For controllable nuclear fusion technology, using helium-3 and hydrogen to simulate high-density plasma operation experiments is completely different from directly using deuterium and tritium raw materials for ignition operation.
In fact, apart from the route of inertial confinement, which imitates the explosion of a hydrogen bomb, on the route of magnetic confinement, there are almost only a handful of countries and devices that have actually conducted ignition operation experiments.
The former does not have very high requirements for experimental equipment. It is enough to form magnetic field constraints and allow high-temperature plasma flow to run in the reactor chamber.
Although helium-3 and hydrogen can simulate the operating conditions of high-density plasma at high temperatures, they are still different from the fusion ignition of deuterium and tritium raw materials.
When helium-3 and hydrogen are run in the reactor chamber, they will not actually produce fusion. This is the biggest difference.
When each deuterium and tritium atom fuses, it will release huge amounts of energy and neutrons, which will affect the high-temperature plasma running in the reactor chamber.
In addition, the neutron beam released during the fusion process will also break away from the confinement magnetic field, causing extremely serious damage to the first wall material.
This is what is bound to happen during deuterium-tritium fusion.
It is common knowledge in physics that neutrons cannot be bound by magnetic fields.
If someone can really restrain neutrons, the entire theoretical physics community and even the entire physics community will have to kneel down and ask him to guide the way forward.
Neutron irradiation produced by deuterium-tritium fusion is one of the most difficult problems to solve in the entire controlled nuclear fusion.
The damage caused by neutron irradiation to materials is not only the transmutation of atoms and the destruction of internal chemical bonds, but also the destruction of the purest physical structure.
It's like bullets hitting a steel plate, each time creating a hole in the steel plate.
Of course, it's just that it's on a micro level.
How to solve the problem of neutron irradiation produced during deuterium and tritium fusion, as well as the selection of first wall materials, are also a super problem in controllable nuclear fusion.
Now that the Daybreak Fusion Device has reached this point, facing the neutron irradiation produced by deuterium and tritium fusion is already a matter of time before our eyes.
In the main control room, Xu Chuan held his breath and looked at the large monitoring screen.
After the deuterium and tritium raw materials are injected into the Dawn Fusion device, they are quickly transformed into a plasma state with the support of the ICRF heating antenna system.
The outer coil forms a confinement magnetic field to quickly confine the plasmatic deuterium and tritium raw materials in the channel formed by the CNC model. The fine-tuning magnetic field stably regulates these trace amounts of high-temperature plasma and runs in the chamber.
If you have a pair of eyes that can see microscopically, you will see the most wonderful scene in the universe in the Dawn Fusion Device at this moment.
Under high temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees, the outer electrons of deuterium and tritium atoms are stripped away, leaving the atomic nucleus exposed. Extremely high temperatures bring extremely high activity to these plasmas. Every atomic nucleus is like a car on the highway, speeding on the road.
When a deuterium nucleus collides with a tritium nucleus, the most wonderful reaction in the universe occurs!
Deuterium and tritium fuse to form helium atoms and a neutron, releasing huge amounts of energy.
This is the source of all life and the ultimate energy source of human dreams.
In the main control room, as the deuterium and tritium raw materials were turned into plasma, excited reports sounded.
"High-temperature deuterium-tritium plasma detected!"
"The external field superconducting coil is operating in good condition!"
"Fusion reaction observed!"
"Strong neutron irradiation detected on the first wall!"
"."
Every time a report sounded, everyone's heart beat violently.
The most exciting thing was the report of "observed fusion reaction".
This means that in the Dawn Fusion Device, the plasma deuterium and tritium raw materials successfully completed collision and fusion, releasing a large amount of energy.
Perhaps what produces the fusion reaction is only a drop in the bucket of this milligram of deuterium and tritium raw material, but it still shines like a star, making people intoxicated.
At this moment, the deuterium and tritium plasma flowing in the Dawn Fusion Device is like a dream coming into reality.
Although its mass is only one milligram, although its operation time is only a short minute, although it is only a staged achievement for controllable nuclear fusion.
But it is still extremely bright, 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 stopped running completely, the cheers that had been suppressed for a long time finally resounded throughout the laboratory.
"It worked! We succeeded!"
I don't know who shouted, and the solemn atmosphere was instantly detonated, and everyone cheered.
Some people cheered excitedly, some hugged each other to celebrate, and some were gently wiping 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 history will be written by them.
The complete success of more than two hours of high-density plasma operation and deuterium-tritium raw material ignition operation experiments means that the Daybreak Fusion Device has successfully entered the second stage on the road to controllable nuclear fusion.
Looking at the entire world, there is no country or experimental reactor that can achieve this level!
They are now truly the world's number one in the field of controllable nuclear fusion.
Of course, with the operation of this experiment, there are many troubles and problems they have to solve.
The biggest trouble is the neutron radiation produced during the ignition and fusion of deuterium and tritium raw materials.
Although this experiment only ran for a short minute, the magnetic field constrained by the CNC model still played a stable role in firmly controlling the high-temperature plasma turbulence, even though the deuterium and tritium raw materials were only one milligram
< br>
However, the neutron irradiation produced during the deuterium and 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 amount of irradiation is not large, and the damage caused by neutron irradiation is within the repairable range.
But even so, the Daybreak Fusion Device will no longer be able to start operating experiments in a short period of time. Of course, although the price paid is high, the rewards are also quite rich.
More than two hours of high-density plasma operation data, the feasibility of fusion ignition operation of deuterium and tritium raw materials in the Tokamak device, neutron irradiation data of the first wall material, etc.
These are extremely valuable experimental data.
Especially the neutron irradiation data of the first wall material, its scientific research value cannot be converted into money.
In the world, there is such data obtained after one minute of ignition and fusion of real deuterium and tritium raw materials, which can be said to be unique.
Perhaps some devices that have ventured into ignition operation before have similar data, but Xu Chuan can be sure that those ignition operation times will basically not exceed ten seconds.
In China, this has never happened before.
Even the most advanced EAST has never conducted an ignition operation experiment using deuterium and tritium raw materials.
The second ignition operation of the Dawn Device did not attract much attention from the outside world, and there was not much discussion on the Internet.
However, in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, it is completely different.
Two hours of high-density plasma operation and one minute of deuterium and tritium raw material fusion ignition operation brought about as much shock as the first creation of 45 minutes of operation time. ‘
Almost all scholars engaged in controllable nuclear fusion know what this means.
Although the start of fusion ignition operation of deuterium and tritium raw materials is only the first step for the true realization of controllable nuclear fusion. But compared to those of them who are still wandering outside the door, this is already a huge lead.
USA, Princeton PPPL Laboratory.
Halifax Bruce, the supervisor who was discussing with Fefferman how to further optimize the control model of the PPPL device, received this surprising news.
Across the way, looking at Halifax Bruce whose expression was changing extremely complicatedly, Fefferman asked curiously: "What's wrong?"
Upon hearing the inquiry, Halifax came back from his distraction and said with a hint of envy in his tone: "Over in China, Professor Xu restarted the Daybreak Fusion Experiment for the second time, not only achieving a two-hour high-density Plasma operation, and a one-minute deuterium-tritium raw material fusion ignition operation was also attempted.”
Hearing this, Fefferman was stunned for a moment and said: "Two hours? Deuterium-tritium fusion ignition? Are they progressing so fast?"
Halifax Bruce smiled bitterly and said: "The news report has come out, it should be true."
After a pause, he continued: "In comparison, we are far behind. The longest high-density plasma operation time that PPPL can achieve so far is only more than ten seconds. As for deuterium and tritium fusion operation, it is even more Nowhere in sight.”
With that said, Halifax looked at Fefferman and said bitterly: "It seems that what you said was right. Professor Xu is the real key in controlling plasma turbulence."
< br>
Judging from the forty-five minutes and more than two hours of high-density plasma operation achieved by the Daybreak Fusion Device, no one would believe that Xu Chuan does not have an excellent plasma turbulence control plan.
He has even completed the research and development of a mathematical model of plasma turbulence.
After all, under the current situation where major research institutions are still advancing in seconds, a two-hour running time is really an exaggeration.
At the beginning, PPPL Laboratory also had such an opportunity.
Fefferman once told him that only if Professor Xu joins, can 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 personally invite him, he only invited him once and then gave up.
But now, the other party is already ahead. The plasma turbulence control model studied by PPPL and Fefferman is still far away, and the operation time of the PPPL device is still at the second level.
Opposite me, Fefferman shook his head and said: "In terms of mathematical ability alone, I'm afraid there are few people in the world of mathematics who can match him."
"Perhaps I can compare with him in some areas of expertise, but overall, not to mention me, even the all-powerful Professor Tao is probably no match for him."
"Two of the Seven Millennium Problems. Throughout the history of mathematics, there are only a handful of achievements that can be compared."
"Perhaps his current influence is not as great as that of the great mathematicians in history, but as long as he is still developing in the mathematical community, his influence will increase with the passage of time."
Halifax Bruce shrugged and seemed to think of something. After thinking for a moment, he excitedly said: "Feferman, do you think we have the opportunity to purchase a batch of high-temperature copper carbon from Professor Xu?" Silver composite superconducting materials.”
"Judging from Planck's stellarator Helix 7X, it is not just the mathematical model of plasma turbulence that affects the running time. I believe that the Planck Institute of Plasma definitely does not have a mathematical model, but they used the high temperature to Superconducting materials can still run for half an hour on the stellarator. ”
"If it can be purchased, the PPPL device may also be able to operate for half an hour."
Fefferman thought for a while and said: "There is indeed a chance. He is a person who is very nostalgic. If the purchase is made in the name of Princeton, he should agree."
After a pause, he added: "If Deligne and Witten are involved, the probability will be even greater."
Hearing this, Halifax fist-bumped 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-hour progress, U.S. energy leaders finally couldn't sit still and held a press conference in the White Room.
Standing in front of the podium, Dan Brouillette, the director of the U.S. Energy Corporation, was talking eloquently, delivering a speech on the controllable nuclear fusion technology that has attracted much attention recently, and at the same time announced that he would increase investment in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, etc. wait.
At the same time, Dan Brouillette also responded to the long-circulated rumors that the United States intends to withdraw from the ITER organization. Of course, this is not his main purpose.
The purpose of publicly responding to this point at a press conference is not just to simply inspire national confidence, but also to defeat the goal of another country.
"The United States has never planned to withdraw from ITER. On the contrary, not only will we not withdraw, we will continue to increase our investment in ITER and fulfill our responsibilities and obligations in ITER."
"At this point, the United States will not be like a certain country that uses ITER to obtain a large amount of technology in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, but never fulfills its responsibilities and obligations."
"Using ITER's sharing agreement to draw technology from ITER to strengthen itself, but not sharing its own research, is obviously a violation of the agreement. At this point, our great United States will continue to assume the position of the world's police and protect ITER member states. Benefits! ”
"At the same time, we will also increase investment in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, increase cooperation with allies, and do our best to complete the research and development of controllable nuclear fusion technology as soon as possible."
"."
PS: Please give me monthly votes. Big guys, please give me some monthly votes. The ranking has dropped all the way.