I was a top student in America.

Chapter 105 Borrowing Another Person (Please Subscribe)

Li Ao, unaware of Professor Lu Di's inner thoughts, nodded and frankly replied, "I've recently been researching convex optimization and discrete average estimation, so I used this classic model for testing. These past two days, I improved an algorithm from a paper, using a five-point difference to discretize the Laplace operator, combined with directional splitting, transforming each step into a tridiagonal linear equation system. I ran several sets of boundary weight parameters, and one set had the smallest energy drift; however, the spectral radius of the corresponding iteration matrix hasn't yet been compressed to a sufficiently safe range."

"You even wrote the splitting solution and parameter testing?"

Professor Rudy was now truly unsure of Li Ao's background.

Not only him, but many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows below also showed expressions of doubt.

"You're kidding, right? You think you can write something like this in just a few days?"

"When I first learned about finite difference calculus in my undergraduate studies, it would take me half a day to adjust a single boundary condition."

"Competitions are competitions, and scientific research is scientific research. Doing research is never that simple."

"But he makes it sound so convincing, could it really lead to something?"

"Today's seminar was interesting."

Li Ao remained calm and pointed to the secondhand ThinkPad he had placed on the table.

"I brought the code and test data with me."

Even Professor Rudy couldn't hold back anymore.

He gestured to the projection interface at the front of the conference room: "That's perfect, bring it up and let everyone take a look."

Finally, under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, Li Ao walked to the podium with his laptop and connected it to the projector.

The screen lights up.

There were no fancy presentation slides, just a simple C++ project directory and a few output data files.

"This is the improved model I put together last night."

Li Ao stood in the spot that originally belonged to Professor Lu Di, explaining as he switched interfaces, "The main program first generates discrete operators for the two-dimensional lattice, and then uses the Thomas algorithm to process the tridiagonal system after directional splitting. Here are the Rayleigh quotient estimates and energy drift data under different boundary weights. The seventh set of parameters performs best because it suppresses the high-frequency modes near the boundary."

These were small exercises he had done in advance to understand the seminar, but he never expected them to come in handy here.

At this moment, the physics and applied mathematics students in the conference room gradually fell silent.

Examining models, data, and code are all things these doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers are good at.

They could easily tell at a glance that what was on the screen wasn't just a bunch of words pieced together to fool people.

Although the model has been simplified, its structure is clear, the code is clean, and the test data fits perfectly with the preceding mathematical derivation.

It's no exaggeration to say that it was a small project done by a doctoral student.

The current state of the physics department is similar to David's when he first heard that Li Ao had published an SCI paper.

No, what do kids eat to grow up like this? Are high school students really that strong?

Of course, the most unexpected thing was Professor Rudy.

Originally, that SCI paper on the discrete average estimation method for convex functions was very helpful for their project, and the original author, Li Ao, should have been the most suitable person to help them tackle the problem.

However, he believed that a high school student might not be able to understand simulation algorithms and physical models, making it difficult to truly connect with projects.

That's why I had to owe Jason a favor and borrow Amber to help.

But now it seems that the situation is completely different from what he expected.

This high school student excels not only in mathematics but also in physics modeling and coding.

Not only can they understand discrete operators and spectral radii, but they can also actually write code to verify their ideas.

The key is his approach of transforming abstract mathematical theories into physical models and then using programming algorithms for verification, which is exactly what the project needs right now.

"Your idea about the boundary weight term can be taken a step further."

Professor Rudy walked to the projection screen, picked up a marker, and added a few lines of formulas to the whiteboard. "If we write it as a correction term in discrete energy functional theory, and combine it with some special discrete average estimation methods for convex functions, we might be able to draw new conclusions."

He first answered Li Ao's question, and then, facing the audience, briefly expanded on this idea.

At the end of the seminar, Professor Ludi went directly to Li Ao and asked, "Besides participating in math competitions and doing the research Professor Jensen assigned you, you also spent time studying numerical computation and even wrote code?"

"I think numerical analysis and optimization methods are tools that provide verification and feedback for mathematical theories, so of course they are worth learning seriously."

Li Ao looked at Professor Ludi in front of him and answered very seriously.

"Well said."

Professor Rudy nodded in deep agreement, "Numerical computation is indeed a bridge between mathematics and physics."

Then, without beating around the bush, he extended an invitation directly.

"I saw your paper on the estimation method of discrete average of convex functions at Jason's place a couple of days ago."

"Some of the methods in it have great potential in physical model analysis."

"Would you be interested in joining our group to work on a project in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory?"

As soon as he finished speaking, seemingly afraid that Li Ao would refuse, he quickly added another sentence.

"Don't worry about Professor Jensen, I'll talk to him myself."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of many doctoral students who hadn't left yet became quite interesting.

"Didn't they say Professor Rudy's research group isn't hiring for the time being?"

"The treatment of International Olympiad gold medalists is really different; even Professor Rudy made an exception to recruit them."

As for Li Ao at this moment, standing next to the podium, he was somewhat dazed.

He had no idea that things would suddenly turn out this way.

As Li Ao walked out of the Gordon Integrated Science Center, he was still thinking about the project that Professor Rudy had just mentioned.

Being able to participate in research in collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory is indeed a rare opportunity for practical experience.

This would not only allow him to validate the mathematical methods in his papers in real models, but also improve his physics and programming skills, and perhaps even lead to a significant increase in his "intellectual" attributes.

However, he currently has too many things to take care of, and how to allocate his time is still a problem.

"I'll go back and ask Professor Jensen for his opinion before making a decision." With that thought, Li Ao made up his mind.

Professor Rudy, however, seemed to have suddenly discovered some treasure, fearing that someone else would snatch it away if he was even a step too late.

As soon as the morning seminar ended, he didn't even bother to eat lunch and went straight to Professor Jensen's office in Eckhart Building, intending to borrow Li Ao to the physics department's project group.

The project urgently needs manpower to participate in the numerical simulation and energy stability estimation of the two-dimensional lattice model. Only by producing results as soon as possible can we maintain our lead and surpass the progress of other competing research groups.

Pushing open the office door, Rudy immediately saw Jason sitting inside and visibly relaxed.

"Jansen, I'm glad you're here." He skipped the unnecessary pleasantries and immediately stated his purpose: "I'd like to borrow another person from your research group."