Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In this internet era, nothing was private.
Within two days, the news was blown all over the country.
[Shock! The person who found the high-energy particle was actually him?]
[Lu Zhou: I’m actually a physicist.]
[He threw a high energy particle physics bomb at the standard model building!]
[…]
However, Lu Zhou was still on the flight back home. His phone was turned off, and he was sleeping in his seat. He did not know that he was trending again.
Actually, even if he knew, he would not think much of it.
After all, this was nothing compared to a potential Nobel Prize.
Even if CERN found something interesting at the 750 GeV energy zone, Lu Zhou might not even win a prize. Therefore, he never imagined himself winning anything from this.
As for why?
This was part of the rules for the Nobel Prize.
As the research work in the field of theoretical physics became more and more systematic, it was worth talking about who deserved the credit. According to practice, the Nobel Prize medal would not be awarded to the discoverers of the particles, nor would they reward the researchers who operated the Hadron Collider, but they would be more inclined to be awarded to the proponents or perfectors of the theory.
From an academic standpoint, the work of the first two while important, they were not crucial. Anyone could randomly stumble upon discovery and anyone could operate an experiment.
On the other hand, the latter’s work was crucial.
This was why the 2013 Nobel Prize was awarded to the authors of the Higgs mechanism and the Higgs boson theory namely Peter Higgs and Francois Engler. This theory was proposed in the 1960s. As for the CERN researchers who participated in the experiment, although they all contributed, the Nobel Prize could not be given to an organization. Therefore, it was impossible for people to share the prize.
Another example was the neutrino oscillation found in the Daya Bay reactor in China. It was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2015. However, the nominees were Professor Takashi of Japan and Professor Arthur MacDonald of Canada.
Some might ask, why not randomly fabricate a fictional particle and then set a lot of various physical properties about it? After that, one just needed to wait until it was discovered by others so that one could win the prize.
Theoretically, it was possible to do this.
This was also why there was a sudden influx of theoretical physics thesis submissions after the release of the 750 GeV data. Many people were betting on this theory.
However, the possibility of getting a Nobel Prize through this manner was low.
A new theory, or a new physical model, must be at least theoretically established and logically autonomous. Just like the superstring theory, although it was increasingly marginalized in the field of theoretical physics, no one could falsify it theoretically.
If one could not achieve logical autonomy, even if one found the Higgs particles, or claimed to find gravitational waves, one would not be recognized by the academic community.
This was also why common folks would never get the Nobel Prize. They could submit theses, but they would not understand the logic and formulas behind it.
If this particle was found to be a supersymmetric particle, then the Nobel Prize might be awarded to Gongyi Hongcheng. He proposed the supersymmetry and supersymmetric particles in 1966. As for Lu Zhou, was it possible for him to win?
Of course, it was possible.
Not just Lu Zhou, but Frank Wilczek also had a chance.
Continuous improvement was not only the means of observation but also the theory corresponding to it.
For example, if the 750 GeV signal was actually a supersymmetric particle, this would break the current knowledge of the standard model. Then, there could be a “Lu model” or “Wilczek model” to explain this particle. That might be worthy of a Nobel Prize.
However, this was much more difficult than proving a mathematical conjecture. It was impossible to accomplish by one person.
That was why, the day before yesterday, Frank gave Lu Zhou an invitation to solve this problem together.
The two agreed to communicate through email and complete this theory together.
The main work of establishing this theory would be done by Frank and his PhD student. Lu Zhou, on the other hand, would mainly be responsible for calculations.
Since Lu Zhou showcased his mathematical abilities at the European Nuclear Research Conference, Frank Wilczek decided to invite him.
This work would definitely take up a lot of Lu Zhou’s time. However, if he could win a Nobel Prize, it would be worth it.
Even if it was just a chance of a Nobel Prize…
…
It was dark when Lu Zhou took off, and it was still dark when he landed.
The plane glided through the dark night and landed slowly on the runway.
Although Professor Lu Shenjian already told Lu Zhou that Yan Xinjue would come to pick him up, Lu Zhou did not want to trouble Yan Xinjue, so he did not contact him.
Lu Zhou dragged his suitcase and walked outside. Just as he was about to call for a taxi, he saw someone waving at him.
When he saw the person, he was shocked.
Yan Xinjue?
Yan Xinjue carried Lu Zhou’s suitcase into the car. Once he sat in the driver’s seat, he said, “What were you doing at the airport? I’ve been waiting here since 10 o’clock before I finally found you.”
“Sorry, my flight was delayed… Also, how did you find my flight?”
“Grayer told me,” said Yan Xinjue as he steered the wheel. He asked, “Are you going back to school?”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Yeah, thanks.”
“It’s fine, we’re all friends here. This is just a small favor,” said Yan Xinjue with a smile. He then said, “Lu Zhou, you earned great respect for our Chinese LHCb team! I haven’t seen Professor Lu brag about anyone that hard at a meeting. Even the professor from Shuimu University was praising you.”
When Lu Zhou imagined the scene, he wanted to laugh. To be honest, he was not surprised.
He was a potential Nobel Prize winner, so this type of affirmation did not surprise him.
Yan Xinjue, “Speaking of which, don’t you want to learn how to drive?”
Lu Zhou thought for a moment before he said, “I’ll learn when I’m free. I don’t need to drive right now.”
Student Yan, “What do you mean you don’t need to? If you’re going places, having a car is useful. You must be rich from all those awards. Don’t tell me you spent it all.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “I’ve been saving it for a house.”
Yan Xinjue sighed and said, “Not bad, thinking of buying a house at your age. This must be because of Professor Lu. He taught you well.”
Lu Zhou asked, “Do you have a house?”
Yan Xinjue suddenly had a weird expression as he said, “Hopefully I can save up the down payment by the end of the year. I want to buy a house in Beijing, but it’s kind of difficult… When did you get the idea that I’m rich?”
When you were spending money in Switzerland…
Lu Zhou remembered that the money he spent was all Professor Lu’s money. Maybe Yan Xinjue was not rich after all.
Lu Zhou, “Is it that difficult?”
Yan Xinjue sighed and said, “That’s how theoretical physics research is. Didn’t you go on a project with Professor Li? Why didn’t you go and do materials physics? Why did you come to energy physics?”
Lu Zhou did not know how to answer this question. He could not say that it was because of the system mission.
Of course, even without the system mission, he was still interested in particle physics. Otherwise, he would not have chosen mathematical physics.
Lu Zhou replied in an uncertain tone, “Maybe I just like science?”
Yan Xinjue was speechless.
Lu Zhou was wondering if his answer sounded too fake when Yan Xinjue suddenly sighed and said, “Probably, this is why I’m not as good as you…”
Lu Zhou, “…?”
This tone…
He believed me?!