The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 4: The Swiss Years: Writings, 1912-1914

by Albert Einstein, Martin J. Klein, A. J. Kox, Jürgen Renn, Robert Schulmann

Overview

This volume presents Einstein's writings from the final period of his work in Switzerland. Most of the material in Volume 4 documents Einstein's search for a relativistic theory of gravitation, a search that ended in Berlin in the fall of 1915 with the completion of the general theory of relativity.


Three scientific manuscripts, printed here for the first time, provide insights into Einstein's efforts to generalize his original relativity theory into a theory of gravitation. The first is a review article on the special theory of relativity. The second consists of notes that document Einstein's research on gravitation. The third manuscript contains calculations on the problem of the motion of the perihelion of Mercury. The explanation of the observed anomaly of this motion was to become one of the classical tests of general relativity. The existence of such a manuscript has not been known before now. All three of these manuscripts, along with other material in this volume, add significantly to our understanding of the creation of general relativity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691037059
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	09/21/1995
Series:	Collected Papers of Albert Einstein , #4
Pages:	420
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.50(h) x (d)
Language:	German

About the Author

Martin J. Klein is Professor of the History of Science at Yale University and Senior Editor of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein. A. J. Kox teaches history of science at the University of Amsterdam. Jürgen Renn is a Director of the Max Planck Institute of the History of Science, Berlin, and Robert Schulmann is Assistant Professor of History at Boston University.

Table of Contents

List of Texts ix
INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
Introduction to Volume 4 xiii
Supplement to the Editorial Method in Previous Volumes xix
Acknowledgments xx
Note on the Translation xxi
Location Symbols and Descriptive Symbols xxii
TEXTS 1
Editorial Note: Einstein's Manuscript on the Special Theory of Relativity 3
1.Manuscript on the Special Theory of Relativity, 1912-1914 9
Editorial Note: Einstein on the Law of Photochemical Equivalence 109
2."Thermodynamic Proof of the Law of Photochemical Equivalence," January 1912 114
"Thermodynamische Begründung des photochemischen Äquivalentgesetzes"
Annalen der Physik 37 (1912)
Editorial Note: Einstein on Gravitation and Relativity: The Static Field 122
3."The Speed of Light and the Statics of the Gravitational Field," February 1912 129
"Lichtgeschwindigkeit und Statik des Gravitationsfeldes"
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
4."On the Theory of the Static Gravitational Field," 23 March 1912, and "Note Added in Proof" 146
"Zur Theorie des statischen Gravitationsfeldes" and "Nachtrag zur Korrektur"
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
5."Supplement to My Paper: 'Thermodynamic Proof of the Law of Photochemical Equivalence'," May 1912 165
"Nachtrag zu meiner Arbeit: 'Thermodynamische Begründung des photochemischen Äquivalentgesetzes' "
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
6."Response to a Comment by J. Stark: 'On an Application of Planck's Fundamental Law ...'," 30 May 1912 171
"Antwort auf eine Bemerkung von J. Stark: ,'Über eine Anwendung des Planckschen Elementargesetzes ... ' "
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
7."Is There a Gravitational Effect Which Is Analogous to Electrodynamic Induction?" July 1912 174
"Gibt es eine Gravitationswirkung, die der elektrodynamischen Induktionswirkung analog ist?"
Vierteljahrsschrift für gerichtliche Medizin und öffentliches Sanitätswesen 44 (1912)
8."Relativity and Gravitation. Reply to a Comment by M. Abraham," 4 July 1912 180
"Relativität und Gravitation. Erwiderung auf eine Bemerkung von M. Abraham"
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
9."Comment on Abraham's Preceding Discussion 'Once Again, Relativity and Gravitation'," August 1912 189
"Bemerkung zu Abrahams vorangehender Auseinandersetzung 'Nochmals Relativitat und Gravitation' "
Annalen der Physik 39 (1912)
Editorial Note: Einstein's Research Notes on a Generalized Theory of Relativity 192
10.Research Notes on a Generalized Theory of Relativity, ca. August 1912 201
Editorial Note: Einstein and Stern on Zero-Point Energy 270
11."Some Arguments for the Assumption of Molecular Agitation at Absolute Zero" (with Otto Stern), December 1912, and "Remark Added in Proof" "Einige Argumente für die Annahme einer molekularen Agitation beim absoluten Nullpunkt" and "Anmerkung bei der Korrektur" 274
Annalen der Physik 40 (1913)
12."Thermodynamic Deduction of the Law of Photochemical Equivalence," 27 March 1913 286
"Déduction thermodynamique de la loi de l'équivalence photochimique"
Journal de physique 3 (1913)
Editorial Note: Einstein on Gravitation and Relativity: The Collaboration with Marcel Grossmann 294
13.Outline of a Generalized Theory of Relativity and of a Theory of Gravitation (with Marcel Grossmann), before 28 May 1913 302
Entwurf einer verallgemeinerten Relatwitätstheorie und einer Theorie der Gravitation
Leipzig: Teubner, 1913
Editorial Note: The Einstun-Besso Manuscript on the Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury 344
14.Einstein and Besso: Manuscript on the Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury, June 1913 360
15."Theory of Gravitation," 9 September 1913 "Gravitationstheorie" 474
Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft. Verhandlungen 96, part 2 (1913)
16."Physical Foundations of a Theory of Gravitation," 9 September 1913 477
"Physikalische Grundlagen einer Gravitationstheorie"
Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich. Vierteljahrsschrift 58 (1914)
17."On the Present State of the Problem of Gravitation," 23 September 1913 486
"Zum gegenwärtigen Stande des Gravitationsproblems"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 14 (1913)
18."Discussion" following lecture version of "On the Present State of the Problem of Gravitation" (Doc. 17), 23 September 1913 504
19.Lecture Notes for Course on Electricity and Magnetism at the ETH, Winter Semester 1913/1914 512
2October 1913-21 March 1914
20."Theoretical Atomism," before 21 October 1913 520
"Theoretische Atomistik"
Paul Hinneberg, ed. Die Kultur der Gegenwart. Ihre Entwicklung und ihre Ziele. Part 3, sec. 3, vol. 1, Physik. Emil Warburg, ed. Leipzig. Teubner, 1915
21."Theory of Relativity," before 21 October 1913 535
"Die Relativitätstheorie"
Paul Hinneberg, ed. Die Kultur der Gegenwart. Ihre Entwicklung und ihre Ziele. Part 3, sec. 3, vol. l, Physik. Emil Warburg, ed. Leipzig: Teubner, 1915
22.Discussion remarks following lectures delivered at second Solvay Congress, 27-31 October 1913 552
23."Max Planck as Scientist," 7 November 1913 560
"Max Planck als Forscher"
Die Naturwissenschaften 1 (1913 )
24."Supplementary Response to a Question by Mr. Reißner," 11 December 1913 566
"Nachträgliche Antwort auf eine Frage von Herrn Reiáner"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 15 (1914)
25."On the Foundations of the Generalized Theory of Relativity and the Theory of Gravitation," January 1914 571
"Prinzipielles zur verallgemeinerten Relativitätstheorie und Gravitationstheorie"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 15 (1914)
26."Comments" on "Outline of a Generalized Theory of Relativity and of a Theory of Gravitation" (the version of Doc. 13 published as an article in Zeitschrift für Mathematik und Physik), 30 January 1914 579
"Bemerkungen"
Zeaschrift für Mathematik und Physik 62 (1914)
27."On the Theory of Gravitation," 9 February 1914 583
"Zur Theorie der Gravitation"
Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich. Vierteljahrsschrift 59. Part 2, Sitzungsberichte (1914)
28."Nordström's Theory of Gravitation from the Point of View of the Absolute Differential Calculus" (with Adriaan D. Fokker), 19 February 1914 588
"Die Nordströmsche Gravitationstheorie vom Standpunkt des absoluten Differentialkalküls"
Annalen der Physik 44 (1914)
29."Method for the Determination of Statistical Values of Observations Regarding Quantities Subject to Irregular Fluctuations," 28 February 1914 598
"Méthode pour la détermination de valeurs statistiques d'observations concernant des grandeurs soumises à des fluctuations irrégulières"
Archives des sciences physiques et naturelles 37 (1914)
30."A Method for the Statistical Use of Observations of Apparently Irregular, Quasiperiodic Processes," after 28 February 1914 603
"Eine Methode zur statistischen Verwertung von Beobachtungen scheinbar unregelmässig quasiperiodisch verlaufender Vorgänge"
31."On the Relativity Problem," March 1914 608
"Zum Relativitäts-Problem"
Scientia 15 (1914)
APPENDIXES
A. Summaries of Einstein's Courses at the ETH 623
B. Facsimile Reproduction of the Manuscript of Document 14 630
Literature Cited 683
Indexes 699