Work
Borcherds is best known for his work connecting the theory of finite groups with other areas in mathematics. In particular he invented the notion of vertex algebras, which Igor Frenkel, James Lepowsky and Arne Meurman used to construct an infinite-dimensional graded algebra acted on by the monster group. Borcherds then used this, and methods from string theory, to prove the monstrous moonshine conjecture by Conway and Norton, relating the monster group to the coefficients of the q-expansion of the j-invariant. The result was not only a great increase in understanding of the monster group, a very large finite simple group whose structure was previously not well understood, but tied the monster to various aspects of mathematics and mathematical physics. In recent years, Borcherds has been attempting to construct quantum field theory in a mathematically rigorous manner.
Read more about this topic: Richard Borcherds
Famous quotes containing the word work:
“Human life itself may be almost pure chaos, but the work of the artistthe only thing hes good foris to take these handfuls of confusion and disparate things, things that seem to be irreconcilable, and put them together in a frame to give them some kind of shape and meaning. Even if its only his view of a meaning. Thats what hes forto give his view of life.”
—Katherine Anne Porter (18901980)
“The last thing one discovers in composing a work is what to put first.”
—Blaise Pascal (16231662)
“Lets holler and ask him if he wont prescribe
For all humanity a complete rest
From all this wagery. But whats the use
Of asking any sympathy of him?
That class of people dont know what work is....”
—Robert Frost (18741963)