Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹³

Lazar Lyusternik

Soviet mathematician (1899–1981)

Lazar Aronovich Lyusternik (also Lusternik, Lusternick, Ljusternik; Russian: Лазарь Аронович Люстерник; 31 December 1899 – 22 July 1981) was a Soviet mathematician. He is famous for his work in topology and differential geometry, to which he applied the variational principle.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Lazar Lyusternik (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Dec 31, 1899, died Jul 22, 1981.¹

About

Using the theory he introduced, together with Lev Schnirelmann, he proved the theorem of the three geodesics, a conjecture by Henri Poincaré that every convex body in 3-dimensions has at least three simple closed geodesics. The ellipsoid with distinct but nearly equal axis is the critical case with exactly three closed geodesics.

The Lusternik–Schnirelmann theory, as it is called now, is based on the previous work by Poincaré, David Birkhoff, and Marston Morse. It has led to numerous advances in differential geometry and topology. For this work Lyusternik received the Stalin Prize in 1946. In addition to serving as a professor of mathematics at Moscow State University, Lyusternik also worked at the Steklov Mathematical Institute (RAS) from 1934 to 1948 and the Lebedev Institute of Precise Mechanics and Computer Engineering (IPMCE) from 1948 to 1955.

He was a student of Nikolai Luzin. In 1930 he became one of the initiators of the Egorov affair and then one of the participants in the notorious political persecution of his teacher Nikolai Luzin known as the Luzin affair.

From Wikipedia’s article on Lazar Lyusternik, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

Steklov Institute of MathematicsDeputy managing director¹²

Early life and education

1920 to 1926Lomonosov Moscow State University^{3 4}
1922Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Moscow Imperial University³

Career

Occupation: topologist, university teacher, mathematician.⁶

1930 to 1970Worked at Lomonosov Moscow State University^{4 5}
1928 to 1930Worked at N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod^{4 5}
1927 to 1928Worked at Lomonosov Moscow State University^{4 5}
Date not recordedDeputy managing director, Steklov Institute of Mathematics⁵
Date not recordedWorked at Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces⁵

Known for: Lusternik–Schnirelmann theorem, Lusternik–Schnirelmann category, Lyusternik–Fet theorem.⁷

Personal life

BornDec 31, 1899, Zduńska Wola⁸
DiedJul 22, 1981, Moscow⁹
CitizenshipSoviet Union, Russian Empire¹⁰

Awards

1946Stalin Prize, 2nd degree¹¹
Date not recordedMedal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"¹¹
Date not recordedOrder of Lenin¹¹
Date not recordedOrder of the Badge of Honour¹¹
Date not recordedOrder of the Red Banner of Labour¹¹

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

1
WikidataLazar Lyusternik on Wikidata
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WikipediaLazar Lyusternik on Wikipedia
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WikidataLazar Lyusternik: education, on Wikidata
4
Wikidataeducation, as reported
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WikidataLazar Lyusternik: Deputy managing director, Steklov Institute of Mathematics, on Wikidata
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WikidataLazar Lyusternik: occupation, on Wikidata
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WikidataLazar Lyusternik: notable work, on Wikidata
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WikidataLazar Lyusternik: place of birth, on Wikidata
9
WikidataLazar Lyusternik: place of death, on Wikidata
10
WikidataLazar Lyusternik: citizenship, on Wikidata
11
WikidataLazar Lyusternik: award, on Wikidata
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WikidataSteklov Institute of Mathematics, Deputy managing director
13
Wikimedia CommonsLazar Lyusternik photo by Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain