After parting ways with Zhang Zhipeng, Zhao Min briskly walked toward the Computer Science Department. Her steps felt as light as if she were walking on clouds, each one landing as if on a beautiful musical note.
Her mood was like a flower slowly blooming, making everything before her seem incredibly beautiful.
Upon returning to the Computer Science Department, Zhao Min headed straight for the office of the department head, Wang Zhongxue.
When she knocked on the door, Wang Zhongxue saw her and smiled, saying, "I was just about to look for you, and here you are."
Zhao Min smiled and asked, "Director, is there something you need?"
Wang Zhongxue replied, "Academician Zheng Jingzhi from the Aeronautical Engineering Department called me. He said he's working on a major national research project and needs your assistance."
"Academician Zheng holds you in high regard; this is an honor for our department!"
"Our department will try to reduce your teaching load in the future so that you can focus on the research project with Academician Zheng."
Zhao Min was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Zheng Jingzhi to personally reach out to Wang Zhongxue on her behalf, showing just how important Zhang Zhipeng was to Zheng Jingzhi.
Quickly, Zhao Min said, "Thank you, Director Wang. I will follow the leadership and the school's arrangements."
"Here! Professor Zheng specifically wrote a document for me to give to you."
Zhao Min handed over the paper signed by Zheng Jingzhi to Wang Zhongxue.
Smiling, Wang Zhongxue took it, glanced at it, and said, "With this, things will be even smoother."
"Xiao Zhao, you seem to be in a great mood today. Did something good happen?"
Zhao Min waved her hand with a smile, "Not at all!"
"I actually feel pretty good every day."
Wang Zhongxue nodded, saying, "Young people should maintain an optimistic and positive attitude!"
"When you assist them with this project, make sure you give it your all!"
"The country is facing tough times! Our fighter jet technology is indeed lagging behind the world's advanced levels."
Wang Zhongxue offered some encouragement, and Zhao Min naturally responded with strong assurances.
Wang Zhongxue smiled and said, "You're up for a lecturer's evaluation soon, right? Make sure your research achievements are ready! Aim to pass on the first try!"
Zhao Min replied, "Director, I haven't published enough papers yet. I'll try to publish another paper in a core journal as soon as possible."
In academia, research achievements are extremely important, often more so than teaching performance. Even if you excel in teaching, without papers or projects, you can forget about advancing in rank.
Nodding, Wang Zhongxue smiled and said, "Keep pushing! You can take advantage of your involvement in Academician Zheng's project to get a few papers published."
"Don't be shy. If there's a chance to add your name to a project paper, don't miss it, understand?"
Zhao Min thought, "I can't be too unscrupulous just to publish papers, right? Others have to be willing to include me."
But since Wang Zhongxue meant well, she could only smile and agree.
After chatting with Wang Zhongxue for a bit, Zhao Min took her leave.
Looking at the time, it was nearly 3 p.m. Zhao Min then rode her Phoenix 26 bicycle straight to the Aviation Lab building.
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At this time, Zhang Zhipeng's laboratory was a hive of activity.
Zhang Zhipeng had already gained some basic skills in operating the lithography machine. He personally operated the lithography machine to expose the silicon wafers.
During this process, his experience was rapidly increasing.
【Congratulations to the host, you have mastered the basic skills of using a deep ultraviolet lithography machine to manufacture 0.25-micron chips!】
【Congratulations to the host, you have mastered the intermediate skills of using a deep ultraviolet lithography machine to manufacture 0.25-micron chips!】
Calm and skilled, Zhang Zhipeng operated the small projection-type deep ultraviolet lithography machine he had handcrafted, exposing the silicon wafer under the lens. Watching the circuit diagram slowly appear on the silicon wafer, he was in an excellent mood.
Meanwhile, the others in the lab were also busy with various tasks.
Just as Zhang Zhipeng finished processing the first 8-inch silicon wafer with the lithography machine, Zhao Min walked in. She noticed that the lab had undergone significant changes.
A dust-free area had been specially set up in the lab for chip manufacturing.
This area is isolated by a transparent inflatable barrier, and the ventilation is managed by a fresh air system that Zhang Zhipeng personally crafted by hand. He also incorporated a filtration device, which he, along with Tian Hongtao and others, created themselves.
Zhang Zhipeng put a lot of effort into creating this dust-free space.
Inside the dust-free area, Zhang Zhipeng saw Zhao Min and smiled, waving at her, indicating that she could observe in the laboratory for a while.
Zhao Min smiled back and told him to go ahead with his work, saying she would do what she could in the lab.
Zhang Zhipeng then continued working in the dust-free environment.
After photolithography and development, the chip still needed to undergo etching, ion implantation, and finally, needle testing to check the electrical characteristics of the die, among other steps.
The work was quite complex.
Zhang Zhipeng figured out the entire process on his own.
Unknowingly, several hours passed.
Everything was progressing smoothly.
During the busy process, Zhang Zhipeng's experience was rapidly increasing.
【Congratulations, Host! You have acquired the advanced skill of manufacturing 0.25-micron chips using a deep ultraviolet lithography machine!】
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the complete process for manufacturing large-scale deep ultraviolet lithography machines!】
【Congratulations, Host! You have acquired the complete process for manufacturing large-scale etching machines!】
【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the complete process for manufacturing large-scale automated chip packaging equipment!】
…
Although there was a bit of tension, Zhang Zhipeng was in an exceptionally good mood as he listened to the system notifications in his mind.
When he finished packaging the CPU he crafted by hand, he noticed that it was already past 9 PM.
It was then that he realized many people were standing outside the dust-free area, including Principal Dong Haoming, with Zheng Jingzhi standing beside him.
Zhang Zhipeng smiled and waved to the people outside, placing the packaged CPU into a small box lined with soft cloth, and then he stepped out of the dust-free area.
“How did it go? Is it done?” Zheng Jingzhi asked eagerly.
Zhang Zhipeng made an OK gesture and replied with a smile, “It’s made.”
“But we’ll need to test it to see how well it works.”
Dong Haoming smiled and said, “Then let’s test it!”
“Let’s see how it performs!”
Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, “I’m a little nervous right now.”
“I’m not sure how well this thing I made will perform.”
“But its process technology has already reached 0.25 microns, and it has 6 million transistors.”
“This is currently the most advanced chip process in the world.”
Tian Hongtao, very excited, smiled and said, “So, does that mean our chip technology is now leading the world?”
Zhang Zhipeng nodded and said, “You could say that, but this is just a laboratory process. It will take some time before we can achieve mass production.”
Dong Haoming smiled and said, “As long as the lab can produce it, with some refinement and improvement in the process, mass production will come quickly.”
“Right now, I’m really quite excited, haha!”
“The CPU is indeed a cornerstone of the electronic information industry. If we can overcome this, the development of our electronic information industry will no longer be hindered by the West!”
“Most importantly, our aircraft avionics systems should be well secured!”
Next, under the watchful eyes of Principal Dong Haoming and Zheng Jingzhi, Zhang Zhipeng conducted a performance test on the CPU he had just crafted in the lab.