Nelson Dunford
Encyclopedia
Nelson Dunford was an American
mathematician
, known for his work in functional analysis
, namely integration of vector valued functions
, ergodic theory
, and linear operators. The Dunford decomposition, Dunford–Pettis property
, and Dunford-Schwartz theorem
bear his name.
He studied mathematics at the University of Chicago
and obtained his Ph.D. in 1936 at Brown University
under Jacob Tamarkin
. He moved in 1939 to Yale University
, where he remained until his retirement in 1960.
In 1981, he was awarded jointly with Jacob T. Schwartz, his Ph.D. student, the well-known Leroy P. Steele Prize of the American Mathematical Society
for the three volume work Linear operators.
Nelson Dunford was coeditor of Transactions of the American Mathematical Society
(1941–1945) and Mathematical Surveys and Monographs
(1945–1949).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, known for his work in functional analysis
Functional analysis
Functional analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis, the core of which is formed by the study of vector spaces endowed with some kind of limit-related structure and the linear operators acting upon these spaces and respecting these structures in a suitable sense...
, namely integration of vector valued functions
Vector measure
In mathematics, a vector measure is a function defined on a family of sets and taking vector values satisfying certain properties. It is a generalization of the concept of measure, which takes nonnegative real values only.-Definitions and first consequences:...
, ergodic theory
Ergodic theory
Ergodic theory is a branch of mathematics that studies dynamical systems with an invariant measure and related problems. Its initial development was motivated by problems of statistical physics....
, and linear operators. The Dunford decomposition, Dunford–Pettis property
Dunford–Pettis property
In functional analysis, the Dunford–Pettis property, named after Nelson Dunford and B. J. Pettis, is a property of a Banach space stating that all weakly compact operators from this space into another Banach space are completely continuous...
, and Dunford-Schwartz theorem
Dunford-Schwartz theorem
In mathematics, particularly functional analysis, the Dunford–Schwartz theorem, named after Nelson Dunford and Jacob T. Schwartz states that the averages of powers of certain norm-bounded operators on L1 converge in a suitable sense....
bear his name.
He studied mathematics at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and obtained his Ph.D. in 1936 at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
under Jacob Tamarkin
Jacob Tamarkin
Jacob David Tamarkin was a Russian-American mathematician best known for his work in mathematical analysis.- Biography :Tamarkin was born in Chernigov, Imperial Russia to a wealthy family. His father, David Tamarkin, was a physician and his mother, Sophie Krassilschikov, a member of the landed...
. He moved in 1939 to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1960.
In 1981, he was awarded jointly with Jacob T. Schwartz, his Ph.D. student, the well-known Leroy P. Steele Prize of the American Mathematical Society
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
for the three volume work Linear operators.
Nelson Dunford was coeditor of Transactions of the American Mathematical Society
Transactions of the American Mathematical Society
Transactions of the American Mathematical Society is a monthly mathematics journal published by the American Mathematical Society. It started in 1900...
(1941–1945) and Mathematical Surveys and Monographs
Mathematical Surveys and Monographs
Mathematical Surveys and Monographs is a series of monographs started in 1943 by the American Mathematical Society. Each volume in the series gives a survey of the subject along with a brief introduction to recent developments and unsolved problems....
(1945–1949).
Publications
- Nelson Dunford, Jacob T. Schwartz, Linear Operators, Part I General Theory ISBN 0-471-60848-3, Part II Spectral Theory, Self Adjoint Operators in Hilbert Space ISBN 0-471-60847-5, Part III Spectral Operators ISBN 0-471-60846-7