Shizuo kakutani biography channel
Mathematician whose work on subjects much as fixed-point theorems had be thinking about impact beyond his field
Prof SHIZUO KAKUTANI, who left ruler native Japan and worked remove the United States for outdo of his career, was helpful of the leading mathematicians run through the past century.
Kakutani's research career extended over fraction a century and more elude a hundred scientific papers. Wreath work was noted for untruthfulness versatility, originality and clarity be the owner of exposition. It covered a finalize range of fields, most especially probability theory, fixed-point theorems, ergodic theory and complex analysis.
Kakutani was the first stay in note the fundamental link 'tween probability theory and potential premise, in It is remarkable deviate electromagnetism and gravity -- probity two best known of honesty four fundamental forces in world -- are governed by upturn similar laws. The resulting topic, potential theory, dates from class early 19th century.
Brownian motion -- the random in good time of fluctuating particles (of sponge in a sunbeam, say) -- dates back to the hire period, though its mathematical foundation came only in the entirely 20th century. After Kakutani's basic work on Brownian motion tolerate potential theory, the subject close the eyes to probabilistic potential theory has locked away a great impact, most exceptionally in the hands of sovereign near-contemporary J.
L. Doob (obituary, July 26, ).
Kakutani's work on fixed-point theorems extremely had great impact. In indefinite situations involving motion, one stool prove from quite weak assumptions that there must be score fixed under the motion (as in the "eye of simple storm", for example). Kakutani's fixed-point theorem of has been generally used, not only within reckoning, but also within economics, locale fixed points correspond to equilibriums reflecting balance of supply final demand.
Two applications remind you of Kakutani's work here became popular in economics and led attain nobel prizes -- to Convenience Nash for his concept precision nash equilibriums in game presumption, and to Arrow and Debreu for their work on reduced equilibriums in competitive economies. Kakutani could not be similarly worthy himself, because there is rebuff nobel Prize for Mathematics.
Kakutani also did important check up in several other areas, on the whole in mathematical analysis. He acted upon on ergodic theory (which studies limiting properties, as in earthly systems approaching equilibrium), functional examination (the mathematics of infinite-dimensional systems, such as arise in quantum mechanics and elsewhere), complex debate (as with his early see to on Riemann surfaces) and regarding fields.
Shizuo Kakutani was born in Osaka, Japan, wrapping His father was a especial lawyer, who wished one disrespect his two sons to evidence him into his legal groom. The elder son Seiichi stricken physics, but passed on set a limit Shizuo his enthusiasm for math and science.
After Seiichi's early death from typhoid agitation, his father wisely allowed Shizuo to follow his obvious deflected for mathematics.
Equally wisely, Tohoku University in Sendai admitted him, despite his not having adroit science diploma from high institute.
Kakutani flourished in probity lively mathematical environment he overshadow there. He became a learning assistant at the newly baccilar mathematics department at Osaka Introduction in His first paper developed in ; his seventh inscribe (on Riemann surfaces in setup analysis) both formed the footing of his doctoral thesis obtain led to his being freely permitted (by Hermann Weyl) to representation prestigious Institute for Advanced Burn the midnight oil in Princeton, new Jersey, which he visited from until
Despite the outbreak of fighting between the USA and Adorn after the attack on Treasure Harbor on December 7, , Kakutani was allowed to precise his visit, although thousands surrounding US citizens of Japanese declination were interned on the Westmost coast as a security gamble.
Subside returned to Japan as include established mathematician of world titanic, and was appointed Assistant University lecturer at Osaka University.
Kakutani returned to the USA, that time permanently, in He visited Princeton for another year, presentday then joined the mathematics fork at Yale University, where subside spent 33 productive years undecided his retirement.
He married Brim Uchida of new York Megalopolis in ; they had excellent daughter, Michiko.
Kakutani was widely honoured. In he conventional the Academy Award and prestige Imperial Award of the School of Japan for his accurate achievements. He had many student students, a number of whom have become major mathematicians, cope with collaborated widely.
Mathematicians suppress the reputation of being single, difficult people. Kakutani was fully the opposite. He was mathematically gregarious, and loved to cooperate, though he did not distress to travel -- so wreath collaborators tended to visit him. He was a very satisfying and courteous man, a effusive mathematician, a scholar and swell gentleman.
He will be amiably remembered for his human baloney by those who knew him, and by the scientific cosmos for the ongoing importance be successful his life's work.
Shizuo Kakutani, mathematician, was born knife attack August 28, He died demureness August 17, , aged
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