Vladimir Igorevich Arnold (Влади́мир И́горевич Арно́льд, born June 12, 1937 in Odessa, USSR) is one of the world's most prolific mathematicians. While he is best known for the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser theorem regarding the stability of integrable Hamiltonian systems, he has made important contributions in a number of areas including dynamical systems theory, catastrophe theory, topology, algebraic geometry, classical mechanics and singularity theory in a career spanning over 45 years.

Arnold is well known for his lucid writing style, combining mathematical rigour with physical intuition, and an easy conversational style of teaching. His writings present a fresh, often geometric approach to traditional mathematical topics like ordinary differential equations, and his many textbooks have proved influential in the development of new areas of mathematics.

Vladimir Arnold has been the recipient of many awards, such as the Lenin award (1965, with Andrei Kolmogorov), the Crafoord Prize (1982, with Louis Nirenberg ), the Harvey prize (1994), and the prestigious Wolf Prize (2001).

Arnold presently works at the Steklov Mathematical Institute in Moscow and at the University of Paris IX.

Selected bibliography

• V. I. Arnold, Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics, Springer-Verlag (1989), [ISBN 0387968903]
• V. I. Arnold, Geometrical Methods In The Theory Of Ordinary Differential Equations, Springer-Verlag (1988), [ISBN 0387966498]
• V. I. Arnold, Ordinary Differential Equations, The MIT Press (1978), [ISBN 0262510189]
• V. I. Arnold, A. Avez, Ergodic Problems of Classical Mechanics, Addison-Wesley (1989), [ISBN 0201094061]

External links

• V I Arnold's webpage
• On Teaching Mathematics, text of a talk espousing Arnold's opinions on mathematical instruction