Max Dehn and the Origins of Topology and Infinite Group Theory

Abstract

This article provides a brief history of the life, work, and legacy of Max Dehn. The emphasis is put on Dehn's papers from 1910 and 1911. Some of the main ideas from these papers are investigated, including Dehn surgery, the word problem, the conjugacy problem, the Dehn algorithm, and Dehn diagrams. A few examples are included to illustrate the impact that Dehn's work has had on subsequent research in logic, topology, and geometric group theory.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Peifer

DAVID PEIFER received his Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research work is in geometric group theory. For the past fourteen years, he has been the Chair of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, a public liberal arts college. He is currently a Board Member of the Black Mountain College Museum and Art Center, a museum dedicated to preserving and continuing the legacy of Black Mountain College. When not doing mathematics or his administrative duties, he also enjoys mountain biking and playing the guitar.