Chapter 557: Ignite!

December 31.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico.

Several engineers in protective suits were standing in the hemispherical device, overhauling the equipment that had cooled down.

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

The capacitors densely distributed in the device can release the electric energy of 1,000 lightning bolts at most. As long as the switch is pressed, the current of 20 million amperes will flow into the cylinder the size of an eraser in an instant, violently compressing the hydrogen atoms contained in it to Limit and unleash terrifying fusion energy.

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

Especially after witnessing the turmoil that occurred in the energy futures market some time ago, the masters of Congress have finally taken seriously the controllable nuclear fusion technology that was almost thrown into the garbage dump by them, and are no longer stingy with the funds in their hands.

In addition to the gentlemen in Congress, major energy giants have also increased investment in this technology. However, for Sandia National Laboratories, a research institution affiliated with the Department of Energy, they are mainly conducting experiments with funding from the federal government.

Unlike the NIF in California, the Z machine is not purely inertial, but uses the inertia of the fuel and the magnetic cage formed by the strong current to generate pulse ignition within the time range of microseconds—if you can’t understand this sentence , which can be simply understood as a constraint method of magnetic and inertial mixing.

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 DT fuel is used, this temperature is purely redundant. After all, 100 million degrees is enough to make the fusion reaction happen. Even for the ideal second-generation nuclear fusion fueled by He3, the critical temperature is only over 600 million, and such a high temperature is simply not needed.

It has to be said that the difficulty of controllable fusion research has never been in the means of heating, but in how to maintain the constraints 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 rest area outside the laboratory, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry raised his hand and looked at his watch.

Almost when the hour hand hit the hour, Dean Luofan, the principal researcher of Sandia National Laboratory, appeared at the door and walked towards him.

When Luo Fan sat down opposite, Perry asked in a deep voice, "How was the result?"

Dean Luofan shook his head.

"It's still too early to ask this question. Can the radiation resistance of the material be solved, and can the tritium in the reactor be self-sustaining? These are the most fundamental factors for controlled fusion—"

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

Luo Fan couldn't help but said: "You are trying to force others to do something difficult! I can't give you a specific time, unless the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory can give us a time and tell us the neutron based on D-Li interaction When will the source be made?"

Perry said with a headache: "So the key to the problem now is the neutron source?"

"Obviously more than that..." With a bitter smile on his face, Luo Fan was silent for a while, and continued, "But the problem of the neutron source is solved, we can at least test the radiation resistance of the material."

At this moment, footsteps suddenly came from outside the rest area.

Seeing the man hurriedly coming from outside, Perry frowned and cast him a questioning look.

"What's up?"

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

"The call from the White House, Mr. President hopes that you will go back immediately... There is a very important meeting to be held tomorrow."

"what's going on."

"I just heard..." The man in the suit took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "There is news from our allies... Twelve hours later, the demonstration pile on the Huaguo Haizhou side is about to start. Fire test."

The moment he heard these words, Perry's pupils shrank slightly.

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

"This is impossible!"

...

Haizhou, STAR demonstration reactor base.

Looking up, the sky is clear and cloudless, and looking down, the sea is turbulent and calm.

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

Since last night, the farthest checkpoint has been set up to 20 kilometers away. With the cooperation of armored vehicles, all roads leading to this area have been blocked, and all tourists or pedestrians who approach are advised to stay away. Soldiers with live ammunition patrolled back and forth inside and outside the base, eliminating all potential threats and safety hazards.

Just three nights ago, the regiment-level combat units stationed in this generation, using the terrorists with heavy firepower and flying units as imaginary enemies, carried out a number of subjects including surface-to-air anti-missile, anti-carrier aircraft, etc. Live-fire drills inside.

They have considered any possible situation and are well prepared for it.

Meanwhile, in the building where the reactor is housed, engineers from the Nuclear Industry Group are conducting final checks on the equipment.

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

The SG-1 superconducting magnet is its running legs, the supercomputer constitutes his brain, the plasma control scheme evolved by artificial intelligence tells him how to run, and the He-3 atomic probe is its eyes looking ahead. The LPC-1 composite material constitutes his internal organs, and the reciprocating liquid lithium is its blood...

In addition to these, there are many other things on it, and all of these are condensed with the efforts of countless researchers.

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

After completing all the inspection work, the engineers in the factory quickly left the site accompanied by security personnel.

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

As early as three days ago, they had already completed the drill of the ignition operation. Every operator sitting here has already memorized the contents of the safety manual and operation guide.

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

"The inspection of the superconducting magnet is completed! Liquid helium is being injected..."

"The injection of liquid helium is complete, confirm that the temperature has reached the critical value, and start to power on!"

"The current reaches a critical value..."

"The adjustment of the magnetic field pattern is completed..."

"Inject fuel!"

Finally, it's the last step.

Just switch on the ICRF heating antenna and all the work is done...

Looking at the button in front of him, Lu Zhou suddenly hesitated for no reason.

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

"You should press it."

"No, it's up to you," Academician Pan shook his head and said with a smile, "I'm already content to witness this day in my lifetime!"

All the researchers in the control room focused their attention on Lu Zhou.

The camera of CTV is facing here, ready to press the shutter at any time.

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

From the 863 project to the present, Huaguo and controllable fusion have been inseparable for almost half a century. And if you look at the world, this technology, which was born in the early 1950s, is almost the same age as the Republic.

And tomorrow is 2020.

People have waited too long for this day.

And now, the key to a new world is within reach.

No one is closer to the future than him.

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

"...It is an honor to witness this moment with all of you."

"We've done all the work and we've done everything with a clear conscience."

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

After all, he pressed the button.

Just like the rising sun.

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