The American newspaper honors the study of Vietnamese mathematicians

The mathematical work of Professor and Doctor of Mathematics Ngo Bao Chau has been evaluated by Time newspaper as one of the 10 most outstanding scientific discoveries in 2009.

Professor and doctorate in mathematics Ngo Bao Chau.Photo: vnu.edu.vn.

Time said that in 1979 mathematician Robert Langlands (Canadian and American nationality) developed an ambitious and revolutionary theory to connect two branches of mathematics, geometry and arithmetic. If it proves that humans will almost have a unified view for many branches of modern mathematics such as arithmetic, algebra and calculus. Today the theory is called 'Langlands Program'.

Langlands understand that proving his assumptions will be the work of many generations. But he believed that when the first obstacle - called the 'basic lemma' - was conquered, the theory would be proved. Langlands and his colleagues and students have demonstrated special cases of the basic theorem. But proving the general case is much more difficult than expected by Langlands. It is so difficult that mathematicians have to wait until 30 years later.

For many years, Professor and Doctor of Mathematics Ngo Bao Chau has tried to prove "basic lemma". In fact, he proved it last year, but in order to verify nearly 200 pages of material, mathematicians took almost a year. When they confirmed that Bao Chau's proof was correct, mathematicians around the world were relieved because from now on "the Langlands program" will turn to a new page.

The work of mathematicians in this area over the past three decades - based on the prediction that this basic lemma is correct - suddenly proved to be correct, Time commented.

Peter Sarnak, an expert in arithmetic theory at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies, said: "It's like having people working across the river waiting for someone on the opposite bank of the north to the bridge. And now , suddenly all their efforts are recognized. "

By proving "basic lemma", Ngo Bao Chau is one of the brightest candidates for the Fields math prize (considered a Nobel Prize in mathematics and only for people under 40).

Ngo Bao Chau (born in 1972) studied at the mathematics specialized school of Hanoi University of Natural Sciences (now Hanoi National University). Young mathematician is the son of Professor and Doctor of Fluid Mechanics Ngo Huy Can, Vietnam Institute of Mechanics, and Associate Professor Tran Van Hien of the Institute of Traditional Medicine.

In the summer of 1988, he attended the International Mathematical Olympiad exam in Australia and won a gold medal. The following summer he continued to win the gold medal of the International Mathematical Olympiad in Germany. Also in 1989, Chau went to France to study at Paris 6 University. He defended his doctoral thesis when he was 25 years old at the University of Paris - the most prestigious school in France. In 2003, at the age of 31, he completed the habilitation thesis (equivalent to a doctorate of science) at Paris 11 University. Early next year he became professor of this university.

In 2004 he received the annual Research Award of the Clay Mathematics Institute (USA) for those who achieved the most outstanding results of the year by solving a special case of the 'Langlands program'. Each year only 1-2 people are awarded and Chau is the first Vietnamese to receive this award.

After receiving the Clay Prize, he was invited by the Institute of Advanced Science at Princeton (USA) to become a professor. This institute is a gathering place for many of the world's leading mathematicians and physicists, many of whom have won Nobel prizes and Fields. Chau also received an award from the Oberwolfach Institute for Mathematics Research for young European mathematicians in 2007 and the French Academy Award in 2008.

Although studying and teaching mathematics at the world's leading centers, GS. Ngo Bao Chau still takes considerable time to participate in mathematics teaching and training in Vietnam. He participated in guiding research and teaching topics for students at the University of Natural Sciences and Pedagogical University (Hanoi National University). In 2005 Chau was specially appointed to be a professor in Vietnam at the age of 33, becoming the youngest professor in the country.