Chapter 388 US Antitrust Investigation

The achievements of the Dawn Fusion Device will inevitably sting the sensitive nerves of some countries.

But no one expected that after the major breakthrough of 45 minutes in the first operation in October, under the leadership of Professor Xu, less than two months later, the dawn device would once again Created a new record.

Two hours of high-density plasma operation and one minute of deuterium and tritium raw material fusion ignition operation.

What this means is clear to almost all scholars working on controllable nuclear fusion.

Even those government officials who know little about controllable nuclear fusion technology also know what it represents.

The United States probably did not expect that in just two months, while they were still trying to find out information and discuss countermeasures, China would be able to advance controllable nuclear fusion technology to a new level.

It has to be said that when faced with the second creation of the Dawn Fusion Device, they finally became anxious.

Moreover, for the United States, if China and Soviet Russia, which are regarded as the same line of succession, gain an advantage in a certain technology or field in which everyone is still competing together, it will sting the nerves even more.

The memory of the confrontation in the last century in the United States is too profound.

Although that behemoth has disintegrated now, its spirit is still going on.

For the United States, the two countries that have inherited the spirit of that behemoth must undoubtedly be taken seriously.

Decades have not been enough for it to completely eradicate the fear of that spirit.

After all, there are still people who lived through that generation today.

On the other side, Europe.

When the U.S. energy industry spoke publicly to the outside world.

At the Planck Institute for Plasma Research, Helix 7X is conducting the second round of high-density plasma operation experiments.

It has to be said that the achievements of China's Dawn Fusion Device have indeed stimulated the sponsors behind the Planck Plasma Research Institute.

After the Dawn Device completed its two-hour operation, they were quickly provided with a new batch of scientific research funds, and only then did Helix 7X become eligible to start the extreme test for the second time in a short period of time.

After all, this kind of extreme test will cause certain damage to the controllable nuclear fusion experimental reactor. Although this damage is not irreparable, since it is damage, repairing it will definitely require additional funds.

Walking into the main control room, Robert Mack, director of the Planck Plasma Institute, looked at Tillman Lunt who was presiding over the experiment and asked:

"Is there any hope of breaking through an hour this time?"

Looking at the data on the monitor screen, Professor Tillman Lunt thought for a moment and said, "It's difficult."

"In the past two months, we have tried to improve the control scheme of the stellarator. The constraint time has been slightly improved, but there is still some distance from long-term constraint of one hour."

"unless."

"Unless what?"

Taking a deep breath, Tillman said: "Unless we lower the temperature of some plasma and risk the damage to the first wall, we might be able to do it for an hour."

"But I don't recommend doing this. To be honest, even if we can do it for one hour, it will still be far from Professor Xu's two hours. I recommend taking it slow."

Hearing this, Robert Mack sighed and said: "It's too late. At least we need a result to boost our confidence. At least, we can't be pulled too far."

Hearing this, Tillman Lunt also fell silent for a moment.

Although he is a scholar who prefers scientific research, sitting in his position, he does not understand what Robert said.

It would be fine if Helix 7X was a tokamak device. Based on Professor Xu’s achievements with tokamak-like devices, countries will definitely invest in tokamak devices without exception.

However, the Spiral Stone 7X is a stellarator. If it cannot keep up, I am afraid that a large part of the budget will be cut off, and it is not impossible that it will even be abandoned directly because of this.

Thinking about it, Tillman sighed and said, "I'll try my best."

Robert Mike patted his shoulder and looked at Spiral Stone 7X silently.

If there is anyone who least wants the Helix 7X to stop, he is definitely one of them.

This is not only about his fate, but also about the hard work invested in the Spiral Stone 7X for more than ten years.

Spiral Stone 7X is like a child to him, and he grows up little by little.

After a moment of silence, Robert remembered something and spoke again: "By the way, the contract signed with CERN for Professor Xu's high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material may be terminated."

Hearing this, Tillman Lunt turned his head and looked at Robert, with a question mark on his face.

"Um."

Robert nodded and continued: "Not only that, as for the purpose, maybe you want to force Professor Xu to provide high-temperature superconducting material technology?"

"Of course, it could be others."

"Are they crazy?" Professor Tillman looked incredulous and said, "You must know that it is not Professor Xu who needs to sell high-temperature superconducting materials now, but other research institutions."

"In the field of high-temperature superconducting materials, currently no material can compare with copper-carbon-silver composite materials. It has significantly improved various equipment that require superconducting materials as systems."

"If this kind of material is placed here, it is probably prohibited from being sold to outsiders. Even if it is sold, it should only be selectively provided to allies."

"With the current output of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, I am afraid that it cannot even meet China's own internal needs. Does that mean anything to him?"

Looking at the picture on the surveillance screen, Robert squinted his eyes and said: "Sometimes, letting others lose something that you can't get has the same purpose as letting your competitors not get it."

"Given the relationship between China and the United States, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the United States to obtain high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials from Professor Xu, but other countries, such as Europe, still have hope."

"In this case, it's better to ban it all together."

After a pause, he continued: "And if CERN reneges on the order, Professor Xu will probably suffer considerable losses. Coupled with the material problem, international orders in the field of high-temperature superconducting materials will be vacant. From this point of view, you can imagine who is more beneficial.”

Tillman asked: "Will CERN agree? You must know that other high-temperature superconducting materials are far inferior to the superconducting properties of Professor Xu. This can be seen from our spiral stone 7X."

Robert shrugged and said: "The scholars at CERN probably don't agree, but the directors of CERN who ultimately make the decision are the directors who provide scientific research funds. If the funders don't agree, the board of directors may not be able to do anything."

Sighing, Tillman looked at Spiral Stone 7X silently.

Too much political interference in the development of science is extremely detrimental to the development of science.

But there is no way. If science wants to develop, it has to rely on government funding.

This is an endless cycle that no country can avoid.

Fortunately, they have successfully completed the transaction.

As for other research institutions, there is nothing that can be done, and he can't control that much.

On the other side, China.

Naturally, Xu Chuan, who is still busy finishing the finishing work at the Qixia Mountain Controlled Nuclear Fusion Engineering Base, is not clear about the actions of the United States.

But even if it becomes clear, he won't care too much.

As Professor Tillman Lent said, with the current output of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, it is very difficult to meet domestic demand, let alone meet the world's demand.

At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.

Xu Chuan said 'come in', and in came Gao Hongming and another middle-aged man, tall and thin, wearing a pair of glasses, about forty years old.

He had never met this person, but after being introduced by Gao Hongming, he knew the person's background. The person from National Energy Company was named Tan Yangxu.

After the three of them arrived in the living room, Tan Yangxu smiled and said hello first: "It's an emergency, so I'm sorry for interrupting your research work, Academician Xu."

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "You're welcome. If you have anything to do with Director Tan, you might as well just say it directly."

Tan Yangxu nodded and said, "In this case, I will tell you directly."

"The first thing is that we have received news that the United States is preparing to join forces with other countries to launch an investigation into the Sichuan-Hai Materials Research Institute under your name. The main direction is high-temperature superconducting materials, which may affect you and CERN. The order contract signed may be cancelled.”

"????"

After hearing the news, Xu Chuan was a little confused for a moment, with questions in his head.

Launch an antitrust investigation into high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials?

What the hell? Has the United States lost its brain?

There are more than just this kind of high-temperature superconducting materials. The BI-based high-temperature superconducting materials from the small island country, the lanthanum-based high-temperature superconducting materials from Europe, and the United States’ own yttrium-based high-temperature superconducting materials are all high-temperature superconducting materials. There are materials, but they can’t compete with copper-carbon-silver composite materials in terms of superconducting performance.

From this perspective, the high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material under his name does not constitute a monopoly at all.

And more importantly, this is not a buyer's market, but a seller's market.

At present, various countries need the high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials in his hands, and he does not have to squeeze into other people's homes to sell them.

In this case, if an investigation is launched against him, the only thing that can be said is that the person who came up with this idea is a real genius.

As for canceling the CERN order?

To be honest, he would still feel a little distressed if it was really cancelled. After all, this is an order worth several billion.

As for other aspects, are his high-temperature superconducting materials prohibited from being sold in other countries?

This may be a trouble in the future, but for now, domestic orders cannot be met, let alone exported abroad.

The significance of exporting high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials now is not to make money, but to exchange some technologies.

For example, the ASDEX device that was previously traded in cooperation with the Planck Institute of Plasma Research, this is its value.

As for the rest, to be honest, Xu Chuan couldn't think of anything too much.

After all, they are in China, not the United States.

After thinking about it, Xu Chuan looked at Tan Yangxu and asked curiously: "What is their purpose of doing this?"

Tan Yangxu: "On the one hand, it should be to ban the sale of the high-temperature superconducting materials in your hands. On the other hand, it may be related to ITER."

"ITER?"

Tan Yangxu nodded and said, "Well, ITER's headquarters in Cadarache held several council meetings some time ago. The United States accused us of obtaining a lot of technology from ITER but not fulfilling the corresponding obligations."

"They believe that we concealed our research results while receiving ITER's controlled nuclear fusion-related technologies, violating the agreement of ITER's member states, and asked us to disclose high-temperature superconducting material technology and plasma turbulence numerical control models. At least to ITER."

Xu Chuan was slightly stunned, shook his head and said, "Is there a difference between disclosing to ITER and disclosing to the world? The world has the ability to independently do it. Almost all the controlled nuclear fusion has joined ITER. If it is open to ITER, it is equivalent to opening it to the whole world. "

Tan Yangxu nodded and said, "This is the difficulty. We certainly cannot open these two technologies. But if we continue to argue, the United States may join other member states to kick us out of ITER."

"The ban on the sale and antitrust investigation of the high-temperature superconducting materials in your hands, Academician Xu, is the first step of the United States, and kicking us out of ITER later may be the second step."

"As for whether there will be a third and fourth step later, it is not clear yet."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan also frowned.

Since the news brought by the top leaders can be told to him here, the credibility is certain.

These two pieces of news are not good news for him or for the development of China's controlled nuclear fusion business.

The ban on sales and the investigation of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, and the loss of CERN's orders are not too serious problems for him.

But if China is kicked out of the ITER plan, I am afraid it will be a bit troublesome.

It is true that ITER, a large-scale international joint project, has always been slow in progress, and it is also true that countries are arguing and shirking responsibility.

But it must be said that this kind of large-scale international joint project basically benefits both member countries and participating countries.

Even if no country will invest its most advanced technology, the things it can produce are not too bad.

Especially for China, it has indeed gained a lot of benefits in the years since joining ITER.

Of course, while gaining benefits, it will naturally pay a part of the cost, including billions of scientific research funds, some domestic advanced technologies, etc.

If China is kicked out of ITER, it means that all previous investments will be wasted.

In addition, the orders that China is responsible for, such as the ICRF heating antenna order, the tungsten-molybdenum first wall material order, and other projects, will also be directly taken over and replaced by other countries.

These are direct economic losses.

In addition, there are some visits and exchanges with foreign research institutes on controlled nuclear fusion, jobs provided by ITER for China, exchanges of scientific researchers, etc., which will also be lost.

Take CERN for example. Currently, there are hundreds of Chinese scholars participating in CERN, from graduate students to doctoral students, to university professors, etc. All in all, there are at least hundreds of people participating every year.

These people rely on CERN to do scientific research and produce results.

And ITER is no exception.

If they withdraw, these scholars will be affected.

If Xu Chuan doesn't care about the antitrust investigation and ban on sales by the United States, he has to consider the latter.

PS: There should be another chapter in the evening, please vote for me