Wei-Liang Chow
Encyclopedia
Zhou Weiliang was a Chinese
mathematician
born in Shanghai
, known for his work in algebraic geometry
.
He was a student in the USA, graduating from the University of Chicago
in 1931. In 1932 he attended the University of Göttingen, then transferring to Leipzig
where he worked with van der Waerden
. They produced a series of joint papers on intersection theory
, introducing in particular the use of what are now generally called Chow coordinates
(which were in some form familiar to Arthur Cayley
).
He married Margot Victor in 1936, and took a position at the National Central University
in Nanjing
. His mathematical work was seriously affected by the wartime situation in China. He taught at the National Tung-Chi University
in Shanghai
in the academic year 1946–47, and then went to the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton
, where he returned to his research. From 1948 to 1977 he was a professor at Johns Hopkins University
.
He was also a stamp collector
, known for his book "Shanghai Large Dragons, The First Issue of The Shanghai Local Post", published in 1996. http://www.pbbook.com/foreigna.htm
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
mathematician
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....
born in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, known for his work in algebraic geometry
Algebraic geometry
Algebraic geometry is a branch of mathematics which combines techniques of abstract algebra, especially commutative algebra, with the language and the problems of geometry. It occupies a central place in modern mathematics and has multiple conceptual connections with such diverse fields as complex...
.
He was a student in the USA, graduating from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1931. In 1932 he attended the University of Göttingen, then transferring to Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
where he worked with van der Waerden
Bartel Leendert van der Waerden
Bartel Leendert van der Waerden was a Dutch mathematician and historian of mathematics....
. They produced a series of joint papers on intersection theory
Intersection theory
In mathematics, intersection theory is a branch of algebraic geometry, where subvarieties are intersected on an algebraic variety, and of algebraic topology, where intersections are computed within the cohomology ring. The theory for varieties is older, with roots in Bézout's theorem on curves and...
, introducing in particular the use of what are now generally called Chow coordinates
Chow coordinates
In mathematics, and more particularly in the field of algebraic geometry, Chow coordinates are a generalization of Plücker coordinates, applying to m-dimensional algebraic varieties of degree d in Pn, that is, n-dimensional projective space. They are named for W. L...
(which were in some form familiar to Arthur Cayley
Arthur Cayley
Arthur Cayley F.R.S. was a British mathematician. He helped found the modern British school of pure mathematics....
).
He married Margot Victor in 1936, and took a position at the National Central University
National Central University
National Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. His mathematical work was seriously affected by the wartime situation in China. He taught at the National Tung-Chi University
Tongji University
Tongji University , colloquially known as Tongji , located in Shanghai, has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members . It offers degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in the academic year 1946–47, and then went to the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, where he returned to his research. From 1948 to 1977 he was a professor at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.
He was also a stamp collector
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
, known for his book "Shanghai Large Dragons, The First Issue of The Shanghai Local Post", published in 1996. http://www.pbbook.com/foreigna.htm
See also
- Chow ringChow ringIn algebraic geometry, the Chow ring of an algebraic variety is an algebraic-geometric analogue of the cohomology ring of the variety considered as a topological space: its elements are formed out of actual subvarieties and its multiplicative structure is derived from the intersection of...
- Chow's theorem
- Chow's moving lemma
- Chow's lemma gives the relation between proper and projective morphisms of schemes
External links
- Wei-Liang Chow - memoriam in the Notices of the AMS, with contributions from S. S. Chern, Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar, Serge LangSerge LangSerge Lang was a French-born American mathematician. He was known for his work in number theory and for his mathematics textbooks, including the influential Algebra...
, and Jun-ichi IgusaJun-Ichi Igusais a Japanese mathematician, known for his contributions to algebraic geometry and number theory. Igusa zeta-function were named after him.-External links:...
.