Chapter 345

Far across the Atlantic in Germany, in a crystal chemistry class at the University of Munich.

Professor Gerhard Eitel rarely left the teaching task to his teaching assistant, but stood in the classroom himself, explaining the mysteries of crystal chemistry to these young students.

For a Nobel Prize-winning scholar, this kind of work of teaching and educating people seems a bit inferior. In fact, many well-known scholars enjoy it and are willing to share their knowledge with younger students.

The same is true of Professor Ertel, especially when he is troubled by a complex problem.

Engaging in basic education can always inspire him at critical moments.

During the questioning session at the end of the class, a student suddenly raised his hand and asked.

"Professor, have you read the paper on the theoretical model of electrochemical structural interface that was recently published in JACS?"

Professor Eitel paused for about two seconds, pushed his reading glasses, and nodded.

"Look, is there any problem?"

The student looked at him expectantly and asked, "Is it right?"

Etel thought for a while, and said in a chatty tone: "My child, due to the rigor of science, I can't answer this question for you for the time being."

However, the student seemed not satisfied with this ambiguous answer. He changed the way of asking, broke the casserole and continued to ask: "What if it is correct?"

"Science doesn't have ifs, but if you have to ask..."

Professor Ertel frowned, as if he was reluctant to comment on this topic, but finally he stretched his eyebrows and said in a relaxed tone, "If it's right, it means new chemistry."

There was an unbelievable exclamation in the classroom.

New chemistry!

What a shocking statement!

If someone else said this, the people here might not take it seriously at all. But it was Professor Eitel who said this, a Nobel Prize winner in 2007, and an expert in the field of solid surface chemistry!

In addition to his professorship at the University of Munich, he is also director of the Fritz Haber Institute (Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry) of the Max Planck Society in Germany.

In the field of electrochemistry, who else has more say than him?

Seeing the students' reactions, Professor Eitel smiled.

"I'm glad to see that you are optimistic about the birth of a new theory. You are right, only by constantly accepting new things can we make progress."

"However, while being curious about new things, I hope you can always remember to examine every conclusion we make with a rigorous attitude."

"It's a responsibility to science."

Having said that, Ertel tapped on the desk with the lesson plan.

"I will ask the teaching assistant to send the homework to your mailbox. Now, get out of class is over."

After leaving the classroom, Professor Eitel did not return directly to his office, but got into his car and rushed to the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin.

The recent paper published in "JACS" has caused widespread controversy in the chemical community. As one of the world's top academic research institutions, Max Planck is obliged to express its position on this paper.

Of course, this kind of statement is not just a matter of casually expressing an opinion and taking sides.

Considering the importance of this theoretical model for the study of electrochemical interface structures, the Max Planck Society has set up an interdisciplinary research group, bringing together top scholars in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, and condensed matter physics to discuss this theoretical model.

As one of the members of the research group and the director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Ertel's opinion also represents the opinion of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Max Planck Society.

It is precisely because of this that he is particularly cautious when dealing with this subject.

Walking into the conference room, he saw that Faltings was already sitting there, holding a printed paper document in his hand, and examining it meticulously.

Strictly speaking, this big guy is an expert in the field of algebraic geometry and arithmetic geometry, and functional analysis is not his research direction. However, as a master in the field of number theory, cross-directional research is not uncommon for him.

At the same time, as one of the most influential mathematicians after Grothendieck and the director of the Max Planck Institute of Mathematics, it is also necessary to have some understanding of other research directions.

Otherwise, he would not be the director of the Institute of Mathematics of the Max Planck Society.

It's just that this arrogant Germanic old man had the same temper when he was in Princeton. After returning to his hometown in Germany, instead of changing anything, it became even worse.

As if deliberately speaking to Eitel, Faltins said slowly.

"Only second-rate mathematicians are interested in how to apply mathematics to solve real-world problems. In my opinion, this kind of stuff is not worth reading at all."

Disregard for applications is a consistent position of the Bourbaki school, and the "glorious isolation" of other disciplines is usually regarded as a kind of nobility. Although it is difficult for mathematicians in the younger generation to feel the chain of contempt within the discipline, this stubborn concept still exists among mathematicians of the older generation.

The outstanding representative among them is probably the late master of number theory Hardy. Apart from research, the favorite thing for this great man is to show off to others that he studies the purest and purest mathematics, and his own research does not have any mathematics. other "uses" and take pride in it.

However, it is "unfortunate" that Hardy never dreamed that his research results would eventually be taken away by "cunning" applied scientists and widely used in computers and cryptography...

Of course, Faltins said this, not to say that Lu Zhou is a second-rate mathematician, but to express his regret for squandering his talents.

At last year's Crawford Awards ceremony, he said that there are only four mathematicians in the world who are expected to surpass him, and in his opinion, Lu Zhou is the most promising.

However, now, he hesitated whether to change the four back to three.

Sitting down opposite Faltings, Eitel raised his eyebrows: "I don't agree with your point of view."

"I didn't expect you to agree. Just like not everyone can appreciate ancient Greek sculptures, you can't expect a layman to understand the beauty of pure mathematics." Faltings said lightly.

Ertel's eyebrows twitched violently.

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Professor Klaus von Klitzing coughed lightly, smoothing things over in a rather helpless tone.

"That's enough, Mr. Faltings, we hope you can provide more constructive suggestions instead of listening to you ridicule us."

Professor Klaus von Klitzing is a member of the Institute of Condensed Matter Physics of the Max Planck Society. Although he is not the director, he is the discoverer of the quantum Hall effect and a Nobel laureate.

"I didn't mock you," Faltings glanced at the paper with sharp eyes, turned a page, and corrected stiffly and stubbornly, "I'm just stating the facts."

Eitel and Klitzing exchanged glances, and decided not to exchange a word with the stubborn old man until he had finished the last part of his thesis.

Fortunately, Faltings has no intention of continuing to speak, and carefully read the paper in his hand.

After a long time, he threw the paper on the table and gave a barely agreeable evaluation.

"From a mathematical standpoint, there's nothing major wrong with his process."

Ertel and Klitzing breathed a sigh of relief.

If Professor Faltings thinks there is no problem, then basically in terms of mathematics, it should be no problem.

Klitzing looked at Ertel and asked, "What do you think about this theory?"

After thinking for a while, Eitel said, "In my opinion, the problem is not too big. But his theory is too obscure, even if we give a favorable evaluation, it will not be possible for the chemical community to accept his point of view." .”

Klitzing's heart moved slightly: "What do you mean?"

Ertel nodded: "There is nothing more suitable than a report meeting. The more difficult the theory is, the more it needs to communicate directly with the person."

Lightly tapping his index finger on the conference table, Klitsin asked after thinking, "What do you think is more appropriate?"

"We can send an invitation letter to Princeton, inviting Professor Lu to visit and communicate with the Max Planck Institute, and provide him with a platform to express his views to the entire theoretical chemistry community."

Have to say, this is a great idea.

Klitzing nodded in agreement.

"I agree with your point of view, but the question is, which research institute will issue the invitation letter?"

This is a very critical question.

The Max Planck Society is not a top-down centralized research institution, and the various research institutes are basically independent of each other.

However, this is also a question that does not need to be considered at all.

The two said almost in unison.

"Of course it's our Institute of Physical Chemistry."

"Of course it is our Institute of Mathematics."

Because the voices were so consistent, after finishing speaking, both Faltins and Eitel were stunned at the same time.

Frowning slightly, Faltings said in an emphatic tone: "He is a mathematician."

Ertel looked at him incredulously, and argued, "But we're talking about chemistry now."

Seeing that the two were arguing, Klitzing coughed lightly and offered a compromise opinion.

"Since you can't make up your mind, why don't you just stay at our Institute of Condensed Matter Physics..."

"impossible."

"Don't even think about it!"

Facing the joint choke of the two big men, Klitzing coughed awkwardly: "I just said it casually... If that's the case, let's make a decision using the traditional and ancient method."

tradition of physicists.

Of course it's a bet.

"Heads are eliminated, and tails continue." Professor Klitzing took out a coin from his pocket and slapped it on the table. After a pause, Professor Klitzing continued slightly excitedly, "Of course, for the sake of fairness, I will also participate."

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(Thanks to the leader of the book friend Hua Xuejian for the reward~~~)