I Just Want to Be a Quiet Top Student

Shen Qi visited the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and he found that there were no high-end experimental instruments and equipment here.

People here are generally older, and there are a very small number of young people.

No matter they are old or young, people are at ease, drinking coffee, looking at the tall maple trees outside the window, writing a few symbols and a series of formulas on the blackboard from time to time, and communicating with their peers.

"As you can see, Qi, there are no experimental equipment for condensed matter physics and other advanced equipment in the Institute of Advanced Study," Witten said.

"Well, Edward, this is indeed a sacred place for theoretical research." Shen Qi saw with his own eyes that the most advanced physical experimental instruments in the Institute for Advanced Study are springs, hooks, small balls, and dynamometers.

Through these simple instruments, Witten demonstrated to Shen Qi the most classic physics experiment: the interaction force between objects.

"First obtain the universal basic laws, and then deduce the whole universe." Shen Qi got inspiration from this high school student's physics experiment.

According to Shen Qi’s on-the-spot investigation, the main tasks of the bosses in the Institute for Advanced Study are: thinking, drinking coffee, continuing to think, returning to simplicity, and then rebuilding complexity from simplicity.

It is understandable that the math experts, history experts, and social science experts in the institute all rely on their brains to complete their work tasks.

Natural science bigwigs, such as Witten, also rely on brain supplementation for most of their work, and he hardly does so-called high-end experiments.

Witten hasn’t done an experiment costing more than $20 for a long time, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand condensed matter physics: “Generally speaking, there are two directions in condensed matter physics. The first is to study the properties and uses of condensed matter. And put it into application as much as possible, the second one provides theoretical support for the first one. For example, we study the theoretical system of the topology and geometric properties of defects, and the crystal experiment and large-scale application are left to application scientists to deal with .”

"Understood, Edward." Shen Qi experienced some experience through this trip to the Institute for Advanced Study. He and the Weiteng hero cherish the hero. In the hearts of the two, the basic theory is above everything else, and the theory has the supreme command and direction. sex.

Witten: "If you need to use the routine experimental equipment of the Princeton Department of Physics, I can help you."

"No need for now, Edward, thank you."

Shen Qi left the Institute for Advanced Study, and he decided to start from the second direction of condensed matter physics.

Dislocations have rather complex geometric configurations, and their mobility properties are mainly determined by their geometric configurations, which are constrained by their basic topological properties.

There are generally two types of dislocations in cubic crystals, edge dislocations and screw dislocations, and two basic types of motion, slip and climb.

The application of the Volterra process in crystals is widely known, and the Burgers vector is the smallest lattice vector in the crystal, so the definition of dislocation is gradually clear.

You can find relevant information in any general condensed matter physics textbook, that is, "Topological and geometric properties of defects" in condensed matter physics.

Use an X-ray Laue orientator to orient the crystal face of the single crystal, and then use slow wire cutting to cut the oriented crystal face into an emitting face with a square cross section.

On the physical property measurement system PPMS, the resistivity and emission current density of the oriented samples rotated in the magnetic field were measured, and the data of the change of the emission current density with the applied voltage were measured, and the characteristics of the crystal plane were observed by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.

It took several months or even more than a year to finally publish a paper. More than half of the content of this paper is boring charts and pictures... Shen Qi doesn't do this kind of thing, he is no different from an ordinary physics graduate student , does not match the status of an internationally renowned fundamental theory master.

What Shen Qi wants to do is to complete work worth more than US$200 million at a cost of US$20. High efficiency and energy saving, low carbon and environmental protection.

Normally, theory precedes and guides experimentation. Of course, there are experiments ahead of theory.

The theoretical branch of the topological and geometric properties of defects is usually used in crystal experiments, and it is constantly tested and challenged by various crystal experiments.

Under Wei Teng's reminder, Shen Qi was keenly aware of whether the existing theory of defect topology based on homotopy groups is really flawless?

He wants to start from this field and find a more perfect theory to support thousands of crystal experiments and large-scale applications every day in the world.

"It's quite exciting." Shen Qi became excited, but also felt the pressure. If this project is really completed, it may be worth more than 200 million U.S. dollars, right?

Only masters of mathematics who are proficient in the theory of condensed matter physics and also proficient in mathematical tools such as topology and group theory can complete this innovative theoretical research work.

Shen Qi started to build a framework, which required the use of an extremely complex mathematical tool—algebraic topology.

Physicists with a sparse mathematical foundation cannot do this job. Physicists who have won Fields Medals are most suitable for innovative work, such as Edward Witten and Shen Qi.

Suddenly, Shen Qi had an epiphany, mathematics and physics merged rapidly in his brain.

Criss-criss!

Wide open and wide open!

All in one!

Shen Qi clapped the case: "To break this situation, the only way is to stabilize the homotopy group on the spherical surface!"

The condensed matter physics experimental equipment that Shen Qi purchased by himself is very energy-efficient, with a box of A4 paper and a few pens.

Not many people can understand this theoretical research work that basically relies on brain supplementation.

Shen Qi didn't need too many people to understand him. He was entertaining himself. Anyway, the academic tasks of the Department of Mathematics were completed this year, and "History of Number Theory" has been published and sold.

Researching condensed matter physics is Shen Qi's sideline job, not even a sideline job, he is not from the Department of Physics at Pudong University, nor is he a researcher or doctoral candidate in the Physics Department of the Institute for Advanced Study.

Shen Qi's side job is to teach students. In addition to leading two graduate students, he is also responsible for teaching some professional courses for graduate students and undergraduate students.

Princeton has strict rules, no matter how good a professor is, even if he is a Philippine Prize winner or a Nobel Prize winner, he must complete a certain number of hours of postgraduate and undergraduate teaching tasks every semester.

Today there is a professional course taught by Professor Shen, functional analysis, and a postgraduate course.

Functional analysis is a relatively difficult mathematics course, which must be learned by undergraduates and postgraduates.

The functional analysis at the postgraduate level can be regarded as an enhanced version at the undergraduate level, and the functional analysis is very cold.

Shen Qi walked into the classroom with his hands behind his back, stared at the tiger for a week, very satisfied, no one skipped class.

Not only did no one skip class, but some students were standing in the corridor between the seats holding books, and some were sitting directly on the ground, eagerly waiting for Professor Shen's lecture.

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(I've been super busy these days, there's only one update today, and tomorrow's update will be a bit later, so I'll make it up on weekends)