Great Country Academician

On the other side, the Germanic country.

In the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Professor Tillman Lunt is communicating with the management staff of the institute.

The Planck Institute for Plasma Physics is a branch research institute under the name of the Max Planck Institute, and the latter is a large-scale basic research institution that can rank among the top five or even the top three in the world.

Founded in 1948, this large research institute is named after the famous physicist Max Planck.

Today, there are as many as 83 branch research institutes and research institutions under its name, and the research fields carried out include: astronomy, astrophysics, chemistry, biology, biology, solid state research, genetic ecology, plant research, etc. .

Almost covering most of the scientific research fields of the entire human civilization.

In this respect, even research institutes such as Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, CERN Research Institute, and Helmholtz Association are inferior to it.

If we look at the overall research volume (not cited or affected), the Max Planck Institute is only surpassed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China, the Tsarist Russian Academy of Sciences and Harvard University.

From this point of view, it is enough to prove the status of this research institution in the scientific community.

In fact, this is exactly the case, not to mention other things, just in the branch of the Institute of Plasma Physics, it uses several controllable nuclear fusion reactors.

From tokamak devices, to stellarator devices, to pebble beds and inertial constraints, it has laser ignition devices.

Not only is there, even in the two parts of the tokamak device and the stellarator device, it has entered the second generation in an all-round way.

For example, Wendelstein 7-X under its name, also known as Helix-7X, set a long-term high-temperature plasma operation record of more than 100 seconds in 2018, and even more so at the end of 19 A runtime record of a full six minutes was set.

This can be said to be a new world record for this type of stellarator, and no one has been able to break it so far.

The new ASDEX device currently under construction has also refreshed the configuration record of the current state-owned tokamak device in terms of configuration, second only to the tokamak device of the international joint ITER.

In the study of controllable nuclear fusion, the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics has truly realized walking on multiple legs.

As for the others, the United States focused on inertial restraint and stellarator, and Hua Guo placed its bet on the tokamak. In other fields, it is probably not as good as the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics.

Of course, this is also related to Europe's extreme desire for energy.

In terms of oil and natural gas, they are extremely dependent on resources imported from Tsarist Russia. If there is a conflict in the future and Tsarist Russia locks this gap, then the whole of Europe will be extremely uncomfortable.

Therefore, compared with the United States and China, Europe is more eager to find a new path in energy.

Including the previous transaction with Huaguo's "nuclear energy beta radiation energy accumulation conversion electric energy technology", it is also hoped that nuclear energy can solve the energy crisis.

In the conference room of the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, Professor Tillman Lunt is doing his best to report and persuade.

"Judging from the last operation of Helix-7, we have not achieved our ideal goal on the road of stellarator. Although the water-cooled divertor played its role stably, the plasma in the chamber The turbulent confinement caused the temperature of the first wall to rise faster than expected over time."

"This is a control issue of plasma turbulence in the reactor chamber, which was communicated at the time of the last report."

"We need stronger control methods, whether it is to optimize and adjust the control model, or to use stronger superconducting materials to create strong magnetic fields, are solutions."

Across the desk, a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes frowned and said, "It's pointless to discuss these things. What I need is a solution instead of wasting time here."

"You have to know that we don't have much time left. If we can't achieve at least 30 minutes of operation this year, the parliament will definitely reduce investment in controllable nuclear fusion projects."

"Especially in the case where the energy company has already traded from Huaguo to the 'nuclear beta radiation energy concentration and conversion of electrical energy technology', it is obviously more worthwhile to withdraw investment from controllable nuclear fusion and invest in nuclear fission."

Professor Tillman Lunt nodded and said, "Of course, the purpose of inviting everyone here today is that we have found a feasible solution."

"any solution?"

Tillman Lunt: "It's still related to Professor Xu who developed the 'Nuclear Beta Radiation Energy Concentration and Conversion Technology'!"

"Not long ago, the Chuanhai Materials Research Institute under his name held a press conference on high-temperature superconducting materials. At the press conference, a new type of high-temperature superconducting material was announced, which can provide a critical magnetic field above 20T. That's more than three times the amount of superconducting material we use today."

"And the critical magnetic field control of 20T, theoretically speaking, can greatly enhance the control of our Helix-7X on plasma turbulence."

"You should know that the stronger the confinement field, the more stable the operation of the plasma turbulence."

"If this high-temperature superconducting material can be traded, it is easy to achieve a running time of more than 30 minutes. Even based on the data on paper, with this material, we can even break through the running time of one hour! "

"If we can do this, we will have enough capital to continue to ask parliament and the EU for research funding."

Hearing this, another middle-aged man on the opposite side of the desk lightly tapped his finger on the table and said: "I have read the relevant news about the report on the high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material. Judging from the data, the performance is indeed excellent.”

"However, Professor Xu probably won't export this kind of important superconducting material. In other words, even if he wants to export it, Hua Guo will stop it? Or at least it needs to meet Hua Guo's internal needs first. Will consider exporting."

"And what we lack now is time, we only have 2020 for one year."

Professor Tillman Lunt said with a smile: "This can be handed over to me. I got in touch with that Professor Xu two days ago. If we make a little concession, he can provide us with it before June 20. A batch of materials."

"What conditions?"

"He wants our decommissioned old ASDEX unit!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged supervisor asked curiously: "What does he need the ASDEX device for? Has he also started researching controllable nuclear fusion?"

"If I remember correctly, Huaguo has a tokamak device that is not weaker than our ASDEX device?"

Professor Tillman Lunt nodded, and said: "Indeed, the performance of Huaguo's EAST device is stronger than that of the old ASDEX device."

"but."

After a pause, he smiled and said, "You know, the leader of Huaguo's controllable nuclear fusion is not him, but another academician named Chen Mingji."

"Compared to ours, the academic monopoly in that country is more serious, so now that Professor Xu is in some trouble, and he urgently needs a fusion device with more comprehensive functions."

Hearing this, the middle-aged supervisor suddenly nodded, and he understood what Professor Tillman Lunt said.

Huaguo's scientific research ability is actually very strong, but the internal factions are quite divided, and the phenomenon of its own people making trouble for their own people is far more than other countries.

Professor Tillman Lunt continued: "However, our old ASDEX device is not his only choice. After all, the tokamak device was the mainstream route before, and many countries have studied it."

"When I was talking to him about this two days ago, he revealed that he was also in contact with the Alcatel C-Mod compact fusion reactor that is currently out of service in the United States."

Here, Tillman Lunt used a little trick to force the high-level executives to feel a sense of urgency through the way Xu Chuan contacted other sellers.

After all, they need a superconducting material with better performance to provide a stronger magnetic field to confine the plasma to complete the goal and ensure that it will not be withdrawn by the parliament.

However, in fact, Xu Chuan has not contacted Alcatel yet.

Sure enough, upon hearing what he said, the middle-aged supervisor fell into deep thought.

After thinking for a while, he said: "The old ASDEX device is not something that cannot be sold or traded, but its value is very high. We spent hundreds of millions when we built it. If it is only for trading high-temperature superconducting materials , it will be a loss."

"In addition, that Professor Xu's high-temperature superconducting material is currently only in the laboratory and cannot be mass-produced. Are you sure he can provide a batch of superconducting materials that are sufficient for the spiral 7X transformation before June?"

Hearing this, Tillman Lunt suddenly felt a tinge of joy in his heart. He knew that since he didn't directly refuse, it meant that there was something to talk about.

But he didn't show it on his face, but after thinking for a while, he said: "Indeed, even if the old ASDEX device is retired, it is still quite advanced."

"Well, I will talk to that Professor Xu again. If he is interested, at least he needs to pay a suitable amount of funds."

"As for the output issue, don't worry about it. We can write it in the contract. If he can't provide materials in June, he needs to pay a large amount of liquidated damages."

"Although there may be some controversy at that time, I believe that with the capabilities of the Max Planck Institute, it will not be difficult to obtain this liquidated damages."

"In addition, our new ASDEX device is also under construction. If we can negotiate, there may be a chance to replace it with more powerful superconducting materials."

The middle-aged supervisor thought for a moment, and said, "If that's the case, you can contact me. But simply using superconducting materials and funds to trade is unacceptable to me or the Planck Institute of Plasma."

"It is impossible for us to sell the ASDEX device cheaply. Although it has been decommissioned, there are still many advanced technologies on it. According to the trading rules in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, technology exchange technology."

"If it is a transaction, the requirements need to be improved. We need to trade to the technology of 'high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material'."

In fact, in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, the sale of controllable nuclear fusion reactors is not something that has never happened before, and it can even be said to be quite frequent.

Especially in the ITER project of international cooperation, technology and technology, as well as technology and capital transactions are particularly frequent.

After all, controllable nuclear fusion has been going on for decades, especially in Europe, which has invested a lot in this area, and such a super project with a long-term burden is difficult even for an economic power like the Germanic country.

Then it is normal to use the output technology to exchange with those countries that will later develop controllable nuclear fusion technology in exchange for scientific research funds and other technologies.

Projects such as controlled nuclear fusion always have income and no income, and no country can afford it.

Hearing this, Tillman Lunt frowned slightly, and said, "I'm afraid this will be more difficult. After all, in the field of tokamak, Huaguo's ability is not weaker than ours."

"Well, I'll take someone to Huaguo. On the one hand, we can learn about high-temperature superconducting materials, and on the other hand, we can meet and exchange ideas."

The middle-aged supervisor thought for a while, nodded, and said, "No problem, let's talk first. Technology exchange technology is the unspoken rule of transactions in the field of controllable nuclear fusion. I believe that Professor Xu should understand."

Apart from other things, he still has confidence in the capabilities of the Max Planck Institute, which is his confidence in trading the old ASDEX device.

And that Professor Xu's character is still guaranteed at present, at least there has never been any negative news.

If it weren't for the insiders of the country's own people, I'm afraid it would be quite difficult for them to trade high-temperature superconducting materials.

Of course, what the middle-aged executives didn't expect was that there were 'bad guys' among themselves.

Tillman Lunt, who has been in charge of the research progress of the controlled nuclear fusion reactor, is the biggest bad guy.

Obviously Xu Chuan proposed the deal first, but in his mouth, it became that the Planck Institute of Plasma Research needed high-temperature superconducting materials even more.

But on the whole, if the deal is right, the Planck Institute of Plasma Research is actually not losing money.

Professor Tillman Lunt is also wholeheartedly promoting the research and development of controllable nuclear fusion.

After all, the old ASDEX device has been decommissioned, and experiments can still be done now, but after ten or twenty years, the fate waiting for it is probably a museum.

What's more, their focus is actually on the stellarator Helix-7X. It is also worthwhile if they can exchange retired products for key materials to advance the progress of the stellarator.

Coming out of the conference room, Professor Tillman Lent returned to his office and couldn't wait to send Xu Chuan an email.

After receiving the email, Xu Chuan had a smile on his face.

The communication at the Planck Institute of Plasma Research seemed to be much smoother than he had imagined. Maybe the old ASDEX device might be taken down.

It's not much of a problem to deliver a batch of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconductors at least enough for the Helicon-7X upgrade in June, and to pay some money.

Qixia's controllable nuclear fusion project has just started, and he hasn't spent much of his funds so far. He prepaid a part of the funds to get the old ASDEX device in hand, and after the results are made, he is eligible to ask for more funds from above.

He knows very well that in academia, results are more convincing than anything at any time.

If he can advance the running time of controlled nuclear fusion to half an hour or even more than an hour, then the country will definitely support him fully.

Funding, of course, is not a problem.

As for technical trading technology, this needs to be considered.

If there was a breakthrough in the optimization of high-temperature superconducting materials years ago, it would not be a loss to trade ASDEX devices with this old and flawed superconducting technology.

After all, the divertor, water cooling equipment and other technologies on the ASDEX device are quite advanced. Even if it is not as good as the one used on the Helix-7X, it is enough to surpass most of the equipment.

As for the specific negotiation, when the initial communication is effective, let other people take charge, and he can control the overall situation.

There is still about a month to go before the Chinese New Year. If possible, he would like to advance the optimization of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials while Academician Zhang Pingxiang is still here this year.

It is not required to be optimized to the extent that it can be easily stretched like metal, but at least, the brittleness and toughness must be improved, so that it can be applied to some equipment that is not so harsh in use.

If academician Zhang Pingxiang leaves after the end of the Chinese New Year, and he wants to break through alone, the difficulty will increase a lot.

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