Chapter 389: Antitrust Investigation in the United States
The achievements achieved by the Daybreak Fusion Device will inevitably sting the sensitive nerves of some countries.
But no one expected that after the major breakthrough of 45 minutes in the first operation in October, under the leadership of Professor Xu, less than two months later, the dawn device would once again
Created a new record.
Two hours of high-density plasma operation and one minute of deuterium and tritium raw material fusion ignition operation.
What this means is clear to almost all scholars working on controllable nuclear fusion.
Even those government officials who know little about controllable nuclear fusion technology also know what it represents.
The United States probably did not expect that in just two months, while they were still trying to find out information and discuss countermeasures, China would be able to advance controllable nuclear fusion technology to a new level.
It has to be said that when faced with the second creation of the Dawn Fusion Device, they finally became anxious.
Moreover, for the United States, if China and Soviet Russia, which are regarded as the same lineage, gain an advantage in a certain technology or field in which everyone is still competing together, it will sting the nerves even more.
The conflict in the last century has left too deep a memory in the United States.
Although that behemoth has disintegrated now, its spirit is still going on.
For the United States, the two countries that have inherited that behemoth spirit must undoubtedly be taken seriously.
Several decades have not been enough for it to completely eliminate its fear of that spirit.
After all, there are still people who lived through that generation today.
On the other side, Europe.
When the U.S. energy industry spoke publicly to the outside world.
At the Planck Institute for Plasma Research, Helix 7 is undergoing the second round of high-density plasma operation experiments.
It has to be said that the achievements of China's Dawn Fusion Device have indeed stimulated the sponsors behind the Planck Plasma Research Institute.
After the Dawn Device completed its two-hour operation, a new batch of scientific research funds were quickly provided to them, and only then did Helix 7 become qualified to start the extreme test for the second time in a short period of time.
After all, this kind of extreme test will cause certain damage to the controllable nuclear fusion experimental reactor. Although this damage is not irreparable, since it is damage, repairing it will definitely require additional funds.
Walking into the main control room, Robert Mack, director of the Planck Plasma Institute, looked at Tillman Lunt who was presiding over the experiment and asked:
"Is there any hope of breaking through an hour this time?"
Looking at the data on the monitor screen, Professor Tillman Lunt thought for a moment and said, "It's difficult."
"In the past two months, we have tried to improve the control scheme of the stellarator. The constraint time has been slightly improved, but there is still some distance from long-term constraint of one hour."
"unless."
"Unless what?"
Taking a deep breath, Tillman said: "Unless the temperature of the plasma is lowered and the first wall is damaged, it may be possible to reach one hour."
"But I don't recommend doing this. To be honest, even if we can do it for one hour, there is still a big limit compared to Professor Xu's two hours. I recommend taking it slowly."
Hearing this, Robert Mack sighed and said: "It's too late. At least we need a result to boost our confidence. At least, we can't be pulled too far."
Hearing this, Tillman Lunt also fell silent for a moment.
Although he is a scholar who prefers scientific research, sitting in his position, he does not understand what Robert said.
It would be fine if Helix 7 was a tokamak device. Based on the achievements made by Professor Xu with a tokamak-like device, all countries will definitely invest in tokamak devices without exception.
However, Spiral Stone 7 is a star-simulating device. If it cannot keep up, I am afraid that a large part of its budget will be cut off, and it is not impossible that it will even be abandoned directly because of this.
Thinking about it, Tillman sighed and said, "I'll try my best."
Robert Mack patted his shoulder and looked at Spiral Stone 7 silently.
If there is anyone who least wants Helix 7 to shut down, he is definitely one of them.
This is not only about his fate, but also about the hard work invested in Spiral Stone 7 over the past ten years.
Spiral Stone 7 was like a child to him, and he watched it grow up little by little.
After a moment of silence, Robert remembered something and spoke again: "By the way, the contract signed with Cern for Professor Xu's high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material may be terminated."
Upon hearing this, Tillman Lunt turned his head and looked at Robert with a question mark on his face.
"Um."
Robert nodded and continued: "Not only that, as for the purpose, maybe you want to force Professor Xu to provide high-temperature superconducting material technology?"
"Of course, it could be others."
"Are they crazy?" Professor Tillman looked incredulous and said, "You must know that it is not Professor Xu who needs to sell high-temperature superconducting materials now, but other research institutions."
"In the field of high-temperature superconducting materials, currently no material can compare to copper-carbon-silver composite materials. It has significantly improved various equipment that require superconducting materials as systems."
"If this kind of material is placed here, I'm afraid it is prohibited from being sold to outsiders. Even if it is sold, it should only be selectively provided to allies."
"With the current output of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, I am afraid that it cannot even meet China's own internal needs. Does that mean anything to him?"
Looking at the picture on the surveillance screen, Robert squinted his eyes and said: "Sometimes, letting others lose something that you can't get has the same purpose as letting your competitors not get it."
"Given the relationship between China and the United States, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the United States to obtain high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials from Professor Xu, while other countries, such as Europe, still have hope."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "In this case, it is better to ban it all together."
After a pause, he continued: "And if Cern reneges on the order, Professor Xu's losses will probably be quite large. Coupled with the material problem, international orders in the field of high-temperature superconducting materials will be vacant.
From this point of view, you can imagine who is more beneficial.”
Tillman asked: "Will Cern agree? You must know that other high-temperature superconducting materials are far inferior to the superconducting properties of Professor Xu, which can be seen from our spiral stone 7."
Robert shrugged and said: "Cern scholars probably don't agree, but the final decision is made by the directors of Cern who provide scientific research funds. If the funders don't agree, the board of directors may not be able to do anything."
Sighing, Tillman looked at Spiral Stone 7 in silence.
Too much political interference in the development of science is extremely detrimental to the development of science.
But there is no way. If science wants to develop, it must rely on government funding.
This is an endless cycle that no country can avoid.
Fortunately, they have successfully completed the transaction.
As for other research institutions, there is nothing that can be done, and he cannot control that much.
On the other side, China.
Naturally, Xu Chuan, who is still busy finishing the finishing work at the Qixia Mountain Controlled Nuclear Fusion Engineering Base, is not clear about the actions of the United States.
But even if it becomes clear, he won't care too much.
As Professor Tillman Lent said, with the current output of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, it is very difficult to meet domestic demand, let alone the world's demand.
At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Xu Chuan responded, "Come in," and in came Gao Hongming and another middle-aged man, tall and thin, wearing a pair of glasses, about forty years old.
He had never met this person, but after being introduced by Gao Hongming, he learned about his background. The person from National Energy was named Tan Yangxu.
After the three of them arrived in the living room, Tan Yangxu smiled and said hello first: "It's an emergency, so I'm sorry to bother you in your research work, Academician Xu."
Xu Chuan smiled and said, "You're welcome. If you have anything to do with Director Tan, you might as well just say it directly."
Tan Yangxu nodded and said, "In this case, I will tell you directly."
"The first thing is that we have received news that the United States is preparing to join forces with other countries to launch an investigation into the Sichuan and Sea Materials Research Institute under your name. The main direction is high-temperature superconducting materials, which may affect you and Cern.
The order contract signed may be cancelled.”
"?????"
After hearing the news, Xu Chuan was a little confused for a moment, with questions in his head.
Launch an antitrust investigation into high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials?
What the hell? Has the United States lost its mind?
There are more than just this kind of high-temperature superconducting materials. The Bi-based high-temperature superconducting materials from the small island country, the lanthanum-based high-temperature superconducting materials from Europe, and the United States’ own yttrium-based high-temperature superconducting materials are all high-temperature superconducting materials.
Materials are available, but they cannot compete with copper-carbon-silver composite materials in terms of superconducting properties.
From this perspective, the high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material under his name does not constitute a monopoly at all.
And more importantly, this is not a buyer's market, but a seller's market.
At present, various countries need the high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials in his hands, and he does not have to squeeze into other people's homes to sell them.
In this case, if an investigation is launched against him, the only thing that can be said is that the person who came up with this idea is a real genius.
As for canceling the order from cern?
To be honest, he would still feel a little sad if it was really cancelled. After all, this is an order worth several billion.
As for other aspects, are his high-temperature superconducting materials prohibited from being sold in other countries?
This may be a trouble in the future, but for now, domestic order production cannot be met, let alone exported abroad.
The significance of exporting high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials now is not to make money, but to exchange some technologies.
For example, this is the value of the ade device that we previously cooperated with the Planck Institute for Plasma Research.
As for other things, to be honest, Xu Chuan couldn't think of anything too much.
After all, they are in China, not the United States.
After thinking for a while, Xu Chuan looked at Tan Yangxu and asked curiously: "What is their purpose of doing this?"
Tan Yangxu: "On the one hand, it should be that we want to ban the sale of the high-temperature superconducting materials in your hands. On the other hand, it may be related to iter."
"Iter?"
Tan Yangxu nodded and said: "Well, some time ago, Kadarashe, the headquarters of iter, held several council meetings. The United States accused us of acquiring a large amount of technology from iter, but failed to perform the corresponding obligations.
"
"They believe that we concealed our research results while receiving iter's controllable nuclear fusion related technologies, violated the agreement of iter's member states, and required us to disclose high-temperature superconducting material technology and plasma turbulence CNC models. At least in the face of iter
public."
Xu Chuan was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said: "Is there a difference between being open to iter and being open to the world? Almost all those in the world who have the ability to independently carry out controllable nuclear fusion have joined iter. Opening it to iter is equivalent to being open to iter.
It’s open to the whole world.”
Tan Yangxu nodded and said: "This is the difficulty. It is definitely impossible for us to disclose these two technologies, but if we continue to argue, the United States may unite with other member states to kick us out of iter."
"The ban on the sale and antitrust investigation of the high-temperature superconducting materials in your hands, Academician Xu, is the first step for the United States, and kicking us out of ITER may be the second step."
"As for whether there will be a third or fourth step later, it's not clear yet."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan also frowned.
Since the news brought by the higher-ups can be told to him here, its credibility can be assured.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! These two pieces of news are not good news either for him or for the development of China's controllable nuclear fusion industry.
The ban on sales, the investigation of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, and the loss of Cern's orders are not too serious problems for him.
But if China is kicked out of the iter plan, it may be a bit troublesome.
It is a fact that large-scale projects such as iter, which are jointly undertaken by many international countries, have been progressing slowly. It is also a fact that countries are trying to shirk each other.
But what has to be said is that basically all member countries and participating countries benefit from this kind of large-scale international joint project.
Even if no country invests in its most advanced technology, the products it produces will not be too bad.
Especially for China, it has indeed gained a lot of benefits after joining iter over the years.
Of course, while reaping the benefits, you will also have to pay for it, including billions or tens of billions of scientific research funds, some advanced domestic technologies, etc.
If China is kicked out of iter, it means that all the previous investment will be in vain.
In addition, those orders that China is responsible for, such as icrf heating antenna orders, tungsten and molybdenum first wall material orders, etc., will also be directly taken over and replaced by other countries.
These are direct economic losses.
In addition, there are also some visits and exchanges with foreign research institutes on controllable nuclear fusion, the jobs provided by ITER to China, exchanges of scientific researchers, etc., these will also be lost.
Take CRN for example. At present, Chinese scholars participating in CRN range from graduate students to doctoral students, to university professors, etc. All in all, at least several hundred people participate every year.
These people all rely on Cern to do scientific research and produce results.
And iter is actually no exception.
If they are evacuated, these scholars will be affected.
If Xu Chuan didn't take it seriously about the previous anti-monopoly investigation and sales ban in the United States against him, he had to think about the latter one.
p: There should be another chapter tonight, please vote for me
