The term "cold nuclear fusion" was a very awkward proposition in the academic community because it was often accompanied by uninteresting things.
This concept probably first appeared in the 1920s. Two German chemists, Panis and Peters, proposed the idea of nuclear fusion reactions at room temperature in 1926. They passed hydrogen through heated palladium asbestos and found that helium permeated through it. Therefore, they determined that a fusion reaction had occurred and published their research results in Nature.
As soon as this paper appeared, it immediately caused a considerable sensation, but it was quickly criticized by Rutherford, the president of the Royal Society. In fact, in subsequent experiments, the two were indeed unable to repeat this experiment. In the end, the whole incident was determined to be a mistake, and Nature withdrew the paper.
The end of the 1980s was probably the peak of the entire cold nuclear fusion research. At a press conference held by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, Fleischmann and Pons disclosed their latest research results. Which was, under room temperature conditions, a special heavy water electrode device was used to achieve continuous nuclear fusion on the palladium electrode.
This discovery broke the traditional concept that nuclear fusion could only be carried out at a temperature of hundreds of millions of degrees. It also gave a new dawn to controllable fusion researchers who had been unable to fulfill their promises. This sensational effect quickly swept across the entire North America and even the world. More than dozens of research institutions, including the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Princeton PPPL Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and even IBM's private laboratory, participated in this race to pursue new energy. The media called the research results of the two "the sun in a test tube".
However, good times didn't last long. The American nuclear power giant signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the University of Utah experimental team, the Italian Ministry of Scientific Research emphasized that "cold nuclear fusion research" was a priority, the Belgian State Secretary's Office of Scientific Research held a special expert meeting, and the Soviet Union's Moscow University mobilized a first-class research team to prepare for full-scale cold fusion research … Finally, the final collapse took less than a year.
This worldwide farce also completely consumed the academic community's enthusiasm for cold fusion. Even now, there were quite a few scientific research teams still persevering in this field of research. However, because the research on thermonuclear fusion was half dead, let alone cold nuclear fusion, which was a headache.
At present, the attitude of the entire academic community was to put aside the controversy. They did not completely deny it, but basically, they did not have any hope.
As for whether there was a feasible technical route …
If one really had to say it, there was.
For example, sound fusion.
Although this word didn't sound very reliable.
After Sheng Xianfu left the report venue, he didn't go find Lu Zhou. Instead, he went to the Institute of Acoustics at Jin Ling University.
Around the end of the 1980s, the entire world was engaged in cold fusion research. China, which had been closely following the international academic trends, was no exception. For example, the scientific research team led by Professor Chen Weizhong of the Jin Ling Institute of Acoustics once did this "sound fusion" project. Unfortunately, it ended in failure.
So far, the conclusion was that although fusion could not be achieved, it could emit light.
As for why it was glowing, he wasn't sure.
Before completing the blueprint in his mind, he needed to seek some help from the research of his predecessors …
"Cold fusion experiment data from more than 30 years ago?" After listening to Sheng Xianfu's explanation, Professor Chen Weizhong suddenly sneered, shook his head, and said, "You guys are wasting time."
"How would you know if you don't try?" Sheng Xianfu tried to persuade the old man.
"Try? I spent ten years trying and proved that this path doesn't work. I didn't do it for you young people to try. "Chen Weizhong smiled self-deprecatingly and said," Back then, I wasted half of the funds of the Institute of Acoustics, and in the end, I created a pile of waste paper. Now you guys are wasting your time and the country's resources on this experiment? I can't live with my conscience. "
It was obvious that the old professor was completely disheartened by the research of sound fusion.
However, it was true that he wasted ten years of his life on a path that didn't work. Not only did he fail his own scientific research career and the expectations of the institute, but he also failed the students and researchers who followed him in this research.
However …
"I don't think it's waste paper." Sheng Xianfu stared at the old professor's turbid pupils and said in a serious manner, "It's just that it hasn't played its original role."
The old professor stared at Sheng Xianfu for a while and didn't say anything. He slowly stood up and left the office.
About five minutes later, the old man came back from the door with a crumpled notebook in his hand.
"The Institute of Acoustics doesn't have a lot of funds. When I started this project, I hoped to make some progress … But in the end, it failed." Professor Chen Weizhong handed the data to Sheng Xianfu. He looked at Sheng Xianfu and said, "If this thing can be of any help to you, you can take it."
If it can really be of use …
He felt like he would feel a little better.
Sheng Xianfu took the notebook that recorded the experimental data and nodded solemnly. "I will use it properly."
…
After Sheng Xianfu received the experimental data, he returned to the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study and began to sketch out the blueprint in his mind.
When he was in Southwest, he had been researching plasma physics, and he was more inclined towards engineering than theoretical research. Now that he suddenly had to do theoretical research, he obviously felt that it was difficult.
Because he hadn't touched many things in a long time, he had even forgotten about them. Therefore, in addition to flipping through literature, he even had to resort to reference books in order to complete theoretical deductions.
However, the good thing was that these difficulties could be overcome.
While studying and researching, it took him ten days to finally complete the thesis on "Demonstration of the technical feasibility of achieving fusion reaction at relatively low temperatures". He then brought this thesis to Lu Zhou's office.
When he arrived at Lu Zhou's office, Lu Zhou was looking at the draft paper on his desk and thinking about something.
Sheng Xianfu gently knocked on the door and spoke.
"I'm here."
Lu Zhou didn't stop writing. He simply said, "Yeah, what's up?"
"Regarding the miniaturization of controllable fusion, I have a little … other idea." Sheng Xianfu looked at the thesis in his hand and was about to give it to Lu Zhou. He was a little hesitant.
"You don't want me to read it?"
"Not really." Sheng Xianfu smiled awkwardly and made up his mind. He placed the thesis on Lu Zhou's desk and said, "It's that … Don't laugh at me after you read it."
"Of course not."
Lu Zhou put down his pen and picked up the thesis from the table. He began to carefully read it line by line.
Just like that, time ticked by.
Sheng Xianfu stood in front of his desk and nervously waited for the results. He took a deep breath for the tenth time.
Lu Zhou finally finished reading the thesis in his hand. He smiled and spoke.
"You have quite a rich imagination."
Sheng Xianfu had a bitter smile on his face.
Didn't you say you wouldn't laugh at me?
He coughed and spoke.
"I think it's rich too, don't take it seriously, it's just my imagination —"
"You don't have to admit that you're wrong. Academic discussions shouldn't be predetermined. In the face of the truth, we all have the possibility of making mistakes, but we all have the possibility of being correct." Lu Zhou gently placed the thesis on the table and said, "Not to mention, we have the same idea this time."
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