Joseph Keller
Encyclopedia
Joseph B. Keller is an American mathematician
who specializes in applied mathematics
. He is best known for his work on the "Geometrical Theory of Diffraction" (GTD).
He obtained his PhD in 1948 from New York University
under the supervision of Richard Courant
. He was a Professor of Mathematics in the Courant Institute at New York University until 1979. Then he was Professor of Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University
until 1993, when he became Professor Emeritus.
He has a brother who was also a mathematician, Herbert B. Keller
, who has studied numerical analysis, scientific computing, bifurcation theory, path following and homotopy methods, and computational fluid dynamics. Herbert Keller was a professor at Caltech. Both brothers have contributed to the fields of electromagnetics and fluid dynamics.
He worked on the application of mathematics to problems in science and engineering, such as wave propagation
. He contributed to the Einstein-Brillouin-Keller method
for computing eigenvalues in quantum mechanical
systems.
In 1988 he was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science
, and in 1997 he was awarded the Wolf Prize by the Israel-based Wolf Foundation
. In 1996, he was awarded the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics
.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who specializes in applied mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
. He is best known for his work on the "Geometrical Theory of Diffraction" (GTD).
He obtained his PhD in 1948 from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
under the supervision of Richard Courant
Richard Courant
Richard Courant was a German American mathematician.- Life :Courant was born in Lublinitz in the German Empire's Prussian Province of Silesia. During his youth, his parents had to move quite often, to Glatz, Breslau, and in 1905 to Berlin. He stayed in Breslau and entered the university there...
. He was a Professor of Mathematics in the Courant Institute at New York University until 1979. Then he was Professor of Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
until 1993, when he became Professor Emeritus.
He has a brother who was also a mathematician, Herbert B. Keller
Herbert Keller
Herbert Bishop Keller was an American applied mathematician and numerical analyst...
, who has studied numerical analysis, scientific computing, bifurcation theory, path following and homotopy methods, and computational fluid dynamics. Herbert Keller was a professor at Caltech. Both brothers have contributed to the fields of electromagnetics and fluid dynamics.
He worked on the application of mathematics to problems in science and engineering, such as wave propagation
Wave propagation
Wave propagation is any of the ways in which waves travel.With respect to the direction of the oscillation relative to the propagation direction, we can distinguish between longitudinal wave and transverse waves....
. He contributed to the Einstein-Brillouin-Keller method
Einstein-Brillouin-Keller method
The Einstein–Brillouin–Keller method is a semiclassical method to compute eigenvalues in quantum mechanical systems.-See also:*Quantum mechanics*WKB approximation*Albert Einstein*Léon Brillouin*Joseph B. Keller...
for computing eigenvalues in quantum mechanical
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
systems.
In 1988 he was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
, and in 1997 he was awarded the Wolf Prize by the Israel-based Wolf Foundation
Wolf Foundation
The Wolf Foundation is a private not-for-profit organization in Israel established in 1975 by Dr. Ricardo Wolf, a German-born Jewish Cuban inventor and former Cuban ambassador to Israel.- Ricardo Wolf :...
. In 1996, he was awarded the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics
Nemmers Prize in Mathematics
The Frederic Esser Nemmers Prize in Mathematics is awarded biennially from Northwestern University. It was initially endowed along with a companion prize, the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics, as part of a $14 million donation from the Nemmers brothers. They envisioned creating an award that...
.