Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

It's been simulated?

Cold fusion has actually been simulated!?

Chen Yuan was somewhat dazed, unsure whether it was because he hadn't slept well the night before or because it was too unbelievable, making it feel like he was dreaming.

He had just entered the quantum realm and learned that quantum computing, through the design of the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) and some advanced nuclear fusion technologies, had been "upgraded" step by step through simulation to finally develop the technologies of controlled thermonuclear fusion and cold fusion.

Most importantly, there are not just one, but fourteen types of controlled thermonuclear fusion technology, while there is only one type of cold fusion technology.

In theory, nuclear fusion includes, but is not limited to, the fusion of hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium, as well as other light elements.

Substances such as helium, lithium, beryllium, and oxygen can also undergo fusion under specific conditions.

Generally speaking, for heavier light elements to undergo fusion, higher temperatures and pressures are usually required, which can only occur in the late stages of the evolution of massive stars.

Therefore, theoretically, all elements from hydrogen to iron, roughly twenty-six elements, can undergo nuclear fusion reactions under specific conditions.

Chen Yuan's quantum computing is based on simulating the thermonuclear fusion of fourteen elements using the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) system, and then "upgrading" one of the controlled thermonuclear fusion processes to cold fusion technology.

He didn't care about the other fourteen controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies; his mind was filled with the words "cold fusion."

This is cold fusion, a technology that only exists in science fiction!

Even in the Marvel sci-fi movie "Iron Man", cold nuclear fusion is considered high technology.

Imagine that science fiction movies portray cold fusion as a high-tech technology; you can imagine how incredible this technology is.

Indeed, cold fusion is an incredibly incredible technology.

A hundred years ago, Einstein discovered the mystery of the mass-energy equivalence equation, which led to a huge breakthrough in human understanding of the relationship between mass and energy. We learned that mass and energy are equivalent and interchangeable, and that all matter contains enormous energy. As long as we can release that energy, it will be enough to cause earth-shattering events.

Theoretically, the complete conversion of one kilogram of matter yields approximately 9 * 10^16 joules of energy.

This energy is equivalent to 25 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.

In fact, it is extremely difficult to convert all matter and energy.

The most primitive form of combustion only involves chemical reactions, resulting in a very low mass-energy conversion rate.

For example, the heat energy obtained from burning coal is only one three billionth of the mass-energy conversion rate, while the heat energy obtained from burning crude oil is about one two-two billionth.

Nuclear reactions are the largest mass-energy conversion method that mankind has discovered and been able to utilize to date.

Even so, the maximum mass-energy conversion rate of nuclear fission is only one-thousandth to one-thousandth three-fifths, while the theoretical maximum mass-energy conversion rate of nuclear fusion can reach seven-thousandths.

These are theoretical values.

In reality, the mass-energy conversion rate of nuclear fusion is generally between three and seven per thousand, and may not necessarily reach the theoretical value.

That is, of every kilogram of matter, only seven grams will undergo fusion to obey Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation and be converted into enormous amounts of energy.

Like thermonuclear fusion, cold fusion is a type of nuclear fusion, and its theoretical mass-energy conversion rate is also 0.7%.

Since the theoretical energy conversion rates of the two are the same, why is cold fusion considered "noble" than thermonuclear fusion?

Chen Yuan, who studied applied physics, naturally understood the reason.

A crucial prerequisite for thermonuclear fusion is the requirement of extremely high temperatures, typically between ten million and one billion degrees Celsius, to initiate the fusion reaction.

Therefore, building a thermonuclear fusion reactor is extremely expensive.

Cold fusion is different; it is a technology that can cause matter to undergo fusion at room temperature, without requiring very high temperatures.

From this perspective, the cost of building a cold fusion reactor is far lower than that of a thermonuclear fusion reactor.

For example, building a large thermonuclear fusion reactor might cost one or two hundred billion Chinese yuan, while building a large cold fusion reactor could cost several times less, perhaps only one or two hundred billion yuan.

To gain the same amount of energy at a fraction of the cost, anyone can tell how valuable that is, right?

That's right, the value of cold fusion technology is that high!

Chen Yuan believes that with his mastery of cold fusion technology, he will definitely be able to change the world.

Upon realizing this, his previously dreamy expression instantly turned serious.

If I were to actually apply cold fusion technology to real life, it would certainly change the world. However, this would affect the interests of many people, and my personal safety might be severely threatened.

To give a simple example, the most consumed type of energy in the world is currently oil.

It is indispensable in both industry and daily life.

Once cold fusion, an ultra-cheap energy source, emerges, it will undoubtedly replace oil in a very short time.

When the interests of those oil tycoons are threatened, will they think about getting rid of Chen Yuan?

The answer is yes!

If your research results infringe upon the interests of others, you either have to hand over the results and share them, or you will be eliminated. There is almost no third possibility.

Chen Yuan knew that his life ahead might face enormous challenges, but...

So what?

Since he set his sights on becoming the world's greatest engineer and inventor, his greatest wish has been to change the world with technology.

To achieve his dream, he would not flinch even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead!

One minute.

three minutes.

Suddenly, knock knock, there was a knock on the car window.

Chen Yuan suddenly woke up with a start and looked in the direction of the sound. It turned out to be A Yu.

He quickly calmed himself down, rolled down the car window, and greeted, "Good morning, Ayu."

Ah Yu bent slightly, revealing a beautiful smile, and asked, "What are you thinking about so intently?"

"Let's talk on the bus."

Chen Yuan pointed to the passenger seat.

"OK."

Ah Yu responded and went around to the other side to get on the bus.

Chen Yuan glanced at A Yu, who was fastening her seatbelt, and began the conversation with a complicated expression, saying, "Have you heard the story of the He Shi Bi jade?"

Ah Yu looked up and nodded, saying, "I've heard of it. There are many stories about the He Shi Bi jade. Which one are you referring to?"

"The one about Lin Xiangru and the King of Qin," Chen Yuan asked again, seeking accuracy, "and what about the boy carrying gold through the bustling marketplace?"

Ah Yu said, "I've heard of it too. It's about a young child carrying a large sum of money who is walking alone in a bustling night market. He is easily robbed. This story is a warning against the saying 'possessing a treasure is a crime.'"

Yes, whether it's the He Shi Bi jade or the child carrying gold through the bustling market, they all illustrate the same point.

When you lack the ability to protect a treasure, it often attracts the covetousness of others, and may even be stolen.

Chen Yuan used quantum computing to "upgrade" cold fusion technology. Isn't this a "precious gem"?

His current status and possession of such a precious treasure are quite similar to the story of "a child carrying gold through a bustling market".

He was very clear about one thing: whether it was cold fusion or controlled thermonuclear fusion, it was a true "gem" to the outside world.

Chen Yuan asked himself if he really had the ability to protect these "precious gems".

As he started the car, he frowned and asked, "If... I mean, if I had some very precious treasures, but I didn't have the ability to protect them, what do you think I should do?"

Ayu didn't answer immediately, but thought about it carefully for a while before asking in return, "Do other people know about these precious treasures of yours?"

Chen Yuan shook his head. "Nobody knows."

Ah Yu said, "That's simple. You just need to hide the treasure well so that no one can find it."

This is the best course of action; as long as no one knows, it will never attract the covetousness of others.

But whether it's cold fusion or controlled thermonuclear fusion, both are technologies that benefit all mankind. How can I be willing to keep them hidden and not share them?

Chen Yuan asked again, "What if I have no choice but to reveal this treasure to others?"

Ayu asked, "So, do you want to protect this treasure, or use it to exchange for something of equal value, or are you simply trying to protect yourself?"

Chen Yuan did not answer the question directly, but said, "You can analyze both scenarios."

"Let's first talk about what I think we should do, assuming you want to protect this treasure."

Ayu offered her advice: "Personally, I think that in the first scenario, you must be like Lin Xiangru, firmly holding onto the He Shi Bi jade before negotiating with others. You must let everyone know that trying to seize the He Shi Bi jade by trickery will only result in it being smashed. Then, others who want this treasure will be hesitant to harm you. History has already proven this. Lin Xiangru retrieved the He Shi Bi jade on the grounds that it had flaws and secretly sent someone to return it to the State of Zhao. Although the King of Qin was furious, he ultimately released Lin Xiangru back to Zhao due to considerations of international repercussions and other reasons, and did not engage in a full-scale war with the State of Zhao. As for the State of Zhao being destroyed by the State of Qin in the end, that was simply the inevitable trend of the times, not because of the He Shi Bi jade."

Chen Yuan roughly understood that what A Yu meant was that she wanted everyone to know that neither cold fusion nor controlled thermonuclear fusion could be achieved without her. Without her, neither of these technologies could be realized.

In this way, even if others want these two technologies, they won't dare to do anything to me.

That is, one can let others know that one possesses cold fusion and controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies, but cannot directly hand over the technologies.

Before the results are presented, these technologies must be firmly in our own hands.

Chen Yuan had a rough idea of ​​what was going on. "What if, in the second scenario, I only want to protect myself?"

After a moment's thought, Ayu asked, "Have you heard the story of 'Zihan refusing the jade'?"

Chen Yuan turned the steering wheel and said, "I heard."

Ah Yu hummed in agreement and said, "In this story, a farmer found a precious jade, and when people found out about it, he decided to offer it to Zi Han, the Minister of Justice of the State of Song, who was known for his integrity. He hoped to gain protection in return. Although Zi Han did not accept the jade, he still helped the farmer find someone to carve it into a beautiful piece of jade, then sold it in the market, returned all the money to the farmer, and sent someone to escort him home."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "If you truly possess a precious jade that you cannot protect yourself, I think you could learn from the farmer in the story and give it to someone capable of protecting the jade and ensuring your safety. If that person is of high moral character, they will naturally act like Zihan. Even if they are not as virtuous as Zihan, they will still reward you for your kindness and take special care of you in the future. As for you, without the treasure, you will naturally not attract covetousness. Even if you discover the treasure again in the future, because you have someone to protect you, most people will not dare to have any wicked thoughts. Wouldn't that ensure your personal safety?"

Yes.

Just because you can't protect yourself doesn't mean others can't.

Chen Yuan's thoughts gradually became clearer.

My own strength is weak, but what if it's the big shot behind Zhang Shulin who's willing to let me see the design drawings of the Oriental Superconducting Tokamak?

Or... donate the technology to the country, then who would dare to covet it?

He had every reason to believe that once the technology was donated, he would receive generous rewards and follow-up care.

This is a process that must be taken when one lacks power, using technology to gain reliable protection from powerful forces.

Secondly, Chen Yuan doesn't have any money right now. Even if he has cold fusion and controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies, what good will it do?

To put it simply, even building a small thermonuclear fusion reactor would require a considerable amount of money.

The UK's MAST-U upgrade project cost a whopping £55 million.

The cold fusion and controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies that Chen Yuan has mastered cannot be achieved by small reactors; they require a massive reactor, and the money needed cannot be solved by a few hundred million.

He estimates that even the cheapest cold fusion reactor will cost at least 10 billion.

In theory, if cold fusion can be developed, the cost of building a reactor would be far lower than that of thermonuclear fusion.

Even cold fusion reactors, which cost much less, require at least tens of billions of dollars. So how much more expensive are large controlled thermonuclear fusion reactors?

China's "Spark" project is not a large-scale thermonuclear fusion project, but a nuclear fusion-fission hybrid reactor project, with an investment of 20 billion yuan in the first phase.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, the world's largest nuclear fusion project, has already far exceeded its initial budget.

According to reports from 2024, the total cost of the project soared to 25 billion euros, which is less than 200 billion yuan.

That's not all; the project also faces the risk of further delays and cost overruns.

These are thermonuclear fusion reactors, not controlled thermonuclear fusion reactors!

Chen Yuan estimated that if he wanted to build a large-scale controlled thermonuclear fusion reactor, he would have to spend at least 50 billion yuan, and that would be after careful budgeting.

If the budget were loosened, hundreds of billions wouldn't be too much to spend.

Can I really get that much money by myself?

Chen Yuan believed that if given enough time, it wouldn't be too difficult to make hundreds of billions using the quantum spiritual realm, but how much time would that take?

Putting aside other things, applying for a patent can take anywhere from several months to several years.

A controlled thermonuclear fusion experiment involves more than just one or two patents.

Take my country's artificial sun project as an example. Its core EAST device has two hundred independent technology patents!

Therefore, Chen Yuan certainly wouldn't waste that much time.

To achieve controlled nuclear fusion, he needs to find a partner, and the best partner is obviously a country.

Once I can cooperate with the country and build a controlled nuclear fusion reactor, my personal safety will be guaranteed, and I will gain fame all at once.

When the time comes, I can start my own business again, just pick any project and announce it to the public, and I won't have to worry about not finding investors.

In addition, and most importantly.

Chen Yuan is a Chinese, and he sincerely hopes that his motherland can become prosperous and strong.

He believes that once the motherland possesses controlled nuclear fusion technology, not only will its technological progress take a giant leap forward, but it will also be able to develop its economy better with the energy from controlled nuclear fusion.

After some thought, Chen Yuan roughly knew what to do.

That's right, we should find a way to hand over this technology to the country.

However, whether or not you submit it, you must adhere to the first principle.

That means that the technology must be in our own hands before the project yields results.

This is the best way to ensure your own safety.

After clearing his mind, Chen Yuan's gloomy heart suddenly brightened.

He flashed a bright smile. "Ayu, it's so great to have you here to help me analyze things. Since we still have some time, I'll take you to a really good breakfast shop so we can have breakfast together, and then I'll take you to the station."

Ah Yu said, "Hmm, if you say it's delicious, it must be really delicious."

This kind of unconditional trust is truly delightful.

Chen Yuan's mood improved significantly.

At the same time, he is already considering how to carry out the two major scientific research projects of building a controlled nuclear fusion reactor and achieving cold nuclear fusion while ensuring his own safety.