From all-round academic master to chief scientist - Chapter 291 International Congress of Mathematicians, Fields Medal!

Facts have proven that playing at your home court often has an advantage.

So Lin Xiao finally succeeded in evading the “pursuit” of that group of mathematicians.

And after this report, he went into hiding, and just sent a message to these mathematicians who came from afar: If we want to meet, it is better to wait until the International Congress of Mathematicians starts.

Anyway, now, he will not appear in front of his door again.

If they met directly, there would be no need to send a blade and they would stab him directly.

As for the mathematicians who failed to catch Lin Xiao, they were all angry and funny.

After failing to catch Lin Xiao, these mathematicians had no choice but to go to the School of Mathematical Sciences of Peking University and ask them to help call Lin Xiao over. As a result, the School of Mathematical Sciences sent them Lin Xiao’s words.

This makes them even more helpless.

“Tell me, what is Professor Lin’s plan?”

That afternoon, at a banquet organized by the School of Mathematical Sciences, Terence Tao, who also flew over from the United States, raised the question that everyone wanted to know.

“Who knows?” A mathematics professor from MIT spread his hands and was also very helpless: “But, I always feel that Professor Lin wants to make a big news.”

“Hey, everyone should have heard that at the end of his report, he made the mistake of saying ‘Hodge’s Theorem’ twice in a row. I always feel that he is hiding something in his heart!” At this time, Deligne also spoke, and also Rubbing his waist, he wanted to chase Lin Xiao for the first time today, but he almost twisted his waist. It took him so long to feel better.

When it comes to the fact that Lin Xiao mistakenly called “Hodge’s conjecture” as “Hodge’s theorem”, people present had even more questions. In any case, normally speaking, it is impossible to call Hodge’s conjecture “Hodge’s theorem”. It’s Hodge’s theorem, right?

Even Hodge himself did not have any mathematical knowledge called Hodge’s theorem, that is, there was just a Hodge theory, and the theory and theorem were obviously completely different.

Not to mention calling the wrong thing twice in a row, the chance is even lower.

So the question is, did Lin Xiao really shout the wrong name due to a slip of the tongue, or did he shout the wrong name completely intentionally?

If it’s the latter, then it’s very scary to think about it…

“Professor Zhao, do you know what’s going on?”

At this time, Deligne asked Dean Zhao Qi next to him.

Zhao Qi recalled the phone call with Lin Xiao a few months ago, and then said: “I don’t know much, but about three months ago, Professor Lin said that he was studying the Hodge conjecture, and then Over the past few months, he has basically been studying this Hodge conjecture at his home, and I don’t know the specific progress.”

“That’s it.”

The mathematicians present became even more agitated.

Lin Xiao has been studying the Hodge conjecture for so long?

If you put it this way, does he really have any more breakthrough progress in the Hodge conjecture than the integral Hodge conjecture in the report?

Even……

These mathematicians felt that their hearts were even more itchy, and they wished they could just grab Lin Xiao and ask him directly.

At this time, Terence Tao suddenly asked: “Have you all read the original report that Professor Lin is preparing to give at the International Congress of Mathematicians?”

“Of course I have.”

Most of the mathematicians present nodded.

For reports by heavyweight mathematicians like Lin Xiao, they will of course download them from the official website in advance, read them carefully, and then ask about them when they listen to the report later.

Moreover, the theme of Lin Xiao’s report was related to the Hodge Conjecture, which made them even more compelled to pay attention.

After reading that report, many of them who studied algebraic geometry and mathematicians who had conducted in-depth research on the Hodge conjecture felt extremely excited. A perfect integral Hodge conjecture would directly push the Hodge conjecture into the future. Arriving at a simplified range gave them hope of completely solving the Hodge conjecture.

It’s just that the trick Lin Xiao played at the end of his report made mathematicians like them unable to hold back. Originally, several of them planned to ask Lin Xiao directly at the International Congress of Mathematicians, and then they really I couldn’t wait any longer, so I ran over to listen to Lin Xiao’s report, and then have a good exchange with Lin Xiao in the next few days. But now it’s better. Lin Xiao ran away. If I want to meet again, I have to wait until that day. .

When everyone nodded, Tao Zhexuan said: “Have you noticed that Professor Lin’s report today seems to be completely connected with his report at the International Congress of Mathematicians? Even these two reports were placed in the If we talk about it together, there won’t be any disharmony.”

Hearing this, everyone nodded. These two reports can indeed be put together, and both reports can be combined into one paper.

When they discovered this, they were even more surprised. According to the arrangement, Lin Xiao’s report was on July 7, and then he gave another report on June 30. Can the two reports be put together?

“Ahem, haven’t you noticed it yet?”

Just when many mathematicians present were puzzled, a mathematician who had been eating food finally stopped using his chopsticks and said with a smile.

Everyone couldn’t help but turn their heads and saw Andrew Wiles picking up a piece of paper and wiping his mouth. It seemed that he was the one who had the best meal.

“What do you see?”

Andrew Wiles picked up the cup again with a smile, took a slow sip of the red wine inside, and then said: “This matter is easy to guess! Don’t you know?”

Deligne said angrily: “Andrew, stop being so pretentious and say it quickly.”

“Hey, Deligne, you are not like you before. I remember you were very patient before.” Andrew Wiles still looked plain.

Deligne: “…You have to know that it is the Hodge conjecture. Since solving the Weil conjecture, I have spent a lot of time studying the Hodge conjecture! Even the Clay Institute’s problem statement on the Hodge conjecture , all given by me.”

Andrew Wiles was stunned. This is indeed true. If the Weil conjecture solved by Deligne is one of the most important mathematical conjectures in algebraic geometry, the status of Hodge’s conjecture in algebraic geometry is even higher than Weil’s conjecture is even more important.

For Deligne, this is not only the inheritance of his teacher Grothendieck’s last wish, but also the pursuit of his life.

So Andrew Wiles said: “Well, this is indeed something I didn’t expect, but believe me, Lin Xiao will definitely surprise you.”

“Why do you say that?” Deligne asked.

“Because Lin Xiao is now my confidant, so I trust him.”

Andrew Wiles had a grateful smile on his face.

Lin Xiao learned this routine from him, and he was too familiar with it.

Therefore, Lin Xiao is certainly his confidant now.

Of course, he hoped that Lin Xiao would not be like him and would have to wait until two years before it was “obvious”.

Others were still a little confused after listening to Wiles’s words. However, when they saw Wiles picking up chopsticks and starting to pick up food, they had no choice but to stop asking more questions for the time being. At the same time, they murmured in their hearts, what happened to Wiles? Can you use chopsticks?

…

A few days passed quickly.

This International Congress of Mathematicians started on July 6, so these mathematicians basically set off from Beijing on July 3, and then flew to St. Petersburg to attend this International Congress of Mathematicians.

As for Lin Xiao, he set off on July 2.

However, of course he did not go alone, there were four other people who also went.

Four Zhonghai bodyguards, including Shi Hao.

Even though I am going to Russia this time, I still have to have the necessary protection.

In addition, the Russian government was also very serious about Lin Xiao’s arrival and would provide good protection for Lin Xiao. It directly arranged for three armed bodyguards to protect Lin Xiao.

In other words, Lin Xiao was directly protected by seven bodyguards here.

This also made him feel helpless.

Although this represented the common attention of the two governments, for him, just having one Shi Hao as a bodyguard was enough to make him uncomfortable, let alone seven people.

Of course, this was also for his safety, so he had nothing to say. It was only for ten days anyway.

But after he came here, he didn’t run around and checked into the hotel directly.

Because he was afraid of being discovered by other mathematicians and then not being able to escape.

So I stayed in the hotel for four days with peace of mind, getting rid of the jet lag, until July 6th.

…

On July 6, this International Congress of Mathematicians officially started.

At 8:30 a.m. Russian time, many people poured in at the entrance of the St. Petersburg National Theater.

At this time, Lin Xiao also came here under the personal protection of seven bodyguards.

Looking at the door of the Grand Theater, just like the last International Congress of Mathematicians, a group of people from the civil sciences gathered around and wanted to run in, holding various papers in their hands. He couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

“These people are really idle.”

Suddenly, his brows moved and he saw several familiar mathematicians, all of whom had attended his report a week ago, so he quickly covered his face and quickly walked into the venue.

Of course, after arriving at the venue, the seven bodyguards could no longer follow him. Of course, two bodyguards were arranged beside him and would sit next to him later. As for the other five, they were standing at the venue. Finally, respond to emergencies at any time.

Soon, the time came to nine o’clock.

All participants were basically seated, and more than 3,000 mathematicians and mathematics enthusiasts from all over the world were waiting for the official start of the conference.

At this time, someone finally walked up to the rostrum.

Professor Orejevich, chairman of the organizing committee of this conference, first delivered a speech and welcomed all comers. Next, Carlos Kenig, chairman of the International Mathematical Union, delivered a speech.

Carlos Kenig is the new president of IMU. When he walked to the podium, he looked around at the mathematicians present and said with a smile: “Hello friends who have come from afar, welcome to the 2022 International Mathematicians. The scene of the conference.”

“Here, please allow me to express my sincere greetings to every friend.”

“Looking back on 2019, I was elected as the president of the International Mathematical Union. It seems like just yesterday. In the blink of an eye, the 29th International Congress of Mathematicians is about to be held.”

“Looking back on the past four years of the development of the mathematics community, I believe every friend is willing to call it a miraculous four years. In these four years, we have witnessed many things that we thought were impossible in this life have happened. “

“I also hope that in the next four years, we will continue to create more miracles.”

“Then, I won’t say any more. Next, let’s start the most critical part of our opening ceremony.”

“Next, start awarding the Gauss Prize.”

After Carlos Kenig finished his speech, the meeting immediately reached its climax.

The most important part of every International Congress of Mathematicians is the awards ceremony at the opening ceremony.

The five major awards of the International Congress of Mathematicians are the Gauss Medal, the Chern Medal, the Leelavati Medal, the Newanglina Medal, and the most important Fields Medal.

The Gauss Prize is mainly awarded to mathematicians in applied mathematics and is also the highest award in the field of applied mathematics. The Chern Medal is a lifetime achievement award that rewards mathematicians who have made extremely outstanding contributions. Their achievements need to represent the highest level of mathematical research. The Leelavati Award is awarded to those who have made great contributions to the promotion of mathematics, and the Newanglina Award is awarded to mathematicians in computer science.

The most eye-catching Fields Medal, of course, needs no further introduction. There are differences between awards. The Fields Medal is known as the Nobel Prize in mathematics, which undoubtedly represents its heavy weight. .

In this way, after first awarding the Gauss Medal, the Chern Medal and the Leelavati Medal, this International Congress of Mathematicians finally waited for the Fields Medal.

With a smile on his face, Carlos Kenig sent the winner of the Leelavati Award off the stage, then walked back to the microphone and looked around the silent venue.

Then, he smiled and said: “Next, it will be the turn of the Fields Medal that everyone has been waiting for.”

“First of all, let us thank Mr. John Charles Fields. Mr. Fields provided great help to us in organizing the International Congress of Mathematicians and also brought us the Fields Medal, which is full of Charm, the award that represents our highest achievement in mathematics.”

“This conference also inherits Mr. Fields’s last wish and will award this award to recognize mathematicians who have made outstanding contributions in the past.”

“Then, I will announce the first winner.”

As Kenig said these words, the atmosphere in the audience became calmer again, and it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath and waited quietly for the appearance of the first protagonist of this conference.

And Kenig slowly spoke.

“He, like the rising sun, shed a large ray of morning light on the world of mathematics as soon as he emerged. His outstanding research on number theory is amazing, especially his sense of prime numbers, which is like the god of wisdom coming back again. Shine——From the infinity of Fibonacci prime numbers to the distribution of Mersenne prime numbers, he once reached out and picked off the two brightest pearls in the crown of number theory, laying the foundation for the work he hoped to do 122 years ago. Albert’s eighth question of the century brought two-thirds of the answers.”

“Number theory is a game for geniuses, and this genius shows what kind of talent is needed to play this game.”

“And this genius was not limited to this game. He also peeked into the field of algebraic geometry, and proposed a conjecture named after himself, and then personally ended the conjecture, once again forging the unification of mathematics. Make a huge contribution.”

“At the same time, he also brought into play the function of mathematics, the language of God, and as a mathematician, he made huge contributions to the world of physics, materials science, and chemistry.”

“So, if someone asks me who has the chance to solve the Riemann Hypothesis in this century, then I will definitely answer, yes–“

“Lin Xiao!”

“Congratulations to Professor Lin Xiao for winning the first Fields Medal at this International Congress of Mathematicians!”