From Nancy to Copenhagen to the World: The internationalization of Laurent Schwartz and his theory of distributions

Michael J.  Barany; Anne-Sandrine  Paumier; Jesper Lützen

doi:10.1016/j.hm.2017.04.002

From Nancy to Copenhagen to the World: The internationalization of Laurent Schwartz and his theory of distributions

Michael J. Barany, Anne-Sandrine Paumier, Jesper Lützen

Department of Mathematical Sciences

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Between 1947 and 1950, Laurent Schwartz (1915–2002) went from being almost unknown outside of France to being an international mathematical celebrity. This paper accounts for Schwartz's rapid ascent by focusing on the social, institutional, and mathematical contexts of his crucial trajectory from Nancy, via Copenhagen, to the world stage, culminating in his 1950 Fields Medal awarded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We identify, based on new archival findings, the pivotal role of Danish mathematician Harald Bohr along this trajectory. Our analysis reveals the emerging dynamics of early postwar international mathematics, and explains how certain individuals and theories could rise to prominence in this period.

Translated title of the contribution	Fra Nancy til København: Internationaliseringen af Laurent Schwartz og hans distributionsteori
Original language	English
Journal	Historia Mathematica
Volume	44
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	367-394
ISSN	0315-0860
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hm.2017.04.002
Publication status	Published - Nov 2017

Keywords

Faculty of Science

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10.1016/j.hm.2017.04.002

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title = "From Nancy to Copenhagen to the World: The internationalization of Laurent Schwartz and his theory of distributions",

abstract = "Between 1947 and 1950, Laurent Schwartz (1915–2002) went from being almost unknown outside of France to being an international mathematical celebrity. This paper accounts for Schwartz's rapid ascent by focusing on the social, institutional, and mathematical contexts of his crucial trajectory from Nancy, via Copenhagen, to the world stage, culminating in his 1950 Fields Medal awarded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We identify, based on new archival findings, the pivotal role of Danish mathematician Harald Bohr along this trajectory. Our analysis reveals the emerging dynamics of early postwar international mathematics, and explains how certain individuals and theories could rise to prominence in this period.",

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AU - Lützen, Jesper

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N2 - Between 1947 and 1950, Laurent Schwartz (1915–2002) went from being almost unknown outside of France to being an international mathematical celebrity. This paper accounts for Schwartz's rapid ascent by focusing on the social, institutional, and mathematical contexts of his crucial trajectory from Nancy, via Copenhagen, to the world stage, culminating in his 1950 Fields Medal awarded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We identify, based on new archival findings, the pivotal role of Danish mathematician Harald Bohr along this trajectory. Our analysis reveals the emerging dynamics of early postwar international mathematics, and explains how certain individuals and theories could rise to prominence in this period.

AB - Between 1947 and 1950, Laurent Schwartz (1915–2002) went from being almost unknown outside of France to being an international mathematical celebrity. This paper accounts for Schwartz's rapid ascent by focusing on the social, institutional, and mathematical contexts of his crucial trajectory from Nancy, via Copenhagen, to the world stage, culminating in his 1950 Fields Medal awarded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We identify, based on new archival findings, the pivotal role of Danish mathematician Harald Bohr along this trajectory. Our analysis reveals the emerging dynamics of early postwar international mathematics, and explains how certain individuals and theories could rise to prominence in this period.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Laurent Schwartz

KW - Harald Bohr

KW - theory of distributions

KW - history of mathematics

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JO - Historia Mathematica

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ER -

From Nancy to Copenhagen to the World: The internationalization of Laurent Schwartz and his theory of distributions

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Keywords

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