Top 10 ``most important'' mathematics papers: 1981-1993

  • Jimbo M
    A q-difference analogue of U(g) and the Yang-baxter Equation, Lett Math P, V10, P63, 1985, 610 (6)
  • Witten E
    Quantum field theory and the Jones polynomial, Comm Math P, V121, P351, 1989, 498 (8)
  • Karmarkar N
    A new polynomial time algorithm for linear programming, Combinatorica, V4,P373, 1984, 368(3)
  • Glover K
    All optimal Hankel-Norm approximations of linear-multivariable systems and their L infinity-error bounds, Int J Contr, V39, P1115, 1984, 347 (25)
  • Takens F
    Detecting strange attractors in turbulance, Lect N Math, V898, P366, 1981, 251 (0)
  • Doyle JC, Glover K, Khargonekar PP, Francis B
    State-space solutions to standard H-2 and H-infinity control-problems, IEEE Auto C, V34, P831, 1989, 231 (4)
  • Relter R
    A logic for default reasoning, Artif Intel, V13, P81, 1980, 229 (3)
  • Daubechies I
    Orthonormal basis of compacity supported wavelets, Cdm pa Math, V41, P909, 1988, ISI publikatie, 'normal article', 215 (10)
  • Woronowicz SL
    Compact matrix pseudogroups, Comm Math P, V111, P613, 1987, 207 (4)
  • Freedman MH
    The topology of four dimensial manifolds, J Diff Geom, V17, P357, 1982, 202 (6)
  • Saad Y, Schultz MH
    GMRES: a generalized minimal residual algorithm for solving nonsymmetric linear-systems, Siam J. Sc C., V7, P856, 1986, 193 (11)

    Method of analysis

    A few years ago all the Flemish universities were ``bibliometrically'' analyzed. The mathematicians objected to the results: ``We are so different! Those exercises are useless for mathematics! etc. etc.'' So the universities of Antwerp and Leuven decided to do a bibliometric analysis especially for the mathematicians. The institute making these analyses is the CTWS (Centrum voor Wetenschaps- en Technologie Studies) from the Un. of Leiden. CTWS did surveys among mathematicians evaluating the quality both of individual papers and journals, ran statistical tests using control groups, and then used some fancy schemes to determine a normalized citation score and correlated it with the survey results. They put this all together and came up with a top 10 list of the "most important" papers in mathematics from 1981-1993. Like any good top 10 list it has 11 entries, and the list above is ordered by the number of citations in "top" journals, with self-citations in parentheses. (Among the books, Golub's was the overall winner.)