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Taming the Quantum Waves: How Three Mathematicians Solved a 30-Year-Old Physics Riddle

Two-dimensional quantum wave equations were thought to descend into uncontrollable, explosive turbulence over time; Yu Deng, Andrea Nahmod, and Haitian Yue proved that statistical quantum waves remain in stable thermal equilibrium forever. Published in the Annals of Mathematics, this landmark achievement solves Jean Bourgain’s thirty-year-old open problem in mathematical physics.

Author
Yu Deng et al.
Published
2024
Journal
Annals of Mathematics
Last updated
September 2026
Taming the Quantum Waves: How Three Mathematicians Solved a 30-Year-Old Physics Riddle

In theoretical physics, the nonlinear Schrödinger equation describes how laser beams travel through optical fibers and how quantum fluids flow. In two dimensions, when waves interact with random thermal noise, classical calculus broke down: mathematicians could not prove whether quantum waves would blow up into infinite chaos or survive over time.

The researchers invented a mathematical framework called the Random Tensor Method. Much like proving that an ocean whipped by random winds maintains a stable average wave pattern without evaporating or drowning the planet, they proved that 2D quantum waves preserve their statistical equilibrium indefinitely.

This proof completes Fields Medalist Jean Bourgain’s 1997 mathematical vision. By ensuring stability in non-linear wave physics, by advancing probabilistic partial differential equations, and by taming quantum wave turbulence, invariant Gibbs analysis enriches mathematical physics.

Reference

Deng, Y., Nahmod, A., & Yue, H. (2024). Invariant Gibbs measures and global strong solutions for nonlinear Schrödinger equations in dimension two. Annals of Mathematics, 200(2).

Title

Invariant Gibbs measures and global strong solutions for nonlinear Schrödinger equations in dimension two

Abstract

We consider the defocusing nonlinear Schrodinger equation on T2\mathbb{T}^2 with Wick ordered power nonlinearity, and prove almost sure global well-posedness with respect to the associated Gibbs measure. The heart of the matter is the uniqueness of the solution as limit of solutions to canonically truncated systems. The invariance of the Gibbs measure under the global dynamics follows as a consequence.

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