Felix Pollaczek
Encyclopedia
Félix Pollaczek was an Austria
n-French
engineer and mathematician, known for numerous contributions to number theory
, mathematical analysis
, mathematical physics
and probability theory
. He is best known for the Pollaczek–Khinchine formula in queueing theory
(1930), and the Pollaczek polynomials.
Pollaczek studied at the Technical University of Vienna, got a M.Sc. in electrical engineering
from Technical University of Brno (1920), and his Ph.D.
in mathematics from University of Berlin (1922) on a dissertation entitled Über die Kreiskörper der l-ten und l2-ten Einheitswurzeln, advised by Issai Schur
and based on results published first in 1917.
He was employed by AEG
in Berlin
(1921–23), worked for Deutsche Bundespost
(1923–33), moved to Paris
where
he was consulting teletraffic engineer to various institutions (1933–).
In 1977 was awarded the John von Neumann Theory Prize
, although his age prevented him from receiving the prize in person.
He married mathematician Hilda Geiringer
in 1921, and they had a child, Magda, in 1922. However, their marriage did not last, and Magda was brought up by Hilda.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n-French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engineer and mathematician, known for numerous contributions to number theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
, mathematical analysis
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical analysis, which mathematicians refer to simply as analysis, has its beginnings in the rigorous formulation of infinitesimal calculus. It is a branch of pure mathematics that includes the theories of differentiation, integration and measure, limits, infinite series, and analytic functions...
, mathematical physics
Mathematical physics
Mathematical physics refers to development of mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The Journal of Mathematical Physics defines this area as: "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and...
and probability theory
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
. He is best known for the Pollaczek–Khinchine formula in queueing theory
Queueing theory
Queueing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines, or queues. The theory enables mathematical analysis of several related processes, including arriving at the queue, waiting in the queue , and being served at the front of the queue...
(1930), and the Pollaczek polynomials.
Pollaczek studied at the Technical University of Vienna, got a M.Sc. in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Technical University of Brno (1920), and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in mathematics from University of Berlin (1922) on a dissertation entitled Über die Kreiskörper der l-ten und l2-ten Einheitswurzeln, advised by Issai Schur
Issai Schur
Issai Schur was a mathematician who worked in Germany for most of his life. He studied at Berlin...
and based on results published first in 1917.
He was employed by AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(1921–23), worked for Deutsche Bundespost
Deutsche Bundespost
The Deutsche Bundespost was created in 1947 as a successor to the Reichspost . Between 1947 and 1950 the enterprise was called Deutsche Post...
(1923–33), moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where
he was consulting teletraffic engineer to various institutions (1933–).
In 1977 was awarded the John von Neumann Theory Prize
John von Neumann Theory Prize
The John von Neumann Theory Prize of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciencesis awarded annually to an individual who has made fundamental and sustained contributions to theory in operations research and the management sciences.The Prize named after mathematician John von...
, although his age prevented him from receiving the prize in person.
He married mathematician Hilda Geiringer
Hilda Geiringer
Hilda Geiringer , also known as Hilda von Mises, was an Austrian mathematics professor.- Life :She was born in 1893 in Vienna, Austria into a Jewish family. Her father, Ludwig Geiringer, was born in Hungary and her mother, Martha Wertheimer was from Vienna...
in 1921, and they had a child, Magda, in 1922. However, their marriage did not last, and Magda was brought up by Hilda.