Obituaries Australia

Derek Robinson, c.1990s

ANU Archives, ANUA 225-1062

Professor Derek Robinson was born in the UK in 1935. His academic ability was recognised early, and he was able to go to a grammar school and then on to Oxford. After completing his DPhil at Oxford in nuclear physics, Derek became more interested in the mathematical basis of quantum mechanics and quantum statistical mechanics, and consequently spent time in Zurich, Illinois, Paris, Marseilles and CERN before accepting a position at Marseilles, where he stayed for 10 years. In 1978, Derek moved with his family to Sydney to take up a professorship at UNSW. In 1982 he moved to the Institute of Advanced Studies at the ANU, where (following his retirement in 2000) he continued to be active in research into 2021.

Derek was an incredibly productive mathematician throughout his life. Among his greatest achievements are the legendary two-volume work Operator Algebras and Quantum Statistical Mechanics (with Ole Bratteli). These volumes did not just summarise a research field, they hugely developed it and guided research in the field for decades afterward. Another signal achievement was his work with Elliot Lieb on the problem of demonstrating wave-like behaviour of quantum spin systems with finite range interactions. A bound on the speed of propagation is now known as a Lieb-Robinson bound. Published in 1972, this has become a hot topic in recent years, with a great burst of activity. Derek also made important contributions to analysis on Lie groups and harmonic analysis in general.

Derek was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 1980 for his pioneering work in mathematical physics. He was also a Fellow and Honorary Member of the Australian Mathematical Society and served as its President from 1994–96. He received the Academy’s Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal in 1981 and the Centenary Medal in 2001. Derek gave his time generously to the Academy. He served on the Sectional Committee for Mathematics as a member (1981–83) and then as Chair (1984–85). He also served on Council (1989–92) and on the National Committee for Mathematics (1999–2002) including as Chair (1997–2000).

Derek’s colleagues and friends at the Mathematical Sciences Institute, ANU recall Derek’s stellar academic contributions, his warmth, good humour, extraordinary cycling exploits and his mentoring of younger mathematicians.

* Australian Academy of Science. An earlier version of this obituary appeared as on the ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute website: maths.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/vale-emeritus-professor-derek-robinson-1935-2021.