Comment Re:How unexpected is it really? (Score 2, Informative) 316
"I saw seminars on Gutzwiller's work connecting the quantum mechanics of chaotic systems with the Riemann zeta function years ago."
Actually I thought that was THE link between quantum mechanics and Rimann's zeta function.
The folklore I've heard is that Dyson was introduced to Montgomery and asked him what he was doing.
Montgomery then starting explaining his work on the zeta function mentioning some particular equation he had come across at which point Dyson recognized it as an entity appearing in the theory of chaotic qm systems.
anyway, I guess that is also basically what it says in the article only using slightly different words.
In case anyone is VERY interested in this, Snaith's thesis is online at : http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/~mwatkins/zeta/snaith-th esis.ps.
I also think Baez once mentioned it in his column although I can't find the issue.
PS: I found this account of the tale : http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/~mwatkins/zeta/dyson.htm .
Actually I thought that was THE link between quantum mechanics and Rimann's zeta function.
The folklore I've heard is that Dyson was introduced to Montgomery and asked him what he was doing.
Montgomery then starting explaining his work on the zeta function mentioning some particular equation he had come across at which point Dyson recognized it as an entity appearing in the theory of chaotic qm systems.
anyway, I guess that is also basically what it says in the article only using slightly different words.
In case anyone is VERY interested in this, Snaith's thesis is online at : http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/~mwatkins/zeta/snaith-t
I also think Baez once mentioned it in his column although I can't find the issue.
PS: I found this account of the tale : http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/~mwatkins/zeta/dyson.ht
