so as we all know, there is a graph matrix called the Laplacian that is used in some eigenvalue/eigenvector/graph theory/spectral theory problems.
i'm wondering if the name of this matrix is referring to THE Pierre-Simon Laplace? If so, is there evidence he knew of matrices, let alone graph matrices? further, what was his application of these matrices to the real-world? i imagine it was akin to cauchy and his stress tensor?
any help would be great