The Neumann Compendium

Download or read book The Neumann Compendium written by F Bródy and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1995-06-30 with total page 760 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After three decades since the first nearly complete edition of John von Neumann's papers, this book is a valuable selection of those papers and excerpts of his books that are most characteristic of his activity, and reveal that of his continuous influence. The results receiving the 1994 Nobel Prizes in economy deeply rooted in Neumann's game theory are only minor traces of his exceptionally broad spectrum of creativity and stimulation. The book is organized by the specific subjects-quantum mechanics, ergodic theory, operator algebra, hydrodynamics, economics, computers, science and society. In addition, one paper which was written in German will be translated and published in English for the first time. The sections are introduced by short explanatory notes with an emphasis on recent developments based on von Neumann's contributions. An overall picture is provided by Ulam's, one of his most intimate partners in thinking, 1958 memorial lecture. Facsimilae and translations of some of his personal letters and a newly completed bibliography based on von Neumann's own careful compilation are added. Contents:Quantum Mechanics:Mathematical Foundations of Quantum MechanicsThe Logic of Quantum Mechanics (with G Birkhoff)Ergodic Theory:Proof of the Quasi-Ergodic HypothesisOperator Methods in Classical Mechanics, II (with P R Halmos)Operator Algebra:Algebra of Functional Operations and Theory of Normal OperatorsOn Rings of Operators I–IVUse of Variational Methods in HydrodynamicsEconomics:Theory of Games and Economic Behavior (with O Morgenstern)Computers:On the Principles of Large Scale Computing Machines (with H H Goldstine)Science and Society:The MathematicianMethod in the Physical SciencesThe Role of Mathematics in the Sciences and in Societyand other papers Readership: Mathematicians. keywords:Mathematics;Science History;Computer Science;J V Neumann;Science and Society;Game Theory;Quantum Mechanics;Operator Algebra;Hydrodynamics;Ergodic Theory“The collection bears testimony to the lasting influence of John von Neumann's work on the course of modern mathematics.”R Siegmund-Schultze Mathematical Abstracts “This collection is a fascinating introduction to the work of John von Neumann … it has much to offer even to the casual browser and will also be relevant and interesting to those working today in the fields on which von Neumann had such enormous influence.”Mathematical Reviews