Princeton University, the editorial department of "Annals of Mathematics".
"Good morning, Ron."
"Good morning, Beck."
Arriving at the office on time, the editors of "Annals of Mathematics" greeted each other.
"We have to start the daily review work again. I wonder if we can find some valuable papers today."
Ron sat in front of his work station and sighed.
"Haha, who says it's not?" Beck shrugged.
They receive an average of 500-1,000 submissions every year, but ultimately only publish between 30 and 50 articles each year, which means that the acceptance rate is only between 5% and 10%.
For editors like them who are not editors-in-chief or deputy editors-in-chief, it is basically rare to see papers that are of good quality and can be submitted for publication. After all, many of the authors of papers that can be submitted for submission are elite-level figures. If these elite-level figures want to submit papers, they must directly contact their editor-in-chief and take the fast track.
After all, who doesn't want their paper to be published as soon as possible?
As a result, all Daniel's papers were read by the editor-in-chief, and their task as ordinary editors was to screen out junk submissions.
Among them, there are also some civilian mathematicians who have submitted some papers to them claiming to have proved Twin Prime Conjecture, Goldbach Conjecture and so on. Oh, now Twin Prime Conjecture has become a thing of the past. After all, it has been proven, which made those civilian mathematicians lose a big position.
But this caused Goldbach Conjecture to become the hardest hit area again.
Of course, for editors like them, this kind of paper is quite interesting, at least it can make them have fun, right?
"Well, let me see what the submissions are today."
Ron said as he entered the mailbox.
After briefly glancing at the title of the manuscript, he quickly lost his nerve.
"Hahaha~Beck, come and see!"
He waved to Ron next to him.
"What happened?"
Ron walked over with a puzzled look on his face, took a look at the title on the mailbox, and suddenly he couldn't hold himself any longer.
I saw that there were actually two papers titled "Goldbach Conjecture" in the mailbox, and they were connected together.
"You guys are so lucky!" Beck immediately laughed and patted Ron on the shoulder.
According to their experience, these two proofs of Goldbach Conjecture must have been sent by civilian mathematicians.
Although they occasionally receive submissions from civilian mathematicians, there are very few such cases where there are two articles at once, which means there are two things to enjoy.
"How about you let me read an article." Beck said.
"No no no." Ron waved his finger. "This is my workload!"
These editors also have targets for how many manuscripts they need to read every day.
Fun contributions like this are simply a bonus at work for them.
"Okay." Beck could only sigh sadly.
But he didn't say much, and then urged, "Open the first article and read it."
Ron nodded and clicked on the first submission. Well, I didn't recognize the author's name. I was even more certain that he was a civilian mathematician.
Click in and take a look, boy, there are only 3 pages of content in total.
Just 3 pages proves Goldbach Conjecture, right?
The two editors could no longer suppress the raised corners of their mouths.
Looking further down, well, the author first listed a bunch of examples that are consistent with the conclusion of Goldbach Conjecture, such as examples in the shape of [4=2+2], [6=3+3], and [8=3+5].
There is more than a page of such equations listed. Just when Ron and Beck thought that the author wanted to show that based on a large number of such examples, and then based on the induction method, it can be known that since so many observed even numbers can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers, it is speculated that all even numbers can satisfy this clause.
But what surprised them a little was that the author also used a recursive method later.
It's just that... this recursive method is not very smart.
He assumed that for a certain even number 2n, he already knew that all even numbers less than 2n are consistent with Goldbach Conjecture, and then proved that 2n is also consistent, and then claimed that if 2n = p + q does not hold, you can find a suitable pair of prime numbers by adjusting the values of p and q.
And then...
Then it's gone!
Just say the proof is complete!
That's it for three pages of content.
Not even a literature citation.
"It's gone?" Beck's eyes widened.
"It's gone." Ron shrugged.
What else can they say?
All I can say is that it was expected.
Beck shook his head helplessly, and then urged, "Read the second article quickly!"
Ron opened the second chapter without any nonsense.
I hope Part 2 can bring them more fun.
"Let's first see who the author of this paper is..."
When they turned their attention to the author's name, both of them fell silent.
"This..."
"Well..."
Finally, they looked at each other.
"Why is this author Xiao Yi?!"
Xiao Yi If you send a paper to them, shouldn't you contact their editor-in-chief Professor Sanak directly?
And the most important thing is...
"He proved Goldbach Conjecture?!"
The two people looked at each other and immediately saw the other's shock.
How long has it been since the proof of Twin Prime Conjecture?
Now he has proved Goldbach Conjecture again?
Beck said, "What if it's just someone with the same name... or maybe it's someone pretending to be Xiao Yi?"
Ron shook his head and said, "Let's take a look at the paper first. Whether it is his paper or not, I think we can tell at a glance."
Beck nodded. "That's right."
Papers written by professional mathematicians are completely different from papers written by civilian mathematicians, which can be seen at a glance.
So he opened the paper and started reading.
And just after reading the abstract, they can be sure that this is the paper written by Xiao Yi himself.
The professionalism here is not something that civilian mathematicians can touch.
The two editors were silent for a moment, then looked at each other.
"Should we tell Professor Sanak about the paper?"
"I guess so."
Ron nodded.
Taking a look at this paper, it was already submitted four days ago.
God, they didn't see such an important submission until today.
Could it be that Xiao Yi made a mistake when submitting the article?
And why didn't he post it on arxiv first?
They would probably never imagine that all the reasons were just because Xiao Yi wanted to show off for a few days.
Soon the two people ran into their editor-in-chief's office.
At this time, Peter Sanak had just come to work. When he saw two people walking in, he raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Ron, Beck, what's going on? Of course, except for leave. I just checked the mailbox, and we still have more than 40 manuscripts that we haven't finished reading."
"Hey, how can you think of us so much? Of course we won't ask for leave." Ron said.
Beck said, "Don't worry, after reading it today, there may be more than 50 articles tomorrow."
Sanak glared at Beck angrily, "I don't know what to say, so please explain the reason why you came to me."
"Don't be afraid of what we are going to say."
"I'm the editor-in-chief, I won't be afraid." Sanak leaned back on the chair and said nonchalantly, "Is it possible that someone has proved Riemann Hypothesis?"
"Uh... That's not true, it's just..." Ron said, "Xiao Yi He proved Goldbach Conjecture!"
"Walter?!" Sanak's upper body, which had just been leaning on the back of the chair, suddenly sat up straight again. "His paper was posted on arxiv? When was it posted? Why didn't I know?"
As he spoke, he turned on his computer and started to log in to aixv, wanting to check. "It should have been posted just now, right? Otherwise, I will definitely know the news... Then I have to call him again and ask him to contribute to us, and we can't let it be snatched away by a few other old guys."
Beck and Ron were immediately dumbfounded. The latter quickly explained, "He did not send it to arxiv, but submitted it directly to us. I just don't know why, but his manuscript entered our mailbox. I have already sent it to you just now."
Sanak was suddenly startled and submitted the article to them directly?
He quickly opened his mailbox and saw the manuscript Ron had just forwarded to him.
I opened it and skimmed the summary a little.
Okay, it's basically certain that this is Xiao Yi's paper.
He took a deep breath and felt surprised.
Xiao Yi's paper has been published, does that mean that he has really solved this problem?
Sanak already felt a little impatient in his heart.
He nodded to the two people and said, "Thank you for telling me the news. I will start reviewing the manuscript now. I will tell you more about the specific situation after I read it."
Ron and Beck both nodded immediately and left the office.
However, they are all looking forward to the final result.
Goldbach Conjecture, is this jewel in the crown of number theory really going to be taken off?
Time passed quickly.
In the editorial department today, the editors all discovered that their editor-in-chief had not come out of the office for a long time. Even lunch had to be brought in for him.
Under normal circumstances, this means that Professor Sanak encountered some very important paper, which is why he was so involved in it.
So, Ron and Beck entered Sanak's office this morning and received inquiries from their colleagues.
Subsequently, the news about Xiao Yi proving Goldbach Conjecture spread like wildfire.
Although there are also scholars from other top research institutions or universities who can serve as editors of "Annals of Mathematics", they basically have a close relationship with Princeton University. After all, the editorial department is located on the campus of Princeton University.
Ever since, relevant news quickly spread within the Mathematics Department of Princeton University.
Then, as expected, the news began to spread to the outside world.
In just three days, the entire mathematical community learned of the news, which immediately aroused discussion among many people.
However, most people have expressed doubts about the authenticity of this matter
[No, I checked on arxiv, and Xiao Yi did not publish this paper.]
[I didn't find it either, it must be fake news!]
[That is to say, if it is true, the original text of the paper has probably been circulated everywhere, so how come it is possible that all the papers are circulated, but the original text of the paper cannot be found.]
[I am Princeton University Mathematics Department, a graduate student. This news is actually true. I heard from my supervisor that his friend in the editorial department of "Annals of Mathematics" revealed that this matter is true. Xiao Yi didn't know why he didn't put the paper on arxiv, but submitted it directly to the "Annals of Mathematics". It is now being reviewed by Peter Professor Sanak, so you will definitely not be able to find the original text of the paper on arxiv.
I estimate that "Annals of Mathematics" will make an announcement in a few days, so you can all look forward to it.]
[So this is actually true? Gift crab special! Xiao Yi Are you planning to clear this genius game of number theory?]
[impossible! Absolutely impossible! How long has it been since Twin Prime Conjecture, and Goldbach Conjecture has been proven again? Am I living in the world of a novel?]
[I am the prover of Goldbach Conjecture. Please take a look at my paper "The Theory of Principles of the Great Analytic Method of Number Theory" published on arxiv a year ago. In it, I have successfully proved Twin Prime Conjecture, Goldbach Conjecture, Riemann Hypothesis and other conjectures in the field of number theory, including the abc conjecture.]
[Civil science, get out of the world of mathematics!]
[This paper of yours is classified in the field of "general math". It can be confirmed at a glance that it is a civilian subject]
[You are persecuting geniuses! Time will tell!]
[If it is true, then I will wait for the announcement of Annals of Mathematics, and I am looking forward to the day when Goldbach Conjecture is truly proven.]
As various news spread, people in the mathematical community became increasingly confused.
So, what news is true?
Just like that, another two days passed.
In the office of the editor-in-chief of "Annals of Mathematics".
When the paper in front of him turned to the last page, Sanak finally let out a sigh of relief.
"What a perfect paper."
Recalling the new theory given by Xiao Yi in the paper that completely combined Xiao's expansion with the circle method, he was very moved.
Another new theory that is expected to have a major impact on mathematics.
Xiao Yi is always good at this kind of stuff.
He put down the paper in his hand, stood up, stretched, and walked out of the office.
Outside the office, the editors who noticed Sanak looked at their editor-in-chief.
A few days ago, Professor Sanak almost never left the office before getting off work, right?
He came out so early today, could it be...
They suddenly realized something.
At this time, Sanak also knocked on the door, focusing everyone's attention on him, and then said, "Okay, let me tell you some good news, Goldbach Conjecture has probably been solved!"
"Ohhh!"
Suddenly there was a burst of exclamation in the editorial department.
Sanak knocked on the door again, asking them to quiet down, and continued, "Of course, this only represents the results of my review. As you know, for such important results, a sufficiently professional review committee needs to be formed."
"So, let's issue an announcement and start organizing the review committee."
After hearing Sanak's words, everyone present suddenly became excited and shouted, "Okay! Mr. Editor-in-Chief!"
Once this announcement was sent out, it officially represented their recognition of Goldbach Conjecture.
The world of mathematics may be shocked again!
As expected by the editors, as soon as the news came out that they had begun to form the Goldbach Conjecture review committee, the mathematics community was immediately shocked again.
[I told you a long time ago that the news is true, why don't some people believe it?]
[This world must be crazy! Hahahahaha! Twin Prime Conjecture and Goldbach Conjecture have been solved! Hahahahaha!]
[It's over, this person is really crazy.]
[I almost went crazy, the damn Xiao Yi actually took away two of my subjects! How bad! If I were asked to do these two topics, I would definitely have won Fields Medal!
What? Are you saying I can't prove it?
Oh, that's okay! I really can't prove it.]
[By the way, who are the people on their review committee?]
[After all, it is Goldbach Conjecture, there must be Terence Tao, right? Then there are James·Maynard. Of course, I think Xiao Yi is indispensable - haha, just kidding, of course I know that Xiao Yi is the certifier of the paper.]
[I'm already looking forward to the final result.]
Princeton University, in a conference room.
"Okay, thank you for accepting our invitation to serve as a reviewer for the Goldbach Conjecture certificate."
Peter Sanak sat in front of the computer and looked at the six top experts in the field of number theory who had been invited by them on the screen. This was the review committee they organized.
This is their first meeting. Of course, it is an online meeting. After all, the reviewers present are all located around the world, and it is impossible to have an offline meeting.
Terence Tao said with emotion, "I really didn't expect that the last time I received your invitation to serve as a reviewer was the last time, and the result came again so soon."
"If you have nothing to say, you don't have to talk." James·Maynard shrugged and said, "The only regret is that I couldn't see Xiao Yi."
"Xiao Yi is the author. If we see him here, we will probably be on the news headlines tomorrow. The title will be: "Number theorists will do whatever it takes to prove Goldbach Conjecture."
On the other side, Ivanets smiled and said, "Okay, let's not talk so much. Peter, please show us the paper quickly. I can't wait."
The other mathematicians nodded, and they were all looking forward to the paper.
"Haha, here it comes." Peter Sanak smiled and nodded, then passed the electronic version of the paper to the people present, and then he said, "I have read it once, and I can basically confirm that this paper has been successful."
"Of course, the specifics also depend on your opinions. So, let's not talk nonsense next. Let's divide the work first, and then we will officially start the review work."
The review process officially begins.
Just like that, a month later, to the expectation of almost the entire mathematical community, the Goldbach Conjecture review committee officially announced——
Goldbach Conjecture, successfully proven!