novelAbuy Chapter 827 The technical approach is flawed; investigate the Manhattan Project.
Chapter 827 The technical approach is flawed; investigate the Manhattan Project.
A black Lincoln sedan drove into Midtown Manhattan, New York, and parked in the employee parking lot behind the Taishan International office building.
Lin Shuiwang said, "President Fang, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you go and rest first? There's a newly opened hotel nearby that's quite nice."
"Book a room. I'm going to the company, not going there right now."
Fang Wen opened the car door and glanced at the building in front of him.
The shipping company building has been renovated, with a new curtain wall on the outside and a large signboard with the Chinese characters '泰山' (Mount Tai) as its logo.
He and Lin Shuiwang went upstairs, and then convened a meeting with key employees of Taishan International.
These individuals were tasked with investigating the current state of the centrifugal accelerator market in the United States.
These individuals immediately launched an investigation, for in the money-driven United States, there's nothing money can't buy.
They quickly gathered information about the centrifugal accelerator.
The next day, in the conference room of Taishan International Company, Fang Wen listened to the investigation reports from these people.
They jointly appointed the marketing manager to submit a summary report to Fang Wen.
Marketing Manager Jax spoke up:
"This kind of equipment is still an emerging technology. It is only being researched in universities."
The first team to study centrifuge technology was Jesse Beems' team at the University of Virginia, who used high-speed centrifuges to separate chlorine isotopes two years ago.
This year, Jesse Beems' team suddenly left their original laboratory and their current whereabouts are unknown.
Another piece of news related to centrifuges is Harold Euri of Columbia University, who earlier this year spearheaded the design of a short-sized experimental centrifuge and signed a contract with Westinghouse Electric to manufacture a prototype, with the goal of developing an industrially viable model.
After listening to the staff's investigation report, Fang Wen fell into deep thought.
The disappearance of Jesse Beems' team is most likely due to their involvement in the Manhattan Project.
It is estimated that they are asked to study how to separate uranium isotopes (uranium hexafluoride medium) using centrifuges to verify the feasibility of separating uranium-235 by centrifugation.
He asked, "You mean, there aren't any mass-produced centrifuges on the market right now?"
“No,” Jax replied firmly.
Clearly, the technical approach provided by Jiang Wenjin had problems with the necessary equipment.
There's no readily available equipment in the US, so there's no question of purchasing it.
Didn't the Manhattan Project in the United States use centrifuges for gas purification?!
Fang Wen realized he had made some mistakes and needed to figure out if it was possible to achieve this using centrifuge equipment.
He instructed, "Go to the company's finance department to withdraw some money, and find the relevant personnel from Westinghouse Electric to come over; I want to ask them some questions."
Immediately afterward, Jax left with his men and went directly to the finance department to withdraw a cash check for the maximum amount of $500. No matter how he used the money, the ultimate goal was to bring the person back with him.
$500 is still very attractive to middle-class Americans.
That afternoon, Jax brought the man.
The visitor entered the general manager's office of Taishan International and met Lin Rui.
He took off his hat as a sign of respect and introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Nathan from Westinghouse Electric. I'm in charge of the centrifuge project. But this is just a concept for a laboratory device, and it's not finalized yet."
Fang Wen nodded, gesturing for him to sit down, and then asked, "Are there any technical problems with this kind of equipment?"
Nathan from Westinghouse Electric replied, "Mr. Fang, currently, gas centrifuge equipment is still only in the early stages of laboratory development globally, and it has no practical value for industrial application. First, there's the issue of materials. The rotor of a centrifuge needs to withstand high-speed rotation of tens of thousands of revolutions per minute, requiring ultra-high-strength special alloys. However, such materials are simply not available on the market. Ordinary steel will crack due to centrifugal stress as soon as it's started. Second, there's the issue of machining precision. The concentricity and dynamic balance of the rotor need to reach the micrometer level. Existing machine tools and processing technology cannot even achieve one-tenth of that precision. Equipment manufactured in this way will only vibrate violently when rotating and cannot operate stably at all."
He paused, then added, "There's also the vacuum system and bearings. High-speed rotating rotors require a high-vacuum environment and wear-free suspension bearings. These technologies haven't been mastered yet. Even if we manage to build a prototype, it won't last long before it's scrapped."
After listening to him, Fang Wen thought about how to ask questions.
It is absolutely forbidden to say things like "using centrifuges to purify uranium".
However, the same equipment can also be used to purify other elements.
Therefore, he asked:
"What if we insist on doing it? Can we achieve high-purity radium purification by lowering the equipment requirements?"
"You want to produce radium on a large scale?" Nathan thought for a moment and replied, "I've roughly estimated that if we forcibly lower the standards, we can only make up for the lack of single-machine separation efficiency by increasing the quantity. To purify radium by centrifugation, we need at least 100,000 centrifuges cascaded together, and each one has a high failure rate. The subsequent maintenance, energy consumption, and consumables are astronomical figures."
He paused for a moment, then warned, "Mr. Fang, such a large scale would consume a tremendous amount of resources. Even if it were successfully produced, the cost would be extremely high, and it would have no commercial value whatsoever."
The office fell silent instantly.
Fang Wen leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowed tightly.
Taishan International has been able to stably produce yellowcake and has completed the primary purification of nuclear materials, but it has run into a bottleneck in the most critical enrichment stage.
Is this path truly a dead end?
He recalled his original intention for coming to the United States this time. He had taken great risks and used Taishan's overseas resources in order to find a way to break through the bottleneck.
He was unwilling to give up so easily, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: the Manhattan Project that the United States was secretly carrying out.
This project brought together the nation's top talent with the goal of developing nuclear weapons. Even though the United States itself was unsure of its success, it was rapidly progressing thanks to its strong national power and a large number of top scientific and technological talents who had fled from Europe.
Did they not use centrifugation technology to purify the atomic bombs they created?
It is also possible.
It now appears that centrifugation technology is also imperfect, with energy consumption comparable to that of Japan's meteorological law.
Is there a third technological route that would allow the United States to become the first country to develop and use the atomic bomb in war?
It seems that the Manhattan Project is the key to breaking the deadlock.
Fang Wen then saw Nathan out.
After Nathan left, Fang Wen picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number.
The voice on the phone said, "Hello, this is Sweet Cake Factory. Do you need a custom-baked cake?"
This wasn't a real cake factory, but rather a secret contact number for FBI informants.
He played a significant role in cracking down on bootlegging. Later, when Indiana took over, he established his own network of informants, which also became Fang Wen's way of contacting Indiana.
Fang Wen replied, "Please tell your boss that I have a batch of very good Paradise Cream."
Upon hearing Fang Wen's words, the operator immediately switched the line.
At this moment, at FBI headquarters, Indiana was sitting in his spacious and bright office, holding a promotion report in his hand, a smug smile on his lips.
Since successfully establishing a relationship with the military-industrial complex by operating a military procurement project in French Indochina, his position has finally been promoted. He is now the head of the FBI's New York office and is riding high.
The phone on his desk suddenly rang, and he picked it up.
The operator on the other end of the line said, "Paradise Cream wants to see you. Would you like to transfer me?"
Upon hearing the name "Heavenly Cream," Indiana's smile vanished instantly; it was the coded message he had left for Fang Wen.
His current status is inseparable from Fang Wen's help, and he may go even further in the future.
He immediately asked the operator to transfer him.
After the call connected, Indiana did not identify the two men on the phone, but vaguely said, "How is the quality of the cream? I need to check it out. I'll come to your place now."
After hanging up the phone, Indiana got up, grabbed his coat, and hurriedly left the office without even putting away the promotion report on the table.
Fang Wen also hung up the phone.
The meeting place he and Indiana agreed to meet was their usual spot, a roadside restaurant on Long Island, where they had met once before last year.
Immediately, he got up, took Lin Shuiwang's car keys, and drove off alone.
After driving across the Long Island Bridge, we arrived at the roadside drive-in restaurant. Located in the suburbs of Long Island, the restaurant was simply decorated and frequented mostly by truck drivers and locals, making it the least noticeable place.
After parking the car, Fang Wen pushed open the door and entered. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat. He found a corner by the window and sat down.
A middle-aged waitress came over and asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Fang Wen replied, "A black pepper pan-fried T-bone steak, medium-rare, with a baked potato and an iced coffee."
"Wait a moment." The woman turned and left.
Fang Wen's gaze fell on the parking lot outside the window, and Nathan's words kept replaying in his mind: 100,000 centrifuges cascaded together, an astronomical amount of consumption, with absolutely no commercial value.
If the Manhattan Project was indeed advancing nuclear weapons development, it must have found a way to solve the enrichment and purification process. Could there be a third technological route?
As he was deep in thought, a car pulled into the restaurant's parking lot, and Indiana, wearing a dark trench coat, got out and rushed into the restaurant.
Upon entering, Indiana immediately spotted Fang Wen in the corner, quickly walked over, and sat down opposite him.
Before the middle-aged waitress could speak, she said, "One of the same as him, please."
After the waiter left, Indiana whispered, "Mr. Fang, why are you in such a hurry to see me? Is something wrong?"
Fang Wen's gaze swept over the few customers in the restaurant: "I want to know about the Manhattan Project."
"Manhattan?" Indiana looked blank. "Mr. Fang, which Manhattan are you referring to? Is it the Manhattan district where we are now? Or is there some project codenamed Manhattan?"
He had worked at the FBI's New York field office for many years and handled numerous cases, but he had never heard of the "Manhattan Project."
Clearly, the Manhattan Project was kept very secret; even someone of Indiana's caliber knew nothing about it.
But that's normal. A super bomb that can stop war would be a top secret project in any country.
Therefore, Fang Wen replied, "This is a project that the United States is secretly advancing. You must help me investigate it thoroughly."
Indiana fell silent. He knew Fang Wen's temperament and his capabilities.
He owes his current status entirely to Fang Wen paving the way for him, and he must repay that favor.
Moreover, a project that Fang Wen takes so seriously must be extraordinary; perhaps this is also his opportunity.
Thinking of this, he replied, "Mr. Fang, rest assured, I will do my best to investigate."
Fang Wen nodded: "Okay, I trust you. For follow-up communication, call Lin Shuiwang's office. I'll be there these days. When you're investigating, be careful and get information from people you can trust."
“Okay.” Indiana nodded quickly. He was well aware of the risks involved. The FBI’s biggest taboo was leaking secrets, especially when investigating an unknown top-secret project. If they made a mistake, they could lose their job or even face imprisonment.
Just then, the waiter came over with two steaks. The sizzling steaks were coated in black pepper sauce and smelled delicious.
The two put aside their conversation for the time being, picked up their knives and forks, and began to eat.
The meal was eaten quickly. Fang Wen put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, stood up and said, "I'm leaving now. Contact me as soon as you have any news." After saying that, he didn't linger, walked straight out of the restaurant, started his car and drove away.
Indiana watched his retreating figure, then glanced at the half-eaten steak remaining on the table, took out a banknote, placed it on the table, picked up her coat, and hurriedly left the restaurant.
He needed to rush back to the FBI immediately and use all his connections to find any clues about the "Manhattan Project".
The next morning, Fang Wen left his hotel and went to Lin Shuiwang's office.
Lin Shuiwang moved next door, and this became Fang Wen's temporary office in the United States.
Time ticked by, the wall clock tinkled, and Fang Wen's patience was gradually wearing thin. Just as he was about to get up and go out for some fresh air, the phone on his desk suddenly rang.
Fang Wen immediately picked up the phone: "Hello."
Indiana's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Fang, I've found some clues. The Manhattan Project you mentioned is highly classified. I used all the connections I could, and even bribed an old acquaintance in the military, to barely find out a little bit."
Fang Wen's grip on the phone tightened slightly: "What did you find out?"
"All I know is that the project is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico, which is heavily guarded by the military and outsiders cannot get close at all. In addition, the 422nd Infantry Regiment of the Army is responsible for the security of the project. The entire unit is deployed around Los Alamos and is heavily guarded. Not even a fly can get in."
Indiana's voice carried a hint of helplessness, "As for the specific details of the project and who is in charge, I can't find out yet. The security measures there are too good. Anyone who has been in contact with the project is strictly controlled and cannot be contacted at all."
"Thank you, please continue your investigation, and I will give you a reward."
Fang Wen hung up the phone.
He stood up, walked out of the office, went next door, and asked Lin Shuiwang, who was handling the daily work of Taishan International, about it.
Do you know Los Alamos, New Mexico?
Lin Shuiwang looked up and thought for a moment: "This place seems familiar. Oh right, there's a small city next to it called Las Vegas. The name is similar to Las Vegas, and I remember it very well." (End of Chapter)