|
Mikio Sato (born 1928) is a Japanese mathematician, working in what he
calls algebraic analysis. He studied at Tokyo University, and then did
graduate study in physics, as a student of Shin'ichiro Tomonaga. From 1970
Sato has been professor at the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences,
of Kyoto University.
He is known for his innovative work in a number of fields, such as
prehomogeneous vector spaces and Bernstein-Sato polynomials; and
particularly for his hyperfunction theory. This initially appeared as an
extension of the ideas of distribution theory; it was soon connected to the
local cohomology theory of Grothendieck, for which it was an independent
origin, and to expression in terms of sheaf theory. It led further to the
theory of microfunctions, interest in microlocal aspects of linear PDE and
Fourier theory such as wave fronts, and ultimately to the current
developments in D-module theory. Part of that is the modern theory of
holonomic systems: PDEs over-determined to the point of having
finite-dimensional spaces of solutions.
He also contributed basic work to non-linear soliton theory, with the use
of Grassmannians of infinite dimension. In number theory he is known for the
Sato-Tate conjecture on L-functions.
He received the Schock Prize in 1997, and the Wolf Prize in 2003.
|
