Chapter 178 The only woman to win the Fields Medal
After two days of communication reports, two days of meeting charter, and some time spent on receiving awards and other matters, Xu Chuan has been in Stockholm for nearly a week.
In a week, he didn't have much rest time in the past few days. He had to deal with greetings from academic friends, lectures, and international scientific symposiums.
The first two are easy to say, they can be solved after just dealing with them.
But the latter cannot be dealt with.
The international scientific symposium that follows the Crafford Prize will discuss and characterize the future of the field in which the winner's discipline corresponds.
This meeting was a major interference.
The conference on mathematics was a little simpler. Although Xu Chuan won the Craford Mathematics Prize, there were too many top experts in mathematics, and he did not need to pay attention to this aspect now.
The exchange between top bosses such as Deligne, Faltings, Gowers and Terence Tao was the core of the meeting. Xu Chuan also occasionally interjected a few words to express some of his own opinions.
Moreover, the path of mathematics does not need to be guided by the international scientific symposium after the Crafford Prize. This conference, after all, the subject of mathematics has its own international mathematics conference.
Therefore, this meeting is not so much a discussion about planning the development of mathematics, but an exchange between experts.
Xu Chuan has also reluctantly entered the ranks of ‘Big Bulls’. Although he is still at the bottom at the moment.
On the other hand, astronomy conferences cannot be discussed.
Because the xu-weyl-berry theorem is a method for calculating actuarial celestial parameters, it is very important to the astronomical community.
It can more accurately calculate some parameter information of distant celestial bodies. Although it is not all, or even only a small part of the various types of information needed by the astronomical community, it is still extremely important.
Because it can help astronomers more accurately judge the state of distant celestial bodies, it is undoubtedly very important for the future of mankind.
Such as Betelgeuse.
This red supergiant star 640 light-years away has been an active observation target in the astronomical community since it was last revealed by Xu Chuan that there is a companion star in its hydrogen envelope.
Countless telescopes, satellites and other astronomical equipment have set their sights on this huge star in its old age, hoping to find more secrets from it or determine its current precise life state.
Betelgeuse is too close to the earth.
The distance of 640 light years sounds very far, but on the scale of the universe, it is equivalent to you living in 403, and it living in 404. When you open the door, it is its home, and when it opens the door, it is your home.
Moreover, this neighbor also installed hundreds of kilograms of TNT in his home.
Once it explodes, no one knows whether the wall between the two houses can stop it.
This is what astronomers are worried about now, although according to previous observations and calculations, the power of the explosion will leak out from the window of 403 and will not affect 404.
But now someone suddenly tells you that the wall between your two houses may be of inferior quality, or the TNT explosive may be directional blasting, and may be facing your home.
Who can not worry about this?
.......
At the Craford Prize astronomy discussion meeting, Xu Chuan, as the founder of the xu-weyl-berry theorem actuarial celestial parameter calculation method, made remarks that were naturally related to it.
It can be said that it is the lifelong dream of every scientific researcher or scholar to promote the methods he has created.
Even Einstein and Grothendieck, who did not like their results to be used in the military, one burned his manuscripts in his later years and the other lived in seclusion in middle age, still hope to see the results of their research one day.
It is widely used in the scientific community and has been proven one day.
Xu Chuan naturally hopes that his research results will be widely used in the scientific community and all walks of life.
But compared to the astronomical community, the mathematical tools used in the actuarial calculation of celestial body parameters using the Xu-Weyl-Berry theorem are a bit too esoteric.
Although this is nothing to the mathematical community, for most astronomers in the astronomical community who only use Kepler's three laws and other mathematical methods, it is like a bible that cannot be understood.
Regarding this, Xu Chuan has no good solution for the time being.
This is not something that can be solved overnight. We can only wait for these astronomers to learn to use this tool.
However, during the meeting, Xu Chuan had another sudden idea that he did not mention.
That's modeling.
Establish a mathematical model for the actuarial celestial parameter calculation method of xu-weyl-berry theorem.
Although calculating different parameter information, different celestial bodies, and even different types of stars, such as red dwarfs, orange dwarfs, and brown dwarfs, all require different methods and different twisting transformations of the xu-weyl-berry theorem.
Even many Xu Chuan himself has not started to study and deal with it, but it can be unified after all, and the types of stars are also limited.
Stars, planets, neutron stars, black holes, all kinds of celestial bodies, even if they are classified into small units, the number of types can be counted.
In addition, the root of all calculation methods is the twist of Xu-Weyl-Berry's theorem. If he doesn't mind the trouble, he might be able to write a complete mathematical model in a few or more years.
At that time, astronomers only need to input the corresponding observed parameters into the mathematical model, and then click a button to calculate the required parameter information.
This is unlike the previous use of mathematical methods to calculate particle channels, which cannot be universal and cannot be modeled.
The xu-weyl-berry theorem method for calculating actuarial celestial parameters can establish a mathematical model. Although it requires a lot of writing, it can indeed be done.
Undoubtedly, this is indeed very convenient.
But for Xu Chuan, this is a super troublesome and time-consuming matter.
If it were anyone else, maybe they would express their inner thoughts at the meeting because of a sudden rush of emotion, and then they would be harassed day and night by the astronomy community.
After all, he is the only one who has the ability to make this model now.
So for the sake of his own peace, Xu Chuan kept this idea in his heart.
After a few years, when enough people in the mathematics or astronomy circles understand the xu-weyl-berry theorem, this idea can be proposed.
Of course, the more important thing is that his ambition is not in the astronomical world, and he does not pay much attention to or care about the results of the astronomical world.
After all, with today's technology, even if he does well in the astronomical world and finds hundreds of Earth-like planets or immigrant-friendly planets, or discovers some great achievements, or even finds the legendary white hole or something
, and it's not of much use.
These discoveries may allow him to win the Nobel Prize and gain a greater status in the astronomical community. But to be honest, he is not very interested in the Nobel Prize, nor is he interested in his status in the astronomical community.
It can even be said that the awards that he has not won, such as the Crawford Prize, the Abel Prize, the Wolf Prize and other awards, are more attractive to him.
Or, using the knowledge in his mind to perfect a technology or theory is more satisfying than gaining a higher status in the astronomical world.
...
After staying in Stockholm for a week, Xu Chuan won the Crafford Prize in Mathematics and Astronomy, two medals made of pure gold, two certificates and a bonus of one million meters of gold.
The prize money of the Crafford Prize is 500,000 meters in gold alone. He won the Mathematics Prize and the Astronomy Prize at the same time, which is 1 million meters in gold.
If we look at the amount of prize money alone, two Crafford Prizes are worth as much as one Nobel Prize.
But in fact, in terms of individual prize money, the prize money of the Crawford Prize often exceeds that of the Nobel Prize.
The reason is very simple. Nobel prizes are usually awarded to two or three people.
As for the Crafford Award, most of the time, there is basically only one winner.
If the Nobel Prize is awarded to three people, then the three people will equally share the prize of about 1 million gold, which is about 330,000 gold for each person. This is not comparable to the Crawford Prize.
Of course, the significance of an award does not lie in the amount of the prize.
The prize money is just an incidental gift to the winner, more or less, it has only a symbolic meaning.
After all, those who can win the Nobel Prize or the Craford Prize have made contributions to academia or society that far exceed the bonuses they can receive from these awards.
.......
With the certificate and bonus, Xu Chuan returned to Princeton and returned to campus study life.
"Xu, are you ready to graduate?"
In Professor Pierre Deligne's office, both Witten and Deligne were present. The two old men looked at Xu Chuan sitting on the other side and asked.
This was something the two old professors discussed when Xu Chuan was still giving a lecture in Stockholm.
After all, their student's achievements in mathematics and physics were enough to graduate from Princeton.
Although he has only been in Princeton for more than half a year, Princeton does not pay attention to this, whether it is half a year or three years, Princeton only looks at ability.
If you are capable enough, let alone graduate in half a year, there is no problem even if you study for half a year and then directly work as a professor at Princeton.
"It's too early, teacher, I still have a lot to learn."
Xu Chuan shook his head and replied that he had actually been able to graduate a long time ago, but graduating now was not in line with his original intention of coming to Princeton.
He came here to study mathematics and physics, and to learn knowledge.
Especially after he had seen that having sufficient mathematical ability could produce exquisite chemical reactions with physics or other subjects, he didn't want to graduate early.
】
Now there are two super masters, Witten and Deligne, as his mentors. Before draining the knowledge of these two mentors, graduation should be postponed for a while.
Both Deligne and Witten have enough knowledge to guide and teach him.
"Are you really not considering graduation?"
Deligne took a sip of coffee and continued: "You can still choose to stay at Princeton after graduation."
"Whether you want to continue your studies as a postdoctoral fellow or apply for a professorship at Princeton University, you can do it. If you win the Crafford Mathematics Award, you are fully qualified to be a full professor at Princeton University."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan smiled and said: "A nineteen-year-old professor at Princeton University really breaks history. I remember that the youngest full professor at Princeton seems to be Professor Shi Yigong, who is thirty-five years old, right?"
Deligne nodded and said, "Professor Shi is a very good person, but what about your choice?"
Xu Chuan smiled and declined, saying: "Being a nineteen-year-old full professor at Princeton is indeed very tempting, but in comparison, I would rather study here."
This answer is actually a pun.
Not only does it answer Professor Deligne's question, it also means that he will not be a professor at Princeton, this is just a place for him to study.
Of course, Xu Chuan doesn't mind having titles such as honorary professor or tenured professor without being employed.
"Since you insist, then it's up to you."
Regarding Xu Chuan's choice, Deligne and Witten were not surprised at all. This student has always been like this.
What's more, the age of eighteen or nineteen is the time for learning.
Although you can study after graduation, studying on campus and studying in society are two completely different states.
Different identities and different statuses naturally lead to different learning states.
...
After rejecting the suggestions from his two instructors to graduate early, Xu Chuan re-entered his daily studies.
It's just that it's already December now, and there isn't much time left to study this year. After all, I will definitely go back to celebrate the New Year.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The days passed like this, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the middle to late twelfth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
In a few days, the Chinese New Year will be approaching.
At the same time, Xu Chuan also put away his interest in studying a little and prepared to buy a plane ticket to go home for the New Year.
But to some surprise, before leaving, the Ivy League Eating Club of Princeton University, which he often went to, found out about his lunar birthday from somewhere and rented the school's auditorium to hold a birthday party for him.
There were many people attending the party. In addition to the members of the club, there were also many other students, and even several top professors such as Deligne, Witten, and Fefferman came.
Although these professors just came to say happy birthday and left, it was really touching that there were still people in a foreign country who remembered his birthday.
...
After spending the 12th day of the New Year in his hometown, Xu Chuan bid farewell to his parents and returned to Princeton again.
Compared with last year's high profile, he has made certain achievements in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy and other fields. After the start of this year's school, he will undoubtedly be much more low-key.
Except for some awards awarded to him, he declined all other things, whether it was interviews or visits to ask him to give reports.
In this way, Xu Chuan followed two mentors and devoted himself to learning mathematics and physics.
In the blink of an eye, nearly half a year has passed and July has arrived.
In mid-July, a big event happened in the world of mathematics.
So far, the only woman in the field of mathematics to win the Fields Medal, Professor Maryam Mirzakhani, passed away on July 15th due to breast cancer.