Synopsis
Diophantine problems concern the solutions of equations in integers, rational numbers, or various generalizations. The book is an encyclopedic survey of diophantine geometry. For the most part no proofs are given, but references are given where proofs may be found. There are some exceptions, notably the proof for a large part of Faltings' theorems is given. The survey puts together, from a unified point of view, the field of diophantine geometry which has developed since the early 1950's, after its origins in Mordell, Weil and Siegel's papers in the 1920's. The basic approach is that of algebraic geometry, but examples are given which show how this approach deals with (and sometimes solves!) classical problems phrased in very elementary terms. For instance, the Fermat problem is not solved, but it is shown to fit in to two great structural approaches, so that it is not an isolated problem any more.
From the Back Cover
From the reviews of the first printing of this book, published as Volume 60 of the Encyclopaedia of Mathematical Sciences: "Between number theory and geometry there have been several stimulating influences, and this book records of these enterprises. This author, who has been at the centre of such research for many years, is one of the best guides a reader can hope for. The book is full of beautiful results, open questions, stimulating conjectures and suggestions where to look for future developments.
This volume bears witness of the broad scope of knowledge of the author, and the influence of several people who have commented on the manuscript before publication ... Although in the series of number theory, this volume is on diophantine geometry, and the reader will notice that algebraic geometry is present in every chapter. ... The style of the book is clear. Ideas are well explained, and the author helps the reader to pass by several technicalities. Reading and rereading this book I noticed that the topics are treated in a nice, coherent way, however not in a historically logical order. ...The author writes "At the moment of writing, the situation is in flux...". That is clear from the scope of this book. In the area described many conjectures, important results, new developments took place in the last 30 years. And still new results come at a breathtaking speed in this rich field. In the introduction the author notices: "I have included several connections of diophantine geometry with other parts of mathematics, such as PDE and Laplacians, complex analysis, and differential geometry. A grand unification is going on, with multiple connections between these fields." Such a unification becomes clear in this beautiful book, which we recommend for mathematicians of all disciplines." Medelingen van het wiskundig genootschap, 1994
"... It is fascinating to see how geometry, arithmetic and complex analysis grow together!..." Monatshefte für Mathematik, 1993
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