The rise of nanometers

Huang Xiuyuan said with a smile: "I thought of a way to solve the problem of neutron exposure."

"Uh?" Dr. Chen Wendong looked surprised. He thought it was about the discovery of positrons and positrons, but he didn't expect that it was a problem of neutron irradiation.

But after thinking about it, he also reacted: "Neutron irradiation? Do you want to turn neutrons into protons through positrons?"

Everyone present was a top scholar of high energy physics, so they naturally knew that neutrons and protons could be converted into each other.

The combination of positrons and neutrons can form protons. The only issues that need to be considered are the probability of the combination of the two, as well as the speed and energy of the neutrons.

Nuclear fusion is different from nuclear fission. Most of the neutrons produced by nuclear fission are relatively slow and low-energy fast neutrons, which can be converted into slow neutrons (also called thermal neutrons) through a moderator.

However, the energy contained in the fast neutrons of nuclear fusion is more than ten times that of the fast neutrons of nuclear fission. Such high-energy fast neutrons are beyond the endurance range of current materials.

If the neutron irradiation resistance of the inner wall material of the fission reactor is set to 1, then the neutron irradiation resistance of the fusion reactor inner wall material needs to be more than 100.

Not to mention reaching 100, considering the fast neutron fission reactor currently in the experimental stage, the neutron irradiation resistance of the inner wall material of this level of fission reactor can only reach about 15.

There is still a long way to go before reaching the big mark of 100.

The neutron resistance capability of fast neutron fission reactors has actually reached the current limit of the materials industry.

At least materials at the molecular-atomic level cannot withstand long-term exposure to high-energy fast neutrons, unless humans can invent neutron degenerate materials and use degenerate materials to resist high-energy fast neutrons.

The technology and theory required for degenerate materials are several orders of magnitude more difficult than controllable nuclear fusion. If humans are given an extra hundred or two hundred years, they may not be able to reach the entry threshold for degenerate materials.

But now, Huang Xiuyuan's sudden idea has brought everyone another solution.

Neutrons are difficult to control because they are uncharged and difficult to be controlled by electrostatic fields or magnetic fields. If neutrons can be converted into protons, they can be controlled by electrostatic fields or magnetic fields.

Huang Xiuyuan thought for a while and expressed his thoughts: "We need to verify this plan."

"I agree. If positrons can really convert high-energy fast neutrons into protons, then controllable nuclear fusion is really just around the corner." Chen Wendong is also eager to try it.

Huang Xiuyuan was not in a hurry to experiment. Instead, he blocked the news and asked a group of insiders to go to the nuclear fusion research base in Bazhong City, Shu Province.

Immediately afterwards, a large amount of equipment needed for the experiment was quickly arranged and all these equipment and materials were transported to Bazhong City.

Back and forth, I have been busy for more than four months.

Until October 21, Huang Xiuyuan arrived at the Bazhong Nuclear Fusion Research Base through a stand-in robot.

Domestic experts in the field of nuclear fusion also came to the scene to observe this experiment.

Academician Li Jiangang and Dr. Xu Guosheng from Hefei Plasma Research Institute, as well as several academicians from Southwest Nuclear Energy Research Institute, were all discussing in low voices at the scene.

"Xiuyuan, what do you think the success rate is?" Academician Li Jiangang asked cautiously.

Huang Xiuyuan explained: "As long as the density of positrons is large enough, even high-energy fast neutrons cannot escape from Wuzhishan. The key is the cost."

"That's true. If the output power is less than the input power, then the gain outweighs the loss." Academician Li nodded and continued: "But you always have to give it a try."

The laboratory, which covers an area of ​​40,000 square meters, is equipped with two multiple tailfield accelerators, a figure-eight magnetic field restrainer, a neutron source generator, and various other auxiliary equipment.

"Everyone is in position, the experiment begins."

With an order, all equipment started in an orderly manner.

The tail field acceleration continuously creates positrons in the vacuum cavity, and then these positrons are sent into the figure-eight magnetic field restrainer by the electrostatic field.

As time goes by, the vacuum tube in the magnetic field binder is filled with dense positrons, and these positrons flow in the vacuum tube at an extremely fast speed under the acceleration of the strong magnetic field.

"Report, the positron density and velocity have reached predetermined values."

"Start preparing to launch neutrons, energy level 1."

"receive."

Soon, in the neutron source generator, a stream of neutrons with an energy level equivalent to the fast neutrons of an ordinary fission reactor rushed into the vacuum tube filled with positron plasma.

In an instant, the neutron stream was flooded by dense positrons.

There were no neutron signals from the densely packed detectors surrounding the neutron source generator.

Huang Xiuyuan stared at the data. Time passed by. The neutron source generator continued to emit fast neutrons, and no neutron signal was detected around him.

The divertor at the bottom of the vacuum tube began to separate some protium. Apparently, the converted proton captured a negative electron in the divertor, thus forming protium.

"Suspend the experiment."

The entire system was stopped for inspection.

In the observation area, a group of experts and scholars also discussed excitedly.

After reading the first experimental data, Academician Li said happily: "Xiuyuan, it seems that your idea has a very high success rate."

"I don't dare to make a guarantee until the final results come out." Huang Xiuyuan is not too complacent. After all, the energy level of the neutrons tested now is only about 1/14 of that of nuclear fusion fast neutrons.

Some people may think, why not simply use positron and negative electron annihilation to create an antimatter energy reactor.

For this idea to be realized, the premise is that positrons can be produced with high efficiency and low energy consumption. The problem is that the energy generated by the annihilation of positrons and negative electrons is about 43% of the energy of producing positrons.

If the energy after annihilation is added and then converted, this transaction will be lost to grandma's family.

This is equivalent to taking 10 yuan of electricity and producing 3 yuan of electricity, resulting in a direct loss of 7 yuan.

Unless there is a natural source of positrons, such as the sun, it is possible to guarantee not losing money, otherwise it is better to just engage in controlled nuclear fusion!

"Big discovery!" Xu Guosheng said as he walked.

Academician Li stood up: "What did you find?"

Xu Guosheng explained: "The protium atoms collected by the divertor contain very high energy, which is slightly higher than the energy level of the neutrons emitted by the neutron source generator."

Huang Xiuyuan reacted instantly: "It should be that after the combination of positrons and neutrons, the energy of the two merged together. However, heat cannot be transferred inside the vacuum tube and can only be released in the divertor."

"It seems that the positron blocking layer can not only block neutrons, but also utilize the heat of neutrons."

Everyone discussed it for more than five hours.

Soon after the equipment inspection was completed, the second experiment was started, and the energy level of fast neutrons was doubled again.

This time, too, there was no neutron penetration.

For a whole week, an average of two experiments per day, step by step, the neutron energy level was increased from fission fast neutrons to fusion fast neutrons, and the energy density was increased by 14 times.

Around 11 times, a small amount of penetration occurs in the positron blocking layer, about 3 to 6%.

At around 14 times, the positron blocking layer has about 24 to 48% penetration.

But Huang Xiuyuan did not feel frustrated, because this can completely improve the blocking efficiency by increasing the thickness of the positron flow.

At this point in the experiment, it can actually be announced that the problem of neutron irradiation has been solved.

Thank you for your support (ω｀)