Biography of Famous Mathematicians Emmy Noether
Emmy Noether: Pioneer of Abstract Algebra and Theoretical Physics
Early Life and Education:
Amalie Emmy Noether was born on March 23, 1882, in Erlangen, Germany, into a family with a strong academic background. Her father, Max Noether, was a distinguished mathematician, and Emmy Noether grew up surrounded by an intellectual environment. Despite societal expectations for women at the time, her family supported her education.
Emmy Noether attended the University of Erlangen in 1900, initially as an auditing student. She faced challenges due to gender discrimination, as women were not officially allowed to enroll for degrees at the university. Eventually, with the support of her father and prominent mathematicians, including David Hilbert, she gained access to university courses.
Early Career:
After obtaining her doctorate in mathematics in 1907 under the supervision of Paul Gordan, Emmy Noether faced difficulty securing a position in academia due to gender bias. She worked without pay at the Mathematical Institute in Erlangen, where her skills and dedication became evident. In 1915, she was appointed as an unpaid lecturer at the University of Göttingen.
Noether’s research focused on algebra, particularly the theory of invariants and abstract algebraic structures. Her work had a profound impact on modern mathematics, laying the groundwork for fields like abstract algebra and theoretical physics.
Göttingen and the Birth of Noether’s Theorems:
Emmy Noether’s time at the University of Göttingen, where she collaborated with prominent mathematicians like David Hilbert and Felix Klein, marked a pivotal period in her career. During the 1920s, she formulated two fundamental theorems, now known as Noether’s First and Second Theorems.
- Noether’s First Theorem (1915): This theorem, also known as the “First Isomorphism Theorem,” relates symmetries and conservation laws in the context of differential equations. Noether demonstrated that for every differentiable symmetry of the action of a physical system, there is a corresponding conservation law.
- Noether’s Second Theorem (1918): Building on her earlier work, this theorem establishes a connection between symmetries and the existence of conserved quantities in the framework of variational principles.
Noether’s theorems have had a profound impact on theoretical physics, providing a deep understanding of the connections between symmetries and conservation laws. Her work laid the foundation for the development of quantum field theory.
Exile and Legacy:
As Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, anti-Semitic laws were enacted, and Emmy Noether, being of Jewish descent, faced discrimination. In 1933, she left Germany and accepted a position at Bryn Mawr College in the United States. At Bryn Mawr, she continued her influential research and mentoring of students.
Emmy Noether’s contributions to mathematics and theoretical physics were widely recognized. Tragically, her life was cut short when she died on April 14, 1935, at the age of 53, following complications from surgery.
Noether’s legacy endures through her groundbreaking theorems and her influence on generations of mathematicians and physicists. The Emmy Noether Society, founded in 1980, honors her memory, and her work continues to shape our understanding of fundamental principles in mathematics and physics.