Rokhlin's School in ergodic theory

Abstract

Ergodic theory is one of several fields of mathematics where the name Vladimir Abramovich Rokhlin (spelled also ‘Rochlin’ and ‘Rohlin’) is well known to the specialists. That name is attached to some very often used theorems, but the goal of this paper is not just to remind the reader of these theorems. I put them in the context of the general development of ergodic theory during the thirty years 1940–70. Most of all, I want to emphasize that Rokhlin was not only a researcher producing powerful results but also a founder of schools at the two best Universities in the USSR. For at least 10 years (1958–68) these schools dominated ergodic theory. This paper is not biographical. Rokhlin's life certainly deserves a better biographer. However, I mention certain circumstances of a non-mathematical nature where it seems to be appropriate.