Yakov G. Sinai
Encyclopedia
Yakov Grigorevich Sinai is an influential mathematician
working in the theory of dynamical systems, in mathematical physics
and in probability theory
. His work has shaped the modern metric theory of dynamical systems (also often called after Kolmogorov the theory of stochasticity of dynamical systems). Sinai has created bridges connecting the world of deterministic (dynamical) systems with the world of probabilistic (stochastic) systems.
, USSR (now Russia
) into a family that played a prominent role in Russia's scientific and cultural life since the nineteenth century. His grandfather Veniamin Kagan
was a Russian geometer
, and Sinai's parents were prominent researchers in the medical and biological sciences.
Yakov Sinai received his Ph.D. from Moscow State University
in 1960; his advisor was Andrey Kolmogorov. In 1971 he became a Professor at Moscow State University
and a senior researcher at the Landau Institute of Theoretical Physics. Since 1993 he has been a Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University
.
Sinai is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
, Russian Academy of Sciences
and others. Among his awards are the Boltzmann Medal
(1986), Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
(1990), Dirac Medal
(1992), the Wolf Prize in Mathematics
(1997), Nemmers Prize
(2002), and the Henri Poincaré Prize (2009). Sinai has worked, among other topics, on Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy
, Sinai Billiards
, Sinai's random walk, Sinai–Ruelle–Bowen measures, Pirogov–Sinai theory.
Sinai is highly respected in the physics community, where, as well as in mathematics, Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy
, Sinai's billiards
, Sinai's random walk, Sinai-Ruelle-Bowen measures, Pirogov-Sinai theory and his other achievements are basic notions that shaped the understanding of many fundamental physical phenomena.
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....
working in the theory of dynamical systems, in mathematical physics
Mathematical physics
Mathematical physics refers to development of mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The Journal of Mathematical Physics defines this area as: "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and...
and in probability theory
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
. His work has shaped the modern metric theory of dynamical systems (also often called after Kolmogorov the theory of stochasticity of dynamical systems). Sinai has created bridges connecting the world of deterministic (dynamical) systems with the world of probabilistic (stochastic) systems.
Biography
Sinai was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, USSR (now Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) into a family that played a prominent role in Russia's scientific and cultural life since the nineteenth century. His grandfather Veniamin Kagan
Veniamin Kagan
Veniamin Fedorovich Kagan was a Russian and Soviet mathematician and expert in geometry. He is the maternal grandfather of mathematician Yakov Sinai.-Biography:...
was a Russian geometer
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, and Sinai's parents were prominent researchers in the medical and biological sciences.
Yakov Sinai received his Ph.D. from Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1960; his advisor was Andrey Kolmogorov. In 1971 he became a Professor at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
and a senior researcher at the Landau Institute of Theoretical Physics. Since 1993 he has been a Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Sinai is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
and others. Among his awards are the Boltzmann Medal
Boltzmann Medal
The Boltzmann Medal is the most important prize awarded to physicists that obtain new results concerning statistical mechanics; it is named after the celebrated physicist Ludwig Boltzmann...
(1986), Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics is an award given each year since 1959 jointly by the American Physical Society and American Institute of Physics. It is established by the Heineman Foundation in honour of Dannie Heineman...
(1990), Dirac Medal
Dirac Prize
The Dirac Prize is the name of four prominent awards in the field of theoretical physics, computational chemistry, and mathematics, awarded by different organizations, named in honour of Professor Paul Dirac, one of the great theoretical physicists of the 20th Century.- The Dirac Medal and Lecture...
(1992), the Wolf Prize in Mathematics
Wolf Prize in Mathematics
The Wolf Prize in Mathematics is awarded almost annually by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It is one of the six Wolf Prizes established by the Foundation and awarded since 1978; the others are in Agriculture, Chemistry, Medicine, Physics and Arts...
(1997), Nemmers Prize
Nemmers Prize in Mathematics
The Frederic Esser Nemmers Prize in Mathematics is awarded biennially from Northwestern University. It was initially endowed along with a companion prize, the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics, as part of a $14 million donation from the Nemmers brothers. They envisioned creating an award that...
(2002), and the Henri Poincaré Prize (2009). Sinai has worked, among other topics, on Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy
Measure-preserving dynamical system
In mathematics, a measure-preserving dynamical system is an object of study in the abstract formulation of dynamical systems, and ergodic theory in particular.-Definition:...
, Sinai Billiards
Dynamical billiards
A billiard is a dynamical system in which a particle alternates between motion in a straight line and specular reflections from a boundary. When the particle hits the boundary it reflects from it without loss of speed...
, Sinai's random walk, Sinai–Ruelle–Bowen measures, Pirogov–Sinai theory.
Sinai is highly respected in the physics community, where, as well as in mathematics, Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy
Measure-preserving dynamical system
In mathematics, a measure-preserving dynamical system is an object of study in the abstract formulation of dynamical systems, and ergodic theory in particular.-Definition:...
, Sinai's billiards
Dynamical billiards
A billiard is a dynamical system in which a particle alternates between motion in a straight line and specular reflections from a boundary. When the particle hits the boundary it reflects from it without loss of speed...
, Sinai's random walk, Sinai-Ruelle-Bowen measures, Pirogov-Sinai theory and his other achievements are basic notions that shaped the understanding of many fundamental physical phenomena.