Vietnamese professor solves two long-standing mathematical mysteries, enhancing key scientific fields

Tiep, who is a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at New Jersey-based Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences, completed the solutions to Bauer's Height Zero Conjecture and a longstanding issue in the Deligne-Lusztig theory, posed in 1955 and 1976, respectively.

Rutgers University announced on October 9 that the solution to Bauer's Height Zero Conjecture was published in the September issue of the prestigious Annals of Mathematics. Tiep's work on the Deligne-Lusztig theory is detailed across two papers, one in Inventiones Mathematicae and another in Annals of Mathematics.

Reflecting on the completion of the Brauer conjecture, Tiep shared, “I was hoping to advance the field. I never expected to be able to solve this one.” Tiep has dedicated the last 10 years to working on this problem, which was originally posed by Richard Brauer, a renowned German-American mathematician. Tiep described Brauer as having "this rare intellect… it’s as though they came from another planet or from another world. They are capable of seeing hidden phenomena that others can’t."

The solution to Bauer's Height Zero Conjecture is expected to significantly enhance the understanding of symmetries in nature and improve the study of long-term behaviours in random processes across multiple fields, including chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, and economics.

In addition to solving the Bauer conjecture, Tiep also tackled a problem related to traces in the Deligne-Lusztig theory, which involves the traces of matrices, a fundamental concept in mathematics.

“Tiep’s high-quality work and expertise on finite groups has allowed Rutgers to maintain its status as a top worldwide centre in the subject,” said Stephen Miller, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics.

Tiep's academic journey is equally impressive. Born in Vietnam, he attended Chu Van An High School in Hanoi and won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1979 at age 16.

He pursued advanced studies in Math-Mechanics at Moscow State University and later earned his doctoral degree in 1991.

Since moving to the US in 1996, Tiep has held academic positions at the University of Arizona and collaborated with renowned institutions such as the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Over his career, he has authored five books and published more than 200 research papers, cementing his reputation as a leading figure in the world of mathematics.