Lot #5046

Albert Einstein Autograph Letter Signed to His 'Calculator,' Walther Mayer, on Dirac and De Broglie Equations

Description

Choice mathematical content from the hand of a genius—Einstein collaborates with his 'calculator' on Dirac and De Broglie equations

ALS in German, signed “A. E.,” one page, 8.5 x 11, December 4, 1932. Handwritten letter to his mathematician assistant Walther Mayer, nicknamed 'Einstein's calculator,' demonstrating their method of collaboration and revealing Einstein's working process. In full (translated): "I believe I see a new possibility, which promises success. It is along the lines of the recently devised way, according to which one places zero on the right side of the Dirac-Equations. The novelty is in the fact that the constants a1…a4 (aside from a totally irrelevant factor) are completely known without passing on to the specific Semi-Vectors.

After omission of the φ-terms, the equations read [mathematical equations]. Or, for De-Broglie-Equations of the restless particle: [mathematical equations].

Here is what's new: How does one choose the a(y), so that the De Broglie - [Choices] stay largely undetermined? Result: The four equations (1a) reduce themselves into a single one, when and only when, if one lets a(1) = 1 a(2) = 1 a(3) = 1 a(4) = 1

I believe that with this selection, a(y) is [for] the equation describing the φ-terms (1) the fitting substitute, for the De Broglie-Equation. These equations are already supplied by the simplest Hamilton function.

See, if the general equations (1) degenerate with this placing for a as well. If this were the case, the whole thing would be useless. I leave on Saturday. A letter that is sent to Antwerp, to the 'Oakland,' Hapag, Antwerp Harbor, will reach me until December 13." Includes a 6 x 8.25 page containing further calculations and equations in Einstein's hand. In fine condition, with scattered small stains. Housed in a decorated half-leather slipcase by noted book artist Sjoerd Hofstra.

Austrian mathematician Walther Mayer began working with Einstein around 1930. In October 1930, the two submitted a paper to the Prussian Academy in which a new unified field theory was proposed, one based on a four-dimensional space-time continuum with a five-dimensional tangent space attached at each point. From December 1930 to March 1931, Einstein made his first trip to California, accompanied by Mayer, since Einstein did not wish to interrupt the collaboration. In December 1932, they completed their last joint paper to be published in Germany. It dealt with semi-vectors and spinors and was the last paper published by Einstein in the Sitzungsberichte of the Preussische Akademie. Their next two papers together again dealt with semi-vectors, and were produced during their stay at Le Coq sur Mer in Belgium.

Einstein's collaboration with Walther Mayer was brief, but very significant. So important was the collaboration to Einstein that, after his own appointment as Professor at The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, in October, 1932, he put the pressure on the Institute to give Mayer a tenured position there with the title of associate, the only appointment of its kind ever made by the Institute. Despite Einstein's efforts to continue to work with Mayer, after 1934, Mayer returned to his own pursuits in pure mathematics.

This letter and the accompanying manuscript leaf of calculations affords a rare opportunity to study Einstein at work, wrestling with concepts and equations, and offers insight into his important method of collaboration with Mayer.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Remarkable Rarities
• Dates: September 04, 2024 - September 28, 2024

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