Richard Beals (mathematician)

Richard Beals (born August 17, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts; died December 25, 2023, in New Haven, Connecticut) was an American mathematician known for his work in functional analysis, particularly spectral theory, scattering theory, and singular integral operators.

Beals received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1960, under the supervision of Shizuo Kakutani. He spent the majority of his academic career at Yale University, where he was a professor of mathematics. He also held visiting positions at various institutions, including the University of Chicago and the University of Paris.

Beals made significant contributions to the study of the spectral theory of differential operators, developing methods for analyzing the asymptotic behavior of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. His work on scattering theory provided insights into the long-time behavior of solutions to partial differential equations. He also worked extensively on singular integral operators, contributing to the development of the theory and its applications.

Beals was the author of several books and research articles. His works are highly regarded for their clarity and depth. He was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Helsinki in 1978.

Beals collaborated with several prominent mathematicians throughout his career, including Ronald Coifman and Roderick MacLeod. He mentored numerous graduate students, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in mathematics. He was known as a dedicated teacher and a generous colleague.