Milton Abramowitz directed his efforts toward the systematic codification of mathematical functions, a task that yielded a reference work bearing his name. He was a central figure at the National Bureau of Standards, contributing to the computational infrastructure of the mid-twentieth century through his focus on numerical analysis and special functions before his untimely death in 1958.
Academic Foundation
Born in Brooklyn in 1915, Abramowitz pursued his early mathematical training at Brooklyn College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937. He continued his academic engagement while beginning his professional career, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1940. Later, he enrolled in the doctoral program at New York University, completing his Ph.D. in 1948 under the supervision of Kurt Otto Friedrichs.
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Take the IQ test →Contributions at the National Bureau of Standards
Abramowitz joined the Math Tables Project at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in 1938, serving on the technical planning staff. By 1954, his responsibilities increased significantly when he was appointed Chief of the Computation Laboratory within the NBS Applied Mathematics Division. During this tenure, he collaborated extensively on numerical methods, most notably co-editing a volume of mathematical tables with Irene Stegun that became a staple of the field.
Research in Analysis and Wave Functions
His research interests included the behavior of specific integrals related to Maxwellian distributions, where he developed power series expressions and asymptotic approximations for large values of x. In 1954, working alongside H. A. Antosiewicz, he investigated Coulomb wave functions, expressing them through Airy functions to facilitate easier computation. Additionally, he developed algorithms for computing Bessel functions in collaboration with Philip Rabinowitz.
Fast facts
- Born: 1915, Brooklyn
- Died: 1958
- Education: Brooklyn College, New York University
- Professional Affiliation: National Bureau of Standards
- Key Role: Chief of the Computation Laboratory, 1954
- Membership: Washington Academy of Sciences
Questions readers ask
What is the Abramowitz and Stegun book?
It is a widely used reference work titled Handbook of Mathematical Functions, which provides comprehensive tables of mathematical values.
How did Milton Abramowitz die?
He died in 1958 at the age of 43 after suffering a heat-induced heart attack while mowing the lawn at his home.
