7.10 To the Famous Scientists
445
Bessel (Friedrich Wilhelm, 1784.7.22–1846.3.17) German astronomer and mathematician. Born in Minden, died in Königsberg. Obtained a doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1809. Served as lifelong director of the new Königsberg observatory and a professor at the University of Königsberg since 1810, in his later years was
once part-time director of the Berlin observatory. Was elected academician of the
Berlin Academy of Sciences in 1812, became a member of the French Academy of
Sciences, became a member of the Royal Society in 1825. Compiled the fundamental
starcatalogue which contained 75000 stars, first determined the distance and parallax
of the Cygnus star 61, predicted that there was a companion star. The major contribution to mathematics was the theory of differential equations, and studied and complex
number and non-Euclidean geometry etc. problems, the research results were mainly
Bessel function. Due to the study of system of trigonometric functions, deduced the
famous Bessel inequality in 1828. The works had Fundamenta Astronomiae (1818)
and Tabulae regiomontanae reductionum observationum astronomicarum ab anno
1750 usque ad annum 1850 computatæ (1830) etc.
Sturm (Jacques Charles François, 1803.9.29–1855.12.18) Swiss–French mathematician. Born in Geneva, died in Paris. Attended the Academy of Geneva in 1819. In
1823, became tutor after graduation. Soon got into the scientific community in Paris.
Joined the French in 1833. Became a member of the Paris Academy of Sciences in
1836. Was also the academician of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg
Academy of Sciences and member of the Royal Society. Served as a professor at the
École Polytechnique in 1840. In mathematics made many pathbreaking and founding
contributions. Established the Sturm theorem of real foot of algebraic equation of
nth real coefficient. Proposed the method not finding the solution of equation and
obtaining the zero point distribution status of the solution, one of the founders of the
theory of differential equations. Cooperated with French mathematician Liouville,
studied the characteristic value and characteristic function problems of the ordinary
differential equation of second order, obtained some important results. In projective geometry, differential geometry, geometrical optics and analytical mechanics
also had important contribution. The works had Cours d’analyse de l’école polytechnique (1857–1863) and Cours de mécanique de l’école polytechnique (1861)
etc.
Liouville (Joseph, 1809.3.24–1882.9.8) French mathematician. Born in Saint–Omer,
died in Paris. Graduated from the École Polytechnique in Paris in 1827. Successively
served as professors at the École Polytechnique, Sorbonne University, Collège de
France since 1833. Received a doctor’s degree in 1836, Founded the Journal de
Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées in the same year, and served as the chief editor
for 40 years. Was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1839. Was
elected as a member of the Royal Society 1850. Was also an honorary academician
of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Published papers and works near 400,
involved more than a dozen branches of mathematics and physics. In the integral
theory of elementary functions, theory of analytic functions, theory of transcendental functions and differential geometry etc. all obtained important achievements.
Established the theory of elliptic function, also cooperated with Sturm, created the
445
Bessel (Friedrich Wilhelm, 1784.7.22–1846.3.17) German astronomer and mathematician. Born in Minden, died in Königsberg. Obtained a doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1809. Served as lifelong director of the new Königsberg observatory and a professor at the University of Königsberg since 1810, in his later years was
once part-time director of the Berlin observatory. Was elected academician of the
Berlin Academy of Sciences in 1812, became a member of the French Academy of
Sciences, became a member of the Royal Society in 1825. Compiled the fundamental
starcatalogue which contained 75000 stars, first determined the distance and parallax
of the Cygnus star 61, predicted that there was a companion star. The major contribution to mathematics was the theory of differential equations, and studied and complex
number and non-Euclidean geometry etc. problems, the research results were mainly
Bessel function. Due to the study of system of trigonometric functions, deduced the
famous Bessel inequality in 1828. The works had Fundamenta Astronomiae (1818)
and Tabulae regiomontanae reductionum observationum astronomicarum ab anno
1750 usque ad annum 1850 computatæ (1830) etc.
Sturm (Jacques Charles François, 1803.9.29–1855.12.18) Swiss–French mathematician. Born in Geneva, died in Paris. Attended the Academy of Geneva in 1819. In
1823, became tutor after graduation. Soon got into the scientific community in Paris.
Joined the French in 1833. Became a member of the Paris Academy of Sciences in
1836. Was also the academician of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg
Academy of Sciences and member of the Royal Society. Served as a professor at the
École Polytechnique in 1840. In mathematics made many pathbreaking and founding
contributions. Established the Sturm theorem of real foot of algebraic equation of
nth real coefficient. Proposed the method not finding the solution of equation and
obtaining the zero point distribution status of the solution, one of the founders of the
theory of differential equations. Cooperated with French mathematician Liouville,
studied the characteristic value and characteristic function problems of the ordinary
differential equation of second order, obtained some important results. In projective geometry, differential geometry, geometrical optics and analytical mechanics
also had important contribution. The works had Cours d’analyse de l’école polytechnique (1857–1863) and Cours de mécanique de l’école polytechnique (1861)
etc.
Liouville (Joseph, 1809.3.24–1882.9.8) French mathematician. Born in Saint–Omer,
died in Paris. Graduated from the École Polytechnique in Paris in 1827. Successively
served as professors at the École Polytechnique, Sorbonne University, Collège de
France since 1833. Received a doctor’s degree in 1836, Founded the Journal de
Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées in the same year, and served as the chief editor
for 40 years. Was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1839. Was
elected as a member of the Royal Society 1850. Was also an honorary academician
of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Published papers and works near 400,
involved more than a dozen branches of mathematics and physics. In the integral
theory of elementary functions, theory of analytic functions, theory of transcendental functions and differential geometry etc. all obtained important achievements.
Established the theory of elliptic function, also cooperated with Sturm, created the