From top student in college to scientific research powerhouse

Chapter 86 New Discoveries and Research Papers – Impossible!?
The experimental plan has been officially launched.

The doctoral students involved in materials manufacturing first learned from Xue Kun about the laboratory preparation of nickel/alumina cermets.

Xue Kun spent a whole day teaching the process twice, and later even posted the preparation procedure in the lab.

The doctoral students cherished the opportunity and studied very hard. They can then follow the preparation process step by step to manufacture the material.

Although there are detailed preparation procedures, everyone's operation is different.

Although both materials were prepared in the laboratory, the material produced by Xue Kun had higher performance than those produced by Zhu Bingkun and other associate researchers and postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory.

Even though they are all very serious, many operations in the laboratory need to be performed manually, and each step can lead to differences in the quality of the final prepared material.

The differences in the materials prepared by the doctoral students were even greater.

Three out of the five samples prepared in the first batch were substandard.

Substandard materials are often a mixture of large clumps of nickel and aluminum oxide powder. Some are even mixed with other elements due to lax control, resulting in a dark, unpleasant mass.

Xue Kun, Zhu Bingkun, and others felt a little heartbroken looking at the prepared materials, but that was their plan. They had a doctoral student who had never studied materials preparation prepare the materials, which was why the uneven distribution of nickel was unintentionally caused.

The yield rate of the materials prepared subsequently also increased significantly, and the 'electromagnetic interference fluidity' experiment was officially launched.

Every day, a few doctoral students work on materials, which isn't a big deal, but the news still reached the university.

The professors at the university had only two words to describe it:

luxury!

Physics lab doctoral students certainly need to participate in experiments, but to prepare materials, they also need to familiarize themselves with the process and follow their supervisors to operate the equipment many times before they can prepare materials on their own.

The Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory allows inexperienced doctoral students to get started directly, and the materials they prepare are a bit pricey.

When professors came to his office, they commented, "Zhu Bingkun is just a nouveau riche. Even if he has money, he shouldn't spend it like that!"

"This is how you train doctoral students' practical skills? That's really effective!"

"I believe the results will be good, and everyone can learn it after a few visits, but isn't this too extravagant? What are they thinking? Don't they have enough money?"

"It must be Zhu Bingkun. He looks like a nouveau riche. Their lab must be loaded..."

"We can't compare, we can't compare, their funding is definitely much larger!"

While feeling envious and jealous, there was naturally someone to target, and the private evaluations of Zhu Bingkun were quite negative.

The label of "nouveau riche" was attached to Zhu Bingkun.

Zhu Bingkun felt very wronged. It was Zhang Minghao who suggested the research direction and Chen Shuai who came up with the experimental methods, so how did the blame end up on him?
He felt like a scapegoat, and specifically someone who took the blame for the negative things.

However, the experiment certainly couldn't be revealed.

Even inside the laboratory, experimental plans are kept secret.

One reason is the uncertainty of research; wouldn't it be embarrassing to talk about it but not actually do it?
Additionally, they also considered the potential impact of revealing their findings, since they were conducting the experiment based on luck.

What Chen Shuai said is correct; most experiments rely on luck. But this is something that can only be said in private and cannot be said publicly.

Many things are like this: things that everyone agrees on cannot be said publicly, otherwise there will be negative consequences.

Regardless of what others thought, the experiment proceeded as planned.

Only a very small number of the materials prepared by doctoral students are of good quality; most are of poor quality, and much of it is a direct waste of materials.

They originally planned to conduct five experiments a day, but later found that conducting four experiments a day was already quite good.

They adopted a 'shift system', with Zhang Minghao and Xue Kun in one group and Zhu Bingkun and Chen Shuai in another.

They conducted more than twenty experiments in one week.

Zhang Minghao and Xue Kun were in charge of the experiment on Friday evening, which happened to be during their commute. Zhu Bingkun and Chen Shuai also came to check on it.

After the experiment was prepared, several people came out of the experimental room and looked at the measured temperature through the glass window.

After 41 seconds, the numbers on the measuring instrument fluctuated several times.

Everyone became much more serious.

After the numerical fluctuations stopped, Zhu Bingkun asked, "Was the highest value just now 41?"

"It's 41, that's a rapid increase." Xue Kun nodded in affirmation, then added, "This should be the highest it's ever been, right?"

"Two days ago there were 17 and 37, now it's 41, still not over the line..."

Chen Shuai frowned as he presented the data.

Zhu Bingkun sighed and concluded, "This result is stuck between finding something and not finding anything, which is very frustrating."

They conducted more than twenty experiments, but measured the numerical values ​​in fewer than ten of them.

The vast majority of the high values ​​were below 10. Including this time, there were only three fluctuations above 10: 17, 37, and 41.

From the perspective of material quality, a fluidity fluctuation value exceeding '30' is already quite alarming.

They can use this to confirm that there is no problem with the research methodology.

However, 41 is not higher than the experimental value that determined the 'Zhang phenomenon', and it cannot be said that any clear discovery has been made.

This is very upsetting.

After discussing it, the group decided to continue the experiment.

The quality of the materials prepared by this batch of novice doctoral students is getting better and better, and they will be very proficient in it after another week.

Then we'll try a different batch.

“Let’s get another batch, another two weeks, and then a full month. I feel there’s no problem with this direction,” Zhu Bingkun decided.

After seeing the reading of 41, Xue Kun and Chen Shuai both felt that the research was promising.

Of course, it's not 100% certain.

If they still find nothing after a month of experimentation, they will have to consider adjusting their research plan.

……

Zhang Minghao can determine that the research direction is correct, but when it comes to experiments that involve taking a chance, it is difficult to make a judgment.

Because of luck, it's hard to say.

Maybe we'll get results in ten days or half a month, or maybe we'll wait a whole year and still not encounter that one stroke of luck.

All we can do now is wait patiently.

Research does require a lot of patience. Even routine experimental research involves continuous experimentation and constant adjustments to the plan.

Once enough data has been accumulated, analysis can begin.

There is still too little data.

"The value of 41 appeared more than ten times. If we look at the process of preparing the material and summarize the pattern, we may be able to analyze something."

Zhang Minghao and Xue Kun walked out of the laboratory together, talking as they went.

Xue Kun nodded and said, "I think the method is fine."

"Zhang Minghao, don't be anxious. Doing research requires patience. Not every time you find a direction and do experiments will you make a discovery."

"Tomorrow's the weekend, so relax a bit. Research is work, but you can't always treat work as life." He said a few words, then turned the corner and headed straight for the parking lot.

He was going to the airport to pick someone up.

My wife and kids came over for the weekend. It's a rare opportunity for the family to get together, so we can't waste any time.

Zhang Minghao stared at Xue Kun's back, feeling a little envious. The feeling of being reunited with one's wife and children must be different, but upon closer reflection, it didn't seem like a big deal.

He's only twenty-three, with a long life ahead of him, and living alone is the best thing for him.

After reflecting on life for a while, he checked the time and hurried to the Institute of Optics.

Sun Wen has been waiting for a long time.

They agreed to discuss the research questions. The project funding was in place, most of the ordered experimental materials had arrived, and one piece of the ordered equipment had been delivered to the laboratory.

Sun Wen took Zhang Minghao to the laboratory, showed him the new equipment, and gave him a brief introduction. Then she said, "We can start basic testing on various material particles next week."

"This is also to prepare for the next experiment, but in the experiment, you need to list out in detail what data is needed."

“No problem, I’ll send it to you,” Zhang Minghao nodded and said.

When he realized that Sun Wen still didn't understand the next steps of the research, he simply explained, "Our invisible sphere is an improvement on the model designed by your team, but it's only in its initial application."

"The ultimate goal is to find an optimal combination to achieve flexible control over light, which will enable the design and manufacture of stealth materials."

"To find the optimal combination, many factors need to be considered. The short-term goal is to minimize scattering and reflection and narrow down the frame."

"I hope to use particulate materials in combination with design to limit reflection and scattering. Refraction is the last problem to be solved."

The step-by-step plan is then very clear.

Sun Wen was immediately relieved.

The two discussed experimental matters for a while before moving on to project funding.

The project funding is neither a small amount nor a large amount.

The Ministry of Science and Technology allocated four million yuan in the first batch of funding, and the school and the province provided subsidies of less than one million two hundred thousand yuan. In addition to the surplus from the original project, the total available funds were less than six million yuan.

This funding is certainly enough for basic experiments, but it will significantly deplete funds if it is used for research that requires high costs or for high-precision materials.

Zhang Minghao immediately asked, "Last time I heard Academician Tan say that the higher-ups held a meeting and blocked our funding. It seems that someone disagreed?"

"I know a little about this."

Sun Wen frowned and whispered, "It's about holding a review meeting to discuss our invisible sphere and our next steps."

"Some say that the chances of achieving further success in this direction are extremely low, and that the invisibility sphere is already the limit for achieving visual invisibility with particulate optical materials."

"I know two people, one named Fang Yongsheng and the other named Chen Beitong, who are both top scholars in the field of optical materials."

"However, the military is very interested in this research, and it's already a confirmed project..."

"So in the end, we decided to give the first batch of funds."

"Fang Yongsheng, Chen Beitong?" Zhang Minghao muttered to himself a few times, finally memorizing the two names.

Sun Wen laughed and said, "Don't worry about it, it's normal. When I applied for projects before, neither the provincial grant nor the university would approve them..."

"When it came to the meeting for discussion, all the reviewers voted against it. It's not a big deal."

"Uh~~~"

Zhang Minghao looked at her with pity, no wonder Sun Wen didn't care.

She's encountered this kind of thing far too many times.

……

I'll take two days off this weekend.

On Monday, the doctoral students involved in the materials preparation arrived at the lab early again.

Zhang Minghao didn't go to the lab; instead, he went to the workroom to read papers in the field of electromagnetism.

Learning more knowledge can also enhance your thinking skills.

At nine o'clock, I received a message on my phone from the lab group chat. It was from Chen Shuai and contained an internationally published paper titled "ZXZ Phenomenon: Electric Field Transfer".

"Research on the ZXZ phenomenon?"

"Electric field transfer?"

Zhang Minghao immediately became interested. He downloaded the paper to his computer and was just about to open it when he heard a shout from outside, "Zhang Minghao, Director Zhu wants you to go to the second floor!"

"coming!"

He responded and went to the director's office on the second floor.

Chen Shuai and Xue Bingkun were both there, and their expressions were very solemn.

As soon as Zhang Minghao entered, Chen Shuai asked, "Did you see that news? The Yang Xuewen team at the Condensed Matter Physics Center."

"??"

"Let me tell you."

Xue Kun said, "Yang Xuewen's team announced the suspension of follow-up experiments on the 'Zhang phenomenon,' which means they will no longer study and replicate your experiments at Donggang University."

"Furthermore, he also gave an interview saying that there were problems with your experimental data."

"He didn't say you forged it, he just said that after research, he found a big problem and that even with further research, it couldn't be replicated."

Zhang Minghao asked doubtfully, "Is there anything wrong with that? If he doesn't want to do it anymore, he can just quit. What impact will it have on us?"

"His team is definitely not affected."

Xue Kun continued, "However, several teams, both international and domestic, have announced that they will suspend replication experiments, believing that replication research has no future."

"Does Yang Xuewen really have that much power?"

Zhu Bingkun smiled wryly, "Yang Xuewen certainly doesn't have that much influence. It's all because of a conference and a paper. Did you see the paper in the group?"

"Yang Xuewen and George Messinger from the University of Chicago jointly initiated a video conference on the 'Zhang Phenomenon,' which was attended by teams that conduct replication experiments, and several of them were heavyweight teams."

"The meeting discussed the 'Zhang phenomenon,' and all teams said they had not found anything further."

"Xu Qiujian and Richard Arnold from the University of Florida promoted their experimental findings and theoretical research, which is the paper, in a video conference."

"The paper is currently posted on a pre-publishing website, but it has already gained a lot of recognition and will be published in Nature Physics..."

Zhang Minghao immediately asked, "What is that paper about?"

Chen Shuai said, "I didn't watch it all, but it was very exciting."

"They discovered that the 'Zhang phenomenon' simultaneously and instantaneously strengthens the electric field above, and explained the principle behind the phenomenon."

"The final conclusion is that the 'Zhang phenomenon' only occurs momentarily and is associated with the 'negative permittivity'."

"This means that the phenomenon you discovered in your experiment at Donggang University is impossible."

(End of this chapter)