Abel Prize for 2024 goes to Michel Talagrand

 

The 2024 Abel Prize has been awarded to Michel Talagrand of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France for his ground-breaking work in functional analysis and probability theory, which has excellent applications in statistics and mathematical physics.

Michel Talagrand is recognized for his contributions to stochastic processes and probability theory. Problems arising in the context of gambling or risk assessment served as the first impetus for the creation of probability theory. An overarching theme throughout Michel Talagrand's seminal discoveries is interacting with and comprehending the stochastic processes surrounding us. It is now evident that in the modern world, a deep comprehension of random events is crucial. For instance, our huge language models and weather forecasts are based on random methods.

Random events are constantly at work in the modern world and have far-reaching implications for everything from condensed matter physics to business logistics. Talagrand's work mostly focuses on comprehending and applying the "Gaussian distribution," which is often referred to as the "Normal distribution" or, because of its form, the "bell curve". The Gaussian distribution governs every aspect of our lives. Weight at birth, grades at school, and retirement ages of athletes are all seemingly random phenomena that nicely fit into the Gaussian distribution.

Specific areas of research

The prize has been awarded for the following three basic areas:

Suprema of stochastic processes: 

The greatest value that can be anticipated from a group of random values is known as the "supremum" of stochastic processes. A stochastic process generates a series of random values. Knowing the expected height of the biggest wave that will hit the beach the following year is helpful if the height of waves that smash onto a beach is determined by a stochastic process.

Concentration of measures: 

It may seem counterintuitive, but when a process relies on a variety of random sources, rather than becoming more complex, the various random components may be able to balance each other out and yield more predictable outcomes. For this, Talagrand has provided accurate quantitative estimations.

Spin glass: 

Leaving abstract probability theory behind, physicists were first surprised to learn that atoms may arrange themselves in a unique form of matter called a "spin glass". Talagrand finished the proof of Giorgio Parisi's work, which won him the Nobel Prize in 2021, by using his understanding of statistics and probability to establish bounds on the behavior of spin glass matter.

Talagrand is a strong problem solver in addition to being an outstanding mathematician. He has significantly advanced our knowledge of random processes, particularly Gaussian processes. His contributions have changed probability theory in several ways. Professor Helge Holden, chair of the Abel Prize Committee, adds, "His proof of the renowned Parisi formula for the free energy of spin glasses is an amazing accomplishment."

Life

Michel Talagrand was born in France in 1952 and graduated from the University of Paris VI with a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1977. He studied for a while at Ohio State University in the United States. He is married and has two sons. He is a member of the French Academy of Sciences and has won various honors and awards. One of the amazing things that he runs on his website is that he challenges mathematicians to solve riddles under the banner "Become rich with my prizes."

Prabir Rudra