Russian-born mathematician Efim Zelmanov, who will deliver the annual Irish Times/Royal Irish Academy Hamilton Lecture, has made huge contributions to algebraic research, writes
DICK AHLSTROM
A RUSSIAN mathematician who made spectacular advances in the field of algebra comes to Dublin next month to deliver a lecture about an Irishman who also transformed algebra 166 years ago.Prof Efim Zelmanov will give the annual Royal Irish Academy/Irish Times Hamilton Lecture on Hamilton Day, October 16th, choosing as his title Noncommutative Algebra: from Hamilton to our Time.
The Hamilton in both instances refers to Ireland’s greatest mathematician, William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865), who became an international figure for his mathematical discoveries.
Prof Zelmanov heads one of the world’s leading groups in algebraic research at the University of California, San Diego. His international reputation was cemented in 1994 when he was awarded the Fields Medal for his work in mathematical group theory.
The Fields Medal is presented every four years by the International Mathematical Union. It is considered the world’s most prestigious prize for mathematics and is often equated to the Nobel awards, which do not include a prize for mathematics.
His Fields Medal celebrated his work on what is known as group theory, a form of mathematics that can be applied to a wide range of fields outside of mathematical research including commercial finance.
He advanced group theory significantly by solving the “restricted Burnside problem”, a conundrum which, if simplified, asks how we know for sure, if we look at individual elements within a finite group, whether that group must always be finite (or could it be infinite?).
His solution to this problem helped advance the whole field of algebra, not just group theory. Zelmanov also made important contributions in research into different forms of algebra.
It is fitting that Zelmanov will be delivering the annual Hamilton Day lecture given that William Rowan Hamilton also had a tremendous influence on modern algebra, freeing it through his discovery of quaternions.
The lecture always takes place on October 16th to mark the same date in 1843 when, during a walk along the Royal Canal in Dublin Hamilton, in a flash of inspiration, created his unique quaternion algebra.
Quaternions are useful for analysing problems in four dimensions. They have been important in the study of quantum mechanics, but also in the design of computer games where on-screen elements are controlled in three-dimensions plus time.
The Hamilton Day lecture this year is sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland and is organised by the Royal Irish Academy and The Irish Times.
The lecture takes place on Friday, October 16th, at 7.30pm in the Burke Theatre, Arts Block, Trinity College Dublin.
Tickets for the event are free, but must be booked in advance as space is limited. Book online at ria.ie. A small number of tickets will also be made available to those who telephone the academy on 01-6762570.