After taking over the pen and paper from Xu Chuan, Witten began to check the analytical data on the manuscript paper.
As a scholar who has won the Fields Medal, he has very strong mathematical abilities. It can even be said that no one in the entire physics world has better mathematical abilities than him.
Since Xu Chuan had already completed the data analysis and calculations, it would not take him much time to verify the data.
Soon, he completed the calculation of the analysis data on the manuscript paper.
The results are completely correct, and there are no calculation problems with these data on the manuscript paper.
From this point of view, the result seems obvious.
The traditional 'Electron Proton Scattering Atomic Charge Radius Experiment' uses a metal container as the experimental device for the hydrogen atom cloud due to the limitations of the equipment.
It is an indisputable fact that high-energy electron beams will scatter and interfere with metals when they collide with hydrogen atom clouds after entering experimental equipment.
This scattering interference was noticed by physicists from the beginning.
After all, it is interference, and it is impossible for physicists to leave such a loophole problem.
Therefore, at the beginning, physicists calculated this scattering interference, but found that the scattering interference caused by high-energy electron beams and metal containers was very weak, so weak that it almost did not affect the calculation of the proton's radius data.
Since it has no effect, this scattering interference has been ignored in subsequent experiments.
However, judging from the analysis data on the manuscript paper, this scattering interference is not weak, but part of the interference is converted into energy level data.
As for this part of the data, the traditional calculation method seems not to have noticed it, thus causing a certain deviation.
From this point of view, the scattering interference caused by high-energy electron beams and metal containers is indeed stronger than previously calculated by physicists, and is strong enough to affect the proton's radius data.
...
Putting down the ballpoint pen in his hand, Witten stared at the manuscript paper on the table with some confusion.
Judging from the analysis and calculation results, the mystery causing the proton radius gap is probably here.
But a problem that has troubled the physics community for several years and been studied by countless people has been solved in this way?
Is this a little too fast?
But when it comes to a student like myself, does it seem reasonable?
He has solved a world-class mathematical conjecture problem in the past year. Although the proton radius puzzle is very famous, judging from current data analysis, it is far less difficult than the mathematical conjecture.
If there is an optimized experimental plan, coupled with excellent data analysis and observation skills, it is actually not difficult to solve this problem.
In the past, no one has been able to find the cause of the problem. It lies in the backwardness of experimental equipment and experimental methods, as well as the interference caused by past erroneous data.
The reason seems to be very simple. It has always been hidden somewhere, but no one has been able to dig it out.
High-energy physics and particle physics are like this. They are based on experimental equipment such as various particle colliders and accelerators, and the role of physicists in them is basically data analysis.
Theoretical physicists put forward ideas and ideas and refine them into theories, and various devices verify them and either confirm or deny them.
Just like the Standard Model, it has been improved bit by bit through theory and practice.
.......
"Frank, look at this."
After recovering from his daze, Witten breathed a sigh of relief and handed the manuscript paper in his hand to Frank Wilczek who was standing beside him.
Wilzek ​​took the manuscript with some curiosity and confusion. He knew that his friend Witten had accepted a student, but he had not heard of any new research projects he had recently.
"The mystery of the proton's radius? When did your research direction change from string theory to this aspect?"
After scanning the title on the manuscript paper, Wilzek ​​raised his head and looked curiously at his friend Witten.
He is naturally aware of the mystery of the proton radius, a cutting-edge issue in the world of particle physics, and is also very aware of the importance of this issue.
Witten did not answer directly, but just said: "Read it first."
Hearing this, Wilzek ​​returned his attention to the manuscript paper in his hand.
As more and more information entered his eyes, he couldn't help but sit up straight.
"The proton diameter of 0.831 femtometers..."
"Abnormal energy level data..."
"Scattering interference caused by the reaction of high-energy electron beams with metal containers..."
Pieces of important information quickly formed a thread in his mind, linking the entire cause and effect.
"Interesting, is this your latest research result?"
After flipping through the manuscript information in his hand, Wilzek ​​looked at Witten with interest and asked.
"how?"
Witten asked.
"A great new discovery. Maybe the difference in the radius of the proton is really caused by this problem, and judging from this data, the radius of the proton is much smaller than our previous calculations."
"I'm just curious, why did you suddenly start studying this problem and stop working on string theory?" Wilczek asked curiously.
Witten shook his head slightly and denied: "This is not my research project."
Hearing this, Wilzek ​​raised the manuscript information in his hand, grinned as if you were trying not to fool him, and said, "Except for you, I can't think of anyone else in the physics world who has such a profound mathematical foundation."
"Although the calculation process above is not very complicated, the overall fluency is so high that few people in the entire physics community can do it."
Witten smiled and said: "It's really not me this time, and the person who wrote these calculations is standing in front of you."
Wilzek ​​was immediately startled and looked at Xu Chuan in surprise: "Are you sure?"
"certainly."
Witten nodded and continued: "I should have gone back to Princeton more than half a month ago. The reason why I haven't gone back is because I was waiting for this."
"That's really incredible." Wilzek ​​sighed, staring at Xu Chuan one after another.
"I actually didn't expect this problem to be solved."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Witten also sighed, did not continue, looked at Xu Chuan, and asked: "Have you applied for the report meeting?"
"I applied, in three days." Xu Chuan replied.
"Is there enough time? If you rely on these data alone, I'm afraid you can't make a final conclusion. You still need more data to verify it."
Xu Chuan: "It should be no problem. I have enough raw data and a project team. They can also help."
"Three days are indeed a bit rushed, but working overtime should be able to produce some verification data."
"In fact, it doesn't matter whether it is definite or not. It is enough to preliminarily verify that the difference in radius of the proton is indeed caused by the scattering interference of the metal container."
"I think the physics community will be very interested in this discovery, and there will definitely be other laboratories that will verify it."
Witten raised his head and said with a smile: "Of course, for such an important discovery, it would be unreasonable if there is no movement in the physics world. But now, you need to be well prepared."
Xu Chuan nodded and said, "Then I won't disturb you and Professor Frank."
.......
Xu Chuan left and the room fell into silence.
After a while, Wilzek ​​suddenly sighed: "It seems you have accepted a great student."
Witten nodded and said, "Yes, he is even better than I thought."
"A genius who can skillfully apply mathematical tools to physics, maybe he can make up for your regrets."
Hearing this, Witten shrugged and said, "Who knows? He may be more interested in mathematics than physics."
"Want to make a bet? Maybe in our lifetime we can see him win a Fields Medal or a Nobel Prize?"
Suddenly, Wilzek ​​asked enthusiastically.
"This is unnecessary."
Witten turned to look at his friend, and then said: "It's hard to say about the Nobel Prize, but the Fields Medal is actually only a matter of time away from him. Even if he can't win the Fields Medal in 2018,
By then, he will definitely have a share in 2022."
Hearing this, Wilzek ​​looked at his friend in surprise and asked: "It seems that he has other outstanding mathematical achievements that I don't know about?"
Witten smiled and said: "The most important result in mathematics in the first half of this year, Weyl-Berry's conjecture was solved by him."
"Although this problem is not very famous, it is no less difficult than the Model Conjecture solved by Faltings. If he were not too young, he would definitely have a place in the Fields Medal two years later."
To be continued...