Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

31 December.

Sandia National Laboratory, New Mexico.

Several engineers in protective clothing were standing in a hemispherical device repairing equipment that had cooled down.

Z-machine, that's the name of the device, commonly known as the Z-Machine.

A capacitor enclosed in the device can release up to 1,000 lightning energies, and if you press the switch, 20 million amps of current will flash in a flash with only a rubber-sized cylinder, violently compressing the hydrogen atoms contained therein to the limit, and releasing horrific fusion energy.

As a result of that demonstration reactor across the Pacific, the controlled fusion laboratory in the United States has been doing quite well lately.

Especially after seeing the turmoil that occurred in the energy futures market some time ago, the elders of Congress finally took seriously the controllable fusion technology that they almost threw into the dump and stopped being stingy.

In addition to congressional masters, major energy giants have increased their investment in the technology. However, for the Sandia National Laboratory, a research institute under the Ministry of Energy, experiments were carried out mainly with federal funding.

Unlike the NIF in California, the Z machine is not an inertial constraint in the pure sense, but a magnetic cage formed by the inertia and strong currents of fuel, where pulse ignition occurs within a microsecond time frame - if this sentence cannot be understood, it can simply be understood as a magnetic and habitual constraint.

This machine, though not famous for its NIF, has set a world record of 3.5 billion degrees, the highest temperature in the world. Even the researchers who designed the device themselves were once surprised and confused by the temperature beyond expectations.

But to be honest, this temperature is purely superfluous if it's with DT fuel. After all, 100 million degrees is enough for fusion reactions to occur. Even the ideal second-generation nuclear fusion fusion fuelled by HE3, with a critical temperature of just over 600 million, does not require such a high temperature.

It has to be said that the difficulty of controllable fusion studies has never been in the means of heating, but in the constraints of how to maintain high temperature plasma.

Compared to other technical routes, however, Z machines have achieved at least some results in terms of electrical energy output.

Sitting in a sitting area outside the lab, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry looked up at the table below.

Almost clockwise, Dean Rovan, chief researcher at Sandia National Laboratory, showed up at the door and walked towards him.

When Rovan sat across the hall, Perry sighed and asked, “How did it go? ”

Dean Rovan shook his head.

“It is too early to ask if the irradiation resistance of the material can be solved and if tritium in the reactor can be self-sustaining, which is the most fundamental of controllable fusion--”

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

Rovan couldn't help but say, "You are a tough man! I can't give you a specific time unless Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory can give us a time to tell us when that neutron source based on D-Li interactions can be made. ”

Perry had a headache: "So the key to the problem now is the source of the neutron? ”

“Obviously more than…” The bitter smile appeared on his face, and Rovan remained silent for a while and continued, "but solved the problem of neutron sources, at least we could test the material for radiation resistance. ”

At this point, a sudden sound of footsteps appeared outside the rest area.

When he saw a man rushing in from outside, Perry frowned and cast a gaze at him asking.

“What is it?”

The man in the suit took a deep breath and said with a tough expression.

“The call from the White House, Mr. President, would like you to return now… there is a very important meeting tomorrow. ”

“What happened. ”

“I just heard…” the man in the suit took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "a message came from our allies… Twelve hours later, the demonstration reactor in Haizhou, China, is about to undergo an ignition test. ”

Perry's pupils contracted slightly as soon as he heard the phrase.

And Rovan, sitting opposite him, rubbed off and bounced off the chair, losing his voice.

“That's impossible! ”

……

Haizhou, STAR demonstration reactor base.

Looking up at the clear sky and the cloudless sky, he lowered his head to the waves of the sea and looked at the calm.

Inside the shore base, both researchers and stationed soldiers work in an orderly manner in their respective positions.

Starting last night, the furthest post has been set 20 kilometres away, blocking all roads leading to the area with the help of armoured vehicles and dissuading all nearby tourists or pedestrians. Soldiers with live ammunition patrolled both inside and outside the base, excluding all potential threats as well as security risks.

Just three nights ago, a regimental combat unit was stationed to hold heavy fire and the terror of the flight unit. Terrorists have conducted live ammunition exercises, including surface-to-air anti-missile, anti-ship carriers and other subjects, as illusory enemies.

They have taken into account any possible scenarios and are well prepared to respond.

Meanwhile, engineers from the Nuclear Industry Group are conducting a final inspection of the equipment at the plant where the reactors are installed.

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

The SG-1 superconducting magnet is the leg on which it runs, super-composing his brain, and the plasma control scheme of artificial intelligence evolution tells him how to run, while the He-3 atomic probe is the eyes in front of it. The LPC-1 composite constitutes his gut, and the liquid lithium that circulates back and forth is his blood...

Beyond that, there's a lot more to it than that, and it's all amassing the hearts and minds of countless researchers.

It is an honor that this project has finally been completed.

All inspections were completed and the engineers in the plant left quickly, accompanied by security personnel.

On the other hand, it is situated in the control room of the demonstration reactor on the other side of the base, and everything is in order.

Three days ago, they had completed the ignition exercise. Every operator sitting here has long been familiar with the contents of the safety manual and the operating instructions.

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

“Superconducting magnet checked! Injecting liquid helium..."

“After the liquid helium is injected, confirm that the temperature has reached the threshold and start energizing! ”

“The current reaches the threshold…”

“Adjusted magnetic field position...”

“Fuel! ”

Finally, it's the last step.

Once the ICRF heating antenna is turned on, all the work is done...

Looking at the button in front of him, the heart of the ark suddenly became somewhat moody.

He took a deep breath and looked at Pan Yard teacher next to him.

“You better press it. ”

“No, you better come,” Pan Yard shook his head and said with a smile, "I have been satisfied to witness this day in my lifetime! ”

All the researchers in the control room, all eyes on the ark.

The CTV lens is pointing this way, ready to press the shutter.

Taking a deep breath, the ark slowly extended its right hand.

It has been almost half a century since Project 863, when China and controllable fusion became insensitive. And if you look at international, this technology, born in the early 1950s, is almost identical in age. Same age as the country.

And tomorrow, 2020.

People have waited too long for this day.

And now, the key to a new world is right around the corner.

No one is closer to the future than he is.

The throat knot moved slightly, and the canoe gazed at the dial on the console, turning its back to the researchers throughout the field, slowly opening its mouth.

“… it is an honour to join you in witnessing this moment. ”

“We have accomplished all the work, and we have done everything to the best of our ability. ”

“History will remember this day, whether it succeeds or fails, all of us. ”

Come on, he pushed the button.

Like the rising sun.

In that pitch-black reaction chamber, the hottest energy of this galaxy is being lit by the dazzling rays of light...