Laurent Schwartz

Laurent Schwartz was a renowned French mathematician best known for developing the theory of distributions, also called generalized functions. This mathematical framework extends the concept of functions to include objects like the Dirac delta, allowing mathematicians to handle derivatives of functions that are not traditionally differentiable. His work has been fundamental in fields like differential equations and mathematical physics, enabling more robust models of phenomena such as signals and quantum mechanics. Schwartz’s contributions greatly advanced modern analysis, earning him the Fields Medal in 1950.