Chapter 295 The Dean of the Princeton Chemistry Department Came to Visit

After dealing with the affairs of the Chuanhai Materials Research Institute, Xu Chuan returned to the villa.

In the study, he sorted out the messy materials on the desk and picked up the journal mailed from the Annals of Mathematics.

The interim results paper on the NS equation that he had submitted before had passed the peer review of four Fields Medal winners as expected and was published in the latest issue of the Annals of Mathematics in June.

As a contributor, or as a big shot in the mathematics community, he naturally received the journal sent by the Annals of Mathematics.

Before he started to establish a mathematical model for plasma turbulence in a controlled nuclear fusion reactor, he planned to go through his paper first.

Although these things were written by him, recalling them in his mind and reading them in the journal manuscript are two completely different concepts.

Sometimes, reading what you have written repeatedly may give you more inspiration or ideas.

Flipping through the paper in his hand, Xu Chuan sipped the tea in the cup.

"Given a finite space, when the initial value is infinitely smooth, smooth solutions to the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations exist! 》

This is the result he made last time for the NS equation.

Theoretically, this result is enough to support him to establish a mathematical model for the ultra-high temperature plasma turbulence in the chamber of a controlled nuclear fusion reactor.

After all, the chamber in a controlled nuclear fusion reactor can be regarded as a "limited space". But theory is theory, and it is still not a simple matter to complete this work.

The biggest problem is to observe the high temperature and high pressure plasma data in the reactor chamber.

This is the biggest and deepest gap between the theory of the paper and the actual mathematical control model.

After all, even if you can establish a mathematical model to control high temperature plasma, you have to observe and collect data to make real-time adjustments, right?

Although the performance of today's supercomputers is sufficient to support it, it is still in vain if you cannot observe the changes in the reactor chamber.

Although there are many means of observing high temperature and high pressure plasma, such as laser diagnosis, interferometry or holographic interferometry, X-ray diagnosis, etc.

But these methods are almost not applicable to controlled nuclear fusion reactors.

Because for the high-temperature and high-pressure plasma in the controlled nuclear fusion reaction chamber, any tiny disturbance may cause unnecessary turbulence and disturbance in the plasma in the chamber.

And these turbulence and disturbance are fatal to the material of the first wall.

When the high-temperature and high-pressure plasma hits the first wall, it will cause serious damage to the first wall.

At present, the international observation of high-temperature and high-pressure plasma in the chamber of controlled nuclear fusion reactors, whether it is the large-scale international cooperation ITER, or the LLNL, DIII-D Tokamak of the United States, or the EAST of China, almost all use electromagnetic wave observation.

It is to obtain the relevant plasma parameters through the electromagnetic waves emitted by the plasma itself in the reactor chamber, and thus establish a mathematical model.

But this observation method is not accurate, and it is impossible to see the details, only the overall situation.

Just like looking at the moon with the naked eye on the ground, if the observation conditions are good and the eyesight is excellent, some large craters on the moon and large structures such as the lunar sea can be seen.

But it is limited to this, and more detailed features cannot be seen.

Without seeing the details, it is unrealistic to control the plasma.

So Xu Chuan had to find a way to solve this problem.

In the study, Xu Chuan quietly flipped through the journal in his hand.

Even after being edited by the editor of the Mathematical Annals, the more than 200-page paper was still a finger thick after being printed in the journal.

The Mathematical Annals was quite generous to him. Two issues of the June issue were published, and he took up a whole issue by himself.

After briefly reviewing the journal paper in his hand, Xu Chuan put it aside, took out a stack of A4 paper and a pen from the drawer, and opened his laptop.

When he was studying in Princeton in the past two years, he did more than just study mathematical physics with Deligne and Witten.

He also collected a large number of literature materials from the Flint Library in Princeton.

Among them are many documents on plasma physics research, as well as some data and theories of the PPPL Plasma Physics Laboratory.

These things are not fully open to the public, and only people in Princeton are qualified to consult and borrow them.

Thanks to returning directly from Brazil after the International Mathematical Congress, the documents that had been downloaded and copied to his computer were also brought back.

Only a handful of people knew about this matter. After all, it felt a bit sneaky, so he didn't tell anyone else. Only he knew about it.

Even his mentors Witten and Deligne didn't know that he secretly downloaded a lot of documents from the Flint Library.

Maybe there would be records at the Flint Library, but who would go to check how many books their students borrowed?

Although the old man who managed the Flint Library was an expert in preserving paper materials, he never paid much attention to things on computers.

Therefore, Xu Chuan brought back a lot of good things from Princeton last year.

And now, these things are just in time to come in handy.

Before establishing a theoretical model for plasma turbulence, it is essential to be familiar with the relevant literature.

Just as Xu Chuan was flipping through the materials and selecting useful information and data, the phone rang suddenly from the table.

Hearing the ring, he frowned slightly. This was the time to think, and no one would be happy to be interrupted by a call.

This was also the reason why he didn't like to carry a mobile phone with him when doing research. However, after missing the Nobel Prize and the call from his parents, he slightly modified this habit.

With a sigh of relief, Xu Chuan sat up and picked up his mobile phone from the table. He took a look and found that the caller was a completely unfamiliar international number. From the beginning, it seemed that the call came from the United States.

After thinking about it, he answered the call.

"Hello, hello, who is this?"

"Hello, Professor Xu, I am David MacMillan, the head of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton. I hope the call did not disturb your research."

On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged man's voice came over. Hearing this name, Xu Chuan suddenly remembered another thing.

"Hello, Director McMillan." Xu Chuan responded with a smile.

Last year, he had talked to Deligne about computational chemistry models, and Deligne also gave him feedback at the evening party for the report on the interim results of the NS equation, suggesting that he communicate with McMillan by phone or video first.

However, he had been in charge of nuclear energy projects and forgot about it.

If the other party hadn't called him, he wouldn't know when he would have remembered it.

McMillan smiled and said, "I called you this time mainly to communicate about the chemical computational mathematical model that Professor Deligne talked to me about before. I wonder if Professor Xu has time now?"

"Of course." Xu Chuan nodded in response.

"Then I'll get straight to the point. Could you please, Professor Xu, give me a detailed introduction to the chemical material calculation model you proposed before?"

McMillan said on the phone: "Although Professor Deligne has already introduced some of it to me, I still want to hear your introduction."

"Of course no problem."

Xu Chuan nodded, organized his words and spoke again: "Regarding this chemical material calculation model, it was an inspiration and idea I got by chance when I was studying artificial SEI films before."

"It is based on the three major fields of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. By collecting the different chemical and physical properties of each material in advance, integrating them into the model, and then simulating the calculation reaction process through mathematics."

On the phone, Xu Chuan briefly introduced his theories and ideas.

In the office of Princeton Chemistry Building, David McMillan half leaned back in his chair, listening to the introduction and explanation on the other side of the phone.

To be honest, at first he didn't have much interest in Xu Chuan's proposal to Deligne.

After all, how much can a mathematician, even a top mathematician, know about chemistry without systematically studying chemistry?

But considering that Professor Xu was also a student from Princeton, and that he was a Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winner, he did not refuse directly, but only said that he hoped to meet Xu Chuan first.

Originally, he thought that Professor Xu would be eager to find Princeton, after all, Princeton's chemical experimental database is still very valuable.

What he didn't expect was that more than half a year had passed, and the other party had not made any move.

Of course, he was happy to be indifferent at first, until the emergence of artificial SEI film materials and some questions raised by those material researchers at the press conference held by the Sichuan Hai Materials Research Institute, which made him keenly aware of the value of this chemical material calculation model.

Therefore, after collecting and understanding some information, he chose to take the initiative to call Professor Xu.

On the phone, Magmillan listened carefully to the introduction and explanation of the other party, and he also asked one or two questions from time to time.

As the conversation continued, as if he had heard some incredible news, the pupils of the director of the Princeton Chemistry Department shrank sharply, and his posture suddenly sat up from half leaning on the office chair.

"Professor Xu, are you telling the truth?" Magmillan asked with a trembling voice.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Of course, I don't need to lie to you. This is roughly the situation. What do you think?"

On the phone, he spent some time briefly introducing the chemical material calculation model, and then asked the other party's opinion.

On the other side, David Magmillan was silent for a while, as if he was suppressing his breathing and heartbeat. After a while, he asked, "I would like to ask, Professor Xu, have you made a basic version or a simplified version of this model?"

Xu Chuan thought about it, and still said, "The Chuanhai Materials Research Institute under my name does have a very simple version."

"Did you develop the artificial SEI film before using this method?" David Magmillan asked quickly.

"That's not the case. After all, when I was studying the artificial SEI film, this mathematical model had not yet been established."

Xu Chuan smiled and said that the artificial SEI film used to solve the lithium dendrite problem was indeed not studied using this mathematical model.

But what he didn't say was that some of the improvements made after it was developed were based on this theory. It was just that he did the mathematical calculations himself. When converted to a mathematical model, the effect was the same.

On the opposite side, a trace of disappointment flashed in David McGmillan's eyes. Of course, he did not give up. He could not expect the other party to tell him this kind of core secret on the phone.

After a pause, he spoke again: "I don't know if Professor Xu has time recently. If it's convenient, you can come to Princeton. How about we talk in detail?"

Xu Chuan shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have time to go to Princeton for the time being."

It is currently impossible for him to go abroad. Even if he gives up the database at Princeton, he cannot go out.

After thinking for a while, he continued: "But maybe I can arrange for someone to go to Princeton on my behalf."

Magmillan shook his head and said: "Others' understanding of this model may not be as good as your own."

After thinking for a while, he continued: "If it's really inconvenient for you, I can go to China. I just don't know when Professor Xu will be able to do it?"

Xu Chuan thought for a moment and said, "I should have time before mid-July."

In the second half of this year, CERN will launch an observation and collision experiment on sterile neutrinos. Coupled with his own research, it is expected to be another busy second half of the year.

"Okay, then I will probably go there in early July. At that time, I would like to take a look at the mathematical model you established at the Sichuan-Hai Materials Research Institute, Professor Xu. Is that okay?" Magmillan asked.

Xu Chuan nodded and smiled: "Of course, no problem, I welcome you anytime."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Chuan also had a smile on his face.

By some strange combination of circumstances, the dean of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton took the initiative to come to our door. It seemed that there was still great hope for this cooperation to be concluded.

Smiling, Xu Chuan put away his phone and returned his thoughts to his original research.

For him, many of the documents on plasma physics research brought from Princeton had been read in his previous life.

With his memory, it would be enough to simply re-read the things he has read. The important thing is to re-search the information that has not been read.

The days passed like this day by day, and in the blink of an eye, time arrived in July.

At the beginning of July, half a year of 2019 has passed, and many major events have happened in the scientific world.

For example, the first photo of a black hole finally appeared in front of everyone's eyes after a long period of editing and synthesis. Because of its strange shape, this black hole photo was nicknamed a ‘doughnut’ by netizens.

For example, NASA officially announced that the InSight Mars probe captured an earthquake on Mars for the first time, indicating that Mars may have a younger core. This is in great conflict with previous theories that the Martian core has already cooled.

There were many similar things, but Xu Chuan didn't pay much attention to them. After all, he was very busy in the first half of the year and had no time to understand the outside world.

While he was waiting for him to finally finish some preparatory work for modeling, Princeton's Chemistry Department Chair David McGemillan also flew over from the United States.

As a last resort, Xu Chuan had no choice but to suspend his work and accompany the head of the chemistry department to the Sichuan-Hai Materials Research Institute.

PS: There are some glitches today, mainly due to re-arranging the plot, writing, deleting and deleting. It took a long time to revise, and I may have to wait until tomorrow morning to add more. Sorry.