Hermann Minkowski was a renowned German mathematician. His contribution
to the development of modern mathematics is immense. The development of
the theory on the geometry of numbers is his well known work. He
utilized this theory very skilfully in solving problems of number
theory, mathematical physics and the theory of relativity. This
geometric method helped him to understand the theory of continued
fractions and to generalize it into an algorithm. Personalities like
Albert Einstein were his student. Minkowski’s theory of four-dimensional
space-time which is better known as “Minkowski space”, aims to prove
that the special theory of relativity that Albert Einstein presented
algebraically, can be understood geometrically also. He discussed about
this theory through his book “Space and Time”. The works of Einstein and
Minkowski establish the fact that space and time are closely
interlinked. This theory of four-dimensional space-time later provided
an inspiration for Einstein’s work on general relativity. In this
context, it will not be out of place to mention that Hendrik Lorentz’s
analysis of transformations of space and time was the inspiration of his
idea of the unity of space and time. Besides pursuing his mathematical
research, he taught mathematics at several prestigious universities such
as University of Bonn, Konigsberg University and the University of
Gottingen.
Childhood & Early Life
Hermann
Minkowski was born in Aleksotas, Kingdom of Poland on 22 June 1864 AD , as the son of
Polish Jews parents Rachel and Lewin Minkowski. His father was a
businessman.
Major Works
In
1896, he propounded his theory on geometry of numbers. This theory is
applicable in functional analysis and Diophantine approximation. Through
geometrical theory, he solved problems in number theory.
Awards & Achievements
In
1883, the French Academy of Sciences conferred him the Mathematics
Prize for his manuscript on the theory of quadratic forms. Quadratic
forms have wide usage in different branches of mathematics like linear
algebra and number theories.
Personal Life & Legacy
- He got married to Auguste Adler in 1897. They had two daughters namely Lily and Ruth.
- He died unexpectedly of appendicitis at the age of 44 in Gottingen. To honour his contribution, the asteroid ‘12493 Minkowski’ and ‘M-matrices’ are named after him.
- After his death, renowned physicists like Max von Laue and Arnold Sommerfeld extended his idea of space and time. In 1911, Lau published a textbook on the special theory of relativity and it was the first textbook that used the formulation of Minowski.
