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Geometry and Theoretical Physics pp 285–297Cite as

Knots and Their Links with Biology and Physics

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Abstract

The discovery of a link between apparently unrelated fields is always a particular highlight in the development of natural sciences. An entire wave of such discoveries was triggered in 1984 and is still rolling. It all started with a bridge between knot theory and the theory of von Neumann algebras: the Jones polynomials. Within one year biologists recognized the usefulness of these polynomials for the classification of the enzymes transforming our DNA. At about the same time, mathematicians discovered a most remarkable connection between statistical mechanics and knot theory. Again, the mathematician and physicist Vaughan Jones played a central role. Finally, in 1988 Ed Witten successfully used techniques of quantum field theory and gauge theory to arrive at the Jones polynomial.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik der Universität, Philosophenweg 16, D(W)-6900, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Thomas Schücker

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  1. Thomas Schücker
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Hauptstraße 5, W-5340, Bad Honnef, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Joachim Debrus

  2. Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Physik III, Universität Dortmund, Postfach 500500, W-4600, Dortmund 1, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Allen C. Hirshfeld

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Schücker, T. (1991). Knots and Their Links with Biology and Physics. In: Debrus, J., Hirshfeld, A.C. (eds) Geometry and Theoretical Physics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76353-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76353-3_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76355-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76353-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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