Chapter 774 Shock in the Mathematics World
In fact, Tian Gang was not the only one who was curious about Chang Haonan.
USA, New Jersey.
In the editorial office of the Annals of Mathematics of Princeton University Press.
Shortly after arriving for work, Richard Hamilton walked into the office of senior editor Mikael Lagerstedt.
"Professor Hamilton?"
The latter raised his head and was a little surprised when he saw the identity of the person:
"How did you..."
"Of course it's because of your previous remarks. The paper God gave me to review.”
Hamilton sat across from Lagerstedt and took out a manuscript from his briefcase:
"I came to Princeton to attend a conference, so I brought it to you on the way."
In the 1990s, review comments were still in the parallel stage of online and offline review. Like him, he wrote the review comments by hand and then Not many people sent it back to the editorial office.
But there are still not many cases where it is delivered in person.
Lagerstedt quickly took it into his hands:
"Is this...so fast?"
From the time I sent the review invitation to the other party, less than a week has passed.
For a mathematics paper, especially one that can be published in a mathematics journal, this review speed is... very abnormal.
In particular, the author of the paper also claims that his research will help solve the Poincaré conjecture.
It generally means that there is a serious basic error somewhere in the article, so that there is no need to read the following content at all.
In other words, it was written by Min Ke.
Serious mathematicians, no matter how good they are, would not do such a bad job.
Thinking of this, Ragstetter's expression was a bit ugly.
The editorial department itself is responsible for pre-reviewing the submitted manuscripts.
Papers with serious problems should not be sent to reviewers.
If an inaccurate article is really sent for review, or it is sent to a big boss like Hamilton, it will be a huge blow to him, and even to the reputation of the entire Mathematics Annual.
Ragstetter suddenly felt a little regretful.
As an editor of a mathematics journal, he graduated from the Princeton Department of Mathematics with a master's degree, but he knew that he was not an academic material, so he became an editor.
After finding this paper in his mailbox, he read it again.
I found that I seemed to be able to understand it.
In addition, the author also wrote about the Poincaré conjecture, so he decided to submit it directly to several big guys in the field of differential geometry for review.
"I knew... there must be something wrong with a paper that even I can understand..."
"This kind of article from an unknown research institution and an unknown scholar should really be more..." Be cautious and let some lesser-known second- and third-rate professors review it..."
Ragstedt thought in annoyance as he opened the manuscript Hamilton brought.
Then I saw——
Suggested publication.
"Huh?"
Lagerstedt, who had already done enough psychological preparation, didn't even react for a while.
After being stunned for a while, he raised his head and looked at Hamilton opposite:
“You mean...this paper can be published directly?”
The latter He was also stunned.
Lagerstedt has been an editor of the Annals of Mathematics for almost thirty years, and he can ask such nonsensical questions, just like Perelman suddenly asking him whether 1 + 1 is equal to 2.
His first reaction must be - there must be some other deep meaning behind this.
However, Hamilton thought for a long time and couldn't think of any other meaning besides the literal meaning, so he nodded:
"Strictly speaking, it is recommended to be published directly. I am only reviewing the manuscript. As one of the people, doesn’t the final decision rest with your editorial department?”
“No…I mean…”
Fortunately, at this time, Lagerstedt's IQ gradually began to regain the high ground:
"I mean, I didn't expect you to give review comments so quickly." "Speaking of this, I I am very interested in this author."
Hamilton sat up straight and said solemnly.
“So... this article can really promote the proof of Poincaré’s conjecture as he said?”
Ragstetter also gradually relaxed.
"That's right."
Hamilton nodded, and then suddenly smiled.
"What's wrong?"
Lagerstedt's heart was hanging again.
"Nothing, I remembered something interesting..."
Hamilton waved his hand.
Actually, he thought of the words at the end of the paper that he copied at his own expense.
Mathematics is boring to most people, but not necessarily to mathematicians.
At least Hamilton did not mind adding some interesting language to the paper.
"Ahem——"
After adjusting his tone slightly, he cleared his throat, and then continued:
"The two proofs given in this paper are differential calculus Although the two tools that the geometric world has been looking for cannot be directly said to be the key to unlocking Poincaré's conjecture, they are at least a step forward in a possible direction."
"I think, Perret. Mann should be very interested in this article. Before he returned to Russia last year, he was studying the use of Ricci flow to prove the Poincaré conjecture. "
Lags heard this name. Tate was also a little helpless:
"I originally thought about sending the paper to Professor Perelman, but I was worried that he would not reply to us for a long time..."
Gregory Perelman has a rather weird personality. Fits many people's stereotype of the "weird Russian genius".
“It doesn’t matter, he will always see it.”
Hamilton waved his hand, and then returned to the previous topic:
“That’s not what I just wanted to say. The content of the article itself is not the author’s way of writing the article, or the way he thinks.”
Ragstedt didn't reply, just showed a puzzled expression.
“This article is an expansion on the theoretical basis of Ricci flow. Although it cannot be regarded as establishing a completely new theoretical framework, it still involves some new concepts and new methods. Logically speaking, it should take It takes a long time to fully understand it.”
Hamilton paused here, but continued:
“But when I read this paper, I almost didn’t feel it. Any obstacles in understanding, you must know that combinatorial Ricci flow is the most cutting-edge research field in the field of differential geometry. Even if it is me, or Perelman, it is quite difficult to explain a brand-new result..."< br>
Lagerstedt nodded to indicate that he understood what the other party meant——
No wonder he thought he could understand it before.
“The author seems to know where we readers will encounter difficulties in understanding. Almost every step he writes in the paper explains these links accurately.”
Hamilton Holding his chin with one hand, his expression was serious:
"This reminds me...Teacher, to be precise, Teacher Enlightenment."
"What do you mean?"
Hamilton took a deep breath and replied:
"Only people whose thinking level is much higher than that of readers can write articles in this way."
Lagerstedt's pupils suddenly twitched Shrink.
If others say this, that’s fine.
But this is Richard Hamilton.
The mind is higher than him, so what kind of monster is it?
For a while, the two people in the office were speechless.
After a while, Hamilton spoke again:
“The wonderful proof that Fermat did not write has made mathematicians around the world work hard for more than 300 years.”
< br>"I'm worried that if we miss this opportunity, we will be delayed for another 300 years..."
(End of this chapter)