No label defined (Q4424461)

The article first provides a short survey of the problem of isometric embedding of a Riemannian manifold into Euclidean space, starting with the local problem discussed by \textit{Schläfli} in 1873. Main emphasis is given to the celebrated global isometric embedding theorem proved by \textit{John Nash} [Ann. Math. (2) 63, 20--63 (1956; Zbl 0070.38603)]. The proof by Nash is outlined. The hard analytic part of Nash's proof was taken up by others and fashioned into a more general theorem (or method) now known as the Nash-Moser implicit function theorem. This development is also discussed in some detail. The paper is well written and provides a good introduction to a difficult research area. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1013.00025].