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Von Neumann, John: 1903-1957
by Quaphys.info
John von Neumann was born in Budapest, Hungary on December 28, 1903. His contributions were in the areas of quantum mechanics in physics, economics, logic, game theory, in addition to the theory used for developing high-speed computers.
Von Neumann's mathematical talent was recognized early in school, resulting in his being taught by a private tutor. In 1926 he received his Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Budapest, where he had distinguished himself by publishing a series of papers on quantum mechanics, logic, set theory, and game theory. In 1930 he was a visiting lecturer to Princeton University, and, in 1933, became one of the initial professors at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study.
While at Princeton he developed the Von Neumann algebras that were a new set of principles for mechanics in explaining subatomic particle behaviors. He theorized that axioms in regard to quantum theories would comply when space was expanded from three dimensions to an infinity of dimensions. In 1955, he proved the equality of the two leading models of quantum theory, which are matrix mechanics and wave mechanics.
Von Neumann was a member of the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1943 where he helped develop the atomic bomb. His previous work was used to work with detonation waves for the investigation of implosions. He also used the Harvard Computational Lab's Mark 1 to solve difficult equations. The Lab was considered the fist programmable computer in the United States. The much faster ENIAC electronic computer being developed at the University of Pennsylvania was his next interest.
Von Neumann had many papers published on game theory beginning in 1926. He invented mathematical strategies for winning and analyzing the social dynamics in a competitive situation. In 1937, his "Model of General Economic Equilibrium," was the foundation of modern economic theory to which game theory is applied. Working with Oskar Morganstern, von Neumann helped with the publishing of Theory of Games and Economic Behavior in 1944.
Von Neumann was the hooked on computers and when ENIAC began planning the next computer he joined the team as the leader. The team planned the structure of the computer, while others worked on the technical problems. In 1945 he wrote First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC that proposed faster and more reliable computer designs.
von Neumann was involved in developing thermonuclear, or hydrogen, weapons and the ability to use long-range delivery. He believed in stockpiling weapons as a defensive measure and was opposed to disarmament. In 1955 von Neumann was appointed Atomic Energy Commissioner, but died two years later from bone cancer in Washington, D.C.
Sources:
1. Goldstine, Herman. The Computer from Pascal to von Neumann. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 1972
2. Aspray, William. John von Neumann and the Origins of Modern Computing. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 1990.
Further Study:
John von Neumann Biography
John von Neumann, one of this century’s preeminent scientists, along with being a great mathematician and physicist.
John von Neumann
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