How to solve the basic research problem of "unmanned areas"? San Wen Li Zhengdao Research Institute ①, High Risk, Non Consensus, Disruptive Particles | Research Institute | Basic Research

The spherical hall of Li Zhengdao Research Institute in Zhangjiang, Shanghai is connected to two parallel buildings, more like "Chinese chopsticks picking up the earth". In the spherical hall with a glass curtain wall, under the planning and leadership of Academician Zhang Jie, the director, all researchers collaborated through 33 concentrated discussions to create a 600 meter long "Tianwen" scroll this summer, which surrounds the hall, steps up layer by layer, and spirals upwards.

The long scroll of "Tianwen" in the spherical hall.

The long volume begins with Qu Yuan's "Tianwen", which contains more than 170 questions. It reproduces the 13.8 billion year history of the universe since the Big Bang and human exploration and understanding of the laws of cosmic evolution, expressing Li Suo's vision to explore the limits of nature and expand scientific boundaries.

To answer the ultimate question, one must first explore the origin. So, what about large-scale, high-intensity, and long-term basic research? Conducting a survey on the basic research ecology of the Li Zhengdao Institute, which is currently building a world-class research institution, may tell people how to solve key technical problems from the source and at the bottom, and do a good job in achieving high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement.

Li Zhengdao Research Institute Experimental Building North Building South View

[Topic: No one's land, go ahead and explore it as soon as possible]

In the basic research field of "from 0 to 1", the more "uninhabited areas" there are, the more important it is to venture and try to do so as soon as possible. From telescopes that explore the macroscopic universe to microscopes that measure microscopic particles, there are many Li's "pursuers" in front of the lenses, and this is a challenge they must solve for themselves.

More than a hundred scientists entered and exited between the north and south buildings of Li Institute, among which Li Shu had a connection with Mr. Li Zhengdao. During his high school years, he was admitted to the Youth Class of the University of Science and Technology of China, which was suggested by Li Zhengdao; During his postdoctoral period, he was appointed as the first "Li Zhengdao Scholar" at the Li Zhengdao Institute, working in the Department of Particle and Nuclear Physics.

Li Shu and Liu Kun are also closely related in this research department. These two young PhDs had an intersection at the Marseille Particle Physics Center in France before joining Li Institute, as the Large Hadron Collider at the European Nuclear Center located on the Franco Swiss border is one of the most attractive frontiers and highlands in high-energy physics research in the world.

Li Shu and Liu Kun in the experiment

At present, with the freedom and passion to pursue the truth of the material world, the two of them have returned to their homeland, arrived at a new place, and are on the same level. They have even set their own topics and conducted their own experiments, carrying out a "dim light project". When it comes to dim light, the two of them are as passionate about discussing science fiction works. The mainstream view holds that there are mysterious substances in the universe that are five times more abundant than known matter and have not yet been "seen" by humans through electromagnetic means, hence they are called "dark matter".

So, how is the connection between the dark matter world and the material world? They believe that the material world has photons with quantum properties, and correspondingly, the dark matter world has dark photons named after their symmetry. Dark photons, as messengers, are mediating particles that connect the visible and unseen worlds, and can also be seen as dark matter particles themselves - this is a new physical evidence that the Dark Light Project has been searching for.

Self made experimental platform

Every night, when the lights at the Li Zhengdao Research Institute light up, the experimental boxes in the Li Shu Laboratory inside the building always shine with a dark room like red light. Teachers and students use 3D printers to "start from scratch" to shape their experimental carriers. They said that there is a drive from top to bottom here to make basic research more practical and in-depth, in order to make the superstructure rise on the ground.

"'Tianwen 'is the scientific pursuit of researchers at Li Institute, which is to explore the correlation between the maximum and minimum in the universe, and to pursue the most basic and profound laws of interaction in nature. Academician Zhang Jie said,' The entire institute is using natural extreme environments, artificially created extreme conditions, and extreme detection methods to explore and regulate extreme and novel states of matter. 'By delving into the' unexplored realm ', those who obtain the Tao will gain the world.".

Liu Kun Laboratory.

[Investment: Fundraising from all parties, preliminary trial]

Establishing a new mechanism for "dialogue and communication" with dark matter through invisible and intangible dark photons is actually a high-risk, non consensus, and disruptive project. In the words of Li Shu and Liu Kun, "this is also a blind box."

However, according to the Shanghai Municipal Opinions on Accelerating the High Quality Development of Basic Research, millions of dollars of funding support them to deeply cultivate the forefront of basic research in the long term. The first pot of gold obtained by young scientists for scientific research generally does not exceed 500000 yuan, and some "unconventional" research is difficult to effectively identify and provide timely support. Based on the first pilot of the Basic Research Special Zone Plan, the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission will provide funding of 100 million yuan, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University will provide support of 100 million yuan. The Li Zhengdao Research Institute has also been designated as a "special zone", and Li Shu has become one of the first 10 selected scholars.

The 2 million yuan funded by the Special Zone Plan is also the first "million level" project check that 34 year old Li Shu has received. After being selected, the project leader also applied for the National Natural Science Foundation of China's original exploration program, becoming the first project in the field of physics and astronomy at Jiaotong University to be approved. It also became one of the only six original exploration projects selected by the Mathematical and Physical Science Department of the Foundation last year.

Quantum material samples

It is undeniable that there is a view in society that investing so much money in basic research leads to a "rate of return"? In the office next door to Liu Kun, there is also a young scientist who has returned home with his husband and children. As a "Li Zhengdao scholar" from the Department of Quantum Basic Science Research, Zhong Ruidan "breeds" new quantum materials in laboratory test tubes every day, allowing them to grow in them. "Just like more than 100 years ago, when Bohr was studying the structure of hydrogen atoms, he never thought about developing quantum mechanics." She said, "And without quantum mechanics, the electronic products we use, from computers to phones, may not exist. The seemingly 'useless' basic research is the foundation of future technological development."

In front of the office door of the experimental building

In fact, the Li Zhengdao Institute was established in contrast to the Niels Bohr Institute, which was born in the early 20th century as the Copenhagen School and the CeYuan Quantum Technology Revolution. The century old institute is still evergreen, and last year there were rumors that NATO plans to establish a new quantum technology development center at the Bohr Institute. When the larger scale Li Laboratory Building was opened in Shanghai, Li Zhengdao, who had just celebrated his 95th birthday that year, entrusted his eldest son with a handwritten letter from across the ocean, saying, "Although I cannot attend this historic moment in person, I still feel extremely happy and excited."

Schematic diagram of the detection unit for the "dim light plan"

All parties should raise funds and conduct small trials first, so as not to engage in unprepared battles. From shiny silicon photomultiplier tubes to transparent plastic scintillators, Liu Kun's laboratory is using special materials to manually build particle trajectory detectors for detecting "dark photons". Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News reporter saw that 30 silicon strips, which are only 30 microns wide, form highly sensitive detectors, precise to the size of highly integrated millimeter level chips.

Comparison chart between the expected experimental sensitivity of the "Dark Light Program" and similar international experiments

This is just the embryonic form of the first electronic targeting experiment in China to search for dark photons. Afterwards, they will gradually "amplify" the scale, forming a larger detection model of 3 meters x 3 meters, and then move towards the large scientific device of Zhangjiang Science City, opening up a new track for dark matter detection, which is expected to reveal the unprecedented fifth force in the world - the dark electromagnetic interaction force. Liu Kun plans to achieve 9x10 14th power electron targeting through 3 years of operation and verification, which is expected to be better than similar experiments in international competition.

A "nuclear explosion point" like a "dark photon" is worth preparing for at all times