Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Princeton.
An office in the Institute for Advanced Study.
Wei Wen sat at his desk while staring at the draft paper on his table.
Around 2019, after Lu Zhou left Princeton, he recomnded Wei Wen to study mathematical physics under Professor Edward Witten.
Wei Wen was at first quite excited to study a PhD under Professor Witten.
Anyone who was in the mathematical physics field or who knew anything about mathematical physics had heard of Witten’s na before.
However, studying a PhD under a big na was obviously not an easy task. His excitent didn’t last very long, and soon, he began to feel the pressure.
Because Witten had to frequently visit CERN, he would be at Princeton only a third of the ti. Most of the ti, Wei Wen had to face his academic difficulties alone.
After Wei Wen was accepted as Professor Witten’s student, he finally understood why Luo Wenxuan took so long to graduate. He also realized how much Professor Lu really cared about him.
Even though he graduated more than a year ago, Lu Zhou would still help him solve problems.
Or he would help him find soone that could solve the problems...
Professor Fefferman walked next to him holding two cups of coffee. He placed one cup on Wei Wen’s side and one cup on his side. He then asked in a warm tone, “Do you have an idea?”
“Not right now.”
“Do you need help?”
Wei Wen shook his head and stared at the line of equations on the paper.
“No, thanks, you’ve already given enough help... Give another ten minutes, I feel like I know the answer, I’m so close.”
“Ten minutes is not enough, try two hours.” Fefferman looked at his watch and said, “I still have a differential equations class to each. Anyti before 6 o’clock, you can find at the dean’s office.”
Wei Wen said, “I’m sorry for taking so much of your ti.”
“It’s fine, I’m not that busy anyway.” Professor Fefferman took a sip of the coffee and smiled. He said, “Not to ntion, Professor Lu has helped a lot, now that he’s not here, you can ask any problem you want.”
Wei Wen smiled in his heart but didn’t say anything.
Even though he knew that Professor Fefferman didn’t mind helping him, he still felt extrely guilty.
Maybe this is a culture difference.
Knocking sounds ca from the door, and soon, a glasses-wearing young man walked in.
Fefferman seed to have recognized this man. After Fefferman saw the stack of A4 papers in his hand, he suddenly looked nervous.
Just like Wei Wen had guessed, the guy shook the thesis and said, “Professor Fefferman, Professor Sarnak from the editorial departnt of Annual Mathematics asked to bring you this paper. He told to politely tell you that he hopes you can review this paper.”
“Then tell him, that this way of sending the ssage is not polite at all. I hope next ti, he can send the review invitation to my email instead of coming to in person.” Professor Fefferman looked at the overwheld assistant and shrugged. He said, “Also, I’m going on a holiday in two days, so tell him to find soone else.”
“Professor Sarnak knew you would say this,” the assistant said. “He told to tell you that you are the most suitable candidate and that you are the only one who can review this thesis.”
Professor Fefferman stared at the assistant for a while before putting down his cup of coffee. With a sigh, he said, “Okay then, bring it over here.”
He had never been good at declining other people’s requests, especially when it was in his field of expertise.
The assistant smiled and handed over the thesis. “Okay, Professor.”
The assistant didn’t stay in the office. He turned around and left.
Fefferman had to conduct a lecture soon, so he didn’t have ti to read it. He rely briefly flipped through the pages.
There were no author nas on the thesis.
This type of double-blind review process was uncommon.
Fefferman guessed that the author was either one of his acquaintances or a colleague at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study.
However, this wasn’t important.
Even if he knew the author from the style of the thesis, he wouldn’t hinder the review process due to friendship.
“The existence of a solution to the Yang-Mills equation? Shouldn’t Witten read this thesis? I bet he’s more interested in this than .”
Fefferman looked at this eye-catching title. He raised his eyebrows and began to read.
He soon snorted, and his eyebrows furrowed.
Wei Wen noticed this and asked, “What’s wrong, Professor?”
Professor Fefferman stared at the thesis for a while and suddenly smiled, shaking his head.
“Nothing.”
He finally knew why Sarnak insisted on letting him review this thesis.
“L Manifold... Also, a partial differential geotry thod for a partial differential equation.” Professor Fefferman’s finger swept over the printed A4 paper as he spoke emotionally, “I only know one person in this world who can apply these theories to such an extent.”
Wei Wen’s expression changed.
“Professor Lu’s thesis?”
“Yes.” Professor Fefferman nodded and said, “The proof of the existence of a solution to the Yang-Mills equations. It seems like he hasn’t stopped his mathematics venture.”
When Wei Wen heard the thesis content, he took in a deep breath. He was overwheld.
Challenging two Millennium Prize Problems...
Is he even a human?
Professor Fefferman sat down at his desk and took out his phone from his pocket. He scrolled through his contact list and called his assistant.
“Yo, Lewis, are you free right now? I have a partial differential equation class in half an hour. Regardless of whether you can or not, I hope you can find soone to do the class for .”
“Um, I’m a bit busy.”
“It’s important.”
They only exchanged three sentences.
After that, Fefferman hung up the call and placed his phone on his desk.
He looked at the thesis on his table. His eyes flashed with excitent.
Let look at this.
You’ve left Princeton for a year.
Did your mathematics ability improve or worsen...
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