At one point, I estimated that the subfield of mathematics that I work in has at most 250 living contributors.
It’s an applied field, there’s actually-existing technology that depends on it, but it’s technically challenging and a lot of people left for AI/ML because it’s easier and there’s more low-hanging fruit.
Anyway, my colleagues and I, we write monographs for each other more or less, using arXiv to announce results as a glorified mailing list—do you consider that mere “proof of work”? By my count, 250 folks is practically no one.
This sounds like you’ve found a citation ring, but with all the trimmings of legitimacy. Has it had similar benefits for your career?
“Citation ring” has fraudulent connotations that don’t seem to apply here. It’s my belief that most of the work going on in my field is genuine.
As for my career, that’s going to depend on NSF returning to normal operations.