History of Banach Spaces and Linear Operators

make it look much more logical, but actually it happens quite differently. • Atiyah [2004 ] The monographs A. F. Monna: Functional Analysis in Historical Perspective (1973), and J. Dieudonne: ´ History of Functional Analysis (1981), as well as all articles devoted to the history of functional analysis deal only with the development before 1950. Now the time has come to cover the second half of the twentieth century too. I have undertaken this adventure. Let me introduce myself by telling you that I received my M. Sc. degree in 1958, just at the time when the renaissance of Banach space theory started. Thus I have ?rst-hand experience of the progress achieved during the past 50 years. Due to the explosion of knowledge, writing about functional analysis as a whole seems to be no longer possible. Hence this book is focused on Banach spaces and (abstract bounded) linear operators. Other subjects such as topologies, measures and integrals, locally convex linear spaces, Banach lattices, and Banach algebras are treated only in so far as they turn out to be relevant for this purpose. The interplay with set theory is described carefully: Which axioms are needed in order to prove the Hahn–Banach theorem? Results about non-self-adjoint operators on Hilbert spaces have been a source of inspiration for the theory of operators on Banach spaces. Such topics are discussed in great detail. However, I have omitted almost all operator-theoretic considerations that depend decisively on the existence of an inner product.

Named for Banach, one of the great mathematicians of the twentieth century, the concept of Banach spaces figures prominently in the study of functional analysis with applications to integral and differential equations, approximation theory, harmonic analysis, convex geometry, numerical mathematics, analytic complexity, and probability theory.

Written by a distinguished specialist in functional analysis, this book presents a comprehensive treatment of the history of Banach spaces and (abstract bounded) linear operators. While other historical texts on the subject focus on developments before 1950, this one is mainly devoted to the second half of the 20^th century.

Banach space theory is presented in a broad mathematical context, using tools from such areas as set theory, topology, algebra, combinatorics, probability theory, and logic. Equal emphasis is given to both spaces and operators. Numerous examples and counterexamples elucidate the scope of the underlying concepts. As a stimulus for further research, the text also contains many problems which have not been previously solved.

The book may serve as a reference for researchers and as an introduction for graduate students who want to learn Banach space theory with some historical flavor. Helpful information is also provided for professors preparing their own lectures on functional analysis.