Chapter 76

Gao Xiao has always looked down on Fan Ji'an, not only because of Fan Ji'an's past conflicts with Yan Anjin, but also because Fan Ji'an's selfishness far outweighs his public-spiritedness.

When Fan Ji'an was mentioned, Gao Xiao's face was full of disgust and disdain: "Fan Ji'an values ​​his personal interests more than the country's technological development."

China has spared no effort in investing heavily in the chip industry, with at least 200 billion yuan invested annually by the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (commonly known as the "Big Fund") and local capital. Leading research institutions, such as the Quantum Information Research and Development Center led by Fan Ji'an, are key recipients of this support.

Did it yield results? Yes! But the timing was always very delicate.

Just as other chip research institutions in China were making some preliminary progress, Fan Ji'an would always release a slightly better, groundbreaking achievement shortly after, subtly maintaining an absolute advantage of one or two steps ahead of other institutions, firmly suppressing them from taking the lead.

"Hmph!" Gao Xiao sneered, "I've dealt with him for decades, do you think I don't know what kind of person he is! The research progress is so 'human-like', it would be strange if he hadn't meticulously controlled it!"

However, in the intellectually demanding field of scientific research, outsiders have no way of knowing the true progress if the parties involved intend to conceal it. Moreover, it is perfectly normal for cutting-edge scientific research projects like quantum chips to have high trial-and-error costs and long investment cycles.

By simmering away like this, Fan Ji'an has truly been sitting in the lab with money falling from the sky, burning through at least 20 billion yuan in funding over the past five years. Besides this, there are many more tangible and intangible benefits.

Ji Zhixing quickly realized what was going on. As long as Fan Ji'an's quantum information research and development center could maintain its leading position in China, he could firmly control the chip industry.

Nowadays, the project guidelines for the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund are all written by Fan Ji'an. He is both the judge and the participant. It is so easy for him to get a general project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. How can others compete with him?

While a successful development would enhance Fan Ji'an's personal prestige, as long as the problems with the EUV lithography machine remain unresolved and the designed quantum chip cannot be mass-produced, Fan Ji'an will not be able to maximize his personal benefits.

By releasing research results bit by bit like squeezing toothpaste, Fan Ji'an not only receives a continuous stream of huge funding, but also monopolizes article publications, grant applications, and promotions in this field, openly engaging in factionalism and trampling on fairness!

After figuring out Fan Ji'an's selfish motives, Ji Zhixing frowned deeply. Professor Gao Xiao was right; Fan Ji'an's selfish motives far outweighed his public-spiritedness.

If we can successfully develop mature quantum chips independently as soon as possible, even if we cannot put them into production due to limitations in EUV lithography machines, it will definitely be a shot in the arm for China's chip market, which is "lacking in chips and core technologies," not to mention the other benefits in international competition.

The most advantageous bargaining chip is the independently developed quantum chip. Even a temporary resource exchange with other countries would be much better than the current frustrating situation of being completely dependent on others in the field of high-end chips.

Faced with a choice between benefiting the country and benefiting himself, Fan Ji'an chose himself. He preferred a slow and steady approach rather than a drastic, all-out effort.

There are many discerning people like Gao Xiao, but they are all helpless about this, because at least the chip research led by Fan Ji'an is indeed based on solid materials.

China's chip industry remains a mess, with 90% of companies merely riding the wave of hype, engaging in various forms of fraud to attract investment and obtain subsidies. In contrast, while Fan Ji'an may be slow and hesitant, at least he is actually producing tangible results.

"I've put up with him for a long time, hmph!" Gao Xiao patted Ji Zhixing on the shoulder. Before, it was out of necessity; he didn't have a more viable direction in the chip field than Fan Ji'an. But now that Ji Zhixing's photonic chip design showed great potential, he naturally wanted to fully support him!

Ji Zhixing was already prepared to go all out, and this first direct realization of the academic clique's monopoly only fueled his fighting spirit.

Before replacing the nameplate with the "photon chip", Gao Xiao convened a meeting with all the students, giving everyone full choice.

After listening to Ji Zhixing's project presentation, Ye Shi felt a deep respect for him. Wow! What a manly man!

Deng immediately said, "Old driver, please guide me," and was determined to follow Ji Zhixing.

Apart from two or three students whose graduation projects could not be postponed due to objective factors, all of Gao Xiao's other students chose to stop their own projects and actively engage in the research of photonic chips, and are currently accumulating relevant knowledge.

While applying for funding from various national research funds with the photonic chip paper compiled and written by Ji Zhixing, Gao Xiao also reorganized existing resources.

Actually, if it weren't for the fact that he could leverage more resources himself, he would have preferred to step back and let Ji Zhixing take the lead in this project.

Ji Zhixing had no interest in such empty titles; he was busy continuing to refine his research theories and experimental designs. With a systematic laboratory to allow for ample trial and error, his experimental design process was like having wings.

"We can use the general method of artificially synthesizing optical nonlinear processes to observe the application potential of cross-band photon entanglement in microcavities..." Ji Zhixing muttered to himself as he typed on the keyboard.

After typing a line, Ji Zhixing crossed his arms and pondered. From this application perspective, collision analysis, chemical modeling, and multiphysics simulations are all worth paying attention to, and all the problems in these areas can be reduced to partial differential equations—he needs someone with expertise in this area!

Ji Zhixing's first thought was Yu Zhuli, whose main research area was partial differential equations. After obtaining Professor Gao Xiao's consent, Ji Zhixing extended an invitation to Yu Zhuli, who accepted without hesitation.

Within a week, all the necessary instruments for the experiment were in place. Deng and his colleagues also worked overtime to complete a preliminary knowledge preparation.

After Ji Zhixing arranged the group's experiments, the photonic chip project was officially launched.

Fan Ji'an had naturally received the news long ago that the chip project was being launched in full swing here.

He merely chuckled at the students, saying, "Even the principal can't do anything with that old rascal. Let him be; it won't affect us."

But a heavy feeling settled in my heart.

He had never dared to underestimate Gao Xiao, and although he didn't know Ji Zhixing very well, the fact that Gao Xiao was so supportive of him meant that Ji Zhixing must have presented a chip theory that could convince Gao Xiao.

Therefore, Fan Ji'an set aside one eye to keep a close eye on all kinds of news from the photonic chip laboratory.

When Ji Zhixing and his photonic chip project team successfully integrated silicon's optical routing capabilities into a single chip, Fan Ji'an released his results on the measurement, fabrication, and logic gate operation of qubits in traditional silicon-germanium semiconductor quantum dot devices at almost the same time.

When the photonic chip project team achieved control over the branch selection of nanoparticles in multiple free optical channels, Fan Ji'an also released research on the spin qubit coupled with a superconducting cavity and the expansion of composite qubits on the same day.

When the photonic chip project team completed the polarization-selective coupling device between the slit waveguide and the nanowire waveguide through parameter optimization, Fan Ji'an announced the next day that he had achieved continuous quantum walk in two-dimensional space in the laboratory.

In short, the two sides are completely locked in a fierce battle.

This scientific research competition surrounding chips has naturally attracted a lot of attention, and because Ji Zhixing is the absolute main force in the photonic chip project group, the online discussion is very enthusiastic.

What is a photonic chip? How does it compare to a quantum chip?

"It's hard to say. Theoretically speaking, quantum chips are more mature, while photonic chips are limited by structure and materials, and have great limitations."

"I heard that Ji Zhixing redesigned the structure, and his project team also has new silicon-based materials."

"It's either a gimmick or a publicity stunt. A mathematician jumping into chip manufacturing is completely unrelated to his expertise. What else could it be if not to obtain research funding?"

"Who told you he's a math major? He's a physics major."

"ah?!"

This statement surprised many onlookers. After extensive media coverage, everyone was familiar with Ji Zhixing's participation in the International Congress of Mathematicians and knew that the Fields Medal he received was the highest award in mathematics. Therefore, they naturally assumed that Ji Zhixing was a mathematics major. It turns out he was actually a physics major!

"It's like being in a completely different field. Studying physics doesn't mean he's an expert in the chip industry. Others work on chips like they're constipated, holding it in for ages and only managing to fart. But his photonic chip research is progressing so fast it's like he's having diarrhea. Who would believe there's nothing fishy going on?"

"I believe it! Sometimes scientific research just needs a bit of inspiration. As Edison said, that 1% inspiration is often more important than 99% perspiration."

"I didn't understand a single word of that paper, but I have confidence in Ji Zhixing. As soon as he approved the project, I heavily invested in domestic chip concept stocks, hehehe."

"Goodness, Cambricon is even venturing into the market. Ever since the US passed the 'Semiconductor Act,' domestic chip concept stocks have basically been on a continuous downward trend, right?"

Laymen watch the spectacle, experts watch the details.

"I heard that the design of integrated optical devices such as the vortex beam emitter has been completed. It seems that they are taking solid steps forward."

"Breaking away from the traditional chip structure and taking a different approach, Ji Zhixing deserves applause for that alone."

"Ji Zhixing is so lucky. How come he just happened to have the right silicon material to support him?"

"However, it is probably difficult to avoid modifying the nonlinear response of materials at the atomic scale due to the low-order effects of silicon, such as second- and third-order effects."

"Then we can add a grooved structure to the silicon waveguide to introduce an on-chip integrated optical device with out-of-plane beam deflection and focusing capabilities."

"So how does this differ from the integrated architecture of traditional chips?"

"That's right. The biggest advantage of photonic chips is that they disrupt the traditional structure and bypass EUV lithography machines. If we lose this advantage, we might as well stick to developing quantum chips."

"In any case, the emergence of a disruptive force in the chip industry is a good thing."

"That's right, no doubt about it, that mild-mannered Fan Ji'an finally dared not hide anything anymore."

"Haha, if it weren't for Ji Zhixing acting as a catalyst, Fan Ji'an probably would have stayed in bed for three whole years before releasing those three results."

"I wonder what other cards he's holding up."

"I think there aren't many left. When Fan Ji'an called for the third time, his explanation was already very conservative: 'It will be achieved in the laboratory.'"

Fan Ji'an squinted at his computer screen, scrutinizing the latest paper published by the photonic chip project team. After a long while, he threw down the mouse. Damn it! He couldn't find a single flaw!

He took off his glasses, closed them, leaned back in his chair, and let out a weary sigh.

He has already played all the good cards in his hand, and now he only has half a broken piece of a card left.

Given the limited time available, he couldn't guarantee that he would be able to produce a competitive advantage when Gao Xiao and Ji Zhixing played their next move.

Given the efficiency of the photonic chip project team, once he falls behind, he may never have another chance to catch up.

Fan Ji'an suddenly opened his eyes. This can't go on!

A note from the author: