Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 248: Hit! Hit!

Liu Honglei and Tong Zhiguo both felt very complicated.

When they walked out of the office, they still felt that the problem was very difficult, and even if Zhang Shuo wanted to solve it, it would not be so easy. As a result, after just a trip to the laboratory, the problem was solved and it was even discussed?

In other words, Zhang Shuo had already thought of a solution when they just went out!

This is really too fast!

Liu Honglei and Tong Zhiguo felt it was incredible, but after the shock ended, they immediately joined the discussion.

The solution proposed by Zhang Shuo has two main points.

One is to make more precise calculations for each deviation impact.

The second one is the most important, which is to change the direction and trajectory of the attack so that the attack trajectory is as close to the satellite orbit as possible.

This will greatly increase the overall strike coverage area. When the strike trajectory coincides with the satellite orbit, it is just like hitting a point on a straight line, which is much simpler than hitting a point on a plane.

However, theoretically, the speed of the ion cluster is too fast and is limited by the impact distance, so the two trajectories cannot overlap.

Therefore, the best we can do is to reduce the impact area, but at the same time it also greatly reduces the deviation caused by some influencing factors.

This solution is not perfect and is flawed because it greatly increases the path distance of the ion cluster trajectories.

For example, the original trajectory was 1200 kilometers, but after the change it will need to be 2400 kilometers, or even more than 3000 kilometers.

This requires increasing the initial speed of the ion cluster and then considering its stability, many parameters need to be adjusted.

Therefore, the new solution mainly consists of two contents. One is the calculation of trajectory, and the other is the calculation of ion cluster related parameters matching the new trajectory.

Everyone in the office began to discuss two issues.

The first problem to be solved is the trajectory problem. Once the trajectory path of the impact is determined, it cannot be used to infer the parameters of the ion cluster.

This process requires a lot of calculations, and the algorithm of the electronic program will be adjusted according to the calculation process and parameters so that the calculation process can be completed through the electronic program.

Zhang Shuo has straightened out the research direction and started assigning tasks to everyone. Many researchers have participated in the work.

Liu Honglei and Tong Zhiguo also participated. They felt that only by participating could they evaluate the new plan, and having one more person participate would also speed up the research.

With the participation of so many professionals and Zhang Shuo's control over the research direction, the task progress had reached 8% by o'clock in the evening.

In other words, the research on the new solution has been completed.

Zhang Shuo submitted the task immediately and also gained a better understanding of the plan.

The core of the new plan is to combat trajectory changes.

The original attack method was to find the point closest to the target, but now the main factor considered in the calculation of the new trajectory is the path distance of the ion cluster trajectory in the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is divided into several parts. The low altitude and high altitude are different, and the main impact is on the air purpose.

Each part has a set parameter, and the electronic system will perform superimposed calculations for evaluation. Overall, it can be understood as, 'below 300 kilometers altitude, the trajectory path is between 500 and kilometers'.

If the trajectory path in the atmosphere is too short, the energy loss of the ion cluster will be less than expected. In other words, the speed is too fast, which will directly affect the accuracy of the strike.

If the path is too long, the ion cluster will lose too much energy. Even if it hits the target, it will not have a direct impact because the internal reaction has disappeared.

For the target satellite, the calculated total distance of the strike path is about 3100 kilometers, nearly three times higher than before. Therefore, the initial velocity of the ion cluster must be enhanced, but the increase in initial velocity is not three times, but about 1.5 times.

This is because of the energy loss of ion clusters, which is mainly found in low-altitude environments with high air density.

If you reach space where the air is very thin, that is, at an altitude of more than 200 kilometers, the air resistance and the resulting deviation effects can even be ignored.

After the research task was completed, Zhang Shuo assigned some tasks to summarize the plan. It was not until ten o'clock that the new plan was finalized.

Zhang Shuo went to rest feeling tired, but the office was still bustling.

Tong Zhiguo, Liu Honglei and other researchers in the base continued to discuss the new plan excitedly. They also redid the calculations from beginning to end, and then decided to start experimental adjustments tomorrow and to correct the electronic system.

The next morning, the office was bustling very early.

When Zhang Shuo arrived at the office, he saw a large group of people calculating and organizing plans. They would make experimental adjustments based on the new plans.

This work has already begun.

Zhang Shuo went to the laboratory to find Tong Zhiguo and Liu Honglei. He thought that since the new plan had been completed, he could leave early.

Now he is more concerned about the research on electromagnetic force and strong force, including theoretical research, as well as experiments to be conducted at the Institute of Nuclear Physics and in cooperation with the artificial sun project, which will take the research on "hydrogen bomb batteries" a step further.

This technology is even more attractive.

In contrast, the ion cannon strike technology has already been realized, and the research done is just to increase the strike accuracy and power...

It doesn't sound like a big deal.

Zhang Shuo really didn't care much, but Tong Zhiguo and Liu Honglei cared too much. When they heard Zhang Shuo said he wanted to leave, they immediately tried to keep him, "The experimental equipment can be adjusted quickly, and the electronic system can be corrected quickly. Just change the code and it will be fine."

"We just discussed it. It will probably take a day to resolve."

"No, it can be solved today!"

"Professor Zhang Shuo, you should stay and watch our experiment tomorrow..."

Liu Honglei spoke in a gentle voice for a long time, and Tong Zhiguo also echoed him. They mainly did not have absolute confidence in the research.

If Zhang Shuo were still there, it would feel like there was an expert in the base who could be consulted for any problem, and he would feel confident in the experiment.

Zhang Shuo thought about it and decided to stay and watch the experiment.

However, he did not just wait there, he also studied with others what happened to the satellite after it was hit by the ion cluster.

He was responsible for calculating the 'mass loss' during the reaction process after the satellite was hit.

At the same time, he also talked about his views on the follow-up situation.

"The satellite will become a pile of debris and continue to orbit along its original path. It may take several months, or even more than a year, before it falls into the atmosphere and burns up completely."

This is what a satellite goes through after a strike.

The first thing is to turn it into a pile of wreckage.

The reaction brought about by the ion cluster is 'nuclear fission'. No matter whether it is a material with strong high temperature resistance or an ordinary material, it will be affected by 'nuclear fission'.

At the same time, the reaction is also conductive.

Even if it just hits the solar panels, the main body of the satellite could be affected.

Of course, even if the main body is not affected by the reaction, the satellite will be directly damaged due to the continuous high temperature reaction of the solar panels.

During the main reaction process, the satellite will experience mass loss as a whole, a very small part of which is reaction loss, and another part is converted into gas escape. In addition, there may also be disintegration of components, such as the detachment of solar panels on both sides, etc.

However, ion cluster strikes and mass loss will not directly affect the satellite's orbit.

The impact of ion clusters has a certain physical collision force, but the mass of the ion clusters is very small and the momentum is not too high, so the impact of the physical collision is not too great.

The loss of satellite mass will not affect its speed and orbit.

"After becoming debris, it will slowly descend in orbit like other damaged satellites until it falls into the atmosphere." "This process is very slow, perhaps taking several months or even more than a year."

"Wouldn't that create space junk?" Xue Bokun asked curiously. He didn't do research in this area, but just raised the question as a layman.

Deng Jian said nonchalantly, "There is a lot of junk in space, so what does a satellite wreckage count for?"

"It's not like we're the only ones. Other countries know more."

“And this is good news.”

"Oh?"

Others looked over as well, even Zhang Shuo raised his head curiously.

Deng Jian smiled and said, "We can still use this satellite debris as a target for attack later. Isn't this a good target for practicing our accuracy?"

"Right!"

"Hahaha……"

Many people laughed when they heard it.

……

The experimental preparation was indeed very fast. By the morning of the next day, the device had been preheated and was ready for a new test launch.

Liu Honglei specifically explained the test launch plan to Zhang Shuo, "We plan to conduct a two-day experiment."

"Two days, twelve strikes on the target, only one hit and we achieved the intended goal!"

They had conducted several test firing experiments before, and each experiment involved many test firings, but none of them hit the target.

If the satellite can be hit once out of twelve attempts, the strike accuracy is acceptable.

Twelve times, hitting it once will meet the expectation. It sounds like the requirements are not high, but in fact, the requirements are very high.

Even with the new solution, theoretically, the maximum deviation distance is still 100 meters.

But hitting once in twelve times is enough to ensure practicality and power, because what is fired out is just an ion cluster, and the cost is very low. Even during the experiment, it can be fired once every half an hour.

If large-scale manufacturing is carried out and the launch frequency is increased by increasing the number of heating furnaces, a dozen ion cannons can be fired together, and a satellite at an altitude of thousands of kilometers can be shot down in a few minutes.

The manufacturing cost of an ion cannon is not high, and a dozen or so is not a large number.

What if there are hundreds or tens of thousands of aircraft?
That's very scary!

Zhang Shuo smiled and said, "For the target satellite, we estimate that we can hit it once every 3.79 times."

"Twelve times, even with the worst luck you can still hit it!"

Liu Honglei also smiled, but his mentality was different from Zhang Shuo's. After all, he was in charge of the research on the ion cannon, and his understanding of the new plan was far behind Zhang Shuo's.

Whether it can meet the expectations of theoretical calculations still needs to be tested through actual test launches.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, the experimental test launch officially began.

During the first test launch, Zhang Shuo was in the electronic control room. He was interested in the satellite monitoring images and studied them carefully.

The experiment's monitoring of the target satellite relies on the transmission of surveillance images from other satellites, with three surveillance images of different angles and resolutions transmitted every half minute.

While Zhang Shuo was watching the images, he learned that the first test launch was over.

As a result, it missed.

The final calculation and analysis results show that the deviation is about 30 meters. The deviation value is not certain and can only be estimated.

This is mainly because ion clusters are undetectable. Satellites cannot capture them and radars cannot lock onto them.

The second test launch will take place in more than two hours.

The reason why it was arranged for more than two hours later was not because the ion cannon did not support it, but because it had to wait until the satellite orbited the earth again and returned to the "best striking position".

Because of this, the twelve test launches will be carried out over two days.

Zhang Shuo did not wait in the control room, nor did he go to the equipment room or office. Instead, he simply went outside for a walk and exercised in the fitness facilities.

Later, I just stayed there and waited for the test results.

Xue Baikun is here too.

Several researchers who were not directly involved in the experiment also came over.

When the experiment actually started, the researchers at the base felt very nervous. They felt like they were scratching a lottery ticket...

There is a deviation in the attack of ion clusters, so a certain amount of luck is required to achieve the destined target.

Even if theoretical calculations are prepared, there are still many uncertainties in the experiment. Some people dare not look at the results immediately, so they just go out and chat.

Waiting is torment.

"We calculated that we can hit the target once in less than five times. Can we really hit it today?" Xue Bokun asked uncertainly.

The others also looked at Zhang Shuo. They hoped that Zhang Shuo would say something to boost their confidence.

Zhang Shuo smiled and shook his head, saying, "This depends on luck. Does it mean I can hit the target if I say so?"

"Just wait patiently!"

This is true, but the wait is indeed painful.

They continued to wait, and some of them were unable to stand and paced back and forth.

At this time, a figure ran over from the laboratory and shouted from a distance, "Got it! Got it!"

Everyone looked over.

"Hit, hit it!"

The man ran over quickly and continued to shout excitedly, "Professor Zhang Shuo, Director Liu asked me to tell you to go to the control room!"

“It hit the mark this time!”

"It hit the support pole of the solar panel, and a lot of smoke came out. Satellite images have been transmitted!"

"Hula~~~"

Everyone reacted, "Did he really win?"

"bingo!"

"It's hit, let's go and take a look!" They said a few words excitedly, and then ran towards the control room in the distance.

"It's good if you win!"

Zhang Shuo felt very pleased and excited at the same time, and immediately followed everyone over.

(End of this chapter)