Showing papers by "Jürgen Renn published in 1997"

Belated Decision in the Hilbert-Einstein Priority Dispute

Abstract: According to the commonly accepted view, David Hilbert completed the general theory of relativity at least 5 days before Albert Einstein submitted his conclusive paper on this theory on 25 November 1915. Hilbert's article, bearing the date of submission 20 November 1915 but published only on 31 March 1916, presents a generally covariant theory of gravitation, including field equations essentially equivalent to those in Einstein's paper. A close analysis of archival material reveals that Hilbert did not anticipate Einstein. The first set of proofs of Hilbert's paper shows that the theory he originally submitted is not generally covariant and does not include the explicit form of the field equations of general relativity.

The origin of gravitational lensing: a postscript to Einstein's 1936 Science paper.

Abstract: Gravitational lensing, now taken as an important astrophysical consequence of the general theory of relativity, was found even before this theory was formulated but was discarded as a speculative idea without any chance of empirical confirmation. Reconstruction of some of Einstein's research notes dating back to 1912 reveals that he explored the possibility of gravitational lensing 3 years before completing his general theory of relativity. On the basis of preliminary insights into this theory, Einstein had already derived the basic features of the lensing effect. When he finally published the very same results 24 years later, it was only in response to prodding by an amateur scientist.

Einstein's Controversy with Drude and the Origin of Statistical Mechanics: A new Glimpse from the "Love Letters"

Abstract: La polemique qui opposa Einstein (A.) et Drude (P.) sur le role de la theorie electronique en 1901 fut pour Einstein le point de depart de l'approche de la mecanique statistique et de ses principes, permettant le developpement de la physique

Von der klassischen Trägheit zur dynamischen Raumzeit: Albert Einstein und Ernst Mach

Abstract: The paper analyses Einstein's path to the general relativity in the context of its historical alternatives. The main alternatives were constituted by an exclusively field theoretical approach to gravitation and a generalization of mechanics following suggestions by Ernst Mach. It is shown that Einstein succeeded in avoiding the pitfalls of both approaches by suitably combining them. The characteristics and the success of his path to general relativity are explained by his non-specialist, integrative outlook on the problem of classical physics

Die Geburt der statistischen Mechanik aus dem Geist der Elektronentheorie der Metalle

Abstract: Die Statistische Mechanik verdankt, jedenfalls in ihrer Einsteinschen Version, ihren Ursprung der Herausforderung der kinetischen Theorie der Warme durch die Elektronentheorie der Metalle. Das geht aus zum Teil erst kurzlich vollstandig bekannt gewordenen zeitgenossischen Dokumenten hervor. Um 1901 hat sich demnach Albert Einstein als Student intensiv mit der Elektronentheorie der Metalle beschaftigt und einem ihrer Begrunder, Paul Drude, einen Brief mit zwei sachlichen Einwanden gegen dessen Theorie gesandt. Uber die Natur dieser Einwande konnte man bisher nur spekulieren. Eine jetzt bekannt gewordene Briefstelle macht klar, das einer dieser Einwande auf Drudes Verwendung von Resultaten der Boltzmannschen kinetischen Gastheorie zielte. Der junge Einstein war uberzeugt, das zur Begrundung der Elektronentheorie eine Theorie mit weniger speziellen Annahmen als denen der Gastheorie erforderlich war. Wahrend Drude die Kritik zuruckwies, entwickelte Einstein aus dieser Aufgabenstellung seine Version der Statistischen Mechanik, die er, unabhangig von Gibbs, beginnend im Jahre 1902 veroffentlichte.