When I am reborn, I just want to be a top student

Tangdu Jiaotong University.

Inside Xu Songyao's office.

Wang Donglai came here after the lecture.

"So, do you have any idea to teach a few more students, or start a course?"

Xu Songyao asked Wang Donglai with a smile.

Wang Donglai did not hesitate at all, and immediately shook his head and said, "Forget it, forget it."

"I don't have the energy. I still have a lot of things to do."

Xu Songyao was not surprised by Wang Donglai's answer. He nodded and said, "Okay."

Then, he changed the subject and asked, "How is the quantum computer thing going?"

"Well, this matter is almost over. The Quantum Alliance has already proposed it. At that time, everything will be carried out according to the association rules we have formulated."

"The Bai Ze quantum computing prototype has been developed. Academician Pan will be in charge of the rest."

Xu Songyao also knew this. After a slight hesitation, he asked, "Donglai, I have an idea. What do you think?"

“Although Tangdu has been approved as the second quantum cloud computing center, there are so many universities and research institutes in Tangdu that the computing power may not be enough.”

"Can we cooperate, jointly develop and maintain a quantum computer?"

When Wang Donglai heard Xu Songyao say this, he immediately understood.

After thinking for a while, Wang Donglai said, "Uncle Xu, I don't think what you said is necessary."

“Quantum computers do have some uses, but we can’t deify them.”

"The current level of quantum computers is actually far from enough to carry out large-scale and in-depth scientific research needs."

“When you can manipulate more than a thousand superconducting quantum bits, you can be considered to have truly gotten started.”

"The current quantum cloud computing platform has only increased the original research and development speed by several times."

"Galaxy Technology does have this demand, but it is not huge."

"After all, I am the designer of this quantum computing prototype."

"Instead of investing in this, it is better to invest in teaching materials and student training."

Wang Donglai did not hide his thoughts in front of Xu Songyao and directly expressed his true thoughts.

After hearing what Wang Donglai said, Xu Songyao also calmed down.

Quantum computers are so popular, so naturally he has some ideas.

Tangdu Jiaotong University plans to add the discipline of quantum information to train students of this subject, so having a quantum computer will be extremely beneficial for teaching work.

It was with this idea in mind that Xu Songyao made this suggestion.

Unexpectedly, I was rejected by Wang Donglai.

"Donlai, what you said makes sense, but I think if there is a quantum computer, it will be a great supplement to the school's newly added quantum information major."

"In the past two years, the funding we received from above has been much larger than in previous years, which can be used for this purpose."

Xu Songyao was still reluctant to give up, so he began to explain his reasons again.

This time, Wang Donglai simply shook his head.

"Uncle Xu, I understand your thoughts."

"But I don't recommend you do that."

"The Bai Ze quantum computing prototype is currently the world's leading one. If nothing unexpected happens, it is likely to be ahead by more than ten years."

"But technology always needs to progress and develop."

"We should not limit our vision to the present, but also look to the future."

"Quantum information is a relatively unpopular major. Uncle Xu should understand this."

"What we need to do now is to lay a solid foundation and cultivate a good talent gradient. Only in this way can we truly develop."

"We need to have the right to speak in the field of quantum computers. We cannot rely on just the Bai Ze quantum computer. We must have more and more talents emerging so that we can firmly grasp the right to speak."

"I proposed the quantum alliance for this reason."

"We have to admit that the West has a lot of knowledge in the field of quantum information technology, and we can definitely cooperate in this area."

"We offer the computing power of our quantum cloud computing platform in exchange for their quantum information technology foundation, just like the market-for-technology solution we proposed during the reform and opening up."

"Uncle Xu, instead of trying to build a quantum computer, it would be better to recruit relevant experts and scholars from overseas to teach and make quantum information another trump card major of Tangdu Jiaotong University."

After hearing Wang Donglai's well-reasoned words, Xu Songyao also fell into deep thought.

I have to admit that what Wang Dong said makes sense.

Xu Songyao was not unaware of this situation.

However, if Wang Donglai were to follow this path, it would take more than one or two years to see results.

Education is a long-term project. If you want to see results, it will take at least several years.

Four years for undergraduate study, three years for graduate study, and then ten years at the fastest for a doctorate.

What's more, delaying the completion of doctoral programs is already a common phenomenon, and this time will be further extended.

However, it is very easy to make a quantum computer.

It will only take a year at most for you to see immediate results.

Therefore, Xu Songyao’s first thought was the latter.

Wang Donglai also understood Xu Songyao's selfish motives, and it was normal for him to have such thoughts.

However, after listening to what Wang Dong said, Xu Songyao felt a little hesitant.

Didn't hesitate for long.

Xu Songyao had made a decision in his mind.

"Dongla, your words really woke me up!"

"To be honest, when I proposed this idea, I was thinking of taking a shortcut. Now that I heard you say this, I realized how wrong my idea was."

"As the ancients said, I examine myself three times a day, and it is true!"

Xu Songyao admitted his mistake in front of Wang Donglai very frankly without any airs.

A smile also appeared on Wang Donglai's face.

"Uncle Xu, this is actually not as serious as you say."

"Everyone has their own ideas and considerations. If you are in your position, you have your own considerations. I am an outsider and I don't have to be responsible for what I say. So I say whatever I want."

"So, Uncle Xu doesn't have to consider my thoughts too much."

"Uncle Xu still has to take care of school affairs."

Wang Dong was being polite, but Xu Songyao had already figured it out and naturally would not regret it.

"I have already thought about this matter. I will do it according to your idea."

"You have created such good conditions for us. If we still think of taking shortcuts, it would be a waste of this opportunity." "Education is a long-term investment. It is normal not to see short-term benefits."

"As I said before, success may not depend on me, but I must be part of it. That's enough!"

When he said this, Xu Songyao let out a long sigh.

The tone was also extremely firm and serious, and it was obviously from the heart.

"Oh, there's one more thing."

"I heard that there was a problem with the lithography factory you developed?"

Hearing Xu Songyao say this, Wang Donglai immediately showed a hint of doubt.

Seeing Wang Donglai's performance, Xu Songyao was also a little confused, so he explained: "Donglai, don't you know yet?"

"The high-energy synchrotron radiation light source project in Beijing has officially landed, and the news also came from here."

"It is said that the SSMB in your design is completely unproven and has major flaws."

"The photolithography factory is a farce and is simply impossible to achieve!"

When Xu Songyao said these words, he was also paying attention to Wang Donglai's expression.

However, no one noticed any significant change in Wang Donglai's expression.

"Uncle Xu, is that all?"

Wang Donglai asked calmly, as if he was not affected at all.

Xu Songyao thought for a moment and continued, "The focus is mainly on the feasibility of the photolithography factory. After all, the design concept of SSMB is too advanced. Even HEPS+ has not been confirmed. You proposed SSMB, which naturally attracted the attention of some people."

Wang Donglai nodded slightly, and didn't say anything on this topic, but suddenly asked another question.

"Uncle Xu, do you think there may be foreign voices in this?"

Xu Songyao was stunned and thought for a while before he understood what Wang Donglai meant.

"That's hard to say."

"Based on my personal understanding, I think there is a certain possibility!"

"After all, few people want to see us solve the chip problem."

Xu Songyao thought about it for a while and gave his own guess.

"Uncle Xu, actually having controversy is a good thing."

"The construction of the photolithography factory was funded by Galaxy Technology, and Tang City only provided the land. It can't be considered as relying on national power and R&D funds for research."

"No matter how outrageous the scientific research conducted by private enterprises is, as long as it does not violate the law, the higher authorities will not easily stop it."

"So, I don't care about these criticisms at all."

"This is the important reason why I founded Galaxy Technology. Some research cannot be carried out without the support of our own funding sources."

"Uncle Xu is also a senior. If a scientific research project like the photolithography factory relies on funding from above, what is the probability of it being approved? I think Uncle Xu should know it well."

"Before I developed the Bai Ze quantum computer, no one would have believed that I would be able to do it so quickly."

"Before I developed the Hercules rocket engine, no one believed I could develop it. They all thought I was too arrogant to cross boundaries like this."

"Now, the photolithography factory is also being questioned, and I don't have any intention of explaining it at all."

"Time will tell."

Wang Dong paused here and a smile appeared on his face.

"I don't have the time to explain to outsiders, nor do I want to explain."

"But Uncle Xu is not an outsider, and I also understand that Uncle Xu is doing this for my own good."

"So, I can have a brief chat with Uncle Xu."

Xu Songyao's eyes lit up and he immediately became interested.

"Uncle Xu should know the concept of SSMB. The most attractive thing about SSMB light source is that it can provide rays of various wavelengths, from extreme ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 13.5nm to soft X-rays with a wavelength of 5nm. It can be easily provided, and the maximum power can reach 4kW, which is far superior to Cymer's tin drop bombardment method."

"But at the same time, SSMB also needs to conduct proof-of-principle experiments, complete beam dynamics, watt source physical design, etc."

“These tasks may seem simple, but they all take a lot of time.”

"This would be a huge flaw if we were to apply for research funding."

"But here at Galaxy Technology, it's not a problem."

"..."

After listening to Wang Donglai's general explanation, Xu Songyao also understood a little.

After thinking about it, I asked my own question.

"Dongla, the energy consumption of photolithography machines is already very high. According to your idea, if we directly build a photolithography factory, the energy consumption will be even more serious. Have you considered this?"

Wang Donglai smiled softly and explained, "Uncle Xu, of course I understand this."

"The energy consumption of the photolithography machine is high, mainly because it has to maintain metal vapor and generate high-energy target lasers. The light generated is absorbed in the vapor, and deep ultraviolet rays are extremely easily absorbed by materials and absorbed by reflective films, lenses and pipes on the light path."

"If it becomes a photolithography factory, the focus is mainly on electron acceleration and magnetic field maintenance, as well as the generation of induced lasers and the absorption of the generated light by reflective films, lenses and pipes on the optical path."

"I have simulated this problem many times through mathematical models, and it is not as serious as I imagined. The total energy consumption of a lithography plant is indeed likely to be greater than that of a lithography machine. However, because the overall efficiency of a lithography plant is higher than that of a lithography machine, on average, the energy consumption has not increased too much and is still within an acceptable range."

Xu Songyao did not stop and continued to ask his second question.

"How do we solve the problem of mask plates? If we use multiple photolithography lines to complete it, will we need several times more mask plates?"

"High-power light sources cause more serious damage to optical devices. If they are placed in a photolithography factory, the amount of loss and the speed of loss will increase exponentially. This means that these optical devices need to be redeveloped, and even the heat dissipation problem needs to be taken seriously."

"The third issue is the most important one, the yield rate."

"The change from lithography machine to lithography factory is not only a change of concept, but also a choice of solution. The investment in lithography factory is not small, not to mention that it is funded by Galaxy Technology for research and development."

"This requires that the lithography factory must be profitable. If this cannot be achieved, the lithography factory cannot be considered a qualified design solution."

"It's a very simple truth that the more process steps there are, the greater the impact on the yield rate."

"If the cost of a lithography plant is too high, the significance of the birth of a lithography plant is actually not that great. From the perspective of commercial economic behavior, this is a failed choice."

"Of course, for a country, as long as it can break through the blockade, it is priceless. After all, some things cannot be measured by economic value."

"Dongla, I don't know how you think about these issues."

"Personally, I want you to think more about yourself."

"But from the perspective of the country as a whole, I hope you can overcome this problem."

"I can't give you any advice on what to do. As long as you don't regret it, you can choose any option!"

Wang Donglai was quite moved when he heard Xu Songyao say this.

"Uncle Xu, don't worry, I know what's going on."

“The photolithography factory will definitely be successful!”

Wang Donglai said this to Xu Songyao firmly and confidently. (End of this chapter)