ARILD STUBHAUG. The Mathematician Sophus Lie

Transcription

1 ARILD STUBHAUG The Mathematician Sophus Lie

2 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH

3 ARILD STUBHAUG The Mathematician SophusLie!twas Itwas theaudacityof My Thinking Translated from the Norwegian by Richard H. Daly Springer

4 ARILD STUBHAUG Department of Mathematics University of Oslo P. O. Box 1053, Blindern 0316 Oslo, Norway Translator: RICHARD H. DALY Stensrudlia Oslo, Norway daly@powertech.no Title of the Norwegian original edition 2000: Det var mine tankers djervhet - Matematikeren Sophus Lie Publisher: H.Aschehoug & Co. (W.Nygaard), Oslo ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOl DOI / Publisher's note: Springer-Verlag tiianks tilanks Elisabet W. MiddietiIon Middletilon of MUNIN (Marketing Unit for Norwegian International Non-fiction), Oslo, for tiie tile excellent collaboration and financial support for the translation, which made tiie tile publication of tiiis tilis book possible. Thanks go also to Harald Engelstad of H.Aschehoug & Co., Oslo. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stubhaug, Arild, [Det var mine tankers djervhet. Englishj English] The Mathematician Sophus Lie: it was the audacity of my thinking 1 Arild Slubhaug; translated from the Norwegian by Richard H. Daly. p. cm. Inc1udes Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN Lie, Sophus, Mathematicians-Norway-Biography. I. Tide QA29.L.29 S l.92-dc l.92-dC21. [Bj [B] MatiIematics Matilematics Subject Classification (2000): 01A55,01A70 01A5S,01A70 ISBN WitiI Witil 105 figures, 8 in color This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved. whether the who1e whole or part of the material is concerned, specifical1y specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way. and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Vio1ations Violations are liab1e liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heide1berg Heidelberg 2002 Originally published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York in 2002 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 2002 Typeset in Word by the translator and edited by PublicationService Gisela Koch, Wiesenbach, using a modified Springer latex macro-package. Cover design: design 6- production GmbH, Heide1berg Heidelberg Printed on acid-free paper SPIN /3142Ko

5 Contents PART I The Measure of a Life Tracking Hirn Him Down: A Torrent of Stories... 3 PART 11 II Family Background and Upbringing The Family Tree The Priestly Family at Nordfjordeid Father's Home Horne in Moss PART 111 III School and Education Nissen's School. Examen Artium Student Life The Lack of a Calling PART IV In Tune with the Times Into Mathematical History There was a Mathematician in Hirn. Him The First Tour Abroad Parliamentary Professor PART V Professor in Christiania "My Inner Life Has Been Most Mighty" "My Life's Good Fortune" Marriage at Last Herr Professor mit seiner Gemahlin In the Lee of "the Modern Breakthrough"

6 VI Contents A Steady Strearn Stream ofworks The Mathernatical Mathematical Milieu at Horne Home and Abroad "It is Lonely, Terribly Lonely" Surnrnoned Summoned to Leipzig PART VI Professor in Leipzig The Corning Coming Period: A More Difficult Balancing Act In the Big City of Leipzig Breakdown Farne Fame Conflicts Norwegian Students Back to Norway PART VII At the End of the Road The Final Years Appendices Chronology Notes and Cornrnentaries Commentaries Sophus Lie's Descendants Chronological Bibliography of Sophus Lie's Published Works Acknowledgernents Acknowledgements List of Literature Index of Narnes Names

7 List of Illustrations Sophus Lie and his wife Anna. Tinted photo: Ragnhild Thrane The old vicarage at Eid. From the book Bid Eid kyrkje, 150 ar, edited by Eid Sokneräd. Soknerad. Nordfjordeid Nordfjordeid seen from the vicarage (top). From the book Bid Eid kyrkje, 150 ar, edited by Eid Sokneräd. Soknerad. Nordfjordeid Sophus Lie's father, Johan Herman Lie (bottom). Herman Lie's Nachlass Sophus Lie's eldest brother, Fredrik Gill Lie (top left). Zeft). Photo: A. Forsberg! Herman Lie's Nachlass Sophus Lie's sister, Laura (top right). Herman Lie's Nachlass Sophus Lie's brother,john Herman and family (bottom). Herman Lie's Nachlass Science candidate Sophus Lie (top left). Zeft). Photo: Frederik Klem! Joronn Vogt 37 Family of Sophus Lie's sister, Mathilde and her husband, Dr. Fredrik Vogt (top right). Joronn Vogt Moss, circa 1890 (bottom). Postcard from Herman Lie's Nachlass Family photo at wedding of Sophus Lie's sister, Dorothea. Joronn Vogt Nissen's Latin and Grammar School. Photo: Kammerherre Christensen!! Oslo City Museum Sophus Lie while he was considering a military career (top). Herman Lie's Nachlass Gymnastics hall, University of Oslo, dating to 1856 (bottom). Photo: Bente Geving OIe Ole Hartvig Nissen, school reformer (top left). Zeft). Norwegian State Archives Carl Anton Bjerknes, mathematics professor (top right). Photo: L.Abel and Comp.1890! Norwegian National Library, Oslo OIe Ole Jacob Broch, Professor of Mathematics and Prime Minister (bottom). Photo: Eug. Pirov, Paris. 1880! Norwegian National Library, Oslo Ludvig Sylow (top left). Zeft). FoZkebZadet! Folkebladet! Hansen! Norwegian National Library, Oslo Kristofer Janson (top right). Jens Munthe Svendsen! Norwegian State Archives Axel Blytt (bottom left). Zeft). W.Holter, 1901!Norwegian! State Archives! Photo: O. V Vaering rering Gerhard Armauer Hansen (bottom right). Olav RutH! Rutli! Norwegian State Archives! Photo: Jan H. Heim

8 VIII List of Illustrations Members of"the Green Roorn" Room" Norwegian National Library, Oslo 78 From Berlin, Berlin from the old Königsbrücke, Konigsbrucke, 1867, wood block print or drawing by Robert Geissler / Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz Hermann von Helmholtz. Hermann von Helmholtz's last lecture, Ullstein Bilderdienst Karl Weierstrass (top). Ullstein Bilderdienst Leopold Kronecker (bottom left). Zeft). Academie des Sciences, Paris / Jean-Loup Charmet Ernst Eduard Kummer (bottom right). Heliograph, 1890, Bildarchiv Preussischer Kuturbesitz Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris. Bibliotheque des Arts decoratifs / Jean-Loup Charmet Charles Hermite (top left). Zeft). Jean-Loup Charmet Camille Jordan (top right). Jean-Loup Charmet Emile Pieard Picard (bottom left). Zeft). Mathematical Mathematieallibrary, library, University of Oslo, Blindern Gaston Darboux (bottom right). Herman Lie's Nachlass DagbZadet Dagbladet on Lie's arrest as a German spy in France (top). Dagbladet DagbZadet / Norwegian National Library, Mo i Rana A Sophus Lie travel sketch (bottom). Herman Lie's Nachlass Studenterlunden and University, Karl Johans gate. Joachim Frich, Frieh, University of Oslo, Sophus Lie, oil portrait by Erik Werenskiold, Erik Werenskiold / BONO 2000/ Photo: O. V rering Ernst Motzfeldt, high court judge and cabinet minister (top left). Zeft). Herman Lie's Nachlass Axel Lund, Sophus Lie's doctor (top right). Photo: Lindegaard, 1867 / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Professor Georg Ossian Sars, zoologist (bottom). Elif Peterssen, 1915 / Photo: O. V rering Geologist, writer and professor Amund Helland HelIand (top), oil painting by Erik Werenskiold, Oil on canvas, 101 x 76 cm. Erik Werenskiold / BONO 2000/ National Gallery of Norway / Photo: J. Lathion Elling Holst (bottom left). Zeft). Photo: Rude / Norwegian National Library Professor Axel Thue (bottom right). Jo Piene, 1929 / Norwegian State Archives / Photo: O. V rering Bj0rnstjerne Bj0rnson (top left). Zeft). Photo: Riffert Meisenbach, ca / Norwegian National Library Edvard Grieg (top right). Photo: Axel Leverin, ca / Norwegian National Library FridtjofNansen (bottom). Woodcut: Johan Nordhagen, 1897 / Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz Anna Birch (top). Norwegian National Library, Oslo. Manuscript ColIections Collections 207 Sophus Lie's letter of proposal to Anna Birch (bottom). Herman Lie's Nachlass

9 List 0/ of Illustrations IX Albert Viktor Bäcklund, Backlund, professor in Lund (top). Kr. Anderberg, Royal Library, Stockholm Hieronymus Georg Zeuthen, professor in Copenhagen (bottom left). Zeft). Herman Lie's Nachlass Luigi Cremona, professor in Milan (bottom right). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Front page, Archiv for Mathematik og Naturvidenskab (top left). Zeft). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Front page, Acta Mathematica (top right). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Gösta G6sta Mittag-Leffler (bottom). Allers 1910' I Norwegian National Library, Oslo Front page of Ny illustreret Tidende on Lie's summons to Leipzig. Ny Illustreret Tidende Landscape between Grungedal and Haukeli, Telemark, oil painting by Catherine Hermine K0lle c Culture History Collection. University of Bergen Landscape near Ris0r, oil painting by Jacob Munch, Royal Farm, Bygd0Y Bygd0y' I Photo: Teigens fotoatelier Romsdalshorn, oil painting by Johan Fredrik Eckersberg, from Painting Collection of the City of Lillehammer Landscape from Switzerland, oil painting by Knud Andreassen Baade in Oil on paper, wood-backed, 42X58 cm' cml National Gallery of Norway' I Photo: J. Lathion The high mountains of Norway: landscape by the German painter Walter Leistikow, ca Watercolour on paper, 103 x 130 cm. Berlinische Galerie, Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz' I Photo: Jürgen Jiirgen Liepe Leipzig University, Universitäts Universitatsarchiv, archiv, Leipzig View of Paris, painted by Frits Thaulow in Oil on wood, 34 x 56 cm. National Gallery of Norway' I Photo: J. Lathion "Melancholy" at Asgärdstrand, Asgardstrand, oil painting by Edvard Munch, Oil on canvas, 64X96 cm. Much-Museet! Munch-Ellingsen Group' I BONO 2000' I National Gallery of Norway' I Photo: J. Lathion Seeburgstrasse, Leipzig, Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Felix Klein (top left). Zeft). Herman Lie's Nachlass Adolf Mayer (top right). Herman Lie's Nachlass Georg Scheffers (bottom left). Zeft). Herman Lie's Nachlass Friedrich Engel (bottom right). Herman Lie's Nachlass Mathematische Annalen AnnaZen (top). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Theorie der Transformationsgruppen, title page (bottom left). Zeft). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Publication of Lie's lectures, Leipzig, 1891, title page (bottom right). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Alfred Clebsch (top left). Zeft). Herman Lie's Nachlass

10 x List of Illustrations Carl Neumann (top right). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany Hermann Amandus Schwarz (bottom left). Zeft). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany Eduard Study (bottom right). Herman Lie's Nachlass Wilhe1m Wilhelm Ostwald. Photo: F. H. Man, Berlin 1929/ Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz Henri Poincare, sketched while lecturing, Paris, 1908 (Zeft). (left). Käte Kate Popoit, 1908 / Archives de l' Academie des Sciences, Paris / Jean-Loup Charmet Arthur Tresse (top right). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, Oberwolfach -Walke, Germany Ernest Vessiot (centre right). Herman Lie's Nachlass Elie Cartan (bottom right). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany Lie and Amund HelIand Helland (top). Carl St0rmer, / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Lie at commemoration of Fridtjof Nansen's return from The Fram Expedition,9 9 September, 1896 (middze). (middle). Carl St0rmer / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Kristian Birkeland (bottom). Carl St0rmer / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Axel Blytt in a carriage (top left). Zeft). Carl St0rmer / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Axel Blytt outside the University of Christiania (top right). Carl St0rmer / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Karl Carda, Edgar OdelI Odell Lovett and Alf Guldberg (lower (Zower left). Zeft). Carl St0rmer, ? Norwegian National Library, Oslo Kristian Birkeland and two foreign mathematicians at Sognsvann, Christiania, 1898 (bottom right). Carl St0rmer, / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Elling Holst and his daughter (top). Carl St0rmer, / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Excerpt from Elling Holst's children's book (bottom). Carl St0rmer, / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Eugenies gate 22 as it looks today. Photo: Bente Geving The family - Sophus, Anna and the children. Herman Lie's Nachlass The Lie family indoors (top). Herman Lie's Nachlass The Lie family with Laura and and Lunds (bottom). Herman Lie's Nachlass Lie, autumn 1888, while visiting Norway (Zeft). (left). Joronn Vogt Sophus Lie obituary sketch in Verdens Gang (right). Gustav Lrerum, Verdens Gang / Norwegian National Library, Oslo Deathbed drawing by Erik Werenskiold 19/02/1899. Pencil sketch, 32.5 x 26.5 cm. Erik Werenskiold / BONO 2000/ Photo: O. V rering

11 List of Illustrations XI Main Deichman Library, Oslo. Fresco: Axel Revold / BONO 2000/ Photo: Bente Geving Lie at a picnic on a visit to Norway, Herman Lie's Nachlass Sigurd Lie, Sophus Lie's composer nephew, by Severin Segelcke, Photo: o. Vrering Felix Klein (top left). Photo: Bieling, Gottingen, Göttingen, 1905/ AKG Photo, Berlin Friedrich Engel (top right). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Eduard Study (bottom left). Mathematics Library, University of Oslo Hermann Weyl (bottom right). Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany Bust of Sophus Lie, by Elisabeth Steen (top). Bronze, Elisabeth Steen / BONO 2000/ Photo: Bakke Foto, Nordfjordeid The grave of Sophus and Anna Lie (bottom). Photo: Bente Geving Front page AJtenposten Aftenposten on Elie Cartan's visit to the International Congress of Mathematics in Oslo where he lectured on Sophus Lie and Group Theory, Aftenposten / Norwegian National Library, Mo i Rana