The top student must be diligent.

Chapter 169: CERN Conference Like a Market
After finishing his explanation, Xiao Yi turned to look at the physicists present.

But the meeting room at CERN fell into silence, and no one spoke.

Obviously, for most people, the shock brought by this news still makes them unable to recover for a while.

So, from now on, they will have one more research object in their physics studies, the X field?

Tsk, this name does have a sci-fi flavor, just like M-theory.

However, think back to the three characteristics Xiao Yi just summarized...

Everyone's eyes widened again.

The third point seems to be saying that this X field may even be the medium between the strong interaction and the weak interaction?
Frank Wilczek could no longer sit still and finally asked, "You mean, the X-field can help us unify the strong interaction and the weak interaction?"

Xiao Yi took a look at the old man and quickly recognized him. Six months ago, when CERN and the Institute of High Energy Physics held an online meeting, he also took a look and knew the identity of the old man.

He responded, “Hello, Professor Wilczek. I just said that it could be a unifying medium, but it doesn’t have to be.”

Wilczek nodded slightly, thought for a moment and then asked, "What is the basis of your inference? If we only rely on our existing observations, we cannot see any positive role of the X field in unifying the strong interaction and the weak interaction."

Xiao Yi smiled, pointed to his head, and said, "If I have to say my inference, it probably comes from intuition."

"intuition?"

Everyone present was stunned.

Wow, such an important thing, and you can judge its possibility based on intuition?

In response, Xiao Yi just shrugged and said with a smile: "Isn't intuition very important in physics? Sometimes I quite like physics. After all, compared to the rigorous logical reasoning of mathematics, physics can sometimes be guided by one's own feelings."

"As R. Feynman said, physics is applied rather than purely abstract, and the 'poor' mathematicians have no intuition to guide them, only rigorous and careful precise mathematical arguments."

After hearing Xiao Yi's explanation, everyone present was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Well, that's how physics works, and for top physicists, intuition is a really useful thing.

Discussions on this point are common in the history of science.

However, Xiao Yi continued at this time: "Of course, in physics, if we only use direct explanation, it is obviously a bit rogue. We still have to try to reflect this intuition through mathematics or experiments."

"So... the explanation for my intuition will appear after a while. It may take a long time, or it may not take long. You can all look forward to it."

When he said this, the people present became curious.

What is the explanation for why the X field may be the unifying medium for the weak and strong interactions?
How to explain this?

Everyone present wanted to know.

But at this moment, Edward Witten, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "Are you trying to prove the mass gap problem of the Yang-Mills equation?"

Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, surprised that his purpose was discovered by others. At this time, he turned to look at the old physicist and said with a smile: "It turns out to be Professor Witten. I'm not surprised that you can see it, but I'm still curious about how you saw it?"

Edward Witten smiled, and like Xiao Yi just now, he pointed to his head and said, "Well, it comes from the intuition of a physicist."

Xiao Yi suddenly burst into laughter.

The conversation between the two once again shocked everyone in the audience.
What?
Xiao Yi is studying the mass gap problem of Yang-Mills equations?
The subsequent conversation between the two revealed news that was hard for them to believe.

"It seems that you also discovered the X-field during your research." Edward Witten asked, "Is that so?"

Xiao Yi nodded: "Yes, when I was using topological quantum field theory to study the mass gap problem, I accidentally derived such a strange field."

"At first I didn't know what this field did, but some time ago, after reanalyzing a large number of W boson masses, I suddenly realized the meaning behind this strange field."

"That's what I just said."

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "So, this fully demonstrates that for a subject like physics, it is very important to combine theory and experiment for research."

Witten looked at Xiao Yi deeply and said, "So... you are now very close to proving the existence of the mass gap?"

Xiao Yi pondered for a moment, and finally said: "To some extent, it is true. At least I am very close to the final answer."

Witten laughed and said, "It seems that I need to go to this year's International Congress of Mathematicians. Maybe I can see the birth of such a great theory at this conference."

Xiao Yi was at a loss for words: "Please don't tell me... I'm not 100% sure yet!"

Witten smiled brightly: "I believe you."

Xiao Yi immediately shook his head helplessly.

Trust from Professor Edward Witten?

Ok……

That sounds really exciting.

……

The two of them were chatting across the screen, oblivious to the people around them. In the conference room, other researchers at CERN couldn't help themselves and started discussing when they learned that Xiao Yi was very close to proving the mass gap problem.

The entire conference room became noisy.

“Is the quality gap problem really something that can be proven in our time?”

"Didn't Professor Witten say at the beginning that the mass gap problem is too difficult to solve now?"

"Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening!"

"Professor Donald, I remember that you study mathematical physics. How far have you studied the mass gap problem?"

Professor Donald, who was asked the question, showed a sweaty expression: "You ask me, who should I ask? Mathematical physics is not just about studying the mass gap problem. What's more, in our mathematical physics community, the number of people who dare to study this problem can be counted on one's hands."

In addition, there are also some people present who will attend the International Congress of Mathematicians in July this year. After all, the relationship between mathematics and physics is quite close, and there are also reports on mathematical physics at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

This group of people listened to the conversation between Xiao Yi and Witten, and they understood something from their words: Xiao Yi might use the mass gap problem of the Yang-Mills equation as the theme of his report at the conference in more than four months, and solve another millennium problem in front of everyone!

For a moment, they all became more and more looking forward to the grand mathematics event that would be held in a few months.

Xiao Yi, can you succeed?
In addition to these CERN researchers, the people from the Institute of High Energy Physics in China were also unsurprisingly questioned in various ways.

These questions made them sweat profusely, especially Director Tang Yifang.

"Professor Tang, Xiao Yi is from your research institute. I've never heard you mention him before. You guys hid it really well!"

"Professor Tang, I didn't expect that your Institute of High Energy Physics has done so much research on this kind of mathematical physics problem. Perhaps you can have a cooperative exchange with our Max Planck Institute for Physics. What do you think?"

"Professor Tang, Xiao Yi is from your institute. You should know how far he has studied this issue, right?"

"Professor Tang..."

Faced with various problems, Tang Yifang was overwhelmed.

How deep is their high energy hidden?
It was obviously Xiao Yi who hid it well, okay!

It has nothing to do with them.

Their Institute of High Energy Physics has been working with CERN for the past six months to process those one million sets of data. Don’t you people at CERN know about this?
There are also people from the Max Planck Society for Physics. If it is for exchange and learning, their Institute of High Energy Physics would welcome it 100%, but...

It’s better not to go into the field of mathematical physics.

Da-mee-da-mee.

They are not familiar with mathematical physics and other things at the Institute of High Energy Physics. If you really want to communicate, you should go to the Institute of Theoretical Physics. They are familiar with this!
What else... Xiao Yi is our man, so we know to what extent he has studied this mass gap problem?

Not to mention that Xiao Yi was not one of them at all... In fact, he almost became a member of the Institute of High Energy Physics. It was a pity that when Tang Yifang was communicating with Xiao Yi at that time, he completely ignored the fact that he was still a student, not to mention that he remembered that Xiao Yi was going to study for a master's degree in the second half of last year.

But even if Xiao Yi was from the Institute of High Energy Physics, Tang Yifang had never imagined that this young man was actually studying the mass gap problem.

Even after researching to this extent, it has reached the final critical moment...

At this moment, Tang Yifang felt nothing but disbelief in his heart, and he just wanted to say to these people: Don't fucking ask me, I don't know anything!
...After a conversation with Professor Witten, Xiao Yi looked at the time and then said, "Well, it's getting late in China, so I won't bother you at CERN any more. My suggestions have already been given, and I can't interfere with your decision on whether to adopt them. After all, no one can predict what will happen in high-energy physics. Maybe one out of tens of millions of collisions will allow us to find evidence of the existence of the X-field?"

"Well, that's all I have to say. Goodbye everyone."

Fabiola Gianotti also came back to his senses at this time and said, "Thank you for your advice, I wish you a good sleep."

The video ended and the big screen went black again.

After taking a look at the still noisy scene, which was like a vegetable market, Fabiola Gianotti clapped his hands and said, "Okay, everyone, be quiet, please be quiet."

Soon, silence returned to the meeting room and everyone looked at the Secretary-General.

"Well, since Xiao Yi has given us advice, let's go back to the previous topic, [regarding whether to make the W boson mass verification project the next primary scientific goal of CERN]. Do you think we need to change our previous decision?"

Fabiola Gianotti said.

The researchers looked at each other, until finally someone shouted, "No change!"

As the first person spoke up, more and more people began to speak up: "No change!"

That's right, even though Xiao Yi gave them advice that it was meaningless to continue spending the collider's resources on this, they still chose to continue doing it.

In fact, they were more enthusiastic than before.

If it was just a matter of verifying that the W boson was overweight, it might not be enough to make them so excited, but if it became a matter of verifying whether the X field existed, then they would have to be willing to take a gamble.

Now everyone can see how huge the significance of the X field is. If they can really discover it, the Nobel Prize or something like that will be a piece of cake, right?
Even Frank Wilczek, the Nobel Prize winner, was calm at this time. He stood up and said, "I think this topic can be renamed, that is, [Verify whether the superheavy W boson is due to the influence of the X field] and [Search for the existence of the X field]."

Others expressed their opinions: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"In addition, it is necessary to upgrade the LHC again, especially the transmission equipment. The greater the energy of the collision, the more likely we are to discover the X-field."

"Yes! yes! yes!"

Another seconding motion.

It was like a scene from a certain country's parliament.

Facing this scene, General Manager Fabiola Gianotti said helplessly: "We don't have enough money in our account to upgrade again."

Wilczek shrugged and said, "Just let them keep paying. This is the X-field! A new physical field that can interact with the Higgs field and directly affect the mass-attributing result! Then tell them... well, this discovery is worth at least 10 Nobel Prizes, and they will definitely pay."

Anyway, he is a member of the American Plain White Banner. He was born in the spring breeze and grew up under the Stars and Stripes. He spends the EU's money to achieve his own results without any regrets!

"Yes! yes! yes!"

There was another round of applause in the meeting hall.

Fabiola Gianotti is speechless, 10 Nobel Prizes?
How dare you say that!
Let’s not talk about the fact that it is difficult to produce results in high-energy physics. Just like what Yang Zhenning said at the beginning, "party is over". This is why high-energy physics has gradually been neglected in the high-energy physics community, while condensed matter physics has become gradually popular.
Even if they really discovered the X-field now, it would only win Xiao Yi the Nobel Prize. As for other people's Nobel Prizes, it would most likely depend on whether they could discover other important physical laws through the X-field, such as the opportunity to unify the strong interaction and the weak interaction revealed by Xiao Yi.

but……

Fabiola Gianotti said nothing either.

Being able to get more funding will only benefit her as the Secretary-General and not harm her!
"Well, the topic is passed! At the same time, the topic [regarding whether to make the W boson mass verification project the next primary scientific goal of CERN] is changed to [verifying whether the W boson's overweight is due to the influence of the X field] and [searching for the existence of the X field]!"

She finally announced her decision.

……

Xiao Yi, who was far away on the other side of the Eurasian continent, did not know the final decision made by CERN.

Of course, he doesn't care whether the other party listens to him or not. The reason for this reminder is just to prevent the high-energy physics community from blindly looking for reasons like a headless fly.

Compared to this matter, what he is more concerned about now is the last problem he is currently facing regarding the quality gap issue.

He moved the laptop computer that he had just used to play the video aside and focused his attention on the draft paper again.

There is a question written on it.

[Let G be a compact, simple Lie group, and A be a Yang-Mills field on G. On the four-dimensional sphere S^4, if there exists a non-zero Chern number c, then the lowest energy excited state of the Yang-Mills field A has a strictly positive mass gap. ]

This is a theorem, or perhaps it can simply be named Xiao's theorem.

The only problem now is how to prove that this theorem is correct.

Therefore, it can be called a conjecture for the time being.

This conjecture is equivalent to the mass gap problem of the Yang-Mills equation, which means that proving it is equivalent to proving the existence of the mass gap.

Xiao Yi is now stuck at this step: how to prove the existence of this non-zero Chen number c.

"Now I have constructed the anti-self-dual field, but next, I need to prove that the energy E of the Yang-Mills field with non-zero Chern number has a strictly positive lower bound, that is, E≥E0>0."

"What should we do next?"

He tapped his head and fell into deep thought.

"Anti-self-dual field...Hodge dual operator..."

He was thinking casually in his mind, and suddenly wrote a few lines on the draft paper.

[Specify that V is a nonsingular projective surface, and let H be the class of divisors on the hyperplane section V of V in a given projective embedding...]

【H·H=d】

Looking at these things that he had written inadvertently, Xiao Yi began to touch his chin.

Then he continued writing.

Finally, he showed a hint of surprise.

"It's actually... the Hodge standard conjecture?"

【For a non-singular projective algebraic variety X and an algebraic cycle Z on it, define an operator L(Z) induced by Z. If we consider the action of this operator on the intermediate homology group of X, then L(Z) should be a positive definite operator, which means that for any non-zero homology class α, [L(Z)α, α]>0, where [,] represents the pairing between homology classes. 】

He never expected that studying this thing would lead him to another question.

The Hodge criterion conjecture is not the Hodge conjecture. Although the two are related, it is more specific and technical.

Now, he could clearly see that as long as he proved the Hodge criterion conjecture, he could easily prove the Xiao theorem he had just proposed.

But obviously, proving the Hodge criterion conjecture is no less difficult than proving the Hodge conjecture.

Let him prove two millennium problems at the same time?
Even cheating is not this outrageous.

However, at this moment, perhaps it was a flash of inspiration, and he realized another key from the definition of the Hodge criterion conjecture in front of him.

"Vertex algebra and homological algebra!"

In an instant, the methods he had understood in studying conformal field theory and string theory came into play at this moment.

Comparing the Hodge criterion conjecture and quantum field theory...

"Incorporate them all into the generalized normative theory!"

"Yes, that's it!"

The mind that had been almost stagnant was once again in a storm.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, he sat up straight, picked up the pen, and began to express his wisdom on the paper.

The mysteries of the universe are interpreted in this small dormitory.

Along with it, is the passage of time.

……

(End of this chapter)