Heroes Recognized Heroes
Shen Qi visited the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and found that it did not have any high-end experimental equipment.
The people here are generally older, with only a very small number of young people.
Whether old or young, people were relaxed and content, drinking coffee, gazing at the tall maple trees outside the window, and occasionally writing a few symbols or a series of formulas on the blackboard, exchanging ideas and discussing with their companions.
"As you can see, strangely, the Institute for Advanced Study does not have experimental equipment for Condensed Matter Physics, or other advanced equipment," Witten said.
"Well, Edward, this really is a holy land for theoretical research." Shen Qi had seen with his own eyes that the most advanced physics experimental instruments in the Institute for Advanced Study were springs, weights, small balls, and force counters.
Using these simple instruments, Witten demonstrated to Shen Qi the most classic physics experiment: the interaction force between objects.
"First, we obtain the universal fundamental laws, and then we can deduce the entire universe." Shen Qi was inspired by this high school student's physics experiment.
According to Shen Qi's on-site investigation, the main work of the bigwigs in the Institute for Advanced Study is: thinking, drinking coffee, continuing to think, returning to simplicity, and then rebuilding complexity from simplicity.
It's understandable that the institute's top mathematicians, historians, and social scientists all rely on their imagination to complete their work tasks.
Natural Science giants, such as Witten, also rely heavily on their imagination for most of their work; they almost never conduct those so-called high-end experiments.
Witten hasn't conducted an experiment costing more than $20 in a long time, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand Condensed Matter Physics: "Broadly speaking, Condensed Matter Physics has two directions. The first is to study the properties and uses of condensed matter and apply them as much as possible. The second is to provide theoretical support for the first. For example, we study the theoretical system of the topological and geometric properties of defects, while crystal experiments and large-scale applications are left to applied scientists."
"Understood, Edward." Shen Qi had gained some insights from this trip to the Institute for Advanced Study. He and Witten admired each other, and in their minds, basic theory was above all else, possessing supreme command and direction.
Witten: "If you need to use the standard experimental equipment at the Princeton Physics Department, I can put in a good word for you."
"It's not necessary for now, Edward, thank you."
Shen Qi left the Institute for Advanced Study, deciding to approach Condensed Matter Physics from a second angle.
Dislocations have rather complex geometries, and their movement properties are mainly determined by their geometries, which are constrained by their fundamental topological properties.
Dislocations in cubic crystals generally come in two types: edge dislocations and screw dislocations, as well as two basic types of motion: slip and climb.
The application of the Vorterra process in crystals is well known, and the Burgers vector is the smallest lattice vector in a crystal, thus the definition of dislocation gradually became clear.
You can find the relevant knowledge points in any general Condensed Matter Physics textbook, namely "topological and geometric properties of defects" in Condensed Matter Physics.
The single crystal facets were oriented using an X-ray Laue orienter, and then the oriented crystal facets were cut into square emission surfaces using slow wire cutting.
The resistivity and emission current density of the crystal-faceted sample rotating in a magnetic field were measured using a PPMS system, and the crystal facet features were observed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.
It would take several months or even more than a year to finally produce a paper, more than half of which would be dry charts and pictures... Shen Qi wouldn't do that kind of thing. It's no different from what ordinary Physics Department graduate students do, and it doesn't match his status as an internationally renowned master of fundamental theory.
Shen Qi's goal is to accomplish a task worth over $200 million with a cost of only $20. This will be highly efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly.
Normally, theory precedes experiment and guides experiment. Of course, there are also experiments that precede theory.
The theoretical branch of the topological and geometric properties of defects is commonly used in crystal experiments, and it is constantly being tested and challenged by various crystal experiments.
With Witten's prompting, Shen Qi keenly realized that the existing flawed topology theory based on Homotopy Group might not be truly perfect.
He wanted to start from this field and find a more perfect theory to support the millions of crystal experiments and large-scale applications conducted every day around the world.
"That's incredibly exciting!" Shen Qi exclaimed, feeling both excited and pressured. If this project were truly completed, its value would probably far exceed $200 million.
Only a master of Condensed Matter Physics, and equally proficient in mathematical tools such as topology and Group Theory, could complete this innovative theoretical research.
Shen Qi began to build the framework, which required the use of an extremely complex mathematical tool – Algebraic Topology.
Physicists with mediocre mathematical backgrounds are not suited for this kind of work. Fields Medal physicists are best suited for innovative work, such as Edward Witten and Shen Qi.
Suddenly, Shen Qi had an epiphany; mathematics and physics rapidly merged in his mind.
Intertwined!
Bold and expansive!
A seamless whole!
Shen Qi slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "The only way to break this deadlock is through a spherically stable Homotopy Group!"
Shen Qi's self-purchased Condensed Matter Physics experimental equipment is very energy-efficient, requiring only a box of A4 paper and a few pens.
This theoretical research work, which is basically based on imagination, is not understood by many people.
Shen Qi doesn't need many people to understand him; he entertains himself. Anyway, the Mathematics Department's academic tasks for this year are completed, and "History of Number Theory" has been published and sold.
Researching Condensed Matter Physics was Shen Qi's side job, or even less. He wasn't a student in the physics Physics Department of Princeton University, nor was he a researcher or doctoral student in the physics division of Institute for Advanced Study.
Shen Qi's side job is teaching students. In addition to supervising two graduate students, he is also responsible for teaching some professional courses for graduate and undergraduate students.
Princeton has a strict rule that even the most brilliant professors, including Fields Medal laureates and Phil Jackson winners, must complete a certain number of teaching hours for graduate and undergraduate students each semester.
Today I have Professor Shen's professional course, Functional Analysis, a graduate-level course.
Functional Analysis is a relatively difficult mathematics course that is required for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Functional Analysis at the graduate level can be seen as an enhanced version of that at the undergraduate level; Functional Analysis is a challenging subject.
Shen Qi walked into the classroom with his hands behind his back, surveyed the room, and was very satisfied that no one had skipped class.
Not only did no one skip class, but some students even stood in the aisle between the seats with their books, while others sat directly on the floor, eagerly awaiting Professor Shen's lecture.
(I've been super busy these past few days, so there's only one update today. Tomorrow's update will also be a little late; I'll make up for it over the weekend.)