From all-round academic master to chief scientist

The closing ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians

When they heard Lin Xiao complaining about how it was so easy to achieve surprising results, everyone present couldn't help laughing.

Indeed, Tao Zhexuan's joke can only be heard as a joke.

It would be outrageous if this kind of result could be achieved so easily.

Especially Lin Xiao is still researching battery technology recently.

These mathematicians also know more or less about the recent battery issues, so they also know about the dispute between Lin Xiao and Panasonic Group over the battery.

Of course, the main reason why this group of mathematicians would understand this kind of thing is Lin Xiao. They are obviously a top mathematician, but he is also a top physicist, chemist, and materials scientist. I am very interested in the matter, so it is normal to pay attention to it.

And battery research is so troublesome, how can Lin Xiao do anything good in mathematics while studying this thing?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

"Huh? It seems like there won't be any more?"

At this moment, Lin Xiao's voice suddenly sounded again.

The venue, which was originally filled with a cheerful atmosphere, suddenly came to an abrupt halt because of Lin Xiao's words.

What does Lin Xiao's sentence... mean?

Tao Zhexuan, who was standing on the stage, suddenly stopped laughing, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief in his heart.

"Uh...Lin, please say it again, what are you talking about?"

The people present held their breath again, waiting for Lin Xiao's answer.

At this time, Lin Xiao repeated it again: "Well, let me say, if you want to talk about surprising achievements, I seem to have one here?"

Hearing these words from Lin Xiao's mouth, everyone present suddenly showed shocked expressions.

Good guy, Lin Xiao really made another important achievement when he was researching battery technology?

"Uh..." Tao Zhexuan shook his head helplessly, and then said: "Well, I originally thought that this was just an opportunity for us to say hello to you collectively, and then by the way, you uh... can also participate in this year's event in this way. During the conference, but now it seems that we are about to get another surprise."

But then he smiled and said: "Of course, as a person who studies mathematics, I don't want to hear about a result that can surprise me without wondering what the result is. I believe everyone present Everyone, that’s what you think too, right?”

As he spoke, he also turned to look at the mathematicians present.

The mathematicians in the audience nodded one after another, and a mathematician sitting in the first row also stood up and shouted: "Lin, don't show off, tell me, what do you have?" What did you do?"

This mathematician is Pierre Deligne.

For mathematicians like them, they can be envious and jealous of Lin Xiao's many achievements, but when faced with Lin Xiao's achievements, they can't wait to see what Lin Xiao has done again. What is it.

After all, although in the past, when Lin Xiao produced results, mathematicians who studied the same subject would complain for a while, because once Lin Xiao produced results, it often meant that their efforts were in vain. However, when Lin Xiao really After achieving the results, it can also bring more value to their mathematical community, so they still hope that Lin Xiao can really bring some important results.

When Lin Xiao on the other side of the screen saw Deligne standing up, he also smiled and said hello: "Oh, Professor Deligne, nice to see you."

"Well, actually it may not be a mathematical theory, or some important equations, methods, etc., as everyone thinks."

"Tao, please, please show this function to everyone."

As he spoke, Lin Xiao picked up a piece of scratch paper in his hand, and what was written on it was the one-way function he accidentally discovered just now.

Tao Zhexuan nodded, and then presented the function displayed by Lin Xiao on the big screen behind him.

In this way, everyone in the room can see this function.

Of course, many people are also confused. Is there anything wrong with this function? That is to say, the part of f(x) is a bit too complicated. They can also see some traces of physics in it. If anyone present has studied quantum mechanics, it is easy to see that this function is related to quantum mechanics. relation.

However, the question now is, what does this function represent?

While most mathematicians were frowning and still thinking, some top mathematicians had already figured out something.

For example, Terence Tao standing on the stage.

As the first person in the audience to see the function given by Lin Xiao, he naturally started thinking about it from the first sight.

At the same time, as Tao, who knows a little bit about everything, he happened to have done some research on quantum mechanics and the P=NP problem, so his face finally became less calm.

"Wait a minute, is this function... incorrect? It needs to be verified again."

He muttered to himself, and then looked at the function again, wanting to verify it again.

At this moment, Lin Xiao spoke: "As you can see, this function is the surprising result I want to say."

"Because if I'm not mistaken, it should have successfully solved a millennium puzzle."

"That is, the P=NP problem."

Hearing Lin Xiao's words, everyone present was shocked again.

Many mathematicians sat up immediately.

Lin Xiao actually solved the P=NP problem?

It goes without saying that the difficulty of the P=NP problem is difficult, because compared with other problems, it is somewhat unclear which direction to start from when trying to prove it. From the starting point of view, it is not too clear, and It's different for other problems. Although the difficulty of solving them is not low, the starting point is relatively clear.

Therefore, they were all surprised when they heard that Lin Xiao had solved this problem.

Of course, many of them subconsciously thought that the solution Lin Xiao mentioned was proof. After all, it was also out of habit.

And this also made many people present feel a sense of absurdity. Can the P=NP problem really be proved?

For many people who study cryptography, this is like a bolt from the blue. After all, cryptography is based on the premise that P is not equal to NP. Their previous hard research, and cryptography Could it be that all the foundation stones laid over the past hundred years have been in vain?

And the most important thing is that the collapse of cryptography will eventually evolve into the collapse of modern information technology.

After all, when all passwords can be easily cracked, how many people will dare to keep their privacy on the Internet?

Of course, forget about these privacy issues. What I say is the same as now. Once cryptography collapses, the most dangerous thing will be the world's financial industry. After all, cryptography can no longer guarantee the security of property at this time. By then, there will be a run on the world. All banks will face the risk of bankruptcy.

The reserve ratio of banks around the world is generally maintained at single-digit percentage points. That is to say, once depositors accounting for 10% of their deposits want to withdraw their money, the bank will be unable to withdraw the money. You can only file for bankruptcy.

Once the bank goes bankrupt, capital operation will become empty talk, and companies will not be able to pay wages, because the company's money is also stored in the bank. By then, it is not impossible for the world to directly fall into a nuclear war.

Thinking of this, many cryptography experts who knew the harm suddenly felt a panic in their hearts, and even began to blame Lin Xiao in their hearts. Why should this thing be displayed in front of such a large public?

Even if he is the only one who knows, it will not cause such consequences.

However, just when a lot of cryptography experts were worried that the world would be destroyed because of this, suddenly, Tao Zhexuan's words brought them back to reality from the disaster movie.

"You mean, you falsified the P=NP problem? And this function is a one-way function?"

Tao Zhexuan's words finally made everyone present wake up.

Yes!

It just seems to be a more complicated function. How can it prove the P=NP problem?

Therefore, there is only one way out: falsification.

Thinking of this, the cryptographers who were still worrying were relieved, and then looked at the function given by Lin Xiao again.

This function is actually a one-way function?

Since it involves some aspects of quantum mechanics, it is still somewhat incomprehensible to most cryptography mathematicians. After all, not everyone is as good at everything as Terence Tao.

However, for these cryptographers, this is a one-way function after all. As an open problem in cryptography or information science, there are still many people interested in this thing, so They also tried their best to understand this one-way function, see if they could recreate some one-way functions based on this one-way function, and finally create a new password based on it.

Because obviously, using a one-way function as a password is much more secure than using other ordinary functions as a password. After all, this is a password that cannot be cracked even by P=NP.

Of course, Lin Xiao definitely doesn’t know what these cryptography experts think now, and if he really proves P=NP, he will definitely not make it public, because he naturally knows that once cryptography collapses, What impact will it have on the world.

After hearing what Terence Tao said, he smiled and said, "Yes, this is a one-way function."

"As you can see, now we input a function value into it, for example, let After substituting it in to find the value of x, we were surprised to find that the finally calculated value was not 1! It was some other value!"

"At this time, we will substitute the other calculated values ​​into the value of x, and the finally calculated y will be another value!"

"And this is obviously a one-way function."

"So now we can easily prove that P is not equal to NP. The building of cryptography is still intact, and its robustness has been successfully proven. So some friends who are studying cryptography here can Celebrated that.”

Lin Xiao's words were transmitted from the microphone on Tao Zhexuan's mobile phone, and then reached the ears of all mathematicians present through the microphone at the conference.

These mathematicians couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. Lin Xiao had said so, so there seemed to be no need for any doubts.

Of course, the most important thing is that there is nothing to doubt, because the function given by Lin Xiao is very simple to verify. You only need to see if it can, as Lin Xiao said, from the value of y. You will know if you get the original x value or even an incorrect x value.

Tao Zhexuan couldn't help but sigh: "Okay, then congratulations to our respected Dr. Lin, for once again successfully solving a Millennium Award problem."

"But to be honest, I am also very curious. What did you say just now, that this 'surprising result' was something you 'happened' to have? What do you mean by this?"

"That's the literal meaning, because I just discovered this magical function for a while, and then you called me and asked me to participate in our National Mathematicians Conference in this way." Lin Xiao couldn't help but sigh: "What a coincidence."

After hearing Lin Xiao's explanation, everyone present suddenly showed speechless expressions.

What does this mean?

Just happened to make a call, and then happened to meet someone who had solved another Millennium Prize problem?

What a coincidence, right?

At this time, Lin Xiao asked again: "By the way, speaking of which, I'm also very curious, why are you standing on the stage now?"

"Uh... I'm standing on the stage because I'm giving the closing speech."

Tao Zhexuan's face was also full of helplessness. Who could have imagined that such a thing would happen?

When he was delivering a speech, because he was thinking of Lin Xiao, he proposed to call Lin Xiao so that he could feel the atmosphere of their current mathematician conference, and this was supported by everyone.

For the vast majority of people who study mathematics, no one disrespects Lin Xiao, just like Grothendieck, the original emperor of mathematics. Therefore, thousands of them were asked to prepare such a project just for Lin Xiao. No one People will question that this is the treatment that Lin Xiao should enjoy.

However, who would have thought that such a good project they prepared would have such a plot.

Let Lin Xiao show off in front of them again.

Although Lin Xiao only gave a function, this finally completed the solution to this millennium problem, so this is still an important honor.

And this function does not mean that it is just a function.

After all, as the first one-way function discovered in the history of mathematics, the significance of this function must not only be solved by solving a millennium problem. The significance of one-way functions to cryptography is the most important. of.

Thinking of this, they didn't know whether to congratulate or envy him.

In the end, Tao Zhexuan stopped discussing the matter with Lin Xiao and started teasing him: "But, having said that, the Clay Research Institute already owes you a lot of money, right?"

Lin Xiao laughed: "That's true, but it depends on whether the Clay Institute is willing to come to China to hold this award ceremony. If that is the case, I will still welcome it."

"Then I hope Mr. Clay can think about it." Terence Tao also smiled.

The mathematicians present also laughed similarly.

Afterwards, there was almost nothing left to talk about, so Lin Xiao naturally stopped delaying their closing ceremony.

He said: "Okay, friends, thank you for giving me such treatment. I am very touched, and at the same time I have a sense of honor. Of course, I also know that your closing ceremony will still be held, so don't worry about it. I wasted time."

"Thank you all, and I hope our mathematics can explain all the truths in this universe in the future. Goodbye!"

"goodbye!"

Upon hearing Lin Xiao's farewell, the mathematicians present also waved to Lin Xiao and said goodbye.

Tao Zhexuan also said goodbye with a smile: "Okay, then goodbye, Lin, I hope we can meet sooner."

Lin Xiao smiled and said: "If you all vote to come to Beijing to hold the next conference, we will definitely be able to meet."

"Haha, this is a good proposal. I hope our World Mathematical Union can consider your proposal."

Terence Tao said.

"I hope so."

Then, they saw Lin Xiao hang up the video call with a smile.

Putting his phone back, Tao Zhexuan looked at the people present again, spread his hands for the last time, and smiled helplessly: "It seems that Lin is still the same Lin, and his record has been maintained."

The other people also had helpless smiles on their faces.

Indeed, Lin Xiao is still the same Lin Xiao, and has never changed.

He even maintained his record at the closing ceremony.

It seems that this International Congress of Mathematicians will also leave a deep impression on their minds.

…

On the other side, in Lin Xiao's office.

After hanging up the video, he still couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He never thought that one day he would be able to appear at the International Congress of Mathematicians in this way.

It's really a bit of a surprise.

But at this moment, he remembered what the system had just said.

For a moment, he frowned again.

"System, system, what do you mean? Can something that has been falsified be proven again?"

"Or, from a certain perspective, this function is not actually a one-way function?"

He didn't know how to understand such an incredible thing.

[There is one more chapter, because I haven’t saved it yet, so I have to wait until about two o’clock]