From top student in college to scientific research powerhouse

Chapter 114 research complete! I spent over an hour calculating the molecular formula...

"Zhang's phenomenon and high-temperature superconductivity?"

"Aluminum-based high-temperature superconductivity?"

Peng Jinquan couldn't help but laugh and cry at the thought of Zou Jianyong's experimental direction.

He shook his head and left the office.

In the hallway, I ran into another researcher, Zhang Xu. Zhang Xu greeted me, saying, "Going to Xiao Zou's place? How's his collaborative research going?"

Zhang Xu simply greeted him, but noticed that Peng Jinquan's expression was somewhat strange, so he asked curiously, "Is there a problem?"

"Oh~~~"

Peng Jinquan sighed, "I'm starting to regret letting Xiao Zou cooperate with them."

"How so?" Zhang Xu became even more curious.

Peng Jinquan glanced behind him, pulled Zhang Xu to a corner of the stairs, and whispered, "I just went to check. Zhang Minghao had Xiao Zou do the superconductivity test on aluminum-based materials. Isn't that strange?"

"I can understand nickel-based, but I really can't understand aluminum-based..."

"There's also research on the surface electrons of lanthanum nickel oxide 327, all of which has publicly available data. It's just that the data measurement requirements are a bit different. Anyway, I can't understand those experiments."

Peng Jinquan claimed he didn't understand, but in reality, he was completely pessimistic about it.

He is also a top expert in the field of high-temperature superconductivity theory and mechanism, with many related research results and papers published in CNS.

If a top expert says he can't understand an experiment, then of course he doesn't think it's worthwhile.

Zhang Xu, who also conducts research in this area, muttered a comment, "Aluminum-based high-temperature superconductivity?"

"This... I don't know either."

He laughed as he spoke.

Peng Jinquan and Zhang Xu were just gossiping; they didn't have any bad intentions.

Zou Jianyong was someone they had watched grow up. He had originally worked in Peng Jinquan's team, so of course they hoped he could go out and lead his own team to do projects and have a better future.

They were all working together.

Even if they are not on the same project team, they know exactly what research each other is doing.

What's going on here does sound quite strange.

Peng Jinquan believes that the idea of ​​aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials is a joke, and that's not an exaggeration.

In the field of high-temperature superconductivity, based on high-temperature superconducting materials, there are three main directions: iron-based superconducting materials, copper-based superconducting materials, and so on.

Finally, there's nickel-based, which is also a new direction.

Copper oxide superconducting materials have high critical temperatures, while iron-based superconducting materials are low in cost and easy to process.

Nickel-based superconducting materials are a new addition to the field of high-temperature superconductivity and are considered to have potential applications in magnetic levitation and energy transmission.

Aluminum-based superconducting materials are not feasible for one reason: aluminum itself has an extremely low superconducting critical temperature of only 1.2K.

Aluminum materials, especially those made of alumina, also have various problems and are incompatible with the requirements of high-temperature superconductivity.

To date, no high-temperature superconducting material contains aluminum.

This is also a major reason why aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials are not viewed favorably at all.

Peng Jinquan and Zhang Xu gossiped for a few minutes before returning to their office to get busy.

Zhang Xu thought about the news he had just heard and found it very interesting. He couldn't help but gossip a little when he saw an acquaintance.

Human-to-human transmission is not fast.

But with modern information technology so advanced, if someone gossips in a professional group about high-temperature superconductivity, condensed matter physics, or other specialized fields, a 'cold joke' can spread instantly.

The initial rumor was that "Zhang Minghao asked Zou Jianyong to perform superconductivity measurements on aluminum-based materials, and he may be researching aluminum-based superconducting materials."

Later, the news changed to, "Zhang Minghao and Zou Jianyong are collaborating on the research of aluminum-based superconducting materials."

Later, new elements were added: "Zhang Minghao studied the correlation between the ZXZ phenomenon and the high-temperature superconductivity mechanism, and believed that aluminum-based high-temperature superconductivity is achievable. He is currently developing aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials."

The last explanation is too detailed.

Combined with the rumors surrounding the Zhang's Phenomenon Conference at the Ministry of Science and Technology, it sounds almost like the truth.

In the condensed matter physics community, many people will discuss it like gossip: "Have you heard? Zhang Minghao is developing aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials."

“I’ve heard about it too. It seems to have been discovered in experiments on the Zhang phenomenon. He has always believed that the Zhang phenomenon is related to high-temperature superconductivity.”

"Anyway, I can't understand this viewpoint; they are two completely different phenomena..."

……

The office on the third floor of the Key Laboratory of Superconductivity, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Professor Su Zhiguo just returned from the laboratory.

Assistant Xiao Zhou brought over a cup of tea, and he sat leisurely in the chair, drinking the tea while looking at his phone.

He noticed a group chat for high-temperature superconductors that kept getting new messages, so he clicked on it out of curiosity.

Scrolling up through dozens of messages and reading them one by one, I noticed the words 'research on aluminum-based high-temperature superconductivity' and immediately spat out a mouthful of tea.

"Pfft... Hahaha~~~"

Su Zhiguo couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Zhou asked curiously, "Director Su, what's so funny?"

Su Zhiguo immediately laughed and said, "I just saw someone in the group say that Zhang Minghao is researching aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials."

"I remember hearing at a meeting of the Ministry of Science and Technology that he believed there was a connection between the Zhang phenomenon and high-temperature superconductivity."

"I didn't take it seriously at first, but now it seems like they're serious?"

He shook his head as he spoke, "But what these people are saying may not be true. It's all just hearsay, and we don't know who spread it."

……

Donggang University, Condensed Matter Physics Research Center.

Yang Xuewen was having lunch with several researchers. As time passed, the impact of the matter between him and Zhang Minghao diminished slightly.

This improved his situation a little.

There are still various rumors circulating about Donggang University, and many faculty and staff members dislike him, but his influence in the Center for Condensed Matter Physics has diminished.

After all, Academician An has the final say here, and as the chief researcher, he is very influential.

Yang Xuewen has been keeping a very low profile lately.

In the past, he was always the most central figure when he was with other people.

Now he sits on the edge, not saying a word, trying to minimize his presence, at most agreeing with what others are saying.

A researcher came in from outside, found a seat, and started laughing as he said, "I just heard some very interesting news; it's about Zhang Minghao's research."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table saw Yang Xuewen.

The researcher who was speaking only then noticed Yang Xuewen and immediately stopped talking.

Yang Xuewen gave an awkward smile, waved his hand, and said, "You guys talk, it's okay for me."

"I have nothing to do with Zhang Minghao's matter."

He then started eating in silence, seemingly not caring at all.

In reality, he strained to prop up his ears.

The researcher who was speaking glanced at Yang Xuewen, hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but continue, "I have a group where someone said that Zhang Minghao is researching aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials."

"It seems he studied the connection between the Zhang phenomenon and the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, and believed that aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials exist..."

"The Zhang phenomenon and high-temperature superconductivity, aluminum-based high-temperature superconducting materials..."

"It's hard to understand."

Someone said, "Geniuses always have some unusual ideas, that's normal."

“Zhang Minghao is indeed a genius. I heard that at the Metamaterials Conference, he solved the strange equations done by Academician Fang Yongsheng’s team in just twenty minutes.”

"This level of math is too advanced."

"However, it's hard to say in the field of condensed matter physics. After all, he's still a newcomer, so it's normal that his research ideas are a bit flawed."

Yang Xuewen didn't say a word, but he couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

really!

Just as he thought, in the field of condensed matter physics, whether it's the Zhang phenomenon, the superconducting mechanism, high-temperature superconductivity... Zhang Minghao?
No matter how talented you are, what does it matter!
……

A rumor, a so-called "dry joke in the field of superconductivity," spread throughout the condensed matter physics community.

This is both good news and bad news for Zou Jianyong.

The good news is that he was originally an unknown researcher, but his name has spread throughout the academic community and some important figures have remembered him.

The bad news is that several professors from the research center have been frequently coming to 'visit the experiments'.

They certainly didn't say they were just there to watch the show; they all came with concern and care.

This is another piece of good news.

Zou Jianyong was also worried that some experiments had not been done before, and there might be problems with the design and measurement.

With guidance from several top professors, everything suddenly became clear.

Meanwhile, experiments were also in full swing at the applied electromagnetics laboratory.

Every researcher was full of energy, making the laboratory a busy place.

The atmosphere in the laboratory is completely different from before.

Previously, the atmosphere in the lab was somewhat lax, and many people had nothing to do. They didn't know how to conduct experiments or carry out research.

Now the direction is clear and the division of labor is clear.

Some design experiments, some are busy in the laboratory, some specialize in various tests, and of course, some organize and analyze data.

Doctoral students, on the other hand, have a much more relaxed schedule.

In Zhang Minghao's doctoral student workroom, Liao Zhenyu and Xu Chao are both in their fourth year of doctoral studies, and their only job is to prepare their doctoral dissertations.

I've been preparing the paper for several months, and it's almost ready now.

Chen Lanjun occasionally does some work, all of which are assigned by Chen Shuai.

The situation was similar in the other doctoral students' workspaces.

The follow-up research project on the Zhang phenomenon has little to do with doctoral students. It involves very sophisticated experiments, which are not something that doctoral students are qualified to do.

Of course, some doctoral students are very busy.

For example, Ma Yan.

Xue Kun only had one doctoral student who would follow along to do experiments.

Now that Ma Yan has entered the laboratory, he will naturally receive special training, and he has been working as Xue Kun's assistant ever since.

Who is Xue Kun?

He's the kind of person who treats the lab like home and finds joy in experiments. Plus, his wife and kids aren't around, so sometimes he just lives in the lab.

You can imagine how difficult it must have been for Ma Yan to be "gifted" to the best of his ability.

In recent days, he has been busy until after nine o'clock every day.

Zhang Minghao took a walk around the lab and felt a deep sense of sympathy for Ma Yan.

He checked the time and simply ordered takeout from a fancy restaurant for me.

Four dishes and a soup, with fish and meat!

He carried a large bag of takeout food and personally delivered it to the lab, saying, "Professor Xue, Ma Yan, let's grab something to eat first!"

Xue Kun was walking out of the lab when he saw Zhang Minghao carrying takeout. He immediately exclaimed happily, "Great! I was just saying that going out to eat would take too much time."

"Perfect, I'll just grab a bite."

"Let's get back to work! There are still two experiments to complete today, let's try to finish them in one go!"

Ma Yan glanced at the takeout box on the table, then looked up and saw that Zhang Minghao's eyes were filled with sorrow.

We were planning to go out for a meal and relax, but then...

"Brother Hao—"

Ma Yan let out a mournful cry.

Zhang Minghao smiled broadly and gave Ma Yan a thumbs-up, "Keep it up!"

"I can learn a lot from Teacher Xue!"

"Keep working on this for a while longer, and once this phase of the experiment is finished, I'll give you a bonus!"

Ma Yan could only nod dejectedly, realizing that the prize money was no longer as attractive to him.

At this rate, no matter how much bonus I win, I won't have time to go out and have fun.

……

Two weeks have passed.

The electromagnetic laboratory and Zou Jianyong's team are both busy with experimental work.

Both experiments had varying degrees of difficulty.

The experiments conducted by Zou Jianyong's team to determine the properties of lanthanum nickel oxide 327 material were difficult. The preparation of lanthanum nickel oxide 327 material was a problem, and the measurement of surface electron motion only yielded some simple data.

The difficulty of experiments in the electronics laboratory lies in the preparation of single-crystal thin-layer metal-ceramic materials. In addition, the experiment of measuring the movement of nickel electrons is quite challenging.

Despite the difficulties in the experiments, a large amount of data was still transmitted.

Zhang Minghao also abandoned his leisurely state and began to analyze and study data every day, using the data to fill in the theoretical mechanism of 'aluminum atoms and aluminum-oxygen covalent bonds promoting the formation of metal mesh between nickel elements'.

Du Wei, Zhao Linwei, and Liu Lei also worked on data and theory.

When Zou Jianyong sent a large amount of data, the research on the theoretical mechanism was further complicated by the addition of experimental data combined with high-temperature superconductivity.

At this stage, Du Wei, Zhao Linwei, and Liu Lei were no longer able to conduct theoretical work.

All they could do was help organize the data.

Zhang Minghao himself conducted the core research on the theoretical mechanism.

Zhang Minghao stayed in the theoretical research office all day.

From morning to afternoon, he studied data on the computer while scribbling and drawing on paper.

Theoretical research has finally made progress.

He discovered an extremely subtle yet accurate pattern in the data on electron motion.

"The movement of electrons in aluminum atoms and aluminum-oxygen covalent bonds affects the outer electrons of nickel atoms."

"This effect causes a subtle change in the movement of electrons that are at the same distance..."

"The requirements for the Zhang phenomenon are significantly higher, the principles are more complex, and more experiments are needed, but high-temperature superconductivity..."

"If it's just this kind of influence, it can cause certain regular electrons to form coulombs, right?"

Zhang Minghao was thinking when suddenly his eyes lit up.

He roused himself and began writing and drawing on the manuscript paper, keeping busy for more than an hour.

After Zhao Linwei finished her work, she noticed that Zhang Minghao was busy and couldn't help but go over to take a look out of curiosity.

Zhang Minghao put the completed manuscript paper aside and took out a blank manuscript paper.

Then, he wrote several English characters and numbers on it, stroke by stroke.

"Molecular formula? Barium, aluminum, oxygen, sulfur..."

"what is this?"

Zhao Lin asked curiously.

Zhang Minghao stretched and turned to smile, saying, "A calculation result."

"A molecular formula?"

"Correct."

Zhang Minghao explained, "It took me more than an hour to get this result."

"If the calculation is correct, the material corresponding to this molecular formula should have superconducting transition properties in a liquid nitrogen environment."

Zhao Linwei exclaimed in surprise, "High-temperature superconductivity? Team leader, are you serious?"

Zhang Minghao felt he shouldn't speak too definitively, so he quickly changed his wording, "It's not 100%..."

"More than 90%!"

(End of this chapter)