He Stole the Whole Show

The question of R(φ) at a small coupling constant in two dimensions was not particularly difficult. It only required a little abstract thinking... at least, that was how Lu Zhou saw it.

But while the question itself was not hard, anyone who thought to ask it was clearly no ordinary scholar. Most people would never have noticed that anything there needed clarification, let alone that it was open to debate.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhou spoke from the other end of the phone.

"The existence of an isolated eigenvalue m of M, together with the Wightman Axioms, provides the theoretical foundation for two standard formulations of scattering theory: the Wave Operator Method and one based on scattering matrix elements. Applying either formulation shows that asymptotic states exist for arbitrary numbers of particles..."

As Lu Zhou spoke, Luo Wenxuan did not dare hesitate. He picked up a marker and began writing on the whiteboard.

Lines of equations flowed across it.

As the derivation went deeper, the abstract problem was gradually laid bare. A hint of a smile appeared on Witten's face, which had been grave as he watched the stage. The elderly man with the hooked nose who had asked the question slowly nodded as well.

The murmurs in the lecture hall died away.

Luo Wenxuan took a deep breath and lowered his marker.

"That answers the question concerning the single-particle spectrum... Are there any other questions?"

The elderly man with the hooked nose smiled at the young man onstage.

"No."

Applause broke out in the lecture hall. What began as a patter quickly swelled into a downpour, full of encouragement and praise, as though it might lift the roof right off the building.

Luo Wenxuan set the marker on the multimedia lectern and breathed a sigh of relief.