Ignition

The changes at Sandao Kou University naturally did not escape the notice of those paying attention.

"What's going on...? Why have all these roads been closed out of nowhere?"

Several male students walked through Sandao Kou University, frustration written all over their faces.

"Could it be... some big shot has come to campus?"

One of the students looked at the blocked roads and offered a guess.

Another slowly shook his head and said gravely, "Probably not. I just checked the forum, and it looks like every road leading to the Nuclear Physics Laboratory has been closed!"

"What?"

"The Nuclear Physics Laboratory? Are they going to conduct some kind of nuclear test over there?!"

The student nodded solemnly. "I don't know if you've heard, but Sandao Kou University's Nuclear Physics Laboratory has been researching controlled nuclear fusion all along."

"And with that news about ITER a while back... do you think the Nuclear Physics Laboratory might be conducting a controlled nuclear fusion experiment?"

This guess was clearly much more plausible than the previous one.

"Whoa... if that's true, doesn't that mean Xia Country is about to master controlled nuclear fusion?!"

Hearing his classmate's words, the student who had offered the guess rolled his eyes in exasperation. "How could that happen?!"

"This is controlled nuclear fusion we're talking about!"

"I reckon it's just an experiment."

"Last time, my adviser told me controlled nuclear fusion would take at least several more years to fully mature!"

Meanwhile, inside Sandao Kou University's Nuclear Physics Laboratory.

"Everyone, stay sharp!"

"Check the operating condition of every component of the Stellarator. If there are no problems, get ready to power it up and begin the first fusion test!"

At Lü Yongchang's command, the researchers in the laboratory went to their stations and began their checks.

"Cooling system normal!"

"Laser generator normal!"

"Superconducting coils in good condition!"

"..."

As the reports came in one after another, Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu grew increasingly serious.

Once the final check was complete, a glimmer of excitement flashed through Lü Yongchang's eyes. He gave the order firmly. "Power it up!"

A researcher beside him pulled the power switch. A low hum slowly rose as an immensely powerful current surged through the superconducting coils surrounding the Stellarator!

"Magnetic field strength?"

Lü Yongchang called out.

The researcher monitoring the magnetic field strength responded loudly, "Current magnetic field strength: 50 T!"

Lü Yongchang gave a slight nod.

A magnetic field strength of 50 T was more than enough!

After all, this was only a test, not the actual start of controlled nuclear fusion!

"Then... the first controlled nuclear fusion ignition experiment begins now!"

As he spoke, Lü Yongchang reached out and pressed several keys on the computer in front of him!

A small amount of deuterium-tritium gas mixture was injected into the reactor.

The next moment, the heating system started up.

Under the heating system's operation, the deuterium-tritium gas mixture would be heated to an extremely high temperature until it fully turned into plasma!

The deuterium-tritium plasma would then be tightly confined to its path by the powerful magnetic field inside the Stellarator!

Countless parameters flashed across the computer screen before him. Colorful curves and numbers danced before Lü Yongchang's eyes, coming together into a breathtaking picture!

"All right! Prepare for ignition!"

Lü Yongchang commanded in a deep voice.

Beside him, Fang Xu swallowed and pressed a button on the control console in front of him.

The next moment, an extremely intense laser beam struck the deuterium-tritium plasma head-on!

Boom!

The temperature sensor's graph instantly traced an elegant curve, climbing at a nearly ninety-degree angle!

In just a few seconds, the temperature of the deuterium-tritium plasma reached over a hundred million degrees Celsius!

The fire of fusion had been lit!

Nuclear fusion had begun!

At the extremely high temperature, a deuterium atom reacted with a tritium atom, producing a helium atom and a neutron!

During this process, an enormous amount of energy was released!

"Temperature has reached the critical point!"

"Large numbers of neutrons detected!"

A researcher shouted excitedly, his words coming fast!

Everyone present stirred at the report.

As professionals, they all understood what those words implied.

A nuclear fusion reaction had already taken place inside the chamber of the Stellarator before them!

Looking at the remarkably stable readings on the computer screen, Fang Xu's eyes filled with excitement.

"W-we... succeeded!"

Perhaps because he was so excited, Fang Xu's face flushed red, and his lips trembled slightly.

By comparison, Lü Yongchang's reaction was much more subdued.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

After all, it was only an ignition experiment!

Since this was only an ignition experiment, there was not much deuterium-tritium gas.

After a few minutes, the fusion fuel was exhausted, and the fusion reaction inside the reactor gradually stopped.

Lü Yongchang's gaze sharpened, and he immediately shouted, "Quick! Check the Stellarator's condition!"

"Now isn't the time to celebrate!"

Several researchers lowered their heads to look at the computer screens before them.

"Cooling system in good condition. The Stellarator's external temperature is currently stable!"

The first report came from farther away.

Lü Yongchang asked gravely, "What's the external temperature now?"

"...25 degrees Celsius!"

Lü Yongchang nodded in satisfaction.

It seemed the cooling equipment was working well.

The next second, he turned and called out to the researchers on the other side.

"What's the reactor's condition?!"

"...The reactor is in good condition. No radiation damage detected!"

Only then did a broad smile appear on Lü Yongchang's face.

The first stage of controlled nuclear fusion had been a complete success.

The next thing to consider was the control system for controlled nuclear fusion.

And the choice of power-generation equipment.

Should they carry on humanity's glorious tradition-boiling water-or use some other, more advanced approach?

These questions circled through Lü Yongchang's mind.

Smack!

A hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

Lü Yongchang flinched slightly, jolted out of his thoughts.

Turning his head, he saw Fang Xu looking at him with a broad smile.

"Come on, ignition was a success. What are you still thinking about?"

"Let's go, let's go! Tonight's on me!"

"I'll take you out for a proper meal to celebrate!"

That night.

A news item quietly appeared on Sandao Kou University's official website.

"Warm congratulations to the Sandao Kou Nuclear Physics Laboratory on successfully running a controlled nuclear fusion experiment!"

At the same time, Weibo's trending searches quietly changed as well.

"Xia Country's first controlled nuclear fusion experiment achieves complete success!"

In an instant, countless netizens browsing for late-night gossip flooded the comments.

"Holy shit?!"

"Is this real? They succeeded already?"

"I remember Xia Country just withdrew from ITER, didn't it? Could that rumor be true? Did Xia Country really steal the relevant data?"

"Oh, give it a rest! Wouldn't that be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? I don't believe Xia Country would do anything that stupid!"

"Let's not talk about that nasty stuff. I believe that even without ITER, we can develop a controlled nuclear fusion device of our own!"

"..."