Chapter 1388 Fierce Competition

A month later.

Provence, France.

Karadasha Nuclear Fusion Research Center.

Several business cars with Chinese flags on their front windows drove in one after another and slowly stopped in the reception area marked out by white plaster lines.

As the team leader, Peng Juexian got off the car first. While feeling the salty steam blowing from the Mediterranean Sea, he squinted his eyes and looked at the slightly old six-story building in the distance.

The dark grey concrete exterior was covered with ivy, and the faded metal sign on the roof of the main control building flashed a dazzling silver light in the sun.

Behind him, a dozen other people of different ages also got off the bus one after another, waiting for the next instructions.

The ITER conference is of a very high standard, so most of those selected to attend are researchers with certain experience in foreign exchanges. A considerable number of them have even participated in the marathon negotiations with Peng Juexian in 2003. It can be said that they are battle-hardened and have seen a lot.

However, in order to allow the old to guide the new, several young people were added to the team.

Although we don't expect them to play any specific role, at least they can broaden our horizons.

Usually, a PhD's research is limited to a very small area in a certain field.

However, many students with good academic performance, because they focus on a specific subject for a long time, their overall vision is limited, which is not conducive to their long-term growth and development.

"This... is the temple of fusion research in the world?"

Huang Zhitao pushed his black full-frame glasses, and the wheels of his suitcase made a few complaints on the cobblestone road:

"Why does it feel like the scale is not as good as the EAST facility on Luzhou Science Island, and it's also... a bit quaint?"

As a nominal disciple of Peng Juexian, he has also participated in some peripheral work related to the "Eastern Super Ring" and has some experience.

This time I was very enthusiastic and ready to see how magnificent the famous ITER is.

result……

I don't feel the grandeur at all.

I only saw the weight of history.

"Of course not."

The deputy head of the group, Fang Jianming, replied helplessly:

"Didn't I just say before we set off that ITER has only reached a preliminary agreement so far? The fusion reactor itself hasn't even started construction yet..."

Then he pointed to the reflective metal sign:

"This is the ToreSUPRA facility built in France in the 80s. It has been in operation for years. It is definitely not as large as the Eastern Super Ring."

Huang Zhitao took a deep breath and showed a somewhat tense expression:

"I thought……"

Because he was the only newbie in the entire team, the delegation issued a special informal document before the departure.

Of course, the status of ITER was also mentioned in it, but he subconsciously brought in the engineering efficiency of China, thinking that "not yet started" meant that the main body of the facility had not yet been installed, but at least the project should have started to move forward.

As it turns out, it seems that even the foundation has not been dug...

Huang Zhitao instantly began to have some doubts about the seriousness of ITER.

But considering the occasion, he finally held back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

However, Fang Jianming still noticed the other party's emotions:

"Don't underestimate ToreSUPRA. Europeans have made rapid progress in fusion research. When the Soviet Union first proposed the concept of tokamak in 1954, the concrete here was still mixed with shrapnel left by the Germans during World War II. But thirty years later, it was the French who first achieved high-parameter quasi-steady-state operation of the tokamak device..."

Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Huang Zhitao's eyes became serious again.

Fang Jianming was also very optimistic about this capable young man, and took this opportunity to continue introducing him:

"ToreSUPRA is the world's first large-scale tokamak that integrates all the technologies needed to produce long pulse plasma, so many preliminary studies of ITER will be carried out on it... or to some extent, the entire ITER project is based on it."

The moment the glass door of the institute slid open to both sides, Peng Juexian had already put on a standard French smile.

Professor Sergio Orlandi, the project manager, came out to greet us warmly, his silver-gray eyebrows almost disappearing into his equally gray hair:

"It's unbelievable that the team got you here 20 minutes early... I really hope they can always be this efficient."

At the turn of the century, Orlandi and Peng Juexian worked together for a period of time at the International Atomic Energy Agency and had several good cooperations, so they had a good personal relationship.

"Because the driver was specially hired from our consulate..."

After shaking hands, Peng Juexian lowered his voice and said in a half-joking tone:

"After all, the concept of time in Marseille is more difficult to control than that of plasma. It is really hard to trust them."

Orlandi suddenly burst into laughter:

"Looks like I need to ask you for your contact information..."

He was born in old Paris, and hearing people make jokes about Marseille felt almost the same as hearing people criticize Britain.

Huang Zhitao was surprised when he saw this scene.

He knew that Peng Juexian had long been involved in the negotiations for China to join the ITER project, but he still didn't expect that his mentor would be so familiar with the French supervisor.

"When selecting the site for ITER, we firmly supported the Karadashe plan, and Academician Peng happened to be in the negotiation delegation at that time..."

Fang Jianming explained in a low voice in Chinese:

"Of course, the key point is not to support France, but we cannot accept that ITER is located in Japan..."

Huang Zhitao nodded in agreement.

……

According to the itinerary, the arrival day and the next day were both rest days, and there was no serious agenda.

But anyone who has attended an international conference knows that this period of time is not really a time for you to rest.

Instead, it is used to carry out various blending in advance.

Therefore, after some pleasantries, Peng Juexian no longer concealed his purpose:

"Let me get this straight, Sergio. Can we confirm that the time window for our tritium breeder module testing will be in the third or fourth quarter of next year?"

Such a straightforward way of talking made Huang Zhitao's heart skip a beat.

He noticed that Orlandi's Adam's apple slid twice under the loose skin:

"I personally, as well as the French Atomic Energy Commission, are willing to support your request..."

Despite the positive response, no one in the Chinese delegation felt relieved.

Because of this tone, there is usually a turning point afterwards.

Sure enough, after a brief pause, Orlandi changed the subject:

"But the JT-60U in Kanto has just started its expansion project... As you know, although Japan has restrictions on specific areas of nuclear research, the JT60 has provided ITEA with a lot of useful research foundations after all. So JAEA believes that their cryostat should be tested first, and they submitted an application as early as the beginning of last month."

Peng Juexian frowned slightly:

"We certainly fully understand that the ITER Management Committee needs to balance the demands of all parties... But please don't forget that 37% of the divertor material samples you received last year were marked with the Luzhou Institute of Physical Science logo."

"Moreover, the process of converting JT60U to JT60SA will take at least several years. Your ToreSUPRA and the US TFTR will soon enter the maintenance and upgrade phase, and the Russian T15MR is even further away... In other words, in a certain time window in the future, perhaps only our Vostok Super Ring can provide data support for ITER..."

Orlandi's eyes changed, but he still shook his head:

"It's not up to me, or even the French Atomic Energy Commission, to decide..."

"When selecting the site for ITER, although Japan eventually withdrew from the competition, it also attached certain conditions. With the support of the United States behind it, it is difficult for me to guarantee you more... unless you can come up with new bargaining chips to convince the other wavering countries."

"..."

Obviously, the first day's meeting did not produce any results.

And judging from the current trend, it may be difficult to achieve the goal by canvassing votes alone.

After a routine visit, the delegation got on the bus and returned to their hotel.

Peng Juexian did not show any disappointment. He just asked Huang Zhitao beside him after the car left the research center:

"Zhi Tao, do you have any thoughts?"

"Today's visit was just a brief one. We didn't touch any valuable parts of the interior, so I only have some preliminary thoughts..."

"It doesn't matter, just say whatever you want to say."

Huang Zhitao hesitated for a moment:

"I just feel that this kind of multinational cooperation with ulterior motives... is unlikely to go smoothly to the end."

It can be said that the short one hour or so just now completely shattered his lofty view of ITER.

Unexpectedly, Peng Juexian nodded directly:

"you're right."

"what?"

Huang Zhitao never expected to get this kind of answer.

"In fact, everyone knows the answer, so neither we, nor the Americans, nor even the Europeans themselves, really think that ITER can be put into operation smoothly."

Peng Juexian replied calmly:

"The essence of this kind of cooperation is that everyone uses ITER as a platform to exchange their own achievements and resources, just like international trade... As for engineering and even commercial fusion facilities, they will ultimately be implemented in each country's own projects."

"Then let's..."

Huang Zhitao only felt that his worldview seemed to be reshaped.

Peng Juexian smiled:

"Fusion research involves too many areas. Which of them are secretive and can be used as bargaining chips? What is the price to avoid loss, or what is the acceptable level of loss? These are the issues that we really need to judge."