Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

Control Hall.

Hundreds of researchers stared intently at it.

Chen Yuan didn't waste any words and went straight to the point: "Let's start with the improvement of superconducting coils."

The superconducting coil is the technological cornerstone and core feature of the entire EAST device.

He said that superconducting coils are actually about core improvements.

Li Jian nodded and said, "Please speak."

Chen Yuandao said: "The superconducting coil material currently used by EAST is low-temperature superconducting NbTi/Nb3Sn, CICC conductor, with a longitudinal magnetic field of 3.5T and dynamic adjustment of the polar field. It uses 4.2K liquid helium forced flow cooling. This type of superconducting coil has great limitations: low upper limit of field strength, high cooling cost, large AC loss, and cannot break through the 10T level."

Li Jian agreed, "That's true."

Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and the other researchers standing nearby all nodded in agreement.

This is indeed a limitation of the EAST superconducting coil currently in service.

Chen Yuan continued, "I just thought about it carefully. What do you think would happen if we replaced low-temperature superconductivity with high-temperature superconductivity?"

Li Jian thought for a moment and said, "Now that many countries have developed high-temperature superconducting nuclear fusion devices, it is reasonable to upgrade the EAST to a high-temperature superconducting device. However, once upgraded, the entire device structure will need to be reconstructed, which will be a huge project."

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "The device structure does need to be reconstructed, but it shouldn't be as troublesome as you think. We will upgrade the EAST to a high-temperature superconducting toy, use REBCO/YBCO as the superconducting material, and combine it with some devices I designed. This will be enough to make it a nuclear fusion device with 77K liquid nitrogen cooling, an upper limit of field strength between 30-70T, and a current density of 10⁵–10⁶A/cm²."

REBCO/YBCO is a high-temperature superconducting oxide material with excellent properties.

Its core component is yttrium barium copper oxide, with the chemical formula YBa₂Cu₃O₇₋ₓ, abbreviated as YBCO.

REBCO stands for rare earth barium copper oxide, which is an extension of the YBCO family. In this family, rare earth elements can replace yttrium to optimize material properties.

This high-temperature superconducting material has characteristics such as high critical temperature and strong magnetic field bearing capacity.

YBCO has a critical temperature of up to 93K, approximately -180°C, which is higher than the boiling point of liquid helium, 77K.

This means that it can achieve a zero-resistance superconducting state in liquid nitrogen, significantly reducing refrigeration costs.

REBCO/YBCO possesses extremely high irreversible magnetic fields and critical current densities at liquid nitrogen temperatures, enabling it to operate stably in strong magnetic field environments, far superior to traditional low-temperature superconducting materials.

Low-temperature superconducting cooling relies on liquid helium, which is relatively expensive.

If the EAST toroidal tube is upgraded to a high-temperature superconductor and REBCO/YBCO superconducting material is used, then liquid nitrogen can be used for cooling, which will greatly reduce the cost.

Everyone present knew this knowledge; there was nothing surprising about it.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Yuan said that by combining several devices he designed, the upper limit of the field strength of the Oriental Super Ring could reach between 30 and 70 tons.

T is a unit for measuring the strength of magnetic induction, and it is called "Tesla" in Chinese.

A Tesla is a fairly strong magnetic field.

In comparison, the magnetic field strength at the Earth's surface is only 0.00005T, or 0.5 Gauss.

1T is about 20,000 times the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.

30T-70T is between 600,000 and 1.4 million times the Earth's magnetic field.

This is an astonishing figure, considering that the magnetic field of a sunspot is only around 10T.

The world's most advanced superconducting magnetic field is a device developed in Huairou, China, which can reach 36.5T.

This is already the world's most advanced superconducting magnetic field technology, and it is also the only one of its kind.

What is Chen Yuan saying now?

The device he designed could allow the upper limit of the field strength of the EAST superconducting ring to reach 70T?

If this can really be achieved, it would be an absolutely revolutionary breakthrough in superconducting magnetic fields!

Everyone was startled and genuinely taken aback by the data.

This makes everyone very curious: what kind of device did Chen Yuan design that could allow the upper limit of the field strength of the Oriental Super Ring to reach such an amazing figure?

Ma Weixing's expression turned serious.

Lü Yunming and the other researchers quickly took out their phones to record the conversation.

Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and Xu Gang, among other leaders, reacted in almost the same way.

Although it is still impossible to confirm whether it is true or not, they all became unusually serious, and even took out equipment to record audio.

Li Jian asked, "How can the structure be reconstructed?"

Chen Yuan confidently stated, "We can reconstruct the structure into multi-layered nested and topological coils."

Li Jian asked, "What kind of multi-layered nested and topological coils?"

Chen Yuan explained in detail: "First, there's the hybrid nested magnet. The outer layer is made of NbTi/Nb₃Sn, a low-temperature superconducting material, with a base temperature of 15T. The inner layer is made of REBCO, a high-temperature superconducting material, reaching 20-35T. The total field is 10-15T, which is at the fusion reactor level. Second, the topology/segmented coils adopt a D-shaped + poloidal field integrated design, which ensures uniform stress, resistance to quenching, and dynamic adjustability. Finally, there's the direct cooling without insulation. By eliminating the insulation layer and using internal direct cooling, AC losses are reduced by 90%."

Ok?

They even revealed detailed information about the specific structural reconstruction of the superconducting coil?

Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and hundreds of other researchers immediately fell into deep thought, analyzing in their minds whether the information Chen Yuan had provided was feasible.

The same applies to Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, Jin Sheng, and others.

Xu Gang, who wasn't a tech person, looked lost in thought.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Jian concluded that the plan was feasible, but there were still many problems.

He frowned and voiced his doubts, saying, "The improvements you suggested can achieve a more ideal effect, but the problem is that our technology can't keep up."

Chen Yuan said confidently, "As I just said, it needs to be combined with some devices I designed to achieve the improvement. You think it can't be achieved, but there are actually three main reasons. First, the dynamic magnetic control can't keep up. Second, closed-loop cooling and third, energy recovery. Solving these problems will basically make it possible. You might not understand what I'm saying, so I'll draw a few device design diagrams for you to see. After you see them, you'll understand."

Dynamic magnetic control?

This is not a technical term.

The crowd was a little confused, not knowing what Chen Yuan meant by dynamic magnetic control.

Li Jian did the same, but since Chen Yuan had said he would provide the design drawings, he naturally didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he reached out and said, "Okay, thank you for your trouble."

Chen Yuan didn't say anything, sat back down at his workstation, found the software for drawing design drafts on his computer, and started drawing.

Although everyone was extremely curious, no one dared to breathe loudly, for fear of disturbing Chen Yuan, who was drawing up the design drawings for the device.

The same goes for Andrei.

Drawing up design drafts is very time-consuming.

It took Chen Yuan about two hours to complete the design drawings for the three devices.

Logically, many researchers should be back in their labs at this hour, but they are too curious and want to stay and work overtime to see the final results.

After Chen Yuan finished drawing, he pointed to the computer screen and said, "Academician Li, come and take a look. First, look at the dynamic magnetic control device on it."

"Okay, let me see."

Li Jian stepped forward, bent down, and began to examine the device design diagram on the computer screen.

Andrei, Ma Weixing, and other researchers also took a step forward.

Some people are quite short, and they're even standing on tiptoe to see.

Leaders Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and Xu Gang naturally watched intently.

Finally, everyone could see the dynamic magnetic control device clearly.

This is a main design diagram of a device consisting of five parts: a superconducting coil array, a pulsed charge-discharge unit, a magnetic field pinning feedback node, a cryogenic support cycle module, and a central field shape calculation unit.

During this period, Chen Yuan explained: "The core capability of dynamic magnetic control lies in real-time field shape reconstruction. The central calculation unit collects spatial magnetic field, current, temperature and load feedback at nanometer-level frequency. Through the pulse charging and discharging unit, the superconducting coil is independently energized in segments, so that the magnetic field strength, gradient, direction, focus point and magnetic trap shape of the entire device can be continuously switched within milliseconds. Unlike traditional fixed magnets, it does not statically generate magnetic fields, but can actively weave a three-dimensional dynamic magnetic cage to achieve functions such as plasma confinement, high-energy particle guidance, magnetic levitation attitude stabilization and precise electromagnetic force output."

What the hell!

This dynamic magnetic control device is absolutely amazing!

Ma Weixing got goosebumps.

He was well aware that if such a sci-fi-level device could be built, it would be an epic breakthrough for the development of magnetic confinement nuclear fusion technology.

Ma Weixing can confidently say that following Chen Yuan's advice could lead to truly controlled nuclear fusion, and even a commercially viable reactor.

In other words, this device is sufficient to enable the EAST to achieve net energy gain and longer pulse duration.

Most importantly, after reviewing the design drawings, he analyzed them and concluded that while the existing technology was capable of creating such a device, there might still be some shortcomings in terms of software.

Yes, this device requires the use of relatively advanced artificial intelligence as an aid.

Current artificial intelligence seems incapable of handling such a challenging task.

Although artificial intelligence cannot play an auxiliary role at present, and it seems that the entire device is useless, the development of artificial intelligence technology is advancing rapidly. Perhaps in a few years, it will meet the requirements. At that time, it can be directly integrated into the device, and then it can be fully realized.

Like Ma Weixing, the remaining researchers also got goosebumps watching it.

After seeing the device, they conducted a series of analyses and ultimately concluded that it was highly likely to be built.

If this device is built, it can truly achieve the effect Chen Yuan described...

The people present dared not imagine what would happen next; everyone held their breath.

They believed that since Chen Yuan dared to produce the design drawings, the effects he described were highly likely to be achievable.

After all, no one would dare to boast like that in front of so many professionals.

Can a dynamic magnetic control device be created and achieve the effect Chen Yuan described?

This is absolutely groundbreaking technological development!

At this moment, everyone finally realized that although Chen Yuan was young, his current level of technical expertise was absolutely top-notch in the field of magnetic confinement fusion.

Once this device is built, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the pioneer in magnetic confinement fusion research!

The way hundreds of R&D personnel looked at Chen Yuan changed; they knew just how high his technical level was.

Especially the people in the fourth division, such as Ma Weixing and Jiang Guowei, although they only saw a small part of Chen Yuan's strength, they roughly understood why the research institute wanted to hire him back to lead major scientific research projects.

Because they have real skills, and very high-level skills at that.

Besides the domestic researchers, the foreign scientists also looked at Chen Yuan with increasing fervor.

For example, Andrei's eyes became bright and sparkling, as if a flame was burning inside them.

Indeed, he was both excited to see the design drawings of such a sophisticated device and eager to exchange technical information with Chen Yuan, but he had to restrain himself due to the inappropriate setting.

If we had to point out who reacted differently at the scene, it would probably be a few leaders such as Li Jian, Shen Yun, and Zhang Qian.

They were not happy at all; in fact, their expressions changed drastically.

Why?

Because EAST is one of the international open platforms.

Many of the people present were researchers who were not plasma physicists.

There were even old, ugly scientists like Andrei.

The technology Chen Yuan is using now is absolutely science fiction level.

Although it's just entry-level science fiction, it's still unmatched by existing technology.

Leaders like Shen Yun and Zhang Qian were naturally afraid that outsiders would steal the technology of this device!

In fact, they had no idea that Chen Yuan had been careful because foreign scientists such as Andrei were present, and the core design of the three devices was not drawn up.

If these foreign scientists forcibly steal technology, there will only be one outcome: a huge amount of money will be wasted without any scientific research results.

Unfortunately, Li Jian, Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, and others were unaware of this.

They thought it was a complete design drawing of the device, and they were all so shocked that their hair stood on end, fearing that the people present would spread the technology.

Li Jian, in particular, never expected that what he had only wanted Chen Yuan to offer some constructive suggestions to Dongfang Chaohuan would result in the latter giving him an epic, revolutionary improvement suggestion in front of everyone.

He secretly groaned; if his technology were stolen, he would be a sinner.

Shen Yun reacted very quickly, shouting loudly, "Old Li! Turn off the computer screen! Quickly!"

Li Jian suddenly realized what was happening and quickly reached out to turn off the computer screen so that no one else could see it.

Shen Yun shouted again, "None of you leave! I need to go out and make a phone call. You might need to sign a confidentiality agreement later. Don't move! Nobody move!"

After saying that, he rushed out to make a phone call for instructions.

No one present moved, nor did they want to.

Because they were staring at Chen Yuan with the same eyes they would give an "idol"!