From small town scholar to chief scientist

Chapter 124 The Last Moment
As soon as Carlos Koenig finished speaking, he signaled Zhou Yi to step onto the podium, on which there were computers, microphones, blackboards, large screens, and the most professional cameraman.

Not long after, as Zhou Yi walked onto the podium slowly, all the world's top mathematicians stared at this young man who was under 20 years old.

Both online and offline are silent at the moment, no one talks.

If we say that the entire IMU conference has two important things.

The first thing is the determination of the four Fields Medal winners, and the second thing is the Kepler conjecture proof paper that mathematicians all over the world are excited about.

Zhou Yi smiled shyly at the countless cameras, and said sonorously:
"Hello seniors, I am Zhou Yi from Daxia Guoyu University. Next, I will briefly introduce my proof process and answer questions from seniors."

Almost all the people present were focused and calm, watching Zhou Yi silently.

Zhou Yi inserted his USB flash drive into the computer on the podium, and then copied out the simplified version of the paper he had prepared.

"I believe that the seniors already have enough understanding of the history of Kepler's conjecture, so I won't repeat the narration and go directly to the topic.

My thinking is somewhat similar to that of Dirichlet and Varonoy in the 19th century.

It introduces a basic concept of splitting space—Varonoi polyhedron.

Given any accumulation of a unit sphere in space, its center constitutes a discrete point set.Take any one of the centers of the sphere, and define the Varonoi polyhedron at that point as the set of all points in space whose distance from this point is not greater than the distance from any other sphere center.

So Kepler's conjecture is a whole problem and a limit.For such geometric problems, only local cases can be dealt with because it involves specific calculations.Therefore, in order to solve the Kepler conjecture, the most important problem is how to effectively transform it into a certain local form,
Two pairs of them are mutually disjoint and just fill the entire three-dimensional space, so that each ball is contained in the corresponding Varonoi polyhedron, so that the ratio of the volume of the ball to the volume of the corresponding Varonoi polyhedron produces a local density.

At this point, it is only necessary to prove that each local density is not greater than π/√18, then Kepler's conjecture can be proved. "

Zhouyi speaks very quickly. At the beginning, mathematicians who are not in this direction can understand it.

But in the mid-term, only professors who have in-depth research in number theory and geometry can understand Zhou Yi's speed.

Ding Jian shook his head with a wry smile, and said in a very low voice:

"I can't understand it. My research on geometry and number theory is too little, and it is very difficult to listen to it before."

Shan Peng and Liu Gang smiled wryly, and they couldn't understand.

Especially Liu Gang, who studies differential geometry, can't understand it here. The gap between people is so big.

Among the mathematicians from the Great Xia Kingdom who came together, only a few two or three people are still listening,

It's just that the more difficult it is to go to the back, Professor Tian Yi finally failed directly,
While thinking about the content of my report, I feel that the BSD conjecture I researched is interesting.

Only Zhu Xiaohua, a professor at Shangjing University, is still working hard to follow Zhouyi's ideas.

He read Zhou Yi's paper, but he didn't understand many places,
Due to his identity, he didn't attend Zhou Yi's lecture at Yu University.

So it is very difficult now, and I feel that after Zhou Yi talks about a page or two, he may be able to lie down completely and think about whether there is anything that can be improved in the content of his report.

Zhou Yi turned to the back and said loudly:

"This new theory, which I call Zhou's Geometry, I was inspired by some papers by Professor Xiang Yi and Professor Hales, and also from the ideas of Fayesh Toth,

Some are the same, but some are different, so what follows is the core of my thesis, and it is also a sharp sword to prove Kepler's conjecture. "

In the previous work, Zhou Yi simply introduced the preparation work of the thesis and the mathematical methods used, and gave some "obvious" specific proofs in the thesis.

Next is the core!
Qiu Chengtong, Deligne and Mirno are connected with Mai,
Milno said with emotion:
"Why didn't I think of using the thousands of linear optimizations of the two of them to create a new geometry theory. When I first saw this part, I was overwhelmed. It was a genius idea.

The narration of the key language is concise and powerful, without redundant burden, and there is no place where logic does not make sense. "

Deligne also praised:
"It is indeed a new content. It can be said that Zhouyi has created a new branch of geometry, but it is still very immature and needs people to add bricks and tiles to it."

Qiu Cheng said with a smug smile on his face:

"How do you say, my eyesight is not bad?"

Mirno rolled his eyes and cursed bitterly:
"I just can't figure it out. How can I be worse than you, Qiu Chengtong? How about it, Zhou Yi is studying in your graduate school, and come to me to study for a Ph. D?"

Qiu Chengtong rarely refused immediately, but said:

"I will seriously think about what you think."

Schultz, who was under the rostrum of the conference hall, looked at the screen and whispered to Terence Tao next to him:

"The mathematicians in your homeland have come up with a very remarkable person. Compared with Mochizuki Shinichi's proof of the ABC conjecture that doesn't know why,

I prefer to think Zhou Yi's proof is flawless. "

Tao Zhexuan also said in a very low voice:
"My research direction is not here, so some of the proofs are cloudy, and even many proofs are in the dark.
To tell you the truth, I haven't been able to understand it for three full months since Zhouyi published the paper the first time.

After listening to it now, I still don't understand. "

Schultz somewhat agrees that the research direction of mathematics is different in the later stage, as if separated by a galaxy.

"Keep listening carefully, I feel that the significance of this paper is much more than that."

Schultz said with a tone of surprise.

At this moment, Zhouyi has talked about the core of the thesis, and the speed of speech is also very slow, and the explanation is more detailed.
The auxiliary theorem proof ideas in it,

The idea used in the 18-year Fields Medal winner Bill Carr's proof of the BAB conjecture was used.

Zhou Yi said on the stage:
"This method can also be regarded as a connection between number theory, algebraic geometry and analysis."

When Zhou Yi said this, countless people were silent.

Is it possible that mathematics really has a great unity?

"This is just a superficial application. There is still a long way to go from the Langlands program. At least the BSD conjecture and the Riemann conjecture must be proved to have a chance."

Zhou Yi rarely said a few other words, and then went back to the paper itself.

During this process, no one interrupted Zhou Yi, and everyone listened with bated breath.

Zhou Yi talked for a full two hours, during which no one interrupted.

All were shocked by Zhou Yi's ingenious proof, the new geometry and complex calculations he created.

"To sum up, we can prove that each local density is not greater than π/√18, that is, Kepler's conjecture is true!"

After Zhou Yi finished speaking this sentence, he stopped talking.

Instead, it is waiting for questions and inquiries from experts in geometry.

At this time, Carlos Koenig, the chairman of the conference, stepped onto the podium and said:
"Okay, the powerful proof of Zhouyi has been explained. Now everyone present here, as well as colleagues who failed to participate online, can ask questions."

At this time, everyone was taken aback, asking questions?

Indeed a lot of questions.

However, the most authoritative professors in this direction did not ask questions, and many people were embarrassed to ask questions.

Professor Zong Ming from the Great Xia Kingdom, Professor Xiang Yi from Chinese-American, and many Veblen winners in the audience didn't ask any questions.

For a while, the atmosphere was a little awkward.

At this time, Viazovska from Ukraine said:
"Did everyone understand? Anyway, I am not very clear about some things, so let me throw bricks to attract jade."

"Zhouyi, the one hundred kinds of linear programming involved in your article, and the assignment function defined according to the sphere, are aided by computers.

Don't you think this is a kind of questioning of the Pythagorean school?
Kepler's own mathematical thought is in the same line as Pythagoras, and belongs to the school of mathematical aestheticism.

In his opinion, mathematics is the most advanced metaphysical science of thinking, and its perfect state for judging the truth or falsehood of propositions should be strict logical reasoning and concise operation principles.Using the cold and stylized method of computers to solve the outstanding problems left by him undoubtedly dwarfs the height of human intelligence, which is an unacceptable result. "

Viazovska's questioning is also the most criticized place in the Book of Changes, unless someone has personally calculated it,

Otherwise, the results can only be obtained by computer.

Looking at this speech, Zhou Yi felt a little familiar. Isn't this the question that a certain sunspot made on Twitter back then.

Many people also looked at Zhou Yi one after another, obviously waiting for Zhou Yi to say something, if this is all right,
Then it can be announced that the Kepler conjecture proved successful!

Zhou Yi heard the words and said:
"Actually, there are thousands of linear programs like this, but after the introduction of new geometry theory, they have been reduced to more than 100.
For these more than 100 kinds, the calculation is actually not very complicated. The manuscripts I calculated at the beginning were all taken by me and saved. "

After a while, Zhou Yi took out the draft proof that he had calculated himself, one after another A4 paper, arranged nervously and orderly.

There are hundreds of pages.

These manuscripts are clearly written, neat and orderly, exactly like pages of papers, not like scratch paper at all.

At this time, Professor Dennis, the 2022 Abel Prize winner and the future winner of the Veblen Geometry Wolf Prize, said:

"I calculated this calculation myself, no problem, it works, using a computer is just an auxiliary means, these more than 100 linear programs are very delicate.

Not surprisingly, these more than 100 kinds of linear programming may shine in computers or artificial intelligence. "

When the old man said it, it was basically a final decision.

Wiazovska gave a wry smile and stopped talking. As an expert in this field, after Zhou Yi explained,
She knew whether it was accurate or not, but using a computer was a bit difficult to accept, and she also believed that she was a Pythagorean school of aesthetic mathematics.

IMU Chairman Carlos Koenig is now connecting with Professor Xiang Yi, another authoritative professor in the direction of Kepler's conjecture.

After Xiang Yi connects the connection,
Carlos Koenig immediately asked:
"Professor Dennis' opinion has just been said. Professor Xiang, you have studied Kepler's conjecture for decades. I don't know if your views on Zhouyi's proof are different?"

Professor Xiang Yi said:

"I confirmed that there was no problem with this paper ten days ago, and Professor Zong Ming from Shangjing University, who was visiting with me, also thought that there was no problem in the proof, it was perfect and impeccable,
Just looking at the opinions of international colleagues, we are not sure yet, but the two of us think that the Kepler conjecture can be declared a theorem. "

Three important figures who have worked on this conjecture have declared it correct,

The Daxia Mathematicians present and online are excited,
These three people can be regarded as the authority in this direction, and if all three of them affirmed it, then Kepler's conjecture is likely to be crowned.

Carlos Koenig then contacted Chen Xiuxiong and Simon Donaldson, winners of the Veblen Prize in 18,

Among them, Simon Donaldson is also a Fields Medal winner.

Chen Xiuxiong looked at his uncle who was a generation higher than himself, feeling a little emotional,
Unexpectedly, when I grow old, there will be such a powerful uncle, but it's good to have such a powerful uncle,
On the road to the revitalization of mathematics in the Great Xia Kingdom, someone must carry the banner, and there must be a soul-like leader.

Instead of someone from the same line as his old opponent carrying this flag,
Then why can't people of our genre carry the banner of revival?

Why should I let them go to Beijing University, why should I let them go to my 'master'?
Thinking of all kinds of grievances and grievances in the past, Chen Xiuxiong's heart is extremely complicated.

Are you not patriotic?

Do you want to go out? Didn’t I cultivate so many mathematics talents for the motherland over the years? Didn’t the young people who published the four major journals at the age of 26 be trained by themselves?

I did my best!

Chen Xiuxiong said with a very positive tone:
"There is no problem on our side either. We have studied it for three months since it was published. We have contacted Professor Xiang Yi about some of the doubts.
Hearing Shi. Zhouyi's explanation today, it is even more enlightening. We think there is no problem. "

Immediately Simon Donaldson also said there was no problem.

Several geometry experts said that there is no problem,

Koenig then contacted Professor Qiu Chengtong towards Professor Milnor.

As long as the two professors finally feel that there is no problem,
Then Zhou Yi's paper is correct.

At this time, the whole hall was silent,
If nothing else, they are likely to witness a history in the history of mathematics today.

The sweat of many people's palms has already flowed out.

Many doctors and masters who study Kepler's conjecture are probably shaking their hands.

Some people are even ready to blow their hair on the rooftop.

The mathematicians of the Great Xia Kingdom also looked excitedly at Koeniglian McCau Chengtong.

After a while, the transoceanic video was finally connected.

PS: Ask for a monthly pass.And at night.

　To a short video producer:
　　I have been listening to writers from all walks of life saying that some people who make short videos like to lie on the author to suck blood. I have always maintained a skeptical attitude, thinking that they were just joking, but it turned out that this really happened. on me.

　　The clown turned out to be me.

　　I am here to suggest a certain creator, if you think my writing is poor, please open the book directly, I will learn, I like to learn some excellent things.

　　Tell me well what is profiling and give me a lesson.

　　As you said, I am a player with no talent. I can understand that my brain is relatively dull and stupid. I am used to it. I have been beaten by mathematics. I am used to it and can accept it.

　　So what I need more is to study hard. If you open the book, I will come to study and comment right away.

　　As for the grades, they are even worse than you expected. I have to say this out loud, I'm on the street! ! !
　　The first order is more than 1100.

　　As for the professional content I wrote, I think you should stop talking about it. I look awkward and want to say some professional content, but I’m afraid you won’t understand.I just want to say that I am more professional than you.

　　Finally I feel like I have the starting material for my next book.interesting!
　　Things that happen in life are far more exciting than those in novels.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)