The flowers in the factory of rebirth are too fierce

What is a genius idea?

No one can think of it before you say it, but once you say it, everyone will suddenly understand. That's how it should be.

Before the immersion lithography technology was proposed, lithography machine manufacturers all over the world were conducting research and development of dry lithography machines. No one thought that water would be used instead of air in the gaps between the lens and the surface of the silicon wafer to improve the resolution. The sustainability of this technology completely changed the technical direction of lithography machine research and development, allowing ASML to surpass its original competitors in just a few years and sit on the throne of the lithography machine, and has been sitting on it for twenty years.

In the later period of his previous life, a casual search on the Internet would yield a large number of articles about the genius idea of ​​the scientist surnamed Lin. Lin Zhiyuan had read several such news reports on the Internet, which left a deep impression on him at the time.

Just now, he raised this question as a complete layman in order to give Director Han the impression that he was ignorant and fearless.

Anyway, I didn't understand anything, so I just asked casually. I didn't expect that such an inadvertent question touched a hidden switch of Director Han and completely turned on his violent mode.

After getting into the car, Director Han finally sobered up a little. He held Lin Zhiyuan's hand tightly and said, "Assistant Lin, I really don't know what to say. You, you, you... do you know that what you just said casually may change the research and development direction of lithography machines in the whole world?"

Lin Zhiyuan still looked confused. "Director Han, what did I say just now? I can't even remember it myself."

"That's not important. What's important is that you provided a brilliant creative idea. I have to go home right now and make some phone calls." Director Han tapped his head in frustration. "I'm getting old. I can't remember those phone numbers anymore. I have to go back and look at the phone book."

Fortunately, the hotel was not far from Director Han's home. A few minutes later, Director Han hurried upstairs. When he arrived at his door, he found that he did not bring his key. He had no choice but to yell at his wife downstairs: "What are you doing? Come up and open the door!"

Mrs. Han smiled apologetically at Lin Zhiyuan, "Don't be offended, he is just like this. Once he gets carried away, he is like a madman."

Mrs. Han took out the key and opened the door. Director Han rushed in and came to the phone. He picked up a yellowed notebook, opened it, found a number, and dialed it. "Mr. Xiao, this is Old Han. Do you have time now? I want to tell you something right away. You'd better come to my house. Yes, right now. Okay, I'll wait for you."

After finishing the call, Director Han continued to dial the number, "Director Liu, I'm Old Han from the 45th Institute! I have an idea for a photolithography machine. Do you have time? Come over and let's have a good chat!"

"Old Han, are you crazy? We are all retired. How long has it been since the lithography machine was launched..."

"Stop talking nonsense. I'm telling you, you'll definitely regret it if you don't come. What? It takes more than two hours to get from your house to my place? Where did you go? Oh, I forgot. I forgot that your family moved to another place. Then take a taxi and come here. I'll reimburse you for the travel expenses."

Lin Zhiyuan reminded him, "Director Han, we have a car, why don't we go pick up Director Liu? After all, he is old..."

"That's right. We have a car. Lao Liu, tell me your home address and I'll send a car to pick you up."

After giving an address, Secretary Huang asked the driver to pick someone up.

Director Han continued to make the call as if no one was around. "Professor Qi, this is Old Han from the 45th Institute! I have a creative idea for a photolithography machine and need to talk to someone about it. Do you have time?..."

Seeing Director Han's state, Lin Zhiyuan pulled Secretary Huang aside and said, "Director Huang, I think the seminar on lithography machines can be held in advance. Director Han's home is not big, why don't we go back to the department?"

"Okay, then I'll report to the minister and ask the department to send a few more cars to pick us up. Also, the conference room needs to be prepared." When coming out, Minister Wu told Secretary Huang that everything should be done by Lin Zhiyuan. Now that Assistant Lin has spoken, Secretary Huang will naturally obey.

Secretary Huang immediately called Minister Wu, who was stunned after hearing the call. He did intend to hold a seminar in the field of lithography, but the time had not been determined. He did not expect that after Lin Zhiyuan came back, the meeting was actually held in just one day.

Minister Wu smiled bitterly, "It's a bit anxious, but since Assistant Lin is so enthusiastic about lithography machines, let's go with the flow and hold this meeting as soon as possible! You can arrange the vehicles, venues, and personnel, and I will go and listen when the time comes."

Secretary Huang started making phone calls on the spot. First, he asked someone to clean up the department's meeting room, and then he sent several cars to pick up Director Han's old friends.

Just as Secretary Huang was on the phone, Lin Zhiyuan also walked into the corridor, dialed a few numbers, and arranged some things.

"Brother Li, how is your business lately? I have something to ask of you..."

"Brother Song, donate some money to do good deeds!"

"Mr. Li, it's a little hard to start with. It's like this..."

"Boss Jin, I have something to report to you..."

"Yinan, take out some money. Don't worry, I will explain it to Mr. Yao."

After a lot of commotion, the meeting was finally held at 4pm in the conference room of the Ministry of Information Industry. The participants were similar to Director Han, all of whom were authorities in the field of lithography machines in China and experienced experts who had personally participated in the development of lithography machines.

These people include the chief engineer of the previous 45th Institute, experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professors from Qinghua University, and Director Han, a total of five people, all of them white-haired old men.

In addition to these five veteran scientists, Lin Zhiyuan, Minister Wu, and Yuan Zhilong, who was urgently called over by Minister Wu, also attended the meeting. Secretary Huang took the minutes of the meeting personally.

Before Minister Wu officially announced the start of the meeting, Director Han couldn't wait to tell his four old friends about Lin Zhiyuan's brilliant idea.

The reactions of these four people were the same as Director Han's. After listening, four pairs of turbid eyes sparkled and the sounds of clapping on the table came one after another.

"Adding a layer of water changes the refractive index of light? Oh my god, why didn't we think of this before?"

“Although it has not yet entered the experimental stage, I can guarantee that this idea will be useful.”

Of course, there are also rational ones. "The idea is feasible, but you will still encounter many practical difficulties in the experimental operation stage. I advise you not to be too optimistic. You have to take one step at a time and eat one bite at a time." Professor Qi from Tsinghua University poured a bucket of cold water on this.

"I agree with Professor Qi. Although this idea is feasible, we don't have a laboratory site, we don't have a ready-made lithography machine to make experimental samples, we don't have money, and we're all retired..." Xiao Gong, the former chief engineer of the 45th Institute, counted the difficulties on his fingers. Every time he said a word, the other four people lowered their heads. When he finished speaking, the conference room fell silent. The faces of several old scientists turned ugly.

Yes, I was so happy about my visit just now that I forgot that scientific research requires funding, and the photolithography machine is the most expensive project. If they were still in their positions, it would be easier and they could use the resources of their original units. But who would care about a few retired old men now?

Director Han sat in the chair blankly, the light of setting sun filtered into the conference room through the glass window and shone on him. Director Han, who had just been full of vigor and shouting like a young man, now turned into that old man again.