From Linear Functional Analysis to Nonlinear Functional Analysis‎: ‎An Interview with Professor Jafar Zafarani

Functional analysis was an  important development in the viewpoint of mathematicians in examining the behavior of functions as a set (space of functions). The important concept of single space and the distance of its points, invented by ‎Fréchet‎ in the early 20th century, and the fusion of algebraic and topological concepts eventually led to the establishment of this branch of mathematics around 1933. The first Iranian mathematician to make a mark in this field was Heydar Radjavi, who contributed to the field in Iran from 1963 to 1968. Another branch of this field is called nonlinear functional analysis, and Behzad Djafari-Rouhani was the first specialist in this branch who worked in the country from 19‎87‎ onwards. Another key figure in the development and expansion of this branch in the country is Jafar Zafarani. This article, after outlining the history of functional analysis, will provide a brief overview of his contributions to this field. Through a conversation with him, we will delve into his experiences and insights from various aspects of his professional life.