Comments on the 2011 Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences
The 2011 Shaw Prize in mathematical sciences is shared by Richard S. Hamilton and D. Christodoulou. However, the work of Christodoulou on general relativity is based on obscure errors that implicitly assumed essentially what is to be proved, and thus gives misleading results. The problem of Einstein’s equation was discovered by Gullstrand of the 1921 Nobel Committee. In 1955, Gullstrand is proven correct. The fundamental errors of Christodoulou were due to his failure to distinguish the difference between mathematics and physics. His subsequent errors in mathematics and physics were accepted since judgments were based not on scientific evidence as Galileo advocates, but on earlier incorrect speculations. Nevertheless, the Committee for the Nobel Prize in Physics was also misled as shown in their 1993 press release. Here, his errors are identified as related to accumulated mistakes in the field, and are illustrated with examples understandable at the undergraduate level. Another main problem is that many theorists failed to understand the principle of causality adequately. It is unprecedented to award a prize for mathematical errors.
