didn't care, just took him as a kind comfort.

But what he didn't know was that Chen Nian was indeed thinking about how to plan this technology.

Of course, in recent years, it has certainly not worked.

Its status is the same as that of a two-way information transmission brain, and it belongs to the "creator" level of technology, and it will wait for the popularization of nuclear fusion and the great development of global productivity at the earliest

After the meeting ended, the two went to the café again to chat, but this time, they were followed by Sebastian's colleague, Aichendorf.

He had an undisguised smile on his face, and it looked like something good was happening.

None of the three said anything, but all three knew it.

——

Of course, Chen Nian learned more complete information.

According to the report, Aichendorf has replied to the invitation of EAST and officially decided to join the international cooperation sub-project of the EAST project.

And Aichendorf is a typical pure scholar, usually in addition to scientific research, he is not willing to meddle in other things at all, and his background can be said to be a clean mess, and there is basically no risk of failing the review.

It can be said that the direction of the second half of his life has been determined, regardless of whether he will regret it in the future, but at least for now, he is indeed satisfied.

"Old man, haven't you thought about it yet?"

"I think you should let go of those so-called 'principles', you know, technology has no borders, especially technology like nuclear fusion, which benefits the whole of humanity."

"We should choose better conditions for scientific research and be closer to the camp of truth, which is responsible for all mankind."

Responsible to all humanity?

It was the first time Chen Nian had heard such a statement.

In his memory, there weren't too many white leftists in Germany – at least not as many as in France, and especially among the groups of researchers.

But Aichendorf's remarks are obviously standard white-left speeches.

Good guys, let yourself meet?

But how does it feel weird?

In his opinion, the way to be responsible for all mankind is to join Huaxia.

The Lighthouse of the World has been replaced?

Chen Nian couldn't help but feel a little like laughing, but Sebastian on the side couldn't laugh.

He pondered Eichendorf's words silently in his heart, and after a long time, he spoke:

"I still have to think about it, after all, this is a completely foreign country to me."

"So what? They pay no less attention to scientific research scholars than in Germany. ”

"Do you remember Isaac who did the research on metallic hydrogen? He's said to be just a marginal character in the project, but now? ”

"Although no paper has been published, it is clear that he has been regarded by many as the most influential expert in superconducting materials outside of the Huaxia team."

"It's called opportunity, don't hesitate any longer!"

"Okay."

Sebastian finally relented.

Of course, this will definitely not be his final decision.

The reason is simple, even if he wants to leave, Max Planck Labs will not necessarily release him.

Unlike Eichendorf, Sebastian has a more central mission at Max Planck Labs, and he also has a sub-project in progress, and as long as he is not an outrageously stupid director, he will not let him go easily.

Retention is inevitable, and promotions, salary increases, and higher benefits are routine.

But can these things really compare to the temptation that the concept of "one step forward to the truth" brings to scholars?

Hardly.

Hearing Sebastian's answer, Echendorf immediately became happy, and he immediately began to give advice to the other party, eager to immediately draw this old rival and old friend into his camp.

Infected by his emotions, Sebastian gradually got involved, but just as they were planning how to finish the project at hand as soon as possible, a voice came from the next table.

"Stupid choice."

The sound was not loud, but it was clearly aimed at the three people here.

Chen Nian, who was purely a bystander, didn't care, but Aichendorf immediately glared at him angrily.

And following his gaze, Chen Nian couldn't help but be stunned.

He recognized the man who had spoken.

John Henning, a Meritorious Researcher of NIF, the world's most cutting-edge explorer in the field of lasers, and the main leader of incoherent synthetic laser technology.

The reason why Chen Nian remembered him was when he was engaged in 055 and considered laser weapons before.

At that time, he consulted a large number of sources, including Henning's paper on incoherent synthesis techniques.

He still remembers a video report he saw at the time, in which Henning vigorously refuted the coherent synthesis technology route chosen by Huaxia, and could even be said to be worthless.

The impression left on him by this person was that of arrogance and recklessness.

There is no essential comparison between the two routes, just different choices based on reality, as a scholar, why should you be so eager to expose your ass?

What's more, according to the experience of his previous life, the coherent synthesis route chosen by Huaxia obviously has higher potential, and the energy of the laser beam is far higher than that of the incoherent synthesis equipment under the same power.

So today, what is he crazy about here again?

Chen Nian had no intention of getting involved in this dispute, but just quietly waited for Aichendorf's reaction.

And by this time, Echendorf had already stood up:

"Stupid choice?"

"Yes, your choice is not stupid, use hundreds of times more energy to ignite a small pill one centimeter in size, and the energy released is not even enough to boil a pot of boiling water."

"It's really stupid, I don't know when toys used to tease cats can be touted as the key to human progress."

Hearing this, Chen Nian couldn't help but hold his forehead.

Eichendorf's mouth is really poisonous, but his words are also really not brains.

This map cannon was fired, and all the researchers who were constrained by inertia were killed with a stick.

In fact, inertial confinement fusion is nowhere near as wasteful as he suggests, and lasers are certainly not just toys to tease cats.

In 2022, NIF announced that it had achieved a net gain in energy, and their biggest difficulty at that time, like the tokamak, was that they could not achieve tritium self-sustaining.

In this direction in the previous life, the United States has indeed moved faster than China

Aichendorf said this, the attack power is there, but it also offends others by the way.

Sure enough, as soon as he heard his words, Henning immediately grabbed the key point and counterattacked:

"So you mean, all those who engage in inertial confinement fusion are stupid?"

"I didn't say that, I don't even think NIF is stupid, I just think you're stupid."

"Maybe, but at least I'm not going to give up on what I believe in."

Henning's face was full of mockery, and he probably felt that his words were lethal enough, but in fact, Eichendorf only snorted disdainfully, and continued:

"If you're talking about stellars here, I can barely argue with you."

"But lasers? Save it, how many lasers have you used lately? 168 ways? 192 Dao? ”

"I wonder, you poor ball, do you have a little reaction?"

In this sentence, Aichendorf used an English pun, which made Chen Nian even a little embarrassed.

Really, swearing in the Western context is sometimes quite advanced

Henning, who was on the other side, instantly flushed with anger, in fact, he was almost 70 years old, and it was normal for him to have no reaction

You. Ugly! Vulgar! You can only take advantage of the lip service. ”

"Whether you want to stay in Mapu or go to Huaxia EAST, I can tell you that we will definitely be faster than you."

"Yes, I admit that the tokamak is promising, and the metallic hydrogen in Huaxia is promising, but the future is theirs, not yours!"

"But NIF is ours, and for that alone, you can't compare!"

As soon as these words came out, Aichendorf couldn't help but be stunned for a few seconds.

It's kind of let him hit seven inches.

But what's the important point?

Therefore, he simply skipped the topic lightly, and grabbed the opponent's fusion target pill and attacked wildly.

In less than five minutes, a group of people gathered around the two.

Facts have proved that eating melons is human nature, no matter how smart and high-end you are, when there are two people arguing with red faces in front of you, you still can't help but stop and watch.

Chen Nian naturally watched it with relish, he had seen a lot of academic arguments, and it was the first time that two top scholars quarreled because of a quarrel.

Thinking about it in another direction, in fact, this kind of thing happens quite normally.

This conference will not only bring more than just an opportunity for many researchers in this field.

More about it, it's still stress.

It is said that technology is shared and has no borders, but is it really not?

In fact, various countries put aside their pride and rushed to participate in the EAST project, not because they really identify with Huaxia, but because they want to seize the little opportunity as much as possible and try not to be left too far behind.

And under this macro pressure, the pressure on various institutions will inevitably not be small.

Especially in the direction of NIF, which originally went hand in hand with the tokamak, Henning is estimated to have been driven crazy by the authorities.

It's understandable to vent.

"Anyway, we won't lag behind you, wait and see, at least in the field of lasers, no one can surpass us, this is our advantage!"

"Oh? Is it? Not necessarily."

Eichendorf's words can be described as murderous, and he directly silenced Henning.

Yes, it seems that not so long ago, the United States said that "no one can surpass us in the field of all-nitrogen energetic materials", and as a result, it was quickly slapped in the face.

Not only was it slapped in the face, but after a few months, even stronger metallic hydrogen came out.

Now Huaxia is completely a black box, and you never know what it will pull out of your pocket.

Under such circumstances, it is really not wise to set such a flag.

The quarrel reached this level, and both parties had already vented their emotions, and after a few words to each other, they each died down.

With a "cool" expression, Aichendorf said to Chen Nian and Sebastian:

"I wanted to scold him for a long time, he always regarded himself as the light of humanity, and when I went to Los Angeles the year before last, I even wanted to drive him to death."

"How did he provoke you?"

Chen Nian asked curiously.

"He said that we are nazi in academia and will only plunder the results of others."

"It's time to scold."

Chen Nian nodded heavily.

This is an extremely serious insult, and I don't know how Henning's character came to this height.

——

In any case, the inclusiveness of the American academic circle is indeed worth learning.

"I heard that you also have a Divine Light Project, I really hope you will make faster progress, just like the tokamak, and stomp them down"

Project Shenguang?

Chen Nian frowned thoughtfully.

Perhaps, in this direction, it is indeed possible to make a force.

After all, fundamentally speaking, the most important thing in this direction is nothing more than lasers.

And the military, it just so happens that there is also a demand for lasers.

(End of chapter)