Vaughan Jones Explained

Sir Vaughan Jones
Birth Name:Vaughan Frederick Randal Jones
Birth Date:1952 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Gisborne, New Zealand
Fields:Von Neumann algebras, knot polynomials, conformal field theory
Workplaces:University of California, Berkeley
Vanderbilt University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Pennsylvania
Alma Mater:University of Geneva
University of Auckland
Doctoral Advisor:André Haefliger
Known For:Jones polynomial
Aharonov–Jones–Landau algorithm
Awards:Fields Medal (1990)
Spouse:Martha Myers

Sir Vaughan Frederick Randal Jones (31 December 19526 September 2020) was a New Zealand mathematician known for his work on von Neumann algebras and knot polynomials. He was awarded a Fields Medal in 1990.

Early life

Jones was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, on 31 December 1952.[1] He was brought up in Cambridge, New Zealand, where he attended St Peter's School. He subsequently transferred to Auckland Grammar School after winning the Gillies Scholarship,[2] and graduated in 1969 from Auckland Grammar.[3] He went on to complete his undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland, obtaining a BSc in 1972 and an MSc in 1973. For his graduate studies, he went to Switzerland, where he completed his PhD at the University of Geneva in 1979. His thesis, titled Actions of finite groups on the hyperfinite II1 factor, was written under the supervision of André Haefliger, and won him the Vacheron Constantin Prize.[2]

Career

Jones moved to the United States in 1980. There, he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (1980–1981), and the University of Pennsylvania (1981–1985), before being appointed as professor of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley.[4] [5] His work on knot polynomials, with the discovery of what is now called the Jones polynomial, was from an unexpected direction with origins in the theory of von Neumann algebras,[2] an area of analysis already much developed by Alain Connes. It led to the solution of a number of classical problems of knot theory, to increased interest in low-dimensional topology,[6] and the development of quantum topology.

Jones taught at Vanderbilt University as Stevenson Distinguished Professor of mathematics from 2011 until his death.[7] He remained Professor Emeritus at University of California, Berkeley, where he had been on the faculty from 1985 to 2011[8] and was a Distinguished Alumni Professor at the University of Auckland.[9]

Jones was made an honorary vice-president for life of the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1992.[3] The Jones Medal, created by the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2010, is named after him.[10]

Personal life

Jones met his wife, Martha Myers, during a ski camp for foreign students while they were studying in Switzerland.[11] She was there as a Fulbright scholar,[11] and subsequently became an associate professor of medicine, health and society.[3] Together, they have three children.[2] [3]

Jones died on 6 September 2020 at age 67 from health complications resulting from a severe ear infection.[12] [2]

Jones was a certified barista.

Honours and awards

Publications

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia Britannica. Vaughan Jones (New Zealand mathematician). 27 December 2019. 8 September 2020. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc..
  2. News: Celebrated NZ mathematician Sir Vaughan Jones dies. 9 September 2020. 9 September 2020. The New Zealand Herald.
  3. Web site: Obituary: Sir Vaughan Jones. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. Auckland Grammar School. 9 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909052219/https://www.ags.school.nz/at-grammar/news-and-messages/show/38354. dead.
  4. Book: Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 . 29 July 2015 . Lambert . Max . 1991 . 12th . Octopus . Auckland . 331. 9780790001302.
  5. Web site: Vaughan Jones - University of St. Andrews. 9 September 2020.
  6. News: Fields Medalist Vaughan Jones Joins the Department. 25 October 2011. 8 September 2020. Department of Mathematics. Vanderbilt University. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909030633/https://as.vanderbilt.edu/math/2011/10/fields-medalist-vaughan-jones-joins-the-department/. 9 September 2020.
  7. http://as.vanderbilt.edu/math/bio/vaughan-jones Personal web page at Vanderbilt University
  8. https://math.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/vaughan-f-r-jones Personal web page at Berkeley
  9. Web site: Personal web page at Auckland . 12 December 2015 . 22 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104615/https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/v-jones . dead .
  10. News: About the Jones Medal. 8 September 2020. Royal Society Te Apārangi. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909032945/https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/medals-and-awards/jones-medal/about-the-medal-3/. 9 September 2020.
  11. News: Vaughan Jones – Fields medalist brings informal style to Vanderbilt. David. Salisbury. 3 October 2011. 8 September 2020. Vanderbilt University. https://web.archive.org/web/20200714101000/https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2011/10/03/new-faculty-vaughan-jones/. 14 July 2020.
  12. https://as.vanderbilt.edu/math/2020/09/department-of-mathematics-mourns-the-passing-of-stevenson-chair-and-distinguished-professor-vaughan-jones/ Release of Vanderbilt University
  13. Web site: Fellows . Royal Society. 5 November 2010.
  14. Evans . David E. . 2022 . Sir Vaughan Jones. 31 December 1952—6 September 2020 . Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society . 73. 333–356 . 10.1098/rsbm.2021.0051 . 249648564 . free .
  15. Book: The New Zealand Official Year-book. 95. Department of Statistics. Government Printer (New Zealand). 1992.
  16. Web site: J-L . 2024-03-25 . Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  17. News: Faculty Awards. 8 September 2020. Department of Mathematics. Vanderbilt University.
  18. News: Celebrating Science – Miller Reminiscences. 8 September 2020. Miller Institute. University of California, Berkeley.
  19. Web site: Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002 . 3 June 2002 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 25 June 2020.
  20. Web site: Special honours list 1 August 2009 . 5 April 2011 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 25 June 2020.
  21. http://www.ams.org/profession/fellows-list List of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society
  22. Birman. Joan S.. Joan Birman. Review: Coxeter graphs and towers of algebras, by F. M. Goodman, P. de la Harpe, and V. F. R. Jones. Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society. (N.S.). 1991. 25. 1. 195–199. 10.1090/s0273-0979-1991-16063-5. free.
  23. Kauffman. Louis H.. Louis Kauffman. Review: Subfactors and knots, by V. F. R. Jones. Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society. (N.S.). 1994. 31. 1. 147–154. 10.1090/s0273-0979-1994-00509-9. free.

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