The two problems, known as Bauer's Height Zero Conjecture and a longstanding issue in the Deligne-Lusztig theory, date back to 1955 and 1976, respectively. Their solutions have been published in two journals: Annals of Mathematics and Inventiones Mathematicae.
A statement posted on Wednesday by Rutgers University in New Jersey, where Tiep serves as a distinguished professor, hailed his work as a breakthrough in the field of finite group representation theory. His proof of Bauer's Height Zero Conjecture is expected to advance the understanding of symmetries in nature and scientific structures, as well as improve the study of long-term behaviors in random processes across various 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 revealed that he had been working intensively on Bauer's conjecture for the past decade. "I never expected to be able to solve this one," he said.
Stephen Miller, chair of the Department of Mathematics at Rutgers University, praised Tiep's contributions: "His high-quality work and expertise on finite groups have helped Rutgers maintain its status as a top world-wide center in the subject."
Tiep, an alumnus of Chu Van An High School in Hanoi, won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1979 at age 16. He later pursued advanced studies in Math-Mechanics at Moscow State University in the then-Soviet Union, then earned his doctoral degree in 1991.
Since moving to the U.S. in 1996, Tiep has held 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. He has authored five books and published over 200 research papers in mathematics.