Horst Knörrer, a mathematician specializing in algebraic geometry and mathematical physics, completed his doctoral thesis in 1978 under the supervision of Egbert Brieskorn at the University of Bonn. His research addresses complex systems ranging from the geometry of algebraic curves to the behavior of many-particle systems within the frameworks of statistical mechanics and solid state physics.
Academic Formation
Born in Bayreuth in 1953, Knörrer began his undergraduate studies in 1971. He attended the University of Regensburg and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg before moving to the University of Bonn. His 1978 dissertation focused on the isolated singularities of the intersections of two quadrics. He remained in Bonn as a research assistant until 1985, a period interrupted by a two-year research stay at Leiden University starting in 1980.
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Following his doctoral work, Knörrer completed his habilitation at the University of Bonn in 1985. He spent the subsequent two years as a Heisenberg fellow, a position designed to support young scholars. During the 1986-1987 academic year, he served as a department representative at the University of Düsseldorf. In 1987, he moved to Switzerland to accept a full professorship in mathematics at ETH Zurich, where he has held a teaching position since.
Research and Collaborations
Knörrer’s scholarship bridges the gap between geometry and physics. His collaborative output includes the 1986 textbook 'Plane Algebraic Curves' co-authored with Egbert Brieskorn, which later saw an English translation. His later works often involve collaborations with researchers such as Joel S. Feldman and Eugene Trubowitz. These publications include studies on the Kadomcev Petviashvilli equation, the geometry of algebraic Fermi curves, and the renormalization group applied to fermionic functional integrals.
Fast facts
- Born: 31 July 1953, Bayreuth, Germany
- Doctoral advisor: Egbert Brieskorn
- Primary institution: ETH Zurich
- Key research fields: Algebraic geometry, mathematical physics
- Nationality: German
- Major work: Plane Algebraic Curves (1986)
Questions readers ask
Where did Horst Knörrer pursue his academic career?
After his training and early research in Germany, he became a full professor of mathematics at ETH Zurich in 1987.
What subjects does Knörrer address in his research?
His work focuses on algebraic geometry, integrable systems, and the mathematical theory of many-particle systems in solid state physics and statistical mechanics.
Achievements
- Held posts at ETH Zurich
- Fields: mathematics, geometry and physics
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