Karl H. Hofmann
Karl Heinrich Hofmann | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 3, 1932 |
| Academic background | |
| Education | University of Tübingen (Ph.D) |
| Doctoral advisor | Hellmuth Kneser |
| Academic work | |
| Notable students | Karl-Hermann Neeb |
Karl Heinrich Hofmann (born 3 October 1932[1]), known professionally as Karl H. Hofmann is a German mathematician and illustrator who is professor emeritus at the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt). His research is primarily focused on topological algebra and functional analysis.
Education
Hofmann began his first mathematics degree at the University of Hamburg but transferred to the University of Tübingen and completed it there. He remained in Tübingen for his master's degree and Ph.D. which was completed in 1958 under supervisor Hellmuth Kneser.[2]
Career
Most of Hofmann's work is in lie theory and topological analysis. His book with Sidney Morris, The Structure of Compact Groups, has been printed in four editions and is a standard reference for the subject.[3][4]
The University of Tübingen hired Hofmann as an assistant professor following the completion of his Ph.D. in 1958. He remained at Tübingen until 1963 where he became an associate professor at Tulane University. He became a full professor two years later an in 1979 the university appointed him as W. R. Irby Professor of Mathematics.[1] Hofmann supervised 37 doctoral students throughout his fifty-year career.[2] In 2013, Hofmann was inducted as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.[5]
Alongside his academic career, Hofmann worked as an illustrator. He illustrated multiple books, including Proofs from THE BOOK, a Leroy P. Steele Prize winner.[6] He has also created posters for TU Darmstadt's colloquiums since 1983.[7][8]
Selected publications
- Hofmann, Karl H. (2020). The Structure of Compact Groups: A Primer for the Student - a Handbook for the Expert (4th ed.). Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. doi:10.1515/9783110695991. ISBN 9783110695991.
- Gierz, Gerhard; Hofmann, Karl Heinrich; Keimel, Klaus; Lawson, Jimmie D.; Mislove, Michael W.; Scott, Dana S. (1980). A Compendium of Continuous Lattices. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-67678-9. ISBN 978-3-642-67680-2.
- Aigner, Martin; Ziegler, Günter M. (2018). Proofs from THE BOOK (6 ed.). Springer. pp. i–viii. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-57265-8. ISBN 978-3-662-57265-8. Illustrated by Karl H. Hofmann.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
References
- ^ a b c "Curriculum vitae" (PDF). tu-darmstadt.de. TU Darmstadt. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b Karl H. Hofmann at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
- ^ Berg, Michael (22 September 2008). "The Structure of Compact Groups | Mathematical Association of America". MAA Reviews. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Netuka, Ivan; Souèek, Vladimír (June 1999). "Recent books". European Mathematical Society Newsletter. 32: 33.
- ^ "2013 Class of Fellows of the AMS". ams.org. American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ Aigner, Martin; Ziegler, Günter M. (2018). Proofs from THE BOOK (6 ed.). Springer. pp. i–viii. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-57265-8. ISBN 978-3-662-57265-8. Illustrated by Karl H. Hofmann.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "Karl Heinrich Hofmann". TU Darmstadt. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Kolloquiumsposter". Mathematik – TU Darmstadt (in German). Retrieved 26 September 2025.