The Noether theorems. Invariance and conservation laws in the twentieth century. Transl. from the French by Bertram E. Schwarzbach (Q953206)

This is in its first part a careful English edition of \textit{E. Noether}'s article [Gött. Nachr. 1918, 235--257 (1918; JFM 46.0770.01)] on `Invariante Variationsprobleme' (invariant variational problems). This paper is known to have had various applications in the mathematical theory of relativity, in quantum mechanics, but also in pure mathematical domains such as Lie theory, differential geometry, and the calculus of variations. The main part (from page 25 on) of Kosmann-Schwarzbach's book, which is the improved English version of the second French edition of 2006 [Histoire des Mathématiques (Palaiseau). Palaiseau: Les Éditions de l'École Polytechnique (2006; Zbl 1128.01024)], is devoted to a subtle analysis of the multifaceted reasons why Noether's work was received rather selectively and slowly through the course of the 20th century. Among the reasons figure changing needs from the physical disciplines, changing fashions in mathematics, the neglect on the part of many readers of the second fundamental theorem in Noether's publication, Noether's own foremost occupation with abstract algebra in the following years, Noether's lack of academic clout, male disregard for her work, downplaying of her contribution even by colleagues such as D. Hilbert, not least language problems, and the increasing dominance of English literature. As a noted differential geometer and as a woman, the author, Yvette Kosmann-Schwarzbach, who has been working on Emmy Noether's contributions for decades, is ideally suited to give a very nuanced analysis. This book, which is both scientifically and historically most competent, traces `genuine generalizations' of Noether's work in recent decades. This is a major event in the historiography of mathematics and physics of the 20th century.