The Legacy of John Von Neumann: (Proceedings of Symposia in Pure Mathematics)

The ideas of John von Neumann have had a profound influence on modern mathematics and science. One of the great thinkers of our century, von Neumann initiated major branches of mathematics--from operator algebras to game theory to scientific computing--and had a fundamental impact on such areas as self-adjoint operators, ergodic theory and the foundations of quantum mechanics, and numerical analysis and the design of the modern computer. This volume contains the proceedings of an AMS Symposium in Pure Mathematics, held at Hofstra University, in May 1988. The symposium brought together some of the foremost researchers in the wide range of areas in which von Neumann worked. These articles illustrate the sweep of von Neumann's ideas and thinking and document their influence on contemporary mathematics. In addition, some of those who knew von Neumann when he was alive have presented here personal reminiscences about him. This book is directed to those interested in operator theory, game theory, ergodic theory, and scientific computing, as well as to historians of mathematics and others having an interest in the contemporary history of the mathematical sciences.This book will give readers an appreciation for the workings of the mind of one of the mathematical giants of our time.

Table of Contents:
John von Neumann: A personal view by M. v. N. Whitman Remembering John von Neumann by P. D. Lax Nonmathematical reminiscences about Johnny von Neumann by F. Ulam The extraordinary inspiration of John von Neumann by I. Halperin The philosophical legacy of John von Neumann, in light of its inception and evolution in his formative years by N. A. Vonneuman Von Neumann and the early days of ergodic theory by G. W. Mackey Von Neumann and ergodic theory by D. S. Omstein Nonconventional ergodic averages by H. Furstenberg The rings of operators papers by F. J. Murray Operator algebras-An overview by R. V. Kadison Introduction a la geometrie non-commutative by A. Connes Some of the legacy of John von Neumann in physics: Theory of measurement, quantum logic, and von Neumann algebras in physics by H. Araki Mathematics motivated by physics by A. M. Jaffe The mathematical implications of fundamental physical principles by I. E. Segal On the principles of large scale computing machines by H. H. Goldstine and J. v. Neumann Scientific computing: Von Neumann's vision, today's realities, and the promise of the future by J. Glimm Intermittency of turbulence by Z.-S. She, E. Jackson, and S. A. Orszag Supercomputer simulations of the interaction of biomolecules in solution by E. Clementi, S. Chin, G. Corongiu, J. Given, G. C. Lie, M. Migliore, and P. Procacci Von Neumann and neural networks by J. D. Cowan Two-person, perfect-information games by E. R. Berlekamp The origins of John von Neumann's theory of automata by W. Aspray Developments in ""the synthesis of reliable organisms from unreliable components"" by N. Pippenger Photographs.