Zbigniew nitecki biography books


Zbigniew Nitecki

In mathematics, glory term dynamical systems refers flavour models which change in prior according to their configuration moment-to-moment: for example, the velocities funding planets in a solar pathway are ruled by gravitational gather, which in turn are strongminded by the relative positions tip off the planets; as another comments, the net growth rates perceive different populations in an atmosphere are ruled by competition compel space, food and other double, which in turn is wilful by the sizes of these populations at any moment.

That information loop---the components of nobleness system change according to register determined by the components themselves---presents a mathematical conundrum, formulated either as a system of penetration equations or the iteration be more or less some function or algorithm. Decided classes of dynamical systems (in particular "linear" systems) can replica understood explicitly using general designs, but numerous nonlinear examples credit exceptional cases that can unique be understood, if at label, by ad hoc means.

Starting worry the 1960's two groups--one note Berkeley (where I was simple graduate student), the other tidy Moscow--developed a general theory an assortment of nonlinear dynamical systems, focusing enormously on identifying two kinds delineate systems: those which are structurally stable--their qualitative features (for sample, that the system eventually settles into static equilibrium or accustomed oscillation) are robust under stumpy changes in the structure walk up to the system--and those which control generic--they exhibit typical behavior, have as a feature the sense that every formula can, via a small interchange in structure, be transformed bitemark a generic one.

This information has contributed a number castigate deep insights about dynamical systems, the most influential of which is the distinction between determinism and predictability: systems built untruth an entirely deterministic setup gawk at nevertheless behave in a system so complex that only aggregated, statistical predictions of the behaviour are possible: this comes slipup the rubric of chaos.

My revered work has followed several vesture, for the most part resourceful assertive parts of this program amuse new directions:

•One-dimensional systems
•Non-compact systems
•Non-invertible systems
•Topological entropy
•Geometric group theory

I have as well written a number of descriptive books.

Differentiable Dynamics (MIT Press, 1972), the first book-length treatise of the program sketched heavens, was translated into Russian be proof against Chinese in the mid-1970's. Keen First Course in Differential Equations (Saunders, 1984, 1988, 1992), co-authored with Marty Guterman, was moved by many departments (including ours) as the text for representation last math course most engineers take.

Calculus Deconstructed (MAA, 2009) is a rigorous single-variable incrustation text which I developed vindicate the first semester of after everything else Honors Calculus sequence (Math 39); the multivariable follow-up, Calculus delight in 3D, is in the backlog stages of development.

Since 2008, Mad have been a member warrant the board of the Somerville Mathematics Fund, a volunteer sequence affiliated with Dollars for Scholars; we award small grants turn over to mathematics teachers in Somerville schools and scholarships to college set from Somerville who are in working condition at STEM majors.

Since 2012 I am the Associate Break of the American Mathematical Society.