Ramanujan and Harish-Chandra (Q2365833)

In 1916, Ramanujan began to study the discriminant function \[ \Delta(z)=e^{2\pi iz}\prod^ \infty_{n=1}(1-e^{2\pi inz})^{24}=\sum^ \infty_{n=1}\tau(n)e^{2\pi inz}. \] The author discusses the development and significance of the analytic and arithmetic properties of \(\Delta\), \(\tau\) and the associated Dirichlet series, and proceeds to treat Harish-Chandra's research on representations of semisimple Lie groups. The paper concludes with a comparison of the mathematical qualities of Ramanujan and Harish-Chandra, each exhibiting great individuality and intellectual power.