From all-round academic master to chief scientist

"Crazy, crazy, really all crazy!"

Physicists at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton were holding their heads and looking at the paper by their dear colleague, Edward Witten.

If you want to prove the existence of strings, you must have actual data and rigorous mathematical derivation as support.

Just as Lin Xiao proved the existence of the Yang-Mills gauge field and the mass gap issue, it is a rigorous mathematical derivation demonstration. In experiments, scientists have already determined the existence of the mass gap through many experiments. This is also Why many scientists are convinced there is a mass gap.

However, through experimental proof, scientists can only get a glimpse of it but not the whole thing. Because the mass gap is difficult to observe, they cannot judge its situation through experimental data at all. Therefore, in the end, mathematical rigor is still needed. Demonstration allows them to further determine its detailed nature.

The existence of strings is different. Various string theories have proven their existence through rigorous mathematical derivation. However, it is still controversial, and some people still do not believe in the existence of strings.

This must mention the importance of experimental proof.

After all, there is a saying in physics: Experiments can overturn theories, but theories cannot overturn experiments.

Before the results of the experiment appear, the objective truth will always be covered with a veil. No one can be 100% sure that their inferences outside the veil are an accurate description of the scene inside the veil. .

And this is also consistent with philosophy. As we all know, experiment is the only standard for testing truth.

Therefore, if there is no "string" that can be proven experimentally, it will never be accepted by everyone.

All physicists in the world maintain this dubious attitude when facing string theory. At the same time, most people are prepared to never discover the existence of strings in their lifetime.

It turned out that some time ago, quantum mechanics and relativity appeared, which they were also prepared for and would never be unified in this lifetime. As a result, it had not been long ago. Strictly speaking, Lin Xiao's paper had been published less than two months ago. As a result, now Xian was also discovered?

In this paper, Witten extracted experimental data from the particle collider, and then successfully completed the final proof through the surprise Lin Xiao gave him, that is, the mathematical derivation method.

This time, his method of discovering strings was based on the inference that a closed string would be produced when heavy ions collide.

The appearance of a closed string will cause a part of the energy to dissipate. As long as this part of the lost energy is discovered during calculations, the existence of the closed string can be proved. And as long as the existence of the closed string is proved, it is enough to clarify the basic assumption of string theory: "String ",It exists.

In past experiments, in heavy ion collision experiments, although researchers have studied and processed the experimental data many times, this part of the lost energy has never been found, so researchers generally believe that this is still Because the energy of the collision was not enough, the closed string was not knocked out, and naturally it could not be discovered.

As for Witten's paper, he also did not try to find it based on this method. After all, he had failed on this many times.

The method he used was the same as when Lin Xiao discovered the existence of strings.

Through various experimental data and mathematical deductions, it is clear that strings must be involved in the occurrence of this reaction, or that strings play a role in it. Based on this principle, it is enough to determine the existence of strings.

Otherwise, if it is not a string, it can only be some other substance.

But obviously, this possibility is very low. After all, how can something that is exactly the same as a chord according to its mathematical model not be a string?

Therefore, through this relatively ingenious method, Witten successfully clarified the existence of strings, and even physicists who once thought that strings did not exist could not find any reason to refute it at this time.

Ever since, all the physics professors at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton got the news and rushed to find Witten, hoping to learn something from him.

Not only physics professors from the Institute for Advanced Study, but also physics professors from Princeton University and physicists from some research institutions next door came over to hear Witten's thoughts.

"Witten, it turns out that you stayed in China for so long just for this thing, right? How did you do it?"

"Witten, you and Lin were studying this for the past few months, right? How did you two manage to solve so many physics problems in these few months? I I just want to interview you like this at this time.”

"Witten..."

Facing the inquiries from so many friends and colleagues, Witten's face looked radiant.

When he successfully proved the existence of strings, he looked very happy. His lifelong wish came true. How could he not be happy about it?

He said with a smile: "Okay, everyone, don't be so anxious. As you said, I have been studying this issue in China for the past few months, and during this process, Lin gave I’m a big help.”

Recalling the exchanges with Lin Xiao over the past few months and the inspiration he continued to get from Lin Xiao, his heart was full of emotion at this moment.

That can be regarded as one of the most comfortable days in his academic career. The other most comfortable day was the period after he proposed M theory.

When the physicists present heard Witten's answer and saw his nostalgic look, they couldn't help but become curious. What kind of experience could make Witten react like this?

Then, Witten began to talk about what happened during this period.

"At first, I felt that the research environment in China was not as good as ours. But after I arrived at Lin's Dingguang Research Institute, oh, let me introduce you to the Dingguang Research Institute first. This research institute was specially prepared by the Chinese government for Lin. According to my observations over the past few months, this institute has more resources than our Institute for Advanced Study..."

Next, Witten began to introduce them to them from the Dingguang Research Institute.

After hearing Witten's description, the professors present couldn't help but yearn for it. How wonderful would it be to have a research environment where they didn't have to be tortured by project funding?

Especially the cafeteria that Witten talked about at the end made some professors present who were more interested in food feel a little greedy.

"...Especially the sweet tofu puff. If you go there anytime, you must try it."

As he spoke, Witten began to bring in private goods, and Maldacena, who had been listening next to him, couldn't help but stand up, "Okay, Witten, don't sell that thing here." I’ve been to the sweet tofu pudding, so if friends here really want to go, the most important thing to try is the salty tofu pudding, not the sweet tofu pudding.”

"Also, Witten, you should tell me how you cooperated with Lin to finally find the string, right?"

"Yes, let's talk about food and other things next time. How do you and Lin cooperate?"

Witten just wanted to have another party fight with Maldacena, but since the professors present began to urge their cooperation, he had no choice but to start talking.

"Actually, this idea in the paper was told to me by Lin. Although I didn't agree with it at first, in my subsequent communication with him, he proved to me the feasibility of this direction through other methods. Sex, and then…”

As Witten narrated, those present also had a deeper understanding of Lin Xiao's talent.

In their eyes, Witten is already powerful enough, but it is really incredible that Witten can always get inspiration from Lin during his cooperation with Lin.

"...In short, it was during Lin's report that he told me the surprise, and I finally mastered the method to prove the existence of strings, so I added Lin's name to the author's signature of the paper. Name, when I mentioned it, he didn’t agree at first.”

After speaking, Witten shook his head with emotion. In Lin Xiao, he completely saw the image of a super genius.

The others also had the same expression. From every word of Witten, they could feel their admiration for Lin Xiao. In addition, even Lin Xiao initially expressed his unwillingness to accept this article, which was enough to leave a mark in the history of physics. The author's signature of the paper was even more surprising to them, and Witten wanted to give Lin Xiao the co-authorship position.

"But having said that, why do I always feel that according to what you said, Witten, Lin seems to be very confident in this idea, as if...as if he has done this before and successfully proved the existence of strings? "

Suddenly, someone said at this time.

Others couldn't help but nod, "It does feel like that."

Witten smiled bitterly: "I also asked Lin this question, but Lin just said that I thought too much."

"Thinking about it now, Lin's tone at that time always seemed a little strange."

Everyone present looked at each other. If this is true, then this Lin Xiao is really terrible. He has already proved the existence of strings but has not published the paper?

They all couldn't believe it.

"Forget it, let's not worry about it for now. Now I think it is necessary for our Institute of Advanced Studies to cooperate with Lin's Dingguang Institute to strengthen mutual exchanges in the future. I am a little jealous listening to what Witten said. "

At this time, a professor said.

And everyone else agreed.

"This is a good proposal, I am 100% in favor of it."

"Then let's go find the dean."

"let's go."

Ever since, such a group of physicists went to find the dean of the Institute for Advanced Study.