Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 153: Violating common sense of physics? Zhang Shuo: I will find something soon!

Before joining the CP group, Zhang Shuo continued to focus on the research of singularity proof of NS equations.

The research is very difficult, and each step requires very in-depth thinking. When you think of a method of argumentation, you will feel that the direction or transformation method is very clever, just like solving one difficult problem after another, which can also bring people a great sense of accomplishment.

So doing research and thinking is also an interesting process.

The progress of the NS equation singularity demonstration task is also faster than expected, and the progress has reached '17.6%' so far.

This is thanks to the nonlinear partial differential equations seminar, where I listened to several research reports in the same field and exchanged ideas with scholars in the same field. This gave me a broader perspective for subsequent research.

'17.6%', there is still a long way to go to achieve the goal.

Zhang Shuo treats research neither too fast nor too slow. He treats it as his daily work and puts research aside temporarily when he has other things to do.

After the paper was published in PRL, people from the School of Physics always came to discuss research issues with him, including some professors who specialized in theoretical physics research, as well as several young scholars who were interested in theoretical physics research, namely lecturers and associate professors.

They often come over to talk to Zhang Shuo and discuss the direction of theoretical research.

This is finding direction.

Young scholars, especially postdoctoral fellows in their early thirties, who have just started scientific research, are still somewhat confused about what direction to focus on. When they learned about Zhang Shuo's theory and Edward Witten's comments, they began to wonder whether they could find a new direction for research.

The prerequisite, of course, is to have a deeper understanding of this direction.

Gao Xiaohong also came over.

Zhang Shuo asked in confusion, "Sister Xiaohong, are you also asking about the theoretical direction? Aren't you working in quantum physics?"

Gao Xiaohong rolled her eyes, sat down on the sofa, and said, "I came to ask you about going to the CP group. Didn't I tell you last time? You go to the CP group and I'll be your assistant."

"…Is that a joke?" Zhang Shuo asked back.

"Of course not. I haven't had much work recently. Being your assistant will also earn me an extra subsidy from the school. Besides, I wanted to join the CP group before, so I just wanted to see what kind of research it was and whether there was an opportunity."

Zhang Shuo hesitated but agreed. "Okay, we'll leave the day after tomorrow. You can get ready. Do you want me to help you buy the tickets?"

"I'll do it."

Gao Xiaohong stood up, clasped her hands in front of her, bent down slightly, and said with a sweet smile, "From now on, I will be your assistant, boss. I will help you arrange your schedule, don't worry."

"Uh~~"

Zhang Shuo still felt a little uncomfortable.

……

Gao Xiaohong was indeed not joking, she actively took on the duties of an assistant.

Communicate with the Institute of High Energy Physics to arrange the itinerary, book air tickets, organize documents and luggage, and even remind Zhang Shuo of the time on the day.

Then I picked up my bag on the way to the airport...

"Sister Xiaohong, let me do it." Zhang Shuo stood at the bottom of the stairs, looked up and said.

Gao Xiaohong carried a big box up the stairs.

He himself had nothing.

Gao Xiaohong turned around and smiled softly, "Don't call me Sister Xiaohong, just call me Xiaohong, I'm your assistant."

"… Let's just call her Sister Xiaohong."

Zhang Shuo still felt strange when he thought about it. Regardless of whether she was an assistant or not, Gao Xiaohong was indeed older than him, six years older.

He followed her up the stairs and took the backpack with him, "You carry the suitcase and I'll carry the bag, okay?"

"Row."

The two went to the waiting lounge together. Gao Xiaohong bought two cups of coffee, and then they sat down and talked.

Gao Xiaohong really wanted to work as an assistant.

This does not involve any personal feelings, it is just a consideration of work direction.

“My job is hard.”

Gao Xiaohong said depressedly, "I am majoring in experimental physics. I have been working with the physics group at the Institute of High Energy Physics. Recently, I have started to study theory because I can't do anything in college."

“Professor Qiu invited me to join his project team, but in reality, I couldn’t help much.”

"But it's just a theoretical direction. My brain...can't do it."

Gao Xiaohong pointed to her head, meaning that with her IQ, it would be difficult for her to achieve results in theoretical fields.

Zhang Shuo nodded in approval, "You are very self-aware."

"What are you talking about!"

Gao Xiaohong angrily slapped Zhang Shuo's arm and said worriedly, "That's why I wanted to join the CP group before."

"Ah~~"

She was still somewhat unwilling.

Gao Xiaohong's situation is something that many researchers will encounter, especially in the field of experimental engineering. The conditions do not allow the research results they want to do, but going to places where conditions are allowed will affect their lives.

Physics is not just about studying theories; of course, experiments are required.

Soochow University does not have the conditions for research in high-energy physics, or most universities at home and abroad do not have them, so it is impossible for a university to invest in building a particle collider.

This is the limitation of experimental conditions.

Even if you go to the Institute of High Energy Physics to join their experimental research, there are still restrictions, because particle collision experiments are no longer new. If they are not new experiments and the analysis methods have not changed, it is difficult to make any new discoveries.

Therefore, scholars engaged in experimental fields of high-energy physics will be greatly affected.

"Lets see."

Zhang Shuo smiled and consoled her, "Don't worry too much about it. You are still young and can learn some new things. There will be many opportunities in the future."

Gao Xiaohong pursed her lips and nodded slightly, but suddenly she felt something was wrong.

Are you still young?

Who are you talking about?

She glanced at Zhang Shuo, who looked like a college student, and then carefully examined herself, who was over 30 years old, and she felt a little bad.

……

At four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, Zhang Shuo and Gao Xiaohong arrived at the electron-positron collider experimental base together.

Yu Fei, Qian Zhiguo and others were already at the door.

They entered the base together, and Yu Fei and Qian Zhiguo also introduced the progress of the equipment transformation and the problems encountered.

Now that we have the design and general direction for the equipment transformation, there will be no major problems. The only problem is balancing the control of the superons and the detection accuracy.

Hyperon control is related to issues such as magnetic field strength and edge detection.

When the speed of hyperons is too fast, the detection accuracy will naturally be greatly reduced. The reduction rate is not a few times, but dozens or hundreds of times.

"We must demonstrate the expected goals of the experiment and the required accuracy of the test."

"The main reason is that the detection needs are uncertain. If the particles move too fast and the interval movement jumps too much, it is difficult to say what the impact will be."

"We have conducted two measurement experiments before, but there are still problems with the detection. The accuracy may drop by dozens or hundreds of times..."

Zhang Shuo nodded and said, "Give me a copy of the test report so I can take a look."

He did not go directly to read the test report, but instead took a tour of the experimental base, focusing on the modification of the spectrometer detection device.

From the outside, it looks like it has just been equipped with a strong magnetic device.

Yu Fei also introduced some strong magnetic equipment and their internal operating mechanisms, including the control and detection of hyperon motion.

Academician Zhao Chunhua also came.

Zhao Chunhua walked with Zhang Shuo and said, "Our group is also paying attention to the work here. Academician Gao, Director Wu, and we have discussed that the basic physics group will provide experimental support to the CP group."

"When to conduct the test experiment, once it is determined, we will conduct the next experiment."

The support of the basic physics group is very important. The reason why the Cp group's research is a side experiment of particle collision is that the production of hyperons requires a particle collider, and the spectrometer detection device is only for the analysis of particles, not for the direct production of hyperons.

It is precisely because of this that the CP group of the European Organization for Nuclear Research can produce a huge number of hyperons, and the intensity of their particle collision experiments is the highest in the world.

The performance of the particle collider is much worse, so the CP group of the Institute of High Energy Physics can only conduct research in the direction of "detection accuracy".

After Zhao Chunhua talked about the support of the basic physics group, he talked about the project review. "We have discussed this internally. Don't worry, it will definitely pass the review after the new year."

"The CP group project is a key project of the institute. The process of setting a new direction is in compliance with regulations, and the Science and Technology Department and other institutions also support it."

"If the project still fails the review, we will go to the Science and Technology Department and find a higher-level leader. The project will eventually be able to continue..."

He said this in a stern and confident tone.

Zhang Shuo nodded gently and said, "The main reason I came this time is to solve the problem encountered in the equipment transformation. Once this problem is solved, the transformation can be completed faster."

"We can complete the experiment within three months and make some discoveries. I believe that there is no need for review at all."

Zhao Chunhua was stunned when he heard this, and said hesitantly, "Three months should be enough to complete the transformation. I have been paying attention to the progress here. I have solved the problem of detection accuracy and will not make any major modifications. Half a month may be enough, but if there are any discoveries in the experiment..."

"It's hard to say."

He paused for a long time before making a comment.

Zhang Shuo smiled and said, "This is a new experiment, it may not be certain." He is very confident that the experiment will yield some findings.

The difficulty assessment of "Strong Electromagnetic Interference Hyperon Decay Research to Find Chaos Force Field" is only D-level.

This difficulty is such that as long as an experiment is conducted, there will definitely be a discovery.

If the detection accuracy can keep up, the findings will be very clear. If the detection accuracy cannot keep up, some data analysis may be required to get the results. This is the only difference.

In fact, many people within the Institute of High Energy Physics still have doubts about the experimental research in new directions.

Even though Zhang Shuo came up with a basic theory and got the approval of Edward Witten, a theory is just a theory after all, and the theoretical basis cannot explain what discoveries will be made in the experiment.

There are still many uncertainties in the new direction.

Many people have expectations for the new direction of the CP group, simply because the new direction is unknown research, and unknown research is always much better than conducting research with no prospects.

In addition, some people believe in Zhang Shuo.

In the deviation analysis of particle collision experiments, and the proof that the CP group signal conversion analysis method could not find the baryon CP violation signal, the two studies put together made Zhang Shuo a recognized data expert in the international high-energy physics field.

At the same time, he is also an extremely good mathematician.

The two identities combined naturally give people great confidence.

However, facing a brand new research, confidence is not 100%. Not to mention the entire Institute of High Energy Physics, there are still doubts within the CP group, including core researchers Qian Zhiguo and Xiao Jinchao.

Qian Zhiguo and Xiao Jinchao support the research direction of "improving the analysis methods of hyperon decay signals".

This is a research direction with a foreseeable future, and it also has a first-mover advantage in international competition.

Internationally, the only large CP groups are the Organization for Nuclear Research, Fermilab and the Institute of High Energy Physics CP Group.

The CP group of the Nuclear Organization is in a turbulent period. The head Francisco resigned, some core researchers also left one after another, and the new head has not yet officially taken office.

The CP group at Fermilab is on the verge of disbanding. The head, Graywood, and a series of core researchers have all resigned, leaving only equipment that has not been in operation for a long time.

They don't even have basic support because Fermilab has not conducted particle collision experiments for a long time due to funding constraints.

If the CP group can determine a new direction, they will temporarily be the only team in the world doing research in this direction.

Of course, when both major competitors encounter problems, no matter what direction the research is conducted, it will become the only one, but the strong magnetic interference hyperon experiment is an unknown direction after all.

Just as Academician Zhao Chunhua described, it is "hard to say" what the experiment can discover.

Qian Zhiguo, Xiao Jinchao, and some other researchers feel a little confused in their work.

This is mainly due to misunderstanding.

Qian Zhiguo focuses more on experimental research, while Xiao Jinchao has a relatively higher theoretical level. He has a deep understanding of Zhang Shuo's research theory and is amazed by its mathematical structure.

But what exactly should we do?
"Could it be that they are searching for an unknown complex force field phenomenon by forcibly interfering with hyperon decay?"

This is how Xiao Jinchao understood it, and he also told Qian Zhiguo the same thing, and then he denied it, saying, "I studied the theory and came to this conclusion, but I really can't imagine it..."

Qian Zhiguo said with a smile, "If there is such a magical discovery, I will support Professor Zhang Shuo 100% in the future!"

"Unknown complex force field? Are you talking about unknown physical phenomena? Unknown physical phenomena are understandable, but complex force field... that really goes against common sense in physics..."

"Yes."

Xiao Jinchao sighed and shook his head.

If Zhang Shuo knew that Xiao Jinchao could understand his theory to this extent, he would definitely look up to him.

At this time, he and Gao Xiaohong stayed in the dormitory together.

There was a pile of information sent over on the table, some of which were related to equipment modification, and some were related to testing experiments.

Zhang Shuo had been browsing the experimental data on the computer, and said, "Bring the graph on page 32 here."

Gao Xiaohong quickly went to look for the documents and found the drawing on page 32.

Zhang Shuo called out again, "Sister Xiaohong, make me a cup of coffee. I need to watch for a while."

"it is good."

Gao Xiaohong went to make coffee again.

Zhang Shuo glanced at her with a smile. He found that having an assistant was really good, as there was someone to help with small things.

He was still focused on studying the test data and spent more than two hours looking at the data.

After that, I read some other information and discussed it with Gao Xiaohong.

Gao Xiaohong also has a certain level of ability.

Although she has few opportunities to participate in experiments, she has some understanding of the content of professional experiments. She may not be able to provide any important opinions, but having someone to talk to about the problems can help her sort out her thoughts.

The problem encountered by the Cp group is the balance between detection accuracy and hyperon control, and the ultimate goal is to enable the experiment to measure effective results.

The detection technology of the spectrometer detection device is indeed very powerful, but the moving hyperons will greatly affect the detection accuracy.

Even if the design uses time interval detection, the impact is still very large. The main impact is that the strong magnetism causes hyperons and other particles to accelerate their motion. It is also related to the nature of hyperon decay.

Hyperons decay too fast!
The decay time of the Corsi hyperon is 260 picoseconds. Picosecond is the third smallest unit of comprehensible time. Smaller than picosecond is femtosecond and attosecond. 1 picosecond is equal to 1000 femtoseconds and 100 million attoseconds.

But picosecond is by no means a large unit. Its upper levels include nanosecond, microsecond and millisecond, and each unit is a numerical conversion of '1000'.

One billion picoseconds equals 1 millisecond.

The interval detection time cannot be so short. During the two intervals, countless hyperons have completed the decay process, and even completed two decays quickly.

The Corsi hyperon decays into a Lambda hyperon, and then the Lambda hyperon decays into a proton and a charged pion.

Such a rapid decay process, accompanied by the acceleration brought by strong magnetism, is the contradiction between detection accuracy and hyperon control.

In terms of balancing detection accuracy and hyperon control, Zhang Shuo already has a general idea. The research goal is to measure unknown physical phenomena, and the detection will of course focus more on the movement of particles.

At the same time, some high-precision tests are also very important, which can bring possible new discoveries.

Therefore, detection focuses on particle movement and high-precision data feedback, weakening aspects such as particles producing various types of radiation and the state of individual particles.

This idea is supported by the system.

【Task 1】

[Research project name: Strong electromagnetic interference hyperon decay research to find chaotic force fields (difficulty assessment: D). ]

[Completion of experimental device: 99.3% (difficulty assessment: A). ]

(The remaining progress requires 20 scientific research coins.)
"99.3%!"

"As long as the modification of the device is completed, the progress should reach 100%. At that time, we can conduct experiments..."

"By then, we should have discovered it!"

(End of this chapter)