Maurice A. de Gosson, born in Berlin in 1948, is an Austrian mathematician and physicist whose career centers on the intersection of quantum mechanics and symplectic geometry. Currently affiliated with the Numerical Harmonic Analysis Group at the University of Vienna, his research bridge complex theoretical physics with rigorous mathematical analysis, most notably through his introduction of the quantum blob.
Academic Background and Development
De Gosson completed his doctoral studies in 1978 at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis under the supervision of Jacques Chazarain, focusing on microlocal analysis. His subsequent academic development was heavily influenced by Jean Leray, under whose tutorship he earned his Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches en Mathématiques from the University of Paris 6 in 1992. Early research focused on the Leray-Maslov index and the theory of the metaplectic group.
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Take the IQ test →The Symplectic Camel and Uncertainty
In a significant contribution to mathematical physics, de Gosson proved that Mikhail Gromov's symplectic non-squeezing theorem, often referred to as the Principle of the Symplectic Camel, permits the derivation of a classical uncertainty principle. This result mirrors the Robertson-Schrödinger uncertainty relations, providing a stronger form of Heisenberg inequalities by accounting for covariances. This work demonstrated that symplectic topology holds deep implications for both classical and quantum mechanics.
Quantum Blobs and Phase Space
In 2003, de Gosson introduced the concept of quantum blobs, which are defined via symplectic capacities and remain invariant under canonical transformations. These units of phase space represent the smallest structures compatible with the uncertainty principle, possessing the symplectic group as their symmetry group. Collaborating with researchers such as G. Dennis and Basil Hiley, he explored how these blobs function as a phase space representation of squeezed coherent states, effectively acting as a blow-up of particles in phase space.
Institutional Appointments
Before joining the University of Vienna in 2006, de Gosson held various professorial positions in Sweden. His international career includes extensive visiting roles at institutions including Yale University, the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he served as a Ulam Visiting professor, the University of Potsdam, the Albert-Einstein-Institut, the Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik, Université Paul Sabatier, and Jacobs Universität.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, Berlin
- Citizenship: Austria
- Primary Fields: Quantum mechanics, mathematical analysis, mathematical physics
- PhD Advisor: Jacques Chazarain
- Current Institution: Numerical Harmonic Analysis Group, University of Vienna
- Key Innovation: Quantum blobs
- Notable Collaboration: Basil Hiley
- Language Proficiency: French, English
Questions readers ask
What is a quantum blob?
A quantum blob is the image of a phase space ball with a specific radius, defined by the square root of the Planck constant, under a linear symplectic transformation.
How did de Gosson impact the study of uncertainty?
He demonstrated that the symplectic non-squeezing theorem allows for the derivation of a formal uncertainty principle that accounts for particle covariances.
Achievements
- Fields: mathematical analysis, quantum mechanics and mathematical physics
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