Zhuang Yunwei's method is actually very simple and can be summarized in just one sentence.
By observing whether there are subatomic particles such as "muons" appearing, we can determine whether there are macroscopic substances other than the Yuanhang spacecraft around the Yuanhang spacecraft. After that, the approximate direction of the macroscopic matter is determined based on the direction of the muons, and then with the help of human power, a further detailed search is carried out for that location.
The so-called muon is a basic subatomic particle. Its half-life is only a few microseconds, which means it is extremely unstable. After being generated, it will quickly decay into an electron, an antielectron neutrino, and a muon neutrino.
This characteristic of it determines that it cannot spread too far in the universe.
The energy level required to produce muons is extremely high, and neither nuclear fission nor nuclear fusion can produce it. Generally speaking, muons can only be produced in equipment in high-energy physics laboratories, such as high-speed particle colliders.
But on the other hand, the universe itself contains many particles with extremely high energy. Once these particles collide with other particles, they can reach or even far exceed the energy level of the particle collider, so muons will be produced.
Most of the muons observed above the Earth are produced by high-energy cosmic particles hitting the Earth's atmosphere.
Such high-energy cosmic particles are also widely present in the interstellar space where the Yuanhang spacecraft is located at this moment.
They either come from a supernova explosion, or from a merger or collision of neutron stars, or from the jets of black holes swallowing matter...
They are everywhere in the universe.
Then, something very interesting will happen.
After excluding the muons generated by the collision of high-energy particles in the universe with the Voyage spacecraft itself, what does it mean if other muons can still be observed?
Because the half-life of muons is too short and cannot be transmitted in the universe for too long, this can only mean that not far from the Yuanhang spacecraft, a cosmic high-energy particle collided with the rest of the macroscopic matter, and newly formed Muons, or secondary radiation, were detected.
——Through the research on previously obtained materials from that super civilization that is at least level four, people have determined that muons will also be generated when high-energy particles in the universe hit it.
The knowledge that Zhao Changxing had already mastered allowed him to know that this was why Professor Zhuang Yunwei said before, "If the shell materials of those gravity bombs are similar to the shell materials of their spaceships," this method will only be useful.
Quite simply, if the materials are not similar, it means that high-energy particles in the universe will not necessarily produce muons when they hit them, so this method will naturally be useless.
But it also presents another conundrum.
It’s still observation accuracy.
"Can we achieve the accuracy?"
Zhuang Yunwei was silent for a moment and said: "Theoretically, it can be achieved. But... we need to pay a price. We need to expand the existing neutrino telescopes and build at least four neutrino telescopes of this level. Only in this way can we have an acceptable observation probability.”
While on the earth, in order to observe neutrinos that are so penetrating that even the entire sun is like a vacuum to them, people will build as large a chamber as possible made of ultrapure water, heavy water and other media. Occupy the container to increase the probability of reacting with neutrinos, and then capture the signals they produce through photomultiplier tubes with the help of Cherenkov radiation.
Neutrino telescopes are usually built very deep underground, mainly to prevent interference from other types of particles. To measure whether a place is suitable for building a neutrino telescope, there is an indicator called "muon flux."
Because muons also have extremely strong penetrating power, neutrino telescopes built extremely deep underground will also be interfered by muons. This annoyed people so much that they had to try to build the neutrino telescope deeper in order to shield it from interference.
This means that neutrino telescopes can also be used to detect muons. The only difference is that in the past, it was necessary to shield muon interference as much as possible, but now the focus has changed and it is no longer needed.
Facing Zhuang Yunwei's words, Zhao Changxing once again entered into thinking.
At this moment, the Yuanhang spacecraft is located in the vast interstellar space. The nearest star Lakai 9352 is also 2.9 light-years away.
It is impossible to get any supplies here. The material reserves of the Yuanhang spacecraft are not sufficient.
Especially now, under the premise that almost all the previous momentum has been lost.
Whether to expand the existing neutrino telescope and build four new neutrino telescopes of the same level is also a difficult decision for Zhao Changxing.
He knew that this was already the limit of what human civilization could achieve with its technological strength at this stage. It's almost impossible to think of a better way than this.
On one side are gravity bombs that may have extremely high strategic significance for civilization. On the other hand, there are insufficient material reserves in the first place, which is a cruel reality that may cause people to go hungry.
how to choose?
All civilized leaders except Zhao Changxing asked themselves that they were incapable of making a judgment on the issue of "whether we really want to take the risk of starving people to gain a chance."
Yes, it's just a probability.
Even if you do this, there is still a possibility that you will not be able to harvest any gravity bombs. Moreover, energy and materials that have been consumed cannot be recovered.
Except for Zhao Changxing, no one has such a vision, no one has such a long-term vision.
Zhao Changxing is not in a hurry to make a decision now. He just asked for all the detailed information about the expansion and transformation plan, and the material reserve database of the Yuanhang spacecraft, and then began to think carefully.
Everyone is waiting.
Zhao Changxing knew that he could not delay for too long. Within five days, at most, a decision must be made.
But on the third day, another thing reported by astronomers broke the calm of the current stage.
In the picture observed by the astronomical telescope, Zhao Changxing saw a shocking scene.
It was originally a huge, red, hot star. It has about half the mass of the sun, and there are several planets orbiting it.
It was a self-contained star world, just like the original solar system.
The astronomical telescope captured its image clearly. Even though it is several light years away, its brightness is still a bit dazzling in the picture.
It's so big, so powerful.
but……
The next moment, Zhao Changxing saw a shadow sweeping in from the lower left corner of the screen, like a solar eclipse, beginning to block the light of the star.
Zhao Changxing watched helplessly as it was like the moon, obscured in half, then slowly turned into a "crescent", and finally disappeared completely.
After a solar eclipse, stars will still appear. But this time, the huge star never appeared again.
Astronomical observations tell people that the star can no longer be seen in that direction. It, it seemed to be swallowed up by the "black mist".
"It's black mist again!"
At this moment, people couldn't help but think of what they saw on the projector screen among the wreckage.
Boundless black mist swept in, and many battleships that were so powerful that one ship could destroy the entire human civilization, and even the Moyun Litar civilization, were unable to even fight back, and turned into wreckage. I don’t know how long I have been drifting in the universe before I was met by people by chance.
People don't know if these two kinds of "black mist" are the same thing, but at least, they look similar.
Now, it's swallowing a star.
This star is called Lalande 21185. Yes, it is the star where the main body of Moyun Litar civilization was located.
At this moment, Villagash and other original Moyun Litar people were trembling all over, and their faces, tentacles, and feet were covered with large areas of dark yellow.
They were extremely frightened.
Because everyone can see that this is not a natural phenomenon. In other words, the probability that it is a natural phenomenon is extremely low and can be ignored.
If it is not a natural phenomenon, then nature is man-made. A reasonable explanation is that a certain super civilization arrived there and swallowed the star through an unknown method such as "black mist".
So... what about the Moyun Litar civilization?
"Is the Moyunli Tar civilization just like this, destroyed quietly?"
A civilized leader murmured, with a very complicated look on his face.
It's not quite like saying he's lucky. Although people embarked on this interstellar voyage precisely to escape the pursuit of the Moyun Litar civilization.
It doesn't sound like it's fear. Although this kind of god-like power is indeed worth fearing.
His expression was more like blank.
The universe is so vast. Super civilization is so powerful, but human civilization is so weak.
Where to go next?
Zhao Changxing whispered: "According to time, the Moyun Litar civilization should not have left the Lalande 21185 galaxy at this moment. They have most likely been destroyed at this moment. All the arrangements we left in the solar system have been made. It’s all in vain.”
The progress of the black hole swallowing the sun has accelerated. But at the same time, without the arrival of the Moyun Litar civilization and their exhaustive resource exploitation, it is not certain which one is better.
"The solar system is too close to that unknown existence. We can't go back. We still have to escape." Zhao Changxing's voice is still calm and firm: "The original plan remains unchanged. But at this moment, I don't think anyone will object to trying our best. Are there any plans to improve our strength?
So, build a new neutrino telescope. "
