From all-round academic master to chief scientist

The irradiation experiments to be conducted on these special tungsten blocks are naturally neutron irradiation experiments.

Although neutrons cannot be controlled, scientists can control the collision path of neutrons by controlling the point at which they are emitted.

As we all know, in the process of nuclear fission, the initial stage is when heavy nuclear atoms such as uranium, thorium, and plutonium absorb a neutron, and then the fission reaction begins.

Just like in a nuclear fission power plant, the uranium 235 in the fission reactor undergoes fission reactions in this way.

So this means that there are substances that can produce neutron sources. In nuclear fission power plants, for example, californium-252 neutron sources are generally used.

There are quite a few places in China that can do this kind of neutron irradiation experiment. However, since they need to conduct large-dose neutron irradiation experiments to simulate the real nuclear fusion reaction environment as much as possible, Lin Xiao They finally chose the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry in Mian City.

After they contacted this institute, the institute was naturally very happy to provide it.

Of course, facing the cooperation proposed by the Golden Crow Project, and this institute is engaged in nuclear physics research, they have no reason to refuse.

So after making contact and confirming the time to use the laboratory, Lin Xiao personally took the people and the twenty-one samples to the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry.

After arriving here, there was no banquet or entertainment, and the neutron irradiation experiment officially began.

"All samples are in place and the neutron source is ready. This irradiation test can start at any time."

A staff member said, then looked at Lin Xiao next to him and asked: "General Engineer Lin, can we start now?"

Lin Xiao nodded and said, "No need to wait, let's start now."

"Okay, let's start now! Start the neutron source!"

The staff member immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and said.

Subsequently, other staff in the laboratory immediately followed suit and started the neutron source.

Then, in the experimental instrument, neutrons were emitted from the neutron source. Because the interior was in a vacuum state, these neutrons were able to run rampant inside.

Some of the neutrons may directly hit the twenty-odd samples.

Although there were only twenty-one samples, the control group was naturally indispensable, so seven ordinary tungsten plates were added to it.

In this way, they can measure the difference in DPA values ​​of these different materials.

And Lin Xiao has been looking forward to this for a long time.

Of course, it is inevitable that some people are still confused about Lin Xiao's experiment.

For example, Zhang Ran, the director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry who was standing next to Lin Xiao and also watching the experiment, was very confused: "Academician Lin, what are you using these tungsten blocks for? What are they used for?" ?"

Hearing this question, Lin Xiao smiled and said: "Tungsten plates, what do you think they can be used for?"

"I knew they were used as the inner walls of your nuclear fusion tokamak device, but as far as I know, although tungsten plates are more powerful than other materials, they are really used to control the nuclear fusion reaction. If you get it, it’s still pretty tough, right?”

Zhang Ran looked confused.

"really."

Lin Xiao smiled and nodded, but then stopped talking.

Zhang Ran couldn't help but become more confused, but seeing that Lin Xiao seemed unwilling to say more, he had no choice but to give up.

After all, the Golden Crow Project also involves state secrets. For the experiments they are conducting now, there are not many people belonging to their research institute. Basically, they are all people brought over from the Golden Crow Project by Lin Xiao.

And even he signed a confidentiality agreement.

Maybe Lin Xiao is experimenting with some secret technology now.

So it’s better to ask less questions. The more you know, the greater the possibility of inadvertently leaking secrets.

Lin Xiao, who was next to him, saw that Zhang Ran did not continue to ask questions, and nodded slightly.

After all, what he was going to experiment with this time was the most critical material technology, so basically he didn't reveal too much. So far, there are no more than ten insiders, including Kang Chengning.

Of course, because of this, others basically don’t know what he is doing with these tungsten blocks, especially these tungsten blocks that have already participated in nuclear fusion reactions and are basically useless. It is also more or less mixed with a little radiation, which is not only useless but also harmful.

But, Lin Xiaoke wouldn't reveal the role of this to them.

Then the laboratory became quiet again, with only the sound of some computer operations remaining.

As time passed, the irradiation test was carried out quietly for an hour.

Lin Xiao looked at the time, and then said: "It has been one hour since the irradiation. Let's check the DPA value first."

"OK."

The staff in the laboratory responded immediately, stopped the reaction, and then started to detect the DPA value.

The lower the DPA value, the better, because it means the average dislocation value of the atoms in its unit.

As for the measurement of this value, it can be done in this research institute. After all, this kind of neutron irradiation experiment is used to detect the DPA value. Of course, they have corresponding detection devices here.

So soon, a researcher tallied up all the results, and then came to Lin Xiao's side in surprise, and said excitedly: "General Engineer Lin, we have determined that under the current injected irradiation dose, the control The average DPA value of ordinary tungsten blocks in the group is around 0.024, while the average DPA value of samples No. 1-21 is around 0.016! As for the gap between individuals, the difference is relatively large, the worst is 0.021, and the best is only There are 0.011!”

0.011!

There is a total difference of 0.013 from 0.024!

And the average DPA value has reached the level of 0.016!

In terms of proportion, on average, these twenty-one samples are a full 50% stronger than ordinary tungsten plates!

And the tallest individual among them is twice as strong!

Doesn't this mean that these tungsten plates that have resisted the bombardment of high-energy neutrons in nuclear fusion reactions are actually as if they have been successfully strengthened and become more resistant to the bombardment of neutrons?

Although this situation seems a bit incredible, the actual measured DPA value is right in front of them!

The tallest one has become more than twice as strong!

Among the people who came with Lin Xiao this time was Kang Chengning. After hearing the result, he became extremely excited.

After all, this material was discovered by the four of them. As the original discoverers, they must be able to enjoy various honors for it.

Of course, they are all insiders, so they are happy in their hearts, but for uninformed people like Zhang Ran, it seems a bit outrageous.

He looked at the result with disbelief, and then asked Lin Xiao next to him: "Academician Lin, what is going on here? What is going on? Materials that have been irradiated by neutrons will be better than the original ones. Materials more resistant to neutron irradiation?”

"What's the point?"

He is not Sister Li, how is this possible?

"This is the problem..."

After hearing Zhang Ran's question, Lin Xiao groped his chin, as if he was thinking seriously, and after a while he said seriously: "Director Zhang, I don't know if you have ever heard of a saying called 'Cannonballs will never do anything'" Will end up in the same place'?"

Zhang Ran was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"It means that maybe these tungsten blocks that have been bombarded by neutrons are actually just like this sentence. Since they have been bombarded by neutrons, neutrons will no longer bombard them?"

Lin Xiao's serious look, coupled with the abilities he had shown in the past, made him think for a moment that Lin Xiao was not joking, so he thought about it seriously.

But after a while, Zhang Ran came to his senses and said speechlessly: "Academician Lin, you... were joking, I almost took it seriously."

What neutrons will not hit a place? Their neutron bombardment dose is calculated in moles. What you need to know is that 1mol contains one Avogadro's constant particle, and when faced with this dose of bombardment, He didn't think this would happen.

Lin Xiao laughed and said, "Sorry, sorry, just treat it as a joke."

Then he said: "Of course, although the results are still very gratifying at the moment, what we have to solve is the problem of nuclear fusion neutron bombardment. Just doubling the intensity is not enough."

"That's true..."

Zhang Ran nodded.

The maximum increase is only a little more than two times. For actual controllable nuclear fusion reactions, even twenty times may not be enough.

These tungsten plates can last for an hour here because they cannot simulate the hundreds of millions of temperatures in a tokamak device, and the neutrons emitted by the neutron source are not as high as the 14.1MeV carrier in deuterium-tritium fusion. energy.

According to calculations, neutrons carrying an energy of 14.1MeV are actually equivalent to the energy carried at a hundred billion degrees. In other words, if a large number of neutrons with an energy of 14.1MeV are aggregated together, what they will show on a macroscopic scale is Temperatures of hundreds of billions of degrees.

Therefore, in controlled nuclear fusion, these tungsten plates cannot last long.

Perhaps under the continuous bombardment of neutrons, the connection between its internal strong and electromagnetic forces will be interrupted, and finally it will become fragile again, just like the reinforcement failed and the prop was destroyed.

"That means your experiment failed?"

Zhang Ran couldn't help but ask.

Although Lin Xiao didn't say anything, through these experimental results, he could roughly guess what Lin Xiao and the others were experimenting with.

If it was only twice as strong, it would basically have no big effect.

But Lin Xiao smiled, nodded after a while and replied: "Well, it can be considered a failure."

"That's a pity." Zhang Ran sighed and said, "It's really hard to study this thing of yours."

"really."

Lin Xiao nodded again, but the corners of his mouth curled up again.

Did it fail?

In fact, this was a huge success.

Because this neutron irradiation experiment has verified his original idea.

And he already knew exactly what to do next.

"Okay, let's conduct a longer irradiation experiment. Let's see how these materials perform under longer irradiation."

He ordered again, but then handed over other tasks to others, then left the laboratory and returned to the hotel to conduct more important research.