Chapter 214 - 161: Condensed Matter Mathematics
However, to everyone’s surprise, the young Fields Medal laureate didn’t immediately ask a question about the presentation Chen Lin had just finished.
"Hello, everyone," Schultz’s voice came through the speakers, clear and powerful. "Before we discuss Chen’s brilliant presentation just now, I’d first like to share an exchange I had with him yesterday."
His brilliant blue eyes shone with an irrepressible excitement, and his tone grew animated. "Yesterday morning, Chen gave me a manuscript, just three pages long, that recorded some of his preliminary thoughts on the ’problem of the geometrization of the local Langlands Program for the FF Curve.’
"At the time, he told me very humbly that these were just some rough ideas he had put together in about a week."
At this point, Schultz took a deep breath, his face showing a complex expression mixed with admiration and a wry smile.
"But this very ’rough’ manuscript, as he called it, gave me an unparalleled revelation! To be frank, after I got the manuscript yesterday, I studied it from morning until the middle of the night. The deeper I delved, the more I could feel the genius-level insight it contained!"
Schultz’s voice grew more and more excited. "I know what I’m about to say might sound like an exaggeration to many of you. But I have to be honest—just from those three pages, I could sense that Chen’s... his profound understanding of certain aspects of arithmetic geometry... makes me feel like I need to consult him!"
BOOM—!
If Professor Qiu Chengtong’s lavish praise earlier was like dropping a huge boulder into a calm lake, then Schultz’s earth-shattering statement was tantamount to detonating a depth charge!
The entire venue instantly erupted!
A buzzing tide of discussion surged from all corners of the hall, instantly swelling into a noisy ocean.
Chen Lin activated [Little Champion]’s enhanced hearing, and all sorts of whispers flooded his ears.
Some newbies were urgently asking the know-it-alls next to them for an explanation.
"Dude, this Schultz guy... is he a big deal?"
"Duh! He’s a Fields Medal laureate, a leading figure in arithmetic geometry today, and a recognized mathematical genius! You tell me if he’s a big deal!"
But most of the discussions were filled with shock and confusion.
"Did I hear that right? Weren’t all of Chen Shen’s previous research achievements in Differential Geometry and AI algorithms? Since when did he get into arithmetic geometry?"
"This... This is too much, isn’t it? Schultz himself said ’some might find it an exaggeration,’ and I think it *is* an exaggeration! He’s the authority in arithmetic geometry. How could Chen Lin possibly be better than him?"
Someone immediately retorted, "Listen carefully. Professor Schulz said Chen Lin surpassed him ’in certain profound understandings’! Those are two different things, okay? Don’t take it out of context!"
Amidst these chaotic voices, Chen Lin also caught an exceptionally clear female voice tinged with a hint of pride.
"Oh my god! I was right there yesterday! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Without even turning around, Chen Lin knew the voice belonged to Annie from MIT.
He discreetly glanced at the front row.
He saw that the VIPs—Professor Qiu Chengtong, Academician Liang Tianshi, Director Feng Yunhai, and Professor Gongtan—all had looks of unconcealed astonishment on their faces.
Evidently, this was also the first time they were hearing that Chen Lin had delved into the field of arithmetic geometry.
However, that surprise was quickly replaced by an even more intense excitement and pride.
Academician Liang Tianshi, in particular, was so excited his cheeks were slightly flushed. The gratified smile on his face nearly split his face from ear to ear, and he kept muttering to Feng Yunhai beside him, "Good kid, good kid... Just how many more surprises does this boy have up his sleeve!"
On the stage, Schultz wasn’t finished speaking.
He raised a hand to gesture for calm, waiting for the murmuring in the hall to subside a little before continuing. "Actually, besides arithmetic geometry, I’ve been conducting another, much grander research project in recent years. I call it the ’condensed mathematics’ program."
"Condensed mathematics?"
Many in the audience wore blank expressions, clearly unfamiliar with this new term.
Schultz explained, "To put it simply, I hope to find a new mathematical language, to build a unified theoretical framework that encompasses different fields of mathematics like algebra, geometry, topology, and even number theory.
"It is a very, very difficult undertaking, and progress has been slow. I’ve even tried using the most advanced artificial intelligence to assist my research, but the results haven’t been ideal."
At this, his gaze focused on Chen Lin again, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude.
"However, the manuscript Chen gave me yesterday, along with the profound insights on Manifold boundaries he demonstrated in his presentation today, have given me unprecedented inspiration!
"I have a strong premonition that once I go back and consolidate and organize these new ideas, it will not only greatly advance my research in arithmetic geometry but will also be of immeasurable help to my ’condensed mathematics’ program!"
"So," Schultz said, turning to the organizing committee in the audience and to Chen Lin on the stage, and giving them a solemn bow, "I sincerely thank the organizers of this conference, and I sincerely thank Chen! This trip to the Imperial Capital has brought me far more than I ever expected!"
With that, he returned the microphone to a volunteer and sat back down in his seat, completely satisfied.
However, the chain reaction his words triggered pushed the heat of the discussion in the venue to a new high.
"My god... Condensed mathematics? Unifying all fields of mathematics? Is he trying to be the Einstein of the mathematical world?"
"For a genius of Schultz’s caliber to say something like ’immeasurable help’... doesn’t that mean Chen Lin is already a world-class mathematician on the same level?"
"Isn’t that obvious? Didn’t you hear what Academician Qiu Chengtong said earlier? Chen Shen’s research is inspiring to all applied mathematics researchers! Broaden your horizons!"
"I think I’m starting to get it... Schultz means that some of the things in Chen Lin’s presentation just now have touched upon the most fundamental, common essence of mathematics? No wonder I couldn’t understand it! It’s not that I’m too dumb, it’s that what Chen Shen was talking about was just too profound!"
’Listening to the increasingly absurd discussions from the audience, Chen Lin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.’
He raised his hand and glanced at his watch. There were only five minutes left until the scheduled end time.
He had wanted to pick another audience member to interact with, but as his gaze swept across the front row, he saw Director Feng Yunhai gesturing to him in a very subtle way.
Director Feng first pointed to the giant display screens on either side of the hall, then made a hand gesture like holding a phone to his ear.
Chen Lin reacted instantly, immediately understanding the other man’s intention.
’He wants me to interact with the online audience.’
𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
He immediately gave a barely perceptible nod in Director Feng Yunhai’s direction, then picked up the microphone. With a calm smile, he announced in a clear voice, "Thank you all for your enthusiasm here today. Next, I’d like to leave the remaining time for our online audience."
As soon as he finished speaking, he gestured to the staff member beside him that they could begin.
The young man in charge of the equipment had apparently also received instructions, and he deftly performed a few operations on his laptop.
Almost at the same instant, the images on the giant display screens on either side of the main hall switched, and a video call window was magnified in the very center.
On the screen, the face of a typical elderly scholar from Hans Country appeared.
He had a high forehead, deep-set eyes, and a prominent aquiline nose. The hair on top of his head was thinning into a shiny bald spot, and a pair of thick, black-rimmed glasses rested on his face.
Although the old man looked quite advanced in years, he was full of vigor, his eyes radiating wisdom and peace.
Chen Lin immediately knew who this was.
This had to be the titan of algebraic geometry whom Schultz had mentioned yesterday: Professor Gerd Faltings.
Professor Faltings was clearly very familiar with the operations of such online conferences. He first adjusted his angle to the camera, then began to speak unhurriedly in English with a thick German accent.
"Good afternoon, everyone. First, please allow me to extend my sincerest respects to the organizers of this conference."