Annals of Mathematics Studies No. 51: Morse Theory.

MILNOR, John.

$2,500.00

Item Number: 114620

Princeton, New Jersey: Annals of Mathematics Studies Princeton University Press, 1963.

Rare first edition of this compilation of lectures presented by John Milnor on the study of Morse Theory. Octavo, original wrappers. Signed by John Milnor on the title page. In near fine condition. Milnor’s signature is uncommon.

Known for his work in differential topology, K-theory and dynamical systems, American mathematician John Milnor was awarded the Fields Medal in 1962 and the Abel Prize in 2011 for his "pioneering discoveries in topology, geometry and algebra." Milnor worked primarily on the topology of isolated singular points of complex hypersurfaces in general and developed the theory of the Milnor fibration whose fiber has the homotopy type of a bouquet of μ spheres where μ is known as the Milnor number. He has published numerous volumes in the field which have inspired the growth of a huge and rich research area that continues to mature to this day. Based on the lecture notes of his students M. Spivak and R. Wells, the present volume contains a collection of Milnor's presentations on the work of Marston Morse who spent most of his career on a single subject, now known as Morse theory, a branch of differential topology.