Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 78 International shock, Zhang Shuo: This is not a matter of money!
The official website of the Nuclear Organization released a research result that was made public by the data center.

The content is the algorithm research conducted by Agostini's team and Zhang Shuo. The public results information is not only the relevant introduction, but also the results of four analyses of hyperon decay experimental data.

One of them was to analyze the hyperon decay experimental data of the CP group of the Institute of High Energy Physics.

The other three times were to analyze the hyperon decay experimental data of the Francisco team of the Nuclear Organization. Relying on the high-performance hadron collider of the Nuclear Organization, the Francisco team produced a large number of Corsi hyperons, the number of which was calculated in "tens of billions".

Because of this, their experimental data are many times more complicated.

After Agostini returned to the data center, he immediately applied for the use of a supercomputer. After 17 hours of calculation, he finally completed the analysis of the three experimental data.

All three calculations yielded interesting results.

A total of four experimental data analyses were conducted, and the results of each analysis were different. The only thing in common was that the output straight line fluctuated.

In the information released on the official website of the Nuclear Organization, Agostini explained that "the analysis results are related to differences in basic experiments."

"Including the experimental intensity, the decay point of hyperons, the overall energy value, etc."

"The inconsistent results just prove the validity of the research."

After the entire introduction, there is news about the review of the research results. "The Agostini team and its partner Zhang Shuo will make a research report at the ICHEP conference!"

This information caused a great shock in the international physics community.

Many media have reported on this, some targeting Agostini's team, some focusing on the research itself, and some explaining the impact of the research.

"The Agostini team is the data analysis group of the Nuclear Organization, and they played an important role in the research on the discovery of the Higgs boson."

"Their latest research suggests that the signal conversion method used by the CP violation research team to observe hyperon decay cannot find the CP violation signal of baryons."

"In other words, the investment and research in this direction over the past few decades have been meaningless."

"The study of baryon CP violation is related to the improvement of the standard model of particles and the exploration of the causes of the formation of the universe. It is one of the important research directions in the field of high-energy physics."

"If the research proves to be ineffective, then we must find other ways to explore..."

After introducing the problem of baryon CP violation, some professional academic media talked about looking for CP violation problems outside the standard model.

There are two directions in CP violation research.

One is within the Standard Model and one is outside the Standard Model.

Within the standard model, major scientific research teams observe hyperon decay and look for baryon CP violation signals.

Outside the standard model, research progress is very scarce due to insufficient theoretical support.

The theory related to CP violation is very complex and at the same time, imperfect.

The standard model of particles is only part of the principle that supports CP violation research. Even if evidence of baryon CP violation is found, it cannot fully confirm the reason for the formation of the existing material universe.

The reason is the CP violation described by the standard model of particles, which is the violation of parity conservation under weak interaction (weak force). The discovery of baryon CP violation can only explain why the universe is dominated by positive matter (rather than antimatter).

If we want to investigate the reasons for the formation of the universe, we must meet the standard of "amount of matter".

Parity violation under weak interaction cannot explain why there is a large amount of heavy matter in the universe. Therefore, in physics, looking for CP violation outside the standard model is also a very important research direction.

Foreign reports also talked about Zhang Shuo, because the release information clearly mentioned that Agostini's team was cooperating with Zhang Shuo.

However, there are very few related reports.

The only international content related to Zhang Shuo is a few papers and his performance at the CHEP conference.

CHEP conferences are rarely reported, and only scholars in related fields know about them.

News reports generally describe Zhang Shuo as follows: "The collaborator is Dr. Zhang Shuo, a very young physicist who has been engaged in analytical research in the field of high-energy physics."

"Zhang Shuo is a famous scholar in the field of physics. He looks young, but he has already achieved great fame."

"The collaboration between the Agostini team and Zhang Shuo is also a collision of geniuses..."

The report is also full of doubts.

Many news reports end with the following sentence: "Many scholars in related fields have questioned the results of Agostini's team."

Maybe not 'many', but 'all'.

Anyone engaged in scientific research is unwilling to believe that "his research is meaningless", especially when it is confirmed by others, it is even more unacceptable.

Upon learning the research results of the collaboration between Agostini's team and Zhang Shuo, all researchers in related fields had a similar reaction to Tan Zhiming: "That's impossible!"

"There must be something wrong with the research. The signal conversion method used in the experiment has accurately discovered the CP violation signals of several mesons."

"Agostini has already missed it once on CHEP, and he must be wrong again this time!"

"The research also involves a young doctor named Zhang Shuo? But so what? A guy of no reputation and a madman like Agostini, the research they are conducting together must be even crazier, and it must be wrong!"

Agostini and Zhang Shuo became the targets of criticism by many scholars, most of whom targeted Agostini, mainly because Zhang Shuo was not very famous.

Usually, he is just mentioned in passing.

The most intense attacks came from the CP destruction research teams of major high-energy physics institutions.

Francisco Filifo, head of the CP team of the Nuclear Organization, went directly to the data center to find the director Roberto Castello and asked him why he wanted to publish the news on the website.

"Their research negates the efforts of our entire team and the investment of the Nuclear Organization over the past few decades, and you still issued a notice?"

"This is definitely a wrong study..."

"What on earth are you thinking? You actually support that lunatic and a Chinese man whose name you don't even know?"

Roberto acted as if he didn't care at all. He continued with the work at hand and said casually, "Bulman has completed very important research. Of course, we will publish the results."

"The research report is reviewed at the ICHEP meeting, Mr. Filifer. If you think the research is wrong, you can find problems in the conference report."

Roberto would of course support Agostini because the Agostini group worked for the data center.

The problems of the Institute of High Energy Physics Center and Computing Center, in the nuclear organization, are the cooperation and conflicts between the physics research team and the data center.

The focus of the contradiction between the two is that scholars in data centers, whether they are researching algorithms or something else, are always defined as "engineers", while the results of high-energy physics research always belong to the physics experiment team.

Academics in data centers are like marginal characters.

In a large study, data center workers always appear in the results as a number.

For example, "More than two thousand computer engineers were involved in the research."

Many of these computer engineers work in data centers.

Agostini is an internationally renowned data expert and can be considered a half-experimental physicist. He has participated in many experiments. In the research on the discovery of the Higgs boson, he and his team improved the algorithm to analyze a large amount of data, completed several heavyweight research, and made a very great contribution.

However, during the publication of the results, his name did not appear as frequently as the head of the experimental physics team who was so marginal that he made almost no contribution.

This is the contradiction between the two sides.

Roberto hit Francisco back with just a few words.

Francesco had no choice but to confront Agostini, who said calmly, "Francesco, I knew you would come to me."

"When I invited you to join my research, you refused. You must be jealous of our achievements, right?"

"It's too late now. The research has been completed. You can only be jealous..."

He said this with a sigh of regret.

Francisco was so depressed that he didn't say a word. He stood there for a long time, and finally said angrily, "I actually came to argue with a madman!"

“This is a mistake!”

The experience of Gasol Grayward, head of the CP group at Fermilab, is much more depressing than that of Francisco.

When Greyward saw the information released by the nuclear organization, he felt very unbelievable and did not believe the research results at all.

Then, something even more depressing happened.

The laboratory director, Leah Meminga, came to the door and bluntly informed Greywood that they would suspend their experimental research and prepare to lay off employees in advance.

"Have you seen the information released by the Nuclear Organization? Your research is meaningless."

"At present, the laboratory needs to reduce all unnecessary expenses, so, Mr. Greyward, you should understand..." "Perhaps you should submit a layoff list, which may include yourself, but this is not for me to decide."

Grayward immediately retorted, "That study is wrong, it's wrong, how could you do this?"

"So, I just said 'get ready'."

Lia-Meminga said seriously, "They will make a report at the ICHEP meeting in July. If the report is approved, then it can be implemented."

"If it doesn't pass, Mr. Greyward, you can cross some names off the list."

"You also know the current situation in the laboratory. I hope you can understand..."

In short, layoffs are necessary.

Leah Meminga may be the only "person in the relevant field" who thanks Agostini and Zhang Shuo. As the director of Fermilab, her main job is to reduce funding.

Agostini and Zhang Shuo's research gave her a perfect excuse to directly ask the CP group to suspend the experiment and to carry out a certain degree of layoffs.

Even if the research fails, we have to lay off employees!
……

Soo Dong University.

The school's management convened a special meeting to discuss the research being conducted by Zhang and Agostini.

If the research can pass the conference review, the experimental research and analysis work done by the CP group of the Institute of High Energy Physics in the past can be considered meaningless.

Of course, it cannot be said that it is completely meaningless.

Some of the technical research and observational discoveries on hyperon decay are also clear results, but the main goal could not be achieved, which had a huge impact on the CP research team.

What the school considers is the qualitative nature of the research, that is, the issue of external statements.

Although proving scientific research errors is itself a form of scientific progress, specific discussions are still needed when it comes to specific situations.

After all, a large scientific research team is involved.

In the end, the meeting decided to treat it as normal. Academician Yang Haifeng of the School of Physics said, "The research has not been confirmed yet, so it is a bit early to release information now."

"If the report is approved at the ICHEP meeting, it won't be too late for the school to express its attitude. By then, no one will say anything."

In the field of high-energy physics research in China, Academician Yang Haifeng is still very influential. He is a core member of the CMS collaboration group and has the closest ties with the Institute of High Energy Physics.

Since Academician Yang Haifeng has spoken, naturally no one else will object.

If the report is approved at the ICHEP meeting, it means that it is indeed a research result.

Are you afraid of offending people with scientific achievements?
Zhang Shuo is not afraid of offending people.

Scientific research is like this. Every research result will affect other scientific researchers, and every advancement in technological application will inevitably destroy the jobs of many people.

This is the inevitable result of technological development.

He continued to focus on the deviation analysis research project of the large-scale experiment, the core part of which was almost completed, but he just needed to wait for the work at the Quantum Institute to be completed.

The part that the Quantum Research Institute is responsible for is not difficult, but it is fragmented and complicated, so it will take more time.

Zhang Shuo then had a lot more free time.

He was walking on the campus with Sun Xingli, and listened to Sun Xingli talking about the mathematics conference held in Daya Bay and his own research results. "I have submitted the paper, and there should be no problem with the review of the mathematics society."

"It's fine to make a report, but I don't know what will happen next. I want to apply for a project on the Jebov conjecture."

"Professor Luo suggested that I apply for a face-to-face interview, but it was too difficult."

Sun Xingli shook his head and said, "Provincial projects are better. The review of national scientific research funds is too strict. For someone of my level, the probability of my self-proposed project being approved is too small."

"If you don't get accepted, it will be too late to apply for provincial projects."

That's where the trouble lies.

There are many types of projects supported by scientific research funds. From bottom to top, you can apply for provincial youth projects, ordinary projects, general projects, excellent young projects, and outstanding young projects of the National Scientific Research Fund.

Step by step, rising up.

Of course, some people can skip grades, but what worries Sun Xingli is whether he should skip grades or take it step by step.

He then complained, "If you don't consider the level of the project, the difference is not that big. Unless it is at the level of Excellent Young Scholars or above, the funding is very little."

"From the day I chose to study mathematics, I was destined to live a life of poverty!"

Zhang Shuo nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it is very difficult to make money by studying mathematics."

Sun Xingli suddenly felt a sense of mutual understanding.

As the two were talking, a shout suddenly came from the distance, "Zhang Shuo! Professor Zhang! Over here!"

Zhang Shuo and Sun Xingli looked over together.

Although he has been assigned to the Institute for Advanced Studies, not many people in the school call him Professor Zhang. Generally, he is only called that in formal occasions.

The person who shouted was the college's vice president Sheng Zhenhua, who was followed by many people.

When Zhang Shuo walked over, he realized that it was not other people following Sheng Zhenhua, but Sheng Zhenhua following others.

"This is Professor Du Bin from the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology," Sheng Zhenhua hurriedly introduced.

Du Bin was a serious middle-aged man who looked quite dignified. He shook hands with Zhang Shuo and said, "I asked Director Sheng to call you."

"This time we came to Sudong University for your research. We have a project we want to cooperate with you on, but the university said you are not very interested?"

"General algorithm for second-order PDE?" Zhang Shuo reacted immediately.

Du Bin said, "It is this research, but we don't need to make software, we just need to complete the calculation code of several widely used second-order PDE equations."

He didn't explain too much, but smiled and talked about other topics. "Professor Zhang, I see a lot of reports about you internationally. The algorithm research you conducted with that European team is an attempt to destroy Academician Tan's job, right?"

He laughed as he spoke.

Zhang Shuo shook his head and said, "Our research is not targeting anyone. We are pursuing scientific truth."

"That is nice!"

Du Bin commented with a smile, and then said, "You are so young, but you have already done several important research projects, which is more than most people achieve in their lifetime."

"Is it not an exaggeration to call you an 'algorithm genius'?"

Zhang Shuo was about to say something modest when Du Bin continued, "I've heard about your cooperation with the Institute of High Energy Physics. So, Professor Zhang, as long as you join this project, our Second Institute is willing to provide a personal grant of 100 million. Would you like to reconsider it?"

Sun Xingli, who was standing nearby, was stunned.

one million?

Personal funding?

He was just discussing the problem of poverty in mathematical research with Zhang Shuo, and felt that he and Zhang Shuo had a mutual understanding. Then someone took the initiative to give Zhang Shuo 100 million?
Moreover, Zhang Shuo seemed unwilling to...

really!

The next moment, Zhang Shuo shook his head and said, "Professor Du, this is not a matter of money."

“I really have no interest in this project.”

"In fact, my research paper has been published. It shouldn't be difficult to make a calculation program according to the methods in it."

"I think Dean Sheng's Institute of Science and Engineering is fully capable of taking over this project..."

This is from my heart.

He really didn't want to do this project.

If you just make algorithms based on research, it is just a job for a programming software.

Such research is not only non-exploratory, but also involves a huge workload and consumes a great deal of time and energy. It may take several months or even a year to complete.

One million and a year wasted?
No matter how Zhang Shuo thought about it, he felt that he was losing out. With the same amount of time and energy, he could have completed a lot more valuable research.

(End of this chapter)