Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 35: Unable to Hide Excitement

China is not isolated from the news, especially in Yanjing.

At least it is not as isolated as the outside world thinks, with no access to the latest scientific advice and need to rely on second-hand information from the Soviet Union.

But the Manhattan Project happened more than ten years ago and was closely related to Japan's surrender. It is impossible for China to be unaware of it.

After hearing about the atomic bomb and the Manhattan Project, the middle-aged man quickly realized its usefulness and whether it could help the ongoing Project 596.

Qian Xuesen’s DF series of intercontinental missiles is certainly important, but China’s most important project at present is Project 596.

He really could not suppress his excitement. He understood very well the situation China was facing at the moment and what it would mean to have an atomic bomb.

At least for now, if China had an atomic bomb, it would be able to gain a lot of initiative in negotiations with the Soviet Union on border issues.

Rather than being as passive as we are now.

"Yes, if I'm not mistaken, it's the Monte Carlo method.

It was covered up by Professor Lin in the application of high-dimensional integrals."

Qian Xuesen excitedly paced back and forth in the huge room, smoking a cigarette, unable to hide his excitement.

In today's China, one can learn about this method from some academic journals.

On the one hand, you don’t know the specific details, and on the other hand, even if you know how others use the algorithm, you don’t have a computer that can apply that method.

There is a huge gap in basic hardware.

So in the past, people had no motivation to figure out what this thing was.

The improved Monte Carlo method is like a timely rain for China today.

“You see, its application range is so wide that it can help the entire process of nuclear bomb development.

The core challenge of the atomic bomb is to determine the critical mass of nuclear materials, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, and how neutrons diffuse, reflect and trigger a chain reaction in the fissionable material.

In the past, we could only rely on the Boltzmann equation and experiments to conduct trial and error, which was costly and the entire cycle was very long.

Now we can simulate high-probability neutron paths using a simplified geometric model.

You see, Professor Lin talked about introducing the concept of pseudo-random numbers here to reduce the amount of calculation required.

Yes, I have worked with Feng before and seen the random number generator he made. How could I not have thought that pseudo-random numbers could be used to simulate the neutron reflection frequency of different reflection layers?

I finally understand why the Soviet Union's atomic bomb explosion was able to be four years ahead of schedule. They must have known the complete Monte Carlo algorithm.

The middle-aged man was dumbfounded. Could this thing be so powerful? It could save four years.

"Dean Qian, are you saying that if we master the Monte Carlo method, we can save four years?" The middle-aged man's voice trembled. He thought again, "No, we must intensify our efforts to persuade him to return to China! A top talent like him overseas is a huge loss to us."

Qian Xuesen did not answer the latter question, but continued with the previous one:
"I don't know how much time we can save, but at least the time we spend on nuclear material explosions can be significantly reduced.

By constructing a Monte Carlo model and introducing a pseudo-random number generator to reduce computational effort, multiple sampling of neutron lifetime, collision probability, and spatial distribution can be performed to rapidly estimate critical thresholds for different material configurations. This can reduce the number of nuclear material tests that typically require dozens to mature to a single digit.

This method must be sorted out by mathematical experts, and then feedback should be given to Project 596 as soon as possible.

Don't waste a minute!

There are 37 cases in total, and we must gather the strength of all experts.

The Monte Carlo method can be used not only in atomic bombs, but also in the development of DF-1.

The main method here is to create errors through Monte Carlo to optimize the design of the missile's redundant structure and warhead structure, and improve the missile's hit accuracy.

Previously, we planned to control the accuracy within 3,000 meters. Everyone knows that this accuracy is very poor.

But after all, ours is based on the Soviet P-2, so it is better to say that we trained our troops and cultivated our talent team according to their ideas rather than designing it. The DF-1 we produced has a big gap between it and actual application.

But with the Monte Carlo method for structural adjustments, I am confident that I can reduce the accuracy to within 1000 meters using this method alone."

This is indeed true. Originally, there was no follow-up after the successful test launch of DF-1 because the missile had inherent defects. China developed it mainly to train its team. It was not until DF-2 that it began to be deployed on a large scale.

The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. He was the only one who understood how much pressure they were under. "It seems that the threat from the Soviet Union is going to fail.

President Qian, when can the DF-1, which has been improved using the new method, be tested at the earliest?

The decision to officially deploy the DF-2 was originally planned to be made two months later. By this time, China had already learned that the Russians had unilaterally torn up the expert cooperation agreement and that all 1390 experts would be withdrawn one after another.

"Half a year, at most half a year, after half a year we will definitely complete the test launch of the DF-1 that can be used in actual combat!" Qian Xuesen also knew the inside story. He could see many reports and was very clear about the current situation.

In this situation, we can't just fight for our reputation. What if we don't have Soviet experts? What if you have a hidden trick? We can still build a missile better than the P-1.

He interrupted, “But I have a feeling that Professor Lin has given us another surprise.

I can only confirm what the surprise is after Xiao Zhang brings my notebook back.

But I have a vague feeling that if I plug my data into this formula, I'll get the result I want."

Qian Xuesen had already walked to the blackboard. There were 12 blackboards in front of him, arranged in a four-by-three format, occupying the entire wall.

Use the track pulley to pull the blackboard up and down to move the content you want to see to the bottom.

The clattering sound of pulleys rubbing against tracks was unusually clear in the Science and Technology Commission office building late at night. However, no one present found the sound harsh. Instead, they hoped that Qian Xuesen could really discover something from these densely packed formulas.

"Dean, I brought it!" Zhang Kewen rushed to the Science and Technology Commission building breathlessly, not daring to delay for a minute. He was picked up and dropped off by cars throughout the journey, and he also ran all the way.

Qian Xuesen rushed forward and took the notebook from Zhang Kewen. He flipped through it quickly and found the page he wanted.

Qian Xuesen then stood in front of the blackboard he had just moved to the bottom, staring intently at it, his brow furrowed, his hands calculating frantically on his notebook:
“Yes, that’s it!

As I expected, Professor Lin's set of linear equations indeed contains this information!"

(End of this chapter)