# Mitchell Feigenbaum

> American mathematical physicist (1944–2019)

**Wikidata**: [Q354659](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354659)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Feigenbaum)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mitchell-feigenbaum

## Summary

Mitchell Feigenbaum was born on December 19, 1944, in Philadelphia[1] and died on June 30, 2019, in New York City[2][3] from a myocardial infarction[4]. A United States citizen, he worked as a mathematician, physicist, and university teacher. His research focused on mathematical physics and chaos theory.Throughout his career, Feigenbaum held positions at Cornell University from 1970 to 1972[5][6], Virginia Tech from 1972 to 1974[5][6], Los Alamos National Laboratory[5][6], and The Rockefeller University from 1987 until his death in 2019[5][6]. He received numerous honors including the MacArthur Fellows Program, Wolf Prize in Physics, Dickson Prize in Science, Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award, and Clarivate Citation Laureates[7][8][9][10]. He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[11].

## Summary
Mitchell Feigenbaum was an American mathematical physicist (1944–2019) best known for his discovery of the Feigenbaum constants, mathematical constants that describe universal behavior in nonlinear dynamical systems. His work laid foundational principles in chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics.

## Biography
- Born: 1944
- Nationality: American
- Known for: Discovering the Feigenbaum constants in nonlinear dynamics
- Field(s): Mathematical physics, chaos theory

## Contributions
- **Feigenbaum Constants (1978–1979)**: Discovered mathematical constants that describe universal scaling behavior in nonlinear dynamical systems, particularly in the onset of chaos. These constants are now fundamental in the study of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics.

## FAQs
- **What was Mitchell Feigenbaum known for?** Feigenbaum is known for discovering the Feigenbaum constants, which describe universal scaling behavior in nonlinear dynamical systems, particularly in the onset of chaos.
- **What field did Mitchell Feigenbaum work in?** He worked in mathematical physics and chaos theory, contributing foundational principles to nonlinear dynamics.
- **When did Mitchell Feigenbaum pass away?** He passed away in 2019.

## Why They Matter
Mitchell Feigenbaum's discovery of the Feigenbaum constants revolutionized the understanding of nonlinear dynamical systems and chaos theory. His work provided a universal framework for analyzing the transition from order to chaos, influencing research in physics, mathematics, and engineering. The Feigenbaum constants remain a cornerstone of modern nonlinear dynamics, shaping theoretical and applied research in the field.

## Notable For
- Discovery of the Feigenbaum constants, which describe universal scaling behavior in chaotic systems.
- Pioneering work in nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Mitchell Feigenbaum was born in 1944. He pursued advanced studies in mathematical physics, contributing to the emerging field of chaos theory.

### Career and Research
Feigenbaum's most significant contribution was the discovery of the Feigenbaum constants in the late 1970s. These constants describe the universal scaling behavior observed in nonlinear dynamical systems as they approach chaotic behavior. His work provided a mathematical framework for understanding the transition from order to chaos, influencing research in physics, mathematics, and engineering.

### Legacy
The Feigenbaum constants remain a fundamental concept in chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics. Feigenbaum's research laid the groundwork for further exploration of complex systems, shaping modern theoretical and applied work in the field. His passing in 2019 marked the end of an era for those studying nonlinear phenomena.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/science/mitchell-feigenbaum-dead.html)
2. [Source](http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Feigenbaum.html)
3. [2019](https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/26289-mitchell-feigenbaum-physicist-pioneered-chaos-theory-died/)
4. [Source](https://wolffund.org.il/mitchell-j-feigenbaum/)
5. [Source](http://www.aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/heineman.cfm)
6. [Source](https://science.osti.gov/lawrence/Award-Laureates)
7. [Source](https://clarivate.com/citation-laureates)
8. Mathematics Genealogy Project
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. [Source](http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/55843.html)
11. Mitchell Feigenbaum, Physicist, Dies at 74; He Made Sense of Chaos. The New York Times. 2019
12. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
13. [Mitchell Feigenbaum, physicist who pioneered chaos theory, has died](https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/26289-mitchell-feigenbaum-physicist-pioneered-chaos-theory-died/)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013