For controlled nuclear fusion technology, simulating high-density plasma experiments with helium-3 and hydrogen is completely different from ignition with deuterium-tritium feedstock.

In fact, aside from the inertial restraint route, which mimics the explosion of a hydrogen bomb, there are almost only a handful of countries and devices that have actually conducted ignition operation experiments on the route of magnetic restraint.

The former does not have very high requirements for the experimental setup, which can form a magnetic field constraint, so that the high-temperature plasma flow can operate in the reactor chamber.

Although helium-3 and hydrogen can simulate the operation state of high-density plasma at high temperatures, they are still different from deuterium-tritium raw material fusion ignition.

The biggest difference between helium-3 and hydrogen when they are operating in the reactor chamber is that they don't really produce fusion.

When each deuterium and tritium atom is fused, it releases a huge amount of energy and neutrons, which affect the high-temperature plasma operating in the chamber of the equivalent reactor.

In addition, the neutron beam released during the fusion process will also break free from the confined magnetic field, causing extremely severe damage to the first wall material.

This is something that is bound to happen during the deuterium-tritium fusion process.

It is common knowledge in the physics world that neutrons cannot be bound by magnetic fields.

If someone really can constrain neutrons, the entire theoretical physics community, and even the entire physics community, will have to kneel down and beg him for guidance on the way forward.

Neutron irradiation from deuterium-tritium fusion is one of the most difficult problems to solve in the entire controlled nuclear fusion.

The destruction of materials by neutron irradiation is not only the destruction of atomic transmutation and internal chemical bonds, but also the destruction of the purest physical structure.

It's like bullets hitting a steel plate, creating a hole in the steel plate every time.

Of course, it's just that it's microscopic.

How to solve the problem of neutron irradiation produced during deuterium-tritium fusion, as well as the selection of first-wall materials, are also a super problem in controlled nuclear fusion.

Now that the Daybreak fusion device has come to this point, the neutron irradiation produced by deuterium-tritium fusion is already in sight.

In the general control room, Xu Chuan held his breath and looked at the general monitoring screen.

After the deuterium-tritium feedstock is injected into the dawn fusion device, it is rapidly transformed into a plasma state with the support of the ICRF heating antenna system.

The outer coil forms a confined magnetic field that quickly confines the plasmaized deuterium-tritium raw material in the channel formed by the numerical control model, and the fine-tuned magnetic field stably regulates these trace amounts of high-temperature plasma, which runs in the chamber.

If you have a pair of eyes that can see microcosm, you will see the most wonderful scene in the universe in the Daybreak Fusion Device at this moment.

At temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees, the electrons in the outer shell of the deuterium-tritium atom are stripped away, and the nucleus is exposed. Extremely high temperatures bring a very high level of activity to these plasmas. Each nucleus is like a car on a highway, speeding down the road.

When a deuterium nucleus collides with a tritium nucleus, the most wonderful reaction in the universe happens!

Deuterium-tritium fuses, forming helium atoms and a neutron, and releasing a huge amount of energy.

This is the source of all life and the ultimate energy source of human dreams.

In the general control room, along with the plasma of deuterium-tritium raw materials, the sound of reports also sounded excitedly.

"High-temperature deuterium-tritium plasma detected!"

"The superconducting coil in the field is in good working condition!"

"Fusion reactions observed!"

"Strong neutron irradiation detected on the first wall!"

“.”

Every time the report sounded, everyone's hearts beat violently.

The most exciting thing is the report of "observed fusion reaction".

This means that in the dawn fusion device, the plasma deuterium tritium raw material successfully completes the collision and fusion, releasing a large amount of energy.

Perhaps the fusion reaction is only a drop in the bucket of this milligram of deuterium tritium raw material, but it still shines like a star, which makes people intoxicated.

At this moment, the deuterium-tritium plasma flowing in the dawn fusion device is like a dream shining into reality.

Although it has a mass of only one milligram, although it runs for only a short minute, although it is only a phased achievement for controlled nuclear fusion.

But it is still brilliant, as long as a century, and like a red sun rising from the east.

With the ICRF heating antenna turned off, the current supply to the superconducting coil stopped, and the plasma temperature in the reactor chamber also dropped rapidly.

When the entire Daybreak Fusion Device completely stopped running, the long-suppressed cheers finally resounded in the laboratory.

"It worked! We did it! ”

I don't know who shouted, and the quiet atmosphere was instantly detonated, and everyone cheered.

Some people cheered excitedly, some hugged each other to celebrate, and some people gently wiped the moisture from the corners of their eyes with their hands.

Standing in the crowd, Xu Chuan also showed a bright smile.

In any case, today, they have created a new glory, and the history books will be written by them.

The successful operation of high-density plasma and the ignition operation of deuterium-tritium raw materials for more than two hours means that the dawn fusion device has successfully entered the second stage on the road of controlled nuclear fusion.

Looking at the whole world, there are no countries or experimental reactors that can do this!

They are now truly world No. 1 in the field of controlled nuclear fusion.

Of course, with the running of this experiment, there are also many troubles and problems that they have to solve.

The biggest trouble is the neutron radiation generated during the ignition of deuterium-tritium raw materials during fusion.

Although the experiment was only run for a short minute, the magnetic field constrained by the numerical control model still played a stable role and firmly controlled the turbulence of the high-temperature plasma, even though the deuterium tritium raw material was only one milligram

However, the neutron irradiation generated during the deuterium-tritium fusion process still caused a certain degree of damage to the dawn fusion device, whether it was the first wall material or other equipment.

Fortunately, the operation time is not long, the irradiation amount is not large, and the damage caused by neutron irradiation is within the scope of repair.

But even so, the Daybreak fusion device will not be able to start running experiments anytime soon.

Of course, despite the high price, the harvest is also quite substantial.

More than two hours of high-density plasma operation data, the feasibility of deuterium-tritium raw material fusion ignition operation of the tokamak device, neutron irradiation data of the first wall material, etc.

These are extremely valuable experimental data.

In particular, the neutron irradiation data of the first wall material cannot be converted into money.

In the world, there is a unique data obtained from the ignition fusion of real deuterium and tritium raw materials one minute after ignition.

Perhaps some devices that have ventured to carry out ignition runs before have similar data, but Xu Chuan is sure that those ignition runs for no more than ten seconds.

And in China, this is even more unprecedented.

Even the most advanced EAST has never done an ignition operation experiment of deuterium-tritium raw materials.

The second ignition run of the Daybreak device did not attract much attention from the outside world, and there was not a lot of discussion on the Internet.

However, in the field of controlled nuclear fusion, it is quite different.

Two hours of high-density plasma operation and one minute of deuterium-tritium raw material fusion ignition operation brought no less shock than the 45-minute operation time created for the first time. ‘

Almost all scholars who practice controlled nuclear fusion know what this means.

Although the ignition operation of deuterium-tritium raw material fusion is only the first step towards the real realization of controlled nuclear fusion. But compared to those of them who are still hovering outside the door, this is already a huge lead.

Princeton PPPL Laboratory, United States.

Halifax Bruce, the head of the PPPL unit who was discussing with Fepferman how to further optimize the control model, received the startling news.

Opposite, looking at Halifax Bruce, whose face was extremely complicated, Feverman asked curiously, "What's wrong?" ”

Hearing the inquiry, Halifax came back from his distraction, and said with a hint of envy in his tone: "Over there, that Professor Xu restarted the dawn fusion experiment for the second time, not only achieved two hours of high-density plasma operation, but also tried a one-minute deuterium-tritium raw material fusion ignition operation. ”

Hearing this, Feverman was stunned for a moment and said, "Two hours? Deuterium-tritium fusion ignition? Are they moving so fast? ”

Halifax Bruce smiled wryly and said, "The news report has come out, it should be true." ”

After a pause, he continued: "In comparison, we are much behind, and the longest high-density plasma run time that PPPL can achieve so far is only a dozen seconds. As for the deuterium-tritium fusion operation, it is even more far away. ”

As he spoke, Halifax looked at Feverman and said bitterly: "It seems that what you said at the beginning was right, Professor Xu is the real key in the control of plasma turbulence." ”

Judging from the high-density plasma operation of 45 minutes and more than 2 hours successively achieved by the dawn fusion device, no one believes that Xu Chuan does not have an excellent plasma turbulence control scheme in his hands.

He has even completed the development of a mathematical model for plasma turbulence.

After all, in today's major research institutions are still advancing in seconds, the two-hour running time is too exaggerated.

At the beginning, PPPL Labs also had such an opportunity.

Feverman had told him that only if Professor Xu joined in could they hope to develop a control model for high-temperature plasma turbulence. It's just that he didn't pay attention to it, although he did invite it in person, but he only invited it once and gave up.

Now, the other party has taken the lead, and the plasma turbulence control model that they PPPL and Fefferman are working on together is still far away, and the running time of the PPPL device is still stuck in the second level.

On the other side, Feverman shook his head and said, "Judging from his mathematical ability alone, I'm afraid there are few people in today's mathematics world who can compare to him." ”

"Maybe in some areas that I am good at, I can still compare with him, but in general, let alone me, even the almighty Professor Tao is probably not his opponent."

"The two millennial problems of the Seven Greats, this achievement can be compared to only a handful throughout the history of the mathematical community."

"Maybe his influence is not as great as the great mathematicians in history, but as long as he is still in the mathematical community, his influence will increase over time."

Halifax Bruce shrugged his shoulders, and then seemed to remember something, and after thinking for a moment, he said excitedly: "Feverman, do you think we have the opportunity to buy a batch of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials from Professor Xu. ”

"Judging from Planck's stellarator Spiral Stone 7X, it is not only the mathematical model of plasma turbulence that affects the running time, I believe that Planck Plasma Research Institute certainly does not have a mathematical model, but with the help of that high-temperature superconducting material, they still achieved half an hour of running time on the stellarator."

"If it can be purchased, the PPPL unit may be able to run for half an hour."

Feverman thought for a moment and said, "There is indeed a chance. He's a nostalgic guy and would have agreed if he had bought it in Princeton's name. ”

After a pause, he added: "If you pull Deligne and Witten, the probability will be even greater." ”

Hearing this, Halifax clapped his fists and said with a smile: "Of course, I will visit Deligne and Witten." ”

On the other side, Washington.

When the dawn fusion device made another two hours of progress, the company finally couldn't sit still and held a press conference in the White House.

Standing in front of the podium, Dan Blueette, the head of the United States Energy Co., Ltd., was talking eloquently, delivering a speech on the controlled nuclear fusion technology that has attracted much attention recently, and at the same time announcing that he would increase the funds invested in the field of controlled nuclear fusion.

At the same time, Dan Bluyet also responded to long-rumored rumors about the intention of the United States to withdraw from the ITER organization, which, of course, was not his main purpose.

The purpose of publicly responding to this at a press conference is not just to boost public confidence, but also to strike at another country.

On the contrary, we will not only not withdraw, but will continue to increase our investment in ITER and fulfill our responsibilities and obligations in ITER."

"At this point, the United States will not use ITER to obtain a large number of technologies in the field of controlled nuclear fusion like a certain country, but it has never fulfilled its responsibilities and obligations."

"It is clearly against the agreement to use ITER's sharing agreement to draw technology from ITER to strengthen itself, but not to share its own research, and at this point, our great country will continue to assume the position of the world's police and safeguard the interests of ITER member countries!"

"At the same time, we will also increase investment in the field of controlled nuclear fusion, increase cooperation with allies, and do everything we can to complete the research and development of controlled nuclear fusion technology as soon as possible."

“.”

PS: Ask for a monthly pass, let's get a monthly pass, the rankings have fallen all the way.