190: Chapter 190 Hypersonic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project!

In the early morning, the morning mist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' archives building had yet to dissipate.

Zhou Fan had been sitting at the reading table for three full days. At this moment, his face looked a bit haggard, but his eyes were shining.

His fingertips hovered over the yellowed pages. Data streams seemed to flash through his pupils as his "Special Ability" operated at high speed, constantly categorizing and organizing the information in his mind. For three days, he had been reviewing data and literature day and night, recording information like an automatic scanner.

In his mind, fragments of scientific research data scattered over the past fifty years gradually wove into a relatively complete logical chain.

"A high-pressure environment can force oxygen atoms to break through lattice barriers, while gradient doping can avoid stress concentration..."

He grabbed a pencil and wrote rapidly on the scratch paper, the tip of the pen making a rustling sound on the paper.

"Then use graphene to coat and fix the structure..."

Formulas and characters appeared one after another under his pen. The entire derivation flowed like water, until finally, after flipping several pages, it came to a sudden halt.

"Nickel-based oxides + new electron pairing mechanism + element doping = possibility of normal-pressure superconductivity in new composite materials?"

A formula landed in the corner of the page, but Zhou Fan's gaze held hesitation.

He still couldn't finalize the determination of the ultimate possibility.

It was still not enough...

However, he at least had a direction now.

Next, as long as he continued to push in this direction, the probability would increase significantly!

Thinking of this, Zhou Fan felt his fingertips tingling slightly.

"Experimental verification and intelligent simulation pairing are still needed..." He rubbed his aching temples as a brand-new process gradually emerged in his mind.

Traditional sintering processes couldn't precisely control the doping depth of oxygen atoms; he needed to design a new gradient sintering process.

First, let the base material form a porous structure in a low-pressure environment, then increase the oxygen pressure in stages, and finally coat it with the new composite material vapor. The temperature error at each stage must be controlled within ±0.5℃.

"Material experiments, process experiments... initial verification plan... it will take at least three months!"

Zhou Fan wrote down the timeline in his notebook, his gaze pausing for a moment on the formula he had just written.

The complexity of this process might be too much for the laboratory's existing equipment. After returning, he would probably have to find a way to get some more advanced equipment.

Or... build it himself?

As soon as this thought appeared, Zhou Fan's heart skipped a beat.

His experimental progress had actually already surpassed the industrial level of this era.

Therefore, even the most advanced cutting-edge experimental equipment from abroad might not necessarily meet his needs, not to mention the import control bans.

The only way he could think of now was to build the equipment himself.

But this faced even more complex basic industrial upgrades, as well as the long-term design and manufacturing of high-precision equipment.

It's hard!!

Zhou Fan sighed softly.

Just then, familiar footsteps came from the corridor.

Soon, Academician Yu Fei appeared at the door holding a thermos. Seeing the scene of books and data piled up all over the room, he couldn't help but smile.

"Are you trying to tear down the archives building?"

When Zhou Fan looked up, his eyes were bloodshot, but he gave a habitual faint smile. "I've caused trouble for Old Yu!"

"Why say such things? But time is up; it's time for you to leave!" Academician Yu Fei looked at Zhou Fan's slightly haggard appearance, with dark circles as heavy as a panda's, and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

He didn't doubt at all that if he had applied for a few more days, Zhou Fan might very well have dropped dead here from exhaustion.

He had also come to visit these past few days, and each time he saw Zhou Fan constantly flipping through various materials and books.

The archivist here also said that they had never seen Zhou Fan rest.

These three days and nights were likely spent pushing through sheer willpower!

Thinking of this, Academician Yu Fei couldn't help but feel even more emotional, with a hint of heartache.

"Is there any progress?" Although he didn't hold much hope, Academician Yu Fei couldn't help but ask.

After all, Zhou Fan had been like a man possessed here for three days; there had to be some result.

"It's alright. I should have determined a general direction!" Zhou Fan handed the scratch paper covered in derivations to Academician Yu Fei. "The superconducting path of the nickel-based superconducting system at normal pressure might be hidden in gradient oxygen doping."

Academician Yu Fei adjusted his reading glasses, his fingers sliding slowly across the page. His originally relaxed mouth gradually tightened.

When he saw the new gradient sintering plan circled by Zhou Fan, his brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

"I don't understand these things either, but does this mean you've actually found a possibility?" Academician Yu Fei's tone carried a hint of surprise.

"It's not a possibility, but a general direction..." Zhou Fan smiled and shook his head gently.

The difference between the two was far too great. If he could find a possibility, he wouldn't have to search for a needle in a haystack here.

"And, it's just a theoretical derivation." Zhou Fan showed a rare bit of bashfulness. "It still needs a lot of experimental verification!"

"Alright, if you need my help with the experimental process, just say the word!" Academician Yu Fei nodded gently, finding this result acceptable.

If Zhou Fan had directly said he found a possibility, he would have truly thought he was crazy.

A problem that no one had been able to solve for decades being solved by Zhou Fan in three days was clearly unrealistic.

From Zhou Fan's words, he could confirm one thing.

Zhou Fan's thinking was still normal; he wasn't being stubborn or trapped in his own fantasies.

He was already very satisfied with this result!

As for the direction Zhou Fan found, it was merely a possibility.

Currently, there are many similar material systems and directions globally that could potentially achieve Room-Temperature Superconductivity. Whether it will actually work is another matter.

And the direction Zhou Fan found was the same to him.

Only when it actually produces results will it be worth paying attention to!

"One more thing!" Academician Yu Fei suddenly looked at Zhou Fan, his expression turning a bit serious. "I won't stand on ceremony with you. These past three days, you've looked through all the classified materials here, so you're considered one of our own. Therefore, I've applied for a position for you as a visiting Senior Researcher Consultant at the Chinese Academy of Sciences!"

"It wasn't that easy originally, but with your recent work on the lithography machine and new materials, you've caused quite a stir, making the Academy take you very seriously. So, a special approval process was used. Also, although it's a visiting position, the salary won't be lacking at all; it will be paid according to the standards of a Senior Researcher!"

"An annual salary of one million, plus additional project bonuses. In exchange, you provide some technical assistance when the country needs it. What do you think?"

"This..." Hearing Academician Yu Fei's words, Zhou Fan was stunned.

He never expected that he would return to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in such a mysterious way.

Although it was a visiting Senior Researcher Consultant position, it could be considered being officially recruited by the state, right?

Thinking it over, he didn't hesitate much and nodded gently.

"Alright, serving the country is my duty!" Zhou Fan thought for a moment, then added, "It's just that with my current situation, I might not be able to stay here for long periods..."

"I know. When there's nothing going on, you can do whatever you need to. As I just said, you only need to provide technical assistance when the country needs it. Furthermore, any technical breakthroughs achieved during this process, the patent rights will still belong to you!"

Thinking about what had happened over the past six months, Academician Yu Fei couldn't help but feel emotional again.

A talent like Zhou Fan couldn't be locked away.

He had realized this from the beginning, which was why he chose this way to bring Zhou Fan into the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

And this, in his view, was actually the best way!

"Also, I'll likely be quite busy for a while. I've taken on a new project. If something comes up and you can't reach me, you can look for Old Zhao!" Academician Yu Fei specifically reminded him.

"A new project?" Zhou Fan was curious.

"Yeah, it's fine to tell you. It's a Hypersonic UAV Project!"

"A UAV?" Zhou Fan's interest was piqued immediately.

"You understand them?" Academician Yu Fei was somewhat surprised.

"A little. I used to make model airplanes and have some understanding of flight control systems!" Zhou Fan said with a smile.

"Yours is too different from our project!" Academician Yu Fei shook his head with a smile.

Model airplanes? How could a national project research such things?

What he was going to research was a new way of combat for the future battlefield...

"It's about the same!" Zhou Fan smiled without explaining.

"???" Hearing this, Academician Yu Fei's heart stirred.

A genius, a monstrously talented one at that, saying the two technologies were about the same...

Although it felt a bit absurd, one really couldn't guess a genius's thinking with common sense.

Thinking of this, Academician Yu Fei made a mental note.

Perhaps there really would be a place for Zhou Fan's help in the future!