Einstein from ’B’ to ’Z’

284 Pages·2002·22.173 MB·English

by  John Stachel

John Stachel
Einstein Studies
Editors: Don Howard John Stachel

Published under the sponsorship
ofthe Center for Einstein Studies,
Einstein
Boston University
from 'B' to 'Z'
Volume I: Einslcin andtheHistoryofGeneral Relativity
Don HowardandJohnSlachel. editors
Volume2: ConceptualPrablemsofQuantumGravity
AbhayAshtekarandJohnStachel,editors
Volume3: Smdiesin‘11: HistoryofGeneralRelauvily
JeanEisenslaedlandAJ. Kox.editors
Volume4: RecentAdvancesinGeneralRelativity
AllenI. JanisandJohnR.Porter,editors
Volume5' TheAttractionofGravitation: New Studies
1ntheHistoryofGeneralRelativny
John Earman‘ MlchelJanssenand
JohnD Norton,editors
Volume6: Mach's Principle: FromNewton‘s Bucket
toQuantumGravity
JulianB. BarbourandHerbertPfistcr,ednors
Volume 7: The ExpandingWorldsofGeneral Relauvuty
HubertGoenner,JurgenRenn.IimRiuer.
andTilman Sauer‘editors
Volume8: Einstein:TheFormativeYears. 1879—1909
DonHowardandJohnStachel.editors

Volume9: Einsteinfrom ‘B'to‘2'
JohnStachel
Volume 10: EinsteinSmdmsinRussia
Yuri BalashovandVladimirVizgin,ediwrs Birkh'auser
Boston - Basel ~ Berlin
JohnSlachel
CenterforEmsteinqudws
BostonUniversity
Boston,MA02215
USA
Contents
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Introduction..................................................... ix
AMSSubjeclClassificzuuns.0079,01-06‘8303,83—06,83AM.KJAOS,83Cxx
I The Human Side ..................................... 1
Pnntedonacid-freepaper ® AlbertEinstein: TheMan BeyondtheMyth .............v . . 3
@2002TheCenter for Emsmn Studies Birkhiiuser B AlbeqEinstein .............................. l3
TheEinsteinstudlessencslSpubllshed
underthesponsorshipoftheCenterfor AlbenEinstein: (1879:1955) ...................... 19
EinsteinStudles, Boston Umvcrsuy TheYoungEinstein: PoetryandTruth .................. 21
Allrightsreserved Thnswork may notbetranslatedorcopiedinwholeormpartwithout AlbertEinsteinand Mileva Marié:
thewrincnpermissionofthepublisher(BirkhéuserBoston,cloSpringer—VerlagNewYork, ACollaborafion matFailedtoDevelop ............... 39
Iwnict.hr1e7v5ieFiwfsthorAvsecnhuoel,mlNyeawnaYloysrnks,.NUYse1i0n0c1o0n.nUeScAt)i1onexwcietph(anfoyr{brmimefoefxcicnrfpotrsmiantcioonnnsetcotriaogne Einstein’sJewishIdentity ........................ S7
andretrieval.electionicadaplmion,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilarmethodr EinsteinonCivilLiberty ......................... 85
oTlhoeguysneoofwgeknneorwanldoershcerriepaufvteerndameevse,lotpreaddeisnafmoersb.idldraednemarks.clc.,inthispublicanon.even Einsteinandthe“ResearchPassion" ................... 87
ifthe formerarenotespecially identified, isnottobetakenasasignthat suchnames. as
understoodbytheTradeMarksandMerchandiseMarksAct.mayaccordinglyb:usedfreely
byanyone.
II Editingthe Einstein Papers ........................... 95
ISBN0-8176-4143-2 SPIN 19901783 “AManofMyType"_,EditingtheEinstein Papers ........... 97
ISBN3-7643414372
IntroductiontotheGuide10theDuplicateEinsteinArchive
TypesetbyTFXniques. Inc.Cambridge. MA. andControl Index ......................... l 13
CoverdesignbyMary Burgess. Cambridge, MA.
CoversketchbyJuhusC. Turner, 1931
Printedandboundby Hamilton Printing. Rensselaefi NY.
III SurveysofEinstein’s Work .......................... 1 19
PrintedinlhcUnitedSlatesofAmerica.
IntroductiontoEinstein: TheFormativeYears .............. 121
987654321 TheOtherEinslcin: EinsteinContraFieldTheory ............ 141
Cnnn-nts vii
v1 Contents
IV Special Relativity .................................... 155 VIII Book Reviews ................................. 541}
‘Subtleis:he Lord' 1 1 1 The Science and Life afAlbertEinstein
“EEiiWnnhssattteeHiinSnoowaannngDdditEMdhtiehcEehiSrneyslrDtsereoniinfsnt:SDEaTtxnhspgece"or:CvioemnretnSetpxsetcio.-afl.DRi.es.lcao.tvie.vri.tyy.?.............._., 115717 1 AlbenbbyyEiAAmlb‘brteearithna:Fm(ASlPBsaiiinsogg.ra..p..hy.................................. _ , , , _, 3{51’1s
and theContext ofJustification ................... 177
Einstein0n the Theory ofRelativity 191
Einstein‘s First Derivation ofMassiEnergy Equivalence
(with Roberto Taretti) ........................ 215
V General Relativity .................................... 223
Einstein's Odyssey: His Journey from Special to GeneralRelativity . . 225
The Genesis ofGeneral Relativity ................... 233
The Rigidly Rotating Disk as the “MissingLink" m the ‘
History ofGeneral Relativity ......... 245 ,
26]
The FirstTwo Acts
How Einstein Discovered General Relativity:
A Historical Tale with SomeContemporary Morals ........ 293
Einstein's Search for General Covariance, 1912—1915 .......... 301
Belated Decision in the HilbcniEinstein PriorityDispute
(with Leo Corry andJurgen Renn) ................. 339
The Origin ofGravttational Lansing:
A Postscript to Einstein's 1936 SciencePapeL
(with Jiirgen Rem! and 7711mm Sauer) ,,,,,, 347 .
New Lighton the Einstein—Htlbert PriorityQuestion .......... 353
VI Quantum Theory .................................... 365
Einstein and the Quantum: Fifty YearsofStruggle ............ 367
Einstein and Quantum Mechanics .................... 403
Einstein's Lighthuamum Hypothesis, or

Why Didn‘t Emstcin Propose aQuantumGas
6 Decade-and-avHalfEarlier .................... 427
VII Einstein and Others ............................... 445

Einstein and Newton . . . . . 1 . . 447
Eddington and Einstein ................. 453 3
Einstein and Infeld: Seen through theirCongspondencc . . 477
Lanczos's Early Contributions [0 Relativity3nd -;
His Rclationshtp with Einstein ..............V ..... 499
Einstein and Bose ............................ 519
Einsteinand‘chistein‘ 539
Introduction
This volume assembles what I hope are my best articles and talks on Einstein
prepared over the pastquarterofacentury The title. Emsteinfrom ‘B' to ‘Z', is
meant as a humorous reminderthat the book makes no claim tooffer acomplete
picture of Einstein -— an account from ‘A‘ to ‘Z.’ Ofcourse. every human life
is inexhaustible, and any account of it represent a selection from the available
material and presentation ofit from a standpoint adopted by the authon But. in
spiteoftheenormousriversofmkthathavebeendevoted tothe topic, Ibelieveit
isstill [00earlytoattemptafullpictureofEinstein'sentire life. Theeightalready
publishedvolumesofTheCollectedPapersafAlbenEinneinhaverevolutionized
ourpictureoftheyoungEinstein;butthesevolumeshaveonlyreachedhisfonieth
year, and future volumes may be expected to present further surprises. Readers
may consult the final essay in this volume, a review ofofa recent biography of
Einstein, foran ideaofwhathappens when apremature synthesis isattempted
Thus, the reader will notbe surprised to learn that many ofthe essays in this
volume are concemed with the first halfofEinstein’s life. the understanding of
whichuboth of the man and of his workAhas been considerably changed by
new documentary evidence. From the mists ofobscurity and myth. there starts
to emerge the portrait ofa human being. of his strengths and weaknesses. and
ofhis oftenicontradictorystrivings (forexample, defianceofauthority in physics
coexisted with u longing for recognition of his work), who is a thousand times
more interesting than the saintly figure of the legend. And there is also emerg~
ing a much clearer pictureofthe development ofhis ideas about relativity. both
the special and the general theory. and about the quantum theory—his greatest
Contributions to modernphysics.
An advantage ofthiscollectionofindependently preparedessays isthateach
itemmaybe read individually. Thereadermaydipintothe bookathisorherown
pleasureiand I hope thatevery reader will find pleasure in at least some ofthe
essays—with no sense ofobligation to read the entire collectionfOn the other
hand. I hope that at leasttheoutlinesofa picture ofEinstein thatdiffers in major
Introduction xi
x Introduction
respects from the conventional hagiographic accounts will emerge from reading While I have not treatedEinstein‘s important work on statistical physics in a
all the essays. I find contemplation and Critique of a living human being much special essay, readers interested in this topic will find a good deal about it in the
more fascinating thanworshipofeven the most beautiful plaster saint. essayson“Einstein‘sLightQuantumHypothesis" and “EinsteinandBose,“
‘ cBfJsouatlutreleahdolyireaymnR.oiri,anwtsetoTidhmshntehs,eheatecrpyhtlfrsefihtor.orehuvoMsadTtitymnrhdtosoaephefeunrscbsmnet,leoeysi“enextomdcntnheaty,rstnicoewcdnltflaoghoatlaaptheltttieesehtosddstenefiaisma“malyhcplTsittocshpusfahuearbrlrpteoerhHonitcyOounwosUelfmneixHootcceadgrrseinnmahcracaihanttSnmlieii.ldmdsodyentoT,wa,hmwian"etetbdohshooethtufeatiheetnrhsesatceErsstfiyiauyrcfwnrsyolsirtesuottsownpehamiiegrone"fdfaEEientigitahnnrheaAssaoentgttrucaeteirpyiisiieecncnnaal,dl,l.seosistttEpnhhuhoieeepenmndarmseirMeaEtadttieaaiiniocrin-in-fen sacSohrionfaoesmtdmmEypTaecieatohnrhnrsneokedettfaredeyfbai.mtoonlphNl‘ueoelsanrgFotapgiapwharveniriNrenBdaeseglosowlpsr:neisteealeeo,mlsccSaniteairt.aisrnyknodantdAfabhrWoselitltosyhhlilpteuoohfdwrenygdixsaifeEip“fnfldcErfgeaidieesbrinsrPtoenssearntgenuwatetldcit—iioetiw.nsninhmt‘gTesaiewnhnnLlE.edfheitsnooaiheOssnpemttoehehwclseiieEasdrnslira‘slneys.pIses"netarfrrseseeeAsillloinoudann,cfStahihtiladCothoasrhoencttersoebhnsnpyieievtipgeloaaeninurcciwuitnefiisomsgctuodahsLwsiEnaistitafintcnscvhuosipzesnftefitostecesveeitols,ennsfv
asibnluemfboerraomfamjyotrhpsorttoiobneocfontfhreowntoerdk,oinnptahretiscpuelcairalthtehecolrayimofthraetlasthiveitwyapsubrleissphoenda lectuTahleebxcohoakncgoenscbluedtewseewnitthherme.views oftwo outstanding biographies ofEinstein
utApinatdyys,esh“rohtrhrtoiiwsbeusntsietaamdyteeoov.etnhlAe“onEprieoandltsettaeeEnmiidpnntshattonehdiwennCiitpfvlcoiaollylleLooidrwbeseidrnttohytic,hsh"eaarpp1arp9cer5tpo0eaa5rrciedhzduetrfo“ioEnrtighnaesttchZeieivioinnMl'icsrsCitJagerhmwttosihvsyjheoiutmlreedneananlttv,v tnthhooawsnIetatovwwaaasitnslatiajijbtunlswgetititaonhdqEouennalgerlvtieoesrrfhu.brootfIthnhaersocpifeinntttteohueoErsfiyenssabotgoeomoi,kens’i.wsnela1ikf9e7n6ea,snsdtehwsaotirnIk' wecaaacsnh‘cdaowlhlneiodchbuepItotiennrdtitocoadbtaeey,-
ttaaoncgdketaohrentribsaatsinicuc—mwAbhmeiercrhoifschaEenidnsfatregeieondo’osdmcsd.oeamlmTeohfnetlsisgehcottnioontnhheeinsndaostwurwneitcohrfeaactnrieveaestsipavryioclteyhsiasst.cigeantthiefircs crmeaoatmdieeornsthfweirlfolomufinanddtihnsegoormeeedtii0tcofarlthopefhyeTsnihsceuisiCtno.glwlseotcorrtkyeidningPatphpreeirsmseacrooifnlAdyl.bo)enTrhttihesEitbnhseetgeoairnny.mo(yfIrntetrleaarntesisfvteiertd,y
The second section. “Editing the Einstein Papers“ presents a bit ofthe story and its philosophical implications. into an historical editor, concerned with the
oifmpmorytawntolryk,aitsefxopulnadinisngtheediptroirncoifpltehseoCfohlilsetcotriecdalPaepdeitrisngofuAploInu’wnhiEcinhsttehiantsedMiotiroen mtoipniuctioanemoafnEyinsotcecians’isonlsi.fe aSinndceworrektirainndg acsaleldeidtourp,oInhtaovespceoanktiannudedwrmiyteionntertehisst
eiofsdufitbuthariTosserhe.wedsar,olinlmtaeisenxnetdgrysifgeooiaauuvrsnresdsrsaeeacgscooetfr,aierorweIncsshehpxodaoeapbnamoedlpuetinlwtceiEewsti.ihnloslfvtaentriohinteoumfssruousuiattnsspdbeoeciftmbstmahsioosefddemEseionttnshtoitefhdie.In‘uasSssisesnecrocitfeenttIthhiiarstfie.tceidirwineotdritkoha.sne itoImnhfnaesnEsuiumypncohshosytftedoiitinfshmcespaicpopnilrrdietonnabtacnhlreteeymrmlbsaeaoisutnssnheyodadntatritIoinhpheaitastch:vseleThicbnhaoeevuteerhnusenleolierteaoedtrfointfcceoarodlcenossfpneirhsadoyriemscdriheacmtrssiy,hhooanaouvnwloeddfnatbshchipeaesertcehchteiaesrsrtepteiorhsrrao.yttbhlacePenoemdmvr.abhnpiaaihnpnitesdAy
Two “Surveys ofEinstein’s Work” deal, respectively, with his work up to 1909, elements ofwhat wouldordinarilybe classified as theoretical physics, history of
the year in which, atagethirty, heentered the academic world full time. and with sctence,andphilosophyofscience. Accordingly, Ihopethatreaders fromeachof
an underlying dichotomy in Einstein's thought throughout his life: between his these disciplines. as well as many non-specialists interested in Einstein, will find
work on theories based on the space-time continuum and his feeling that an ex: something helpful andthought-provokingin this book.
planation ofquantumphenomena might call forabandonment ofthatcontinuum.
Thenfollow sectionson“SpecialRelativity," “General Relativtty." and“Quantum JointStacliel
TtoihfoenEosir.nys,tE“eaicnthh’rsesewecotarirkoenaisnbeotgfhiipsnhsayrwseiiatchsanstdoompwrehoiclceeshesdEstientcsohtnmeiiocnarlemsadudertevaeiyflsuenoddf—aamtenhndetdhaeelvneccloenotsprmoiebmnue7t unwu‘.1e COcetnotbeerrf,or20E0i1nsteinStudies
times more technicalv—consideration ofsome specialized topics. I have not tried
to eliminate duplication in the content of these essays; hence, each one may be s
readindependentlyoftheothers. Thecareful readerwill alsonotethatlateressays 3
occasionally express a somewhat different outlook on particular issues than ear— ‘3
lierones; such changespresenttheevolution, hopefully progressive.ofmy views
in response to the discovery ofnew documents and/or a deeper understanding of
already-knownones.
Part I
The Human Side
Albert Einstein:
The Man Beyond the Myth
John Stachel
Inthehmanalyut,fameI.\ onlytheepitomeofau
(he mixundenmndmgx WhK‘h gatherabouta new
name
RAINIER[V1AR1AR11K1
ThesewordswerefirstquotedwithreferencetoEinstein in 1930byhisson—inAlaw
RudolfKayser. Today, thiscommentseemseven moreappropriate. Few modern
figures‘ and certainly no other scientists, have been the center of such an ever
growing listofmyths and misconceptions. Great mythic figures ofthe past, such
as Buddha, Lao Tse and Jesus, are known through the legends that have come
down to us. But in the case of Einstein. we can watch the mythic process in
OPCI’QUOHV
Some Myths
Perhaps the most widespread myth about Einstein is that he was born old His
name calls to minda \vhiterhaired,saintly figure. well advanced in years. It takes
an effort to remember that he was born at a more tender age, passing through a
childhood, adolescence and young manhood that were often quite stressful. He
abhorredthedrillisergeant atmosphereinhisMunichprimary school anddropped
outofhighschooltospendahaif~yearwanderingaboutItalyi Hisfather’srepented
business failures lefthim unabletoattendauniversity withoutfinancial help from
relatives. His failure t0 get an academicjob upon graduationrwhen every other
memberofhis class didileft himonthebrinkoffinancial disaster. When he did

secure a steadyjob, it was as a technical expen‘ third-class, in the Swtss Patent
Office in Bern. Seven years later, he finally started an academic career. rising
rapidly to afull professorship. In 1914, theyearhestarted work at a full-timere
search position inBerlin, hehadtodealwithtwomajortraumas: separation from
his first wife, who left Berlin forever with their two sons, to whom he remained
deeply attached; and the outbreak ofWorld War 1, when he found himselfat the
centerofGermanmilitarism(whichhedepiscd)asawaveofnationalchauvinism
BusioniaMagazine
VOL56pp 8-17
February 1982
n
Ms Albert Einstein: TheManBeyondtheMyth 5
m
4 JohnStachel r
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tablishedand can be reproduced at wills“
AlbertEinstein: TheMan Beyondthe Myth 7
6 JohnStachel
it on questions that notonly troubled him, but were really vital for the advance of mwhaidcehuhpetihseirniddedeldecpoonssveisnsceesditth“esolutioncertainlyexistsbecause the person who
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worth it."
his workoutsideofrelativity.
Einstein was motivated to findasolution to what he considered the really im—
portantquestions because he felt a“logically simple interpretation ofempirically His Social Views
known connections existed. This stateofmind,“ he explained, “is comparable to TherearecountlessmythsregardingEinstein‘ssocialandpolitical views. Inaddia
the state ofmind ofa person who wantsto solvea riddle 0r chess problem about tion to beingconsidered an “ancient sage," Einstein was thought ofas the bleed-
AlbertEinstein: TheMan BeyondtheMyth 9
3 JohnStaehel
ing heart, thenaivesufferer for all humanity, who would endorse any cause.ifit existed. But Einstein sent a letter to Raosevelt that triggered the production of
werepresentedtohiminsufficientlypatheticterms. Thismythcompletelymisses the A-bomb. didn'the? Einstein certainly sent the letter, buttherole itplayed in
a central element in Einstein’s emotional makeup that he once described: “My thedevelopmentoftheAmericanA-bombprojecthasoftenbeengreatlyexagger-
passionate senseofsocialjustice and social responsibility has always contrasted atedi Einstein never worked in nuclear physics and played no other role in the
oddly withmy pronounced lack ofneed for directcontact withotherhuman be~ ManhattanProject.
ingsandhumancommunities. Iamtrulya ‘lonetraveler’andhaveneverbelonged “My part in producing the atomic bomb consisted ofa single act: I signeda
tomycountry,myhome.myfriendsorevenmy immediatefamilyWithmywhole letterto PresidentRooseveltpressing the need forexperimentsonalargescale in
heart; inthefaceofall these ties, I have neverlostasenseofdistanceandaneed ordertoexplorethepossibilitiesfortheproductionofanatomicbomb. Iwasfully
forsolitucle,feelingswhich increasewith theyears" aware ofthe terrible danger to mankind in case this attempt succeeded. But the
Einstein built his “inner equilibrium" upon the foundation of his scientific likelihood that theGermans were working on the same problem with thechance
questratherthanuponpersonal relationships ofsucceeding. fotcedmeto this step."
Althoughinlateryearshespentalargepartofhistimerespondingtothemany “Icoulddonothingelse,although I havealwaysbeenaconvincedpacifist To
requests forhis help in various personal and scientific matters, as well as social my mind, to kill in war is not a whit better than to commit ordinary murders As
and political causes, he maintained a certain inner distance. He also chose his long, however,asnationsarenotresolvedtoabolish watthroughcommonactions
issues carerIlyt He was well aware that his fame gave him a vast authence‘fo‘t and to solve theirconflicts and protect their interests by peaceful decisions on a
his views; but he also realized that he had to use this instrument sparingly if it legal basis. they feel compelled to prepare fnr war. They feel obliged toprepare
was to remaineffective. So he refused many times to speak out on an issue. If all possible means, even the most detestable ones, so as not to be left behind in
he disagreed withthecause‘ he naturally refused; but he also refused te endorse thegeneralarmamentrace."
appeals forcauses that he favored if he was skepticai about the good faith ofthe “Thisroad[ofanarmamentsrace] necessarily leadstowar,awarwhichunder
sponsors. or ifhe thought his voice would not add Significantly to the impact of the presentconditions means universaldestruction. [Hewrotethisatthetimethe
whathadalreadybeensaid‘ ‘ H-bornbwasbeingdeveloped] Underthesecircumstancesthefightagainstmums
There is no evidence that Einstein was politically active before World War I has no chance ofsuccess. Only the radical abolition ofwars and ofthethreatof
brokeout. Itwastheimpactofthatwar,particularlyseeinghowmostintellectuals warcan help. Thatis “hatone has to work for One has tobe resolvednotto let
fell victimstochauvinisticpassions,thatstirredhim intoaction. Hisfirstpolitical himselfbeforcedtoactionsthat run countertothisgoal. Thisisaseveredemand
moves. wereinconnection with the peace movement inGermany Hewas still a on an individual who isConscious ofhis dependence on society But itis notan
Swiss citizen, but even so, such actions were rather risky in wartime Germany. impossibledemand.“
HisnameappearsonalistofnotablepacifistspreparedfortheBerlinpolicechief. Einsteinwasdeeply concernedaboutthe socialandmoralresponsibilityofthe
Thiswasthebeginningofalifelongassociationwith peace movements scientificcommunitytotrytoend thearms race
Hispacifismsometimes gave rise to intensecontroversy Atthe beginning of “We scientists whose tragic destiny it has been to help make the methods of
the 19305,Einsteinurgedyoungmentorefusemilitaryservice.provokingthehas— annihilation ever more gruesome and more effective mustconsider itoursolemn
tilityofnationalists in many countries, including the United States. After Hitler and transcendentdutytodoall inourpowertopreventtheseweaponsfrombeing
came to power. hefelt this was no longer a viable tactic and urged the rearma- used for the brutal purpose forwhich they were invented. What taskcouldpossi-
meritofthedemocratic states in the face ofthe fascistperil. This provokedcries bly be more important forus? Whatsocial aim could beclosertoourheans?"
ofbetrayal from many erstwhile pacifist colleagues. Einstein felt that Changed
circumstanCesCalledforchangedactions: sinceadvocacyofdisarmamentandre His Jewish Identity
fusalofservicewereimpossible in fascist states,theiradvocacyelsewhereplayed It was also after World War I that Einstein first started to be concerned with his
intothehandsofthedictators Heneverregarded‘hisa_ctionsasarenunciationoVf identity as a Jew, He had been brought up in a rather secularJewish home and
pacifism. had never identified closely with the Jewish community. It was witnessing the
Inthisconnectiononemeets anothermyth: Einstein, thefatheroftheatomic postewargrowthofanti-Semitism, particularlyas itflaredupinGermany.thatled
bomb. Everyoneknows Einstein showed that E = mcz, even ifheor she does
himtoidentifywiththatcommunityanddecidetosupporttheworkoftheZionist
notknowexactly what E, m, c or squared mean; and everyone knows this has movement. Somepeoplehave seen a paradox here. Einstein alwayspronounced
osfomneutchlienagr tfiossdioonwaitnhdtphreodAu-cbtoiomnb.ofAtchteuaAl-lyb:otmhbecwoourlkdlheaavdeintgakteonthpeladciesjcuosvterays htiemrsnealtfi,onaanlidsimnwdietehdhwiassa,ctaivciotniefisromnedbeihnatlefrnoaftitohnealJieswti:sHhopweopcloueladnhdethreeicronactitleempitns—
well even ifEinstein had never derived that formula from his special theory of tobuild ahomelandinPalestine? Heansweredthatquestion in 1926:
relativity. Afterall, fires were lit long before a theory ofchemical combustion