The National Key Laboratory of the Capital Electron-Positron Collider
"All Things Knowable? If you really proved the law of causality, aliens would come in spaceships to listen to your lectures," Dean Cao said.
"I look forward to that day." Shen Qi laughed heartily; Dean Cao's description of the scene was quite vivid.
Shen Qi then said, "I never said that I would be the one to verify Physics of Tomorrow. Perhaps it will be accomplished by our descendants. The student surpasses the teacher, and each generation is better than the last. What we need to do is to improve today's physics and lay a solid theoretical foundation for future generations."
"You've been speaking so righteously for so long, but it turns out you were just drawing a pie in the sky—a really big pie." Dean Cao took a sip of tea and said, "Let's leave Physics of Tomorrow aside for now. I think we can give this 'The Hidden One' First Test; it's today's physics."
Shen Qi's definition of the Hidden One is to establish a theory that describes the difference between gravity and typical mass of elementary particles.
Theoretical research requires the use of High Energy Physics equipment for experiments.
Shen Qi and Dean Cao are both industry insiders. They know that among the world's eight major High Energy Physics experimental institutions, only one institution currently has the capability to verify the Hidden One: CERN.
Shen Qi once said in a public report that the LHC, a super facility at CERN, can theoretically create artificial miniature black holes using its existing, world-leading High Energy Physics hardware.
However, Western physicists have never done this.
The LHC is installed in Switzerland, and its owners are all over Europe.
If all the people of Europe unite, Europe will become very powerful. It will be difficult to return to the heyday when Europe dominated the world, but it will definitely be more powerful than Europe is now.
However, the problem is that the people of Europe are not so united, and each European country has its own agenda in the fields of politics, economics, military, and science and technology.
"The LHC is open to scientists worldwide, but there are many internal conflicts in Europe. I don't think it's appropriate to use the Hidden One for experiments in Europe," Shen Qi said.
"I agree, that's why I said we should upgrade our own High Energy Physics equipment. It's better to rely on ourselves than on others. I'm always a little uneasy about conducting such an important experiment in a Western country." Dean Cao was, after all, an elder with rich experience in the world. He often traveled to Europe on business, but he always remained vigilant, thinking that there were always troublemakers trying to harm him.
Shen Qi: "I talked to Witten before. If the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States could invest more funding, they could do some more meaningful things. However, I agree with Teacher Cao's point of view. It's better to rely on ourselves than on others. High Energy Physics is different from other research directions. Which foreign country would sincerely provide us with equipment and experimental sites?"
"Let's go, let's take a stroll around the Chinese Academy of Sciences." Dean Cao took Shen Qi's hand and headed towards the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Shen Qi took his laptop and followed Dean Cao to the BEPC area under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
BEPC, or the Capital Electron-Positron Collider, is one of the world's eight major High Energy Physics experimental facilities.
The establishment of BEPC was personally approved by General Zhou Enlai, and was successfully completed under the supervision of Chief of Staff Ping.
It can be said that the older generation of leaders had a far-sighted strategic vision. They believed that we should also have the advanced things that Western countries have, otherwise we would fall behind, and falling behind would make us vulnerable to attack. This is a very simple truth, but it is also the highest truth.
BEPC underwent a major overhaul between 2004 and 2009, upgrading its High Energy Physics facilities.
The upgraded BEPC is called BEPC-II, and it is the most advanced High Energy Physics facility currently in use in China.
Of course, we must also acknowledge that although BEPC-II is one of the world's eight major High Energy Physics facilities, there is still a certain gap between it and the world's number one LHC in Europe.
The LHC's orbit is 26.6 kilometers long, while the combined linear acceleration orbit and circular orbit of BEPC-II are less than 1 kilometer.
"Therefore, we need to upgrade to BEPC-III." Shen Qi and Dean Cao stood in the lobby of the BEPC office building, examining the floor plan of BEPC-II.
Staff members in the BEPC office building brought tea and respectfully handed it to Shen Qi and Dean Cao.
"The BEPC-II orbit needs to be lengthened. From an engineering perspective, this is achievable, but it requires money and time." Dean Cao fell into deep thought. He and Shen Qi, enjoying the air conditioning and fine tea, were having a great time discussing the stars and the sea in the central office.
But as the two men emerged from their feverish fantasies and gradually calmed down, they clearly realized that the upgrade and update of BEPC-II faced many practical problems.
Shen Qi pointed to a section of the plan and said, "The orbit is one aspect, but other components of BEPC also need upgrading. For example, this large superconducting magnet detector was advanced technology ten years ago, but now, even more advanced technologies have emerged. Our center's FASTER Project Team is researching a completely new material and its supporting application technologies, and it's close to success."
"Great job, Director Shen! Congratulations!" Old Cao was both excited and envious. Shen Qi had two elite physics teams under his command: one was Theoretical Physics Research team, and the other was the FASTER Project Team, which focused on applied technology research.
Most of the core members of the FASTER Project Team were transferred from within the Yanjing University Physics Department.
After several years of careful training by Shen Qi, the FASTER Project Team has become increasingly mysterious, and the research results produced by this team have become increasingly advanced.
Of course, Lao Cao envied Shen Qi. The people in the FASTER Project Team were trained by our School of Physics, and they shone brightly at the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center.
But that's alright. Old Cao is a veteran member of the Communist Party, and he knows that whether they are Shen Qi's people or his, Dean Cao's people, everyone is contributing to the country's scientific research and striving to realize the Chinese Dream.
"So... could the latest research results from your FASTER Project Team be applied to BEPC?" Dean Cao was quick-witted, and he put forward this idea.
Shen Qi said, "Theoretically speaking, it's possible. I'll go back and think about it carefully, and calculate the matching degree of various parameters."
At this moment, the Boss of BEPC came to Academicians Shen and Cao.
The supervising department of BEPC is the National Key Laboratory of Capital Electron-Positron Collider of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Boss of this department is Director Hu, who reports directly to Dean Bai.
Director Hu hasn't been elected an academician yet, but it's said he will soon, either this year or next.
Director Hu, who is in the reserve of academicians, has great respect for the incumbent academicians Shen Qi and Dean Cao. Although Shen Qi and Dean Cao do not hold any positions at the Capital Electron-Positron Collider National Key Laboratory, they can come and go as they please; they have this privilege.
"Esteemed academicians, would you like to come to my office for a chat and have some tea?" Director Hu asked.
"I won't have any tea, Old Hu. You go ahead with your work. Academician Shen and I will just stroll around and look at things. We'll leave when we're done." Dean Cao stared at the layout of BEPC, seemingly deep in thought.
"You two don't seem to be just casually browsing..." Director Hu asked suspiciously, "You two have been looking at this layout for quite a while, do you have any new ideas?"
Shen Qi said, "To be honest, Director Hu, Dean Cao and I think it's possible for BEPC-II to be further upgraded. Of course, it's not up to us to decide; it requires your approval, Dean Bai's approval, and the country's approval."