The 1924 research paper authored by Jérôme Franel established a mathematical link between the Riemann hypothesis and the distribution of discrepancies within Farey sequences. This specific inquiry, published alongside complementary findings by Edmund Landau, stands as the primary technical contribution of a Swiss academic whose career focused heavily on pedagogical responsibilities and administrative reform.
Academic Formation
Born in Travers in 1859, Jérôme Franel completed his initial education with a science diploma from the Ecole industrielle in Lausanne. His advanced training spanned several prominent European institutions, including the Politechnikum in Zurich and the Frederick William University in Berlin. During his time in Berlin, he studied under Weierstrass, Kronecker, and Kummer. He later moved to Paris, where he attended lectures by Hermite and received a science bachelor’s degree, or licence, from the Paris Academy on 15 September 1883.
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Franel returned to Switzerland to teach at the Ecole industrielle in Lausanne for two years. In 1886, at age 26, the Federal Council of Switzerland appointed him to the Chair of Mathematics at the Politechnikum in Zurich. During his tenure, which lasted until 1929, he served as chairperson from 1905 to 1909. During this period, he oversaw a significant restructuring of the institution. He advocated for the school to grant doctoral degrees, a right the institution secured in 1908, with the first doctorates conferred in 1909.
Professional Recognition
In 1896, Franel served on the organizing committee for the first International Congress of Mathematicians, held in Zurich in 1897. At the event, he delivered the introductory lecture on behalf of an indisposed Henri Poincaré. In 1905, the University of Zurich recognized his contributions by awarding him an honorary doctorate. The city of Zurich subsequently granted him honorary citizenship. Franel died in Zurich on 21 November 1939.
Fast facts
- Born: 1859, Travers, Switzerland
- Died: 21 November 1939, Zurich
- Field: Analytic number theory
- Education: ETH Zurich, Frederick William University Berlin, University of Zurich, University of Paris
- Employer: ETH Zurich (1886-1929)
- Chairperson: 1905-1909
- Award: Honorary doctorate, University of Zurich, 1905
Questions readers ask
What was Jérôme Franel's primary research focus?
He specialized in analytic number theory, with his most notable work connecting the Riemann hypothesis to properties of Farey sequences.
Did Franel hold any leadership roles in higher education?
Yes, he served as the chairperson of the Politechnikum in Zurich between 1905 and 1909, during which time he led efforts to gain the authority for the school to award doctoral degrees.
Achievements
- Held posts at ETH Zurich
- Fields: number theory
