Chapter 173: The East Germany Guys Take The Bait
April’s Yanjing still had a trace of chill.
The East Germany delegation had very few people, only a handful.
After arriving in Yanjing, they checked into the Yanjing Hotel near Wangfujing.
They planned to head the next day to the Semiconductor Research Institute in the western suburbs.
What they didn’t expect was that there were only a few people here, and none of the somewhat notable Semiconductor scientists were in Yanjing.
Besides Müller, this time there was also Karl Weiss, the technical lead of VEB Halbleiterwerk, who was proficient in Semiconductor process.
In the room, Weiss chatted idly with Müller: “Are you sure the Chinese person has mastered ion implantation technology?”
Müller replied without hesitation: “Of course not possible.
No one can determine just by getting a radio whether it uses ion implantation technology without disassembling it.
Maybe Professor Lin can, but I definitely can’t.”
This refers to the crash of Freedom 7, where in the rumor, Lin Ran judged there was a problem just by visually inspecting the blueprint, which also became one of the components of his legendary story.
The more knowledgeable one is, the more unbelievable it seems, suspecting it’s America’s propaganda tactic.
Müller continued: “But aren’t you curious why the Chinese colleagues are progressing so fast?
From mid-range goods in the free world, in just two short years, what they’re now releasing is already high-end goods in the free world.
And whether in terms of texture or sound, or the transistor electrical characteristics we measured with oscilloscope and Semiconductor analyzer, the qualities it shows are on par with what we know from academic magazines about Texas Instruments production.
No matter from what angle, we should come probe the truth, see if we can cooperate with China.
Especially now as we’re pushing OGAS, Semiconductor technology is particularly important to us.”
Whether ion implantation technology was used, even instruments can’t observe it, at most judging from gain, noise figure, and breakdown voltage that China’s transistors are much better than theirs.
Showing lower noise and higher consistency.
But specific technical details still need face-to-face talks to see if the other side is willing to reveal.
After hearing this, Weiss said helplessly: “You’re right, we’re under a lot of pressure now, to complete OGAS, almost all our processes are in a backward state.
But fortunately, the Soviet Union side indicated they will successively provide a batch of engineers from Silicon Valley and technical data from Silicon Valley.”
Müller said in surprise: “Really or fake?”
Compared to the pure technical personnel Müller, Weiss had some management in the sequence and knew more information.
He nodded: “Really, the people are already in Moscow, this time Kennedy’s death disappointed many Americans.
So the Soviet Union side seized the opportunity, passed information to some scientists inclined or possibly inclined toward us, and poached some from those who responded.
It’s said the people have already arrived in Moscow.
It’s still the professor’s influence that’s great, before when we proposed to emphasize Semiconductor technology, it was completely useless, no matter how much resources and effort supported before, the response after was still the same amount of resources.
But after the professor proposed technological singularity, the Moscow side immediately took it seriously.
Giving resources, promoting OGAS, even utilizing KGB.
The professor’s influence is really unmatched.
Not only able to influence the White House, but also Moscow.” Weiss said.
This is also the consensus of all current scientists or engineers.
It’s just that Time Magazine hasn’t done the global 100 most influential people now, otherwise Lin Ran could at least make the top twenty, the only non-politician in the top twenty.
“Yeah, if the professor worked in China it would be great, I believe if the professor returns to China, probably no one in Berlin would oppose us cooperating technically with China.” Müller said.
In the current environment, the relationship between China and East Germany is quite tense.
But it doesn’t affect both sides still having economic and trade exchanges, China continues to attend the Leipzig Trade Fair.
Politically cold, economically hot, still exists.
East Germany is a very important market for Panda Radio.
“That’s too difficult, the professor wanting to return to China is almost impossible.” After Weiss finished, he and Müller successively gave bitter smiles, because everyone knew the difficulty of a scientist like Lin Ran coming to the socialism camp.
And moreover participated in all core projects of NASA.
In the meeting room, both sides sat facing each other.
The meeting room’s entire setup emphasized simplicity, with technical documents, water cups, and notebook placed on the table.
Weiss crossed his hands, his gaze sweeping over the radio.
Müller flipped through the brochure.
China’s foreign trade translator Zhang Mei then smiled and said:
“Mr. Weiss, Mr. Müller, welcome to Yanjing. Hope this visit opens a new chapter of cooperation between us.”
Müller nodded: “Thank you, Ms. Zhang. We saw your radios at the Leipzig Fair, the performance was impressive. Today we hope to deeply understand your technology.”
This was a small meeting around technology, only with technical personnel and translator participating.
Weiss went straight to the point: “Researcher Li, we suspect your radio’s transistors used ion implantation technology. Clear sound quality, high sensitivity, similar to some Western processes. Is it true?”
Li Zhiqiang lightly sipped tea, masking his inner waves, because he fundamentally didn’t know what technology was used.
The message he got from previous colleagues was that in negotiations with Germany, listen more and say less, be vague with what is said, collect the other side’s questions and ideas before planning.
Li Zhiqiang calmly said: “Mr. Weiss has sharp eyes, our transistors indeed used advanced process, but specific details we can first talk from overall performance.”
Weiss frowned, took out the technical report, pointing to a page: “We tested your radio later, low noise and high gain characteristics point to ion implantation.
This technology can precisely control doping, has your side mastered it?”
Müller eased the atmosphere and added: “Mr. Li, we respect your strength. If true, it will be a great opportunity for cooperation, promoting socialism camp Semiconductor Industry progress.”
Mainly because the one who came was a researcher, so Weiss and Müller were somewhat aggressive.
If it were Huang Kun or Xie Xide who came, they would definitely change attitude.
Li Zhiqiang exchanged glances with Zhang Mei.
Li Zhiqiang said honestly but cautiously: “We researched ion implantation in the laboratory, as for whether it used ion implantation, I’m not sure, because I’m not responsible for its mass production.”
Weiss’s eyes widened slightly, fingers tapping the table, slightly dissatisfied inside.
“Can you share doping precision or specific details of laboratory equipment?”
Li Zhiqiang smiled: “Just small-scale attempts. Specific process involves secrecy, needs higher-level agreement.”
Weiss continued tapping the desktop: “Sir, you’re not frank enough.
Because with China’s current technical strength, it’s impossible to do ion implantation technology, we also tried ion implantation technology.
It requires 10-200 keV accelerator, energy control error needs to be below 1keV, only then possible to precisely adjust doping depth.
From my understanding of China, your accelerator performance energy range probably far doesn’t reach this requirement, right?
Not to mention needing high-resolution mass analyzer, to ensure high-precision magnetic field or electric field can separate specific ions, remove impurity ions, ensure doping purity.
These two pieces of equipment are gaps China can’t bypass.”
Zhang Mei was frantically flipping her pre-prepared technical vocabulary, ensuring to translate what the other said accurately.
After all, the other side’s tone wasn’t good, she couldn’t cause an incident, at least the cause of the incident couldn’t be her.
Li Zhiqiang grew more confused the more he listened, because he really didn’t understand how they did it.
Müller sincerely said: “We understand secrecy.
But we hope your side can be frank enough.
East Germany has sufficient foundation in precision instruments, if able to share ion implantation R&D or joint production, it will elevate both sides’ strength.”
Zhang Mei hearing this directly replied: “We’re very interested in equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Weiss’s tone softened: “I believe your side must have achieved some technological breakthrough, in the current environment, this is enough to make us admire.
We hope to visit the laboratory, understand equipment operation.”
Li Zhiqiang said: “We’ll consider it, needs superior approval.”
In the mysterious Area 51 deep in the mountains, the news of the East Germany delegation coming and their attempted negotiation content was transmitted here that same day via telegraph.
Dean Qian’s office called Huang Kun, “Professor Huang, as you predicted, East Germany took the bait.”
Huang Kun nodded: “Good that they took the bait, our industrial foundation is too weak, without cooperating with East Germany, it’s really hard to breakthrough at some key nodes.”
At this time, Area 51 was still in a catching-up stage in many aspects, their only advantage was cognition, they knew clearly the direction ahead and how to go.
“Can only say we caught a good time, global major countries unprecedentedly emphasize computer technology and artificial intelligence technology, causing everyone to raise emphasis on computer-related technology, heard East Germany plans to use computers to build an economic indicators management system.
As long as we have what they want in hand, they have to come negotiate.” Dean Qian said.
As the actual head of Area 51’s technology field, Dean Qian was very clear about the current dilemmas around Raspberry Pi R&D.
The focus was the weakness in high-precision industrial system.
At this time, Area 51 had set goals to breakthrough in portable calculator and storage chip these two directions.
The former was because Raspberry Pi’s built-in scientific calculator function made them realize that similar scientific calculator if made portable, or even a bit larger, would have great market.
The latter was because Raspberry Pi’s card-sized volume could achieve storing massive data, the concept of storage chip has initially formed, considering silicon-based characteristics, they could almost affirm silicon-based chip can be used for storage.
And at this time they had already made chips with storage function, but this time’s storage chip was more like flip-flop, not later DRAM, these flip-flops composed of bipolar transistors, each flip-flop stores 1 bit data, the storage quantity was too small.
Around these difficulties, China needs to introduce external technical support.
Leipzig Trade Fair was essentially a fishing expedition.
Actually, the samples given to East Germany were much better quality than mass batch production, carefully selected samples, just to make East Germany realize China’s extraordinary technology.
At this current time point, wanting to cooperate with Soviet Union is unrealistic, East Germany despite aligning with Soviet Union politically, both sides still have things to talk about.
“Sigh, pressure is too great, according to public data, Texas Instruments’ silicon purity can reach 7N, in process, theoretically even the CZ method silicon we haven’t mastered, at most only 6N.
But Texas Instruments can do 7N, this is still what’s shown in public data, possibly their laboratory can do 8N.
Our gap in this aspect not only hasn’t narrowed, but has been widened.
Without solving CZ method, just relying on chemical purification, it’s hard for us to breakthrough the 5N shackles.” Huang Kun sighed.
With information collection on America’s Semiconductor technology development gradually perfected, China’s time lag on America industry intelligence is at most 3 months, meaning America January industry dynamics, by April China can see.
The more understood, the more surprising, because the gap is too big, feeling the other’s technological innovations emerge endlessly, every look has new progress.
At least in Area 51 Semiconductor team scientists’ eyes, America definitely also obtained Raspberry Pi, even they have deciphered part of the obtained alien technical data.
Otherwise hard to understand why the other’s progress is so fast.
I have cheats and still can’t catch up to you, did you open a bigger cheat?
“Wait until Yanjing side has probed their bottom almost enough, then have someone pick them up to Shudu to talk.” Dean Qian said.
Huang Kun nodded: “That’s best, I’ll personally negotiate. Actually best is still directly introduce technology from Soviet Union hands, they still have some unique technologies.
Soviet Union they can also achieve 6N like Texas Instruments, maybe 7N, their chemical purification process especially multi-stage rectification of silicon tetrachloride, if we can get it, can directly use.”
Dean Qian smiled bitterly: “Russians still don’t count on them, under current situation, Russians won’t possibly negotiate with us.”
After Weiss and Müller stayed three days in Yanjing, they asked questions, the other evaded; they wanted to visit production line, the other evaded; they wanted to see other experts, the other evaded.
They already regretted coming to Yanjing, because they found China had no sincerity for cooperation at all.
“Sorry, Mr. Li, I think you are not qualified to negotiate directly with us, because you know nothing about technical details, your China’s experts also unwilling to reveal more information to us, such negotiation has no meaning.”
Anger was hard to conceal on Weiss’s standard German-looking face.
Compared to the somewhat timid a few days ago, today’s Li Zhiqiang was exceptionally calm, after comrade Zhang Mei who was responsible for translation relayed, calmly said:
“Sirs, we have arranged your itinerary to Shudu, you will meet our Semiconductor field’s responsible comrade there, he will answer all your questions, including taking you to visit our Semiconductor production line.”
Weiss and Müller exchanged a glance, then said: “Good, since this itinerary is not in the regulations, we need to first telegraph Berlin to apply, but no big problem.”
Just like that, Weiss and Müller under China’s accompaniment, boarded the airplane to China’s southwest frontier.
But by the time they arrived in Shudu, it was already night.
Early next morning, Huang Kun wearing a dark Zhongshan Suit with a smile on his face, stood at the entrance of Shudu’s radio factory welcoming these two colleagues from afar.
Most production capacity is in Panzhihua, but a small amount of production capacity left in Shudu, mainly serving as a showroom function.
“Welcome, Dr. Müller, Dr. Weiss, I am Huang Kun, the Huang Kun who co-authored ‘Lattice Dynamics’ first volume with Max Born.” Huang Kun said in stiff German, extending his hand for an enthusiastic handshake.
Max Born is the German physicist, Huang Kun though hadn’t used it for many years, German was still usable.
Müller and Weiss exchanged a glance, knowing this time they met a big shot.
They had done homework before coming, knowing which famous scientists China had in Semiconductor field, among them Huang Kun was absolutely the most famous.
Even excluding ‘Lattice Dynamics’, the other’s attainments in physics field were not to be underestimated.
This time both didn’t dare act rashly, instead appeared exceptionally modest.
“Thank you very much, Professor Huang.” Müller responded, smile full of enthusiasm, “We heard China achieved breakthrough in silicon-based transistor radio, specially came to learn and exchange.”
“Yes, your technological progress surprises us.” Weiss added.
Huang Kun smiled slightly, nodded signaling the two guests to follow him into the factory interior. The corridor was hung full of photos and charts of Semiconductor devices, showcasing China’s latest achievements in this field.
Müller and Weiss looked around while walking, secretly speculating in their hearts: Where does China’s breakthrough come from?
The group soon arrived at the production workshop, machines’ roar rising and falling, workers skillfully operating equipment, air filled with faint chemical reagent smell.
Huang Kun pointed to a massive machine: “This is our gas doping equipment, we used it to produce pure silicon with 5N purity.”
Müller approached the equipment, carefully observed its construct, eyes showing surprise.
“5N purity, relying on gas doping process, this is already amazing.” He sighed, “We in East Germany are still striving to breakthrough 4N bottleneck.”
Soviet Union is Soviet Union, East Germany is East Germany.
Although Soviet Union provides technical support, at this time East Germany in Semiconductor field was in a backward position, Soviet Union itself also controls East Germany’s supply chain, things like pure silicon weren’t transferred to East Germany.
Huang Kun calmly explained: “We made some innovations in gas doping technology, by precisely controlling gas flow and temperature, removing more impurities.”
Weiss on the side quickly recorded notes.
However, Huang Kun changed tone: “However, purity is just the foundation. Our radio matching America and Japan relies more on breakthroughs in circuitry design and manufacturing process.”
Then, Huang Kun took them into the circuitry design department. Walls hung full of complex circuit diagrams and drafts, several young designers heads buried in work, occasionally low-voiced discussing technical details.
Huang Kun introduced: “This is our design team. They optimized circuitry structure, reduced noise and distortion, greatly elevating radio performance.”
Müller approached a designer, asked: “Can I take a look?”
Huang Kun nodded: “Of course.”
Immediately he bent down to view the circuit diagram in his hand. “This design is very clever!”
He praised, “How did you think of this structure?”
“Experience, China has rich experience in Semiconductor radio design field.” Huang Kun answered.
After the simple visit, just the 5N purity was enough for East Germany to take seriously, Müller and Weiss exchanged a glance and thought.
However, after to the meeting room, Huang Kun’s first sentence was beyond their expectations.
