Chapter 660 Amazing Experimental Results

The bubbles in the liquid can be stably suspended and periodically pulsed under the drive of a certain sound field. In the collapsing phase, bubbles can produce millions of volume compression ratios and high temperature and pressure on the order of picoseconds. When the driving sound pressure is high enough, the energy accumulation will cause the bubble to glow, and this phenomenon is called sonoluminescence.

Under proper actuation, the sonoluminescent bubble can remain spherical, and the nonlinear vibration can be precisely repeated for millions or hundreds of millions of cycles. It is precisely this characteristic that provides a possible idea for the realization of controllable fusion under relatively low temperature conditions.

At this moment, inside the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study.

The center of the acoustic laboratory of the Institute of Physics has been temporarily requisitioned by the miniaturized controllable fusion research team led by Lu Zhou. A transparent container with a radius of about three inches is placed on the experimental table in the center of the laboratory.

The entire transparent container is filled with clear and viscous concentrated sulfuric acid. High-power ultrasonic generators are connected to both sides of the container. Various sophisticated instruments and equipment are displayed around the entire device, ready to collect experimental data at all times.

Since the phenomenon of sonoluminescence occurs in picosecond-level flicker, it is difficult for general laboratory cameras to collect all the flash information, especially the moment when the bubble collapses to the smallest.

For this experiment, Lu Zhou even borrowed the only set of "Phase-locked Integral Shooting and Imaging Experimental System" from Jinda Institute of Acoustics.

In addition to some special acoustic experiments, this system is generally used to study anti-submarine sonar. If it is not for Lu Zhou's face, the director of the Institute of Acoustics would not agree to lend the equipment.

Standing next to the experimental device, Sheng Xianfu, who had completed the preparations for the experiment, turned his attention to Lu Zhou who was standing aside.

Lu Zhou nodded and said.

"let's start."

"Yes."

Taking a deep breath, Sheng Xianfu walked to the nearest computer and quickly pressed a few buttons.

With a short mosquito sound fleeting, the high-power ultrasonic generator began to release ultrasonic waves carrying huge energy into the solution.

After confirming that the sound pressure in the working fluid has reached the standard of 5 times the atmospheric pressure, Lu Zhou immediately continued to order.

"Inject Xenon!"

"Yes!"

With the injection of xenon gas, a bubble slowly floated up from the bottom of the container, and was driven by the sound field to float in the center of the container.

Immediately afterwards, the power of the ultrasonic transmitter began to gradually amplify, and the sound pressure applied to the bubble also increased accordingly.

At the moment when the sound pressure acting on the bubbles reaches 15 times the standard atmospheric pressure, the xenon gas bubbles floating in the concentrated sulfuric acid are like a bright light, flashing purple to whitish light instantly!

Seeing this scene, the faces of the researchers surrounded by the experimental device showed a hint of joy.

Although this is just a test of the experimental setup, it is still a long way from real success, but it is undoubtedly a good start.

The bubbles suspended in the working liquid flickered 10 groups of lights continuously, and the photos in the luminous state were collected through the phase-locked integral imaging experiment system. Several acoustic physics experts from the Institute for Advanced Study immediately analyzed the photos, and determined the luminescence through the spectrum. temperature and power.

After receiving the experimental data from Sheng Xianfu, Lu Zhou glanced briefly.

The luminous power is about 130W. Although it is only a momentary flicker, it is quite amazing. As for the peak temperature of the surface of the bubbles, the most outstanding group even reached a terrifying figure of 1.5 million Kelvin, just like a star floating in a solution!

Of course, this data is not necessarily accurate.

After all, the collapse of the bubbles happens in an instant, and it is not easy to indirectly measure the temperature at this instant, let alone reduce the error of the data.

"The first phase of the experiment was successful, let's go to the next phase." Putting the experiment report on the table, Lu Zhou continued to instruct Sheng Xianfu who was standing next to him, "Add a neutron shielding layer to the container and prepare to inject Deuterium-tritium mixed gas!"

Sheng Xianfu nodded seriously: "Yes!"

The first phase of the experiment is just to test whether the design of this device is reasonable, and whether it can provide enough sound pressure for the bubbles, so that the temperature of the bubbles can reach a temperature level above a million Kelvin in an instant.

It now appears that their experiment was a success.

When the xenon gas floating in the working liquid is compressed to a point imperceptible to the naked eye, the energy condensed at a point releases a light that is more dazzling than a point on a star.

Although the temperature of millions of Kelvins is still far away from the ignition conditions of controllable fusion, the condition that promotes controllable fusion is not only temperature.

The sound pressure acting on the bubbles not only brings a high temperature of millions of Kelvin to the bubbles, but also brings a terrifying density!

And density is also one of the conditions for fusion reaction!

Under Lu Zhou's order, the researchers in the laboratory put the transparent container into a black box made of neutron shielding material, and shut down the phase-locked integral imaging experiment system, followed by the previous experimental steps Repeated.

It's just that the gas introduced has been changed from xenon to deuterium-tritium mixed gas, and the power of ultrasonic generation has also increased from the original level to a new level!

The experiment continued.

Although the black box blocked everyone's view, it didn't hinder anything.

Some things don't need to be seen intuitively, and intuitive data is more reliable than everything.

The container full of concentrated sulfuric acid was taken out of the black box, and the researcher responsible for identifying the radiation damage and neutron amplification rate immediately analyzed the collected data in detail.

Standing next to the researcher, Lu Zhou quietly waited for the results of the experiment.

In this way, about half an hour passed.

Finally, the results came out.

"The observation results are out!" With a strong look of joy on his face, the researcher quickly handed over the completed experiment report to Lu Zhou, and reported excitedly, "By radiation on the surface of the neutron shielding material, According to the damage detection, there is enough evidence to show that during the test period, there were 2.5MeV neutrons bombarding the surface of the material... The neutron increase rate is estimated to be 1.7%!"

"Confirm that the fusion reaction has occurred!"

The moment they heard this sentence, everyone in the laboratory showed excited expressions on their faces, and almost cheered.

Especially Sheng Xianfu clenched his fists excitedly.

This idea of ​​experimentation works!

For him, there is no more exciting news than this.

Of course, although the results of the experiment are very gratifying, judging from the data on the neutron amplification rate, the experiment itself is not optimistic.

From previous experiments, at most they have observed signs of fusion reactions, and it is still far away from using this device to carry out stable and controllable fusion reactions.

Staring at the data in the experiment report, Professor Li Changxia said solemnly: "The neutron amplification rate is still too low. If we want to maintain the stable operation of controllable fusion... this level of sound waves may not be enough."

Lu Zhou nodded in agreement and said, "You're right. Judging from the current conditions, it is difficult to achieve a stable and controllable fusion reaction. To do this, we must replace the working fluid."

Professor Li Changxia: "Which working fluid are you going to try?"

Lu Zhou shook his head: "I don't know, but I have a possible idea."

"Thinking?"

"Yes," Lu Zhou nodded, "Since the traditional liquid at room temperature can't meet the requirements, why don't we try liquid metal? For example, liquid lithium, I think it is a worthwhile choice..."