ID 1109136
Lot 334 | Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Estimate value
£ 5 000 – 8 000
Autograph letter signed ('A. Einstein') to Cornelius Lanczos, n.p., 9 October 1937
In German. One page, 280 x 216mm, including four mathematical equations. Provenance: Sotheby's, 26 November 1980, lot 160.
A critique of Lanczos's work on gravitational equations, using the 'vacuum field equation' Rik=0. 'It makes no sense to postulate the equation Rik=0...alongside your equation' (writing out the equation in question): Einstein points out that if one equation is fulfilled, the other necessarily is, and provides the reasoning, beginning with an equation including the term 'L' which represents 'a linear-homogenous Function'; if one performs a Bianchi operation on this, a further equation is produced, which proves Einstein's argument. The first equation therefore 'only makes sense on its own, i.e. without postulating Rik=O. This is in fact a generalisation of the old gravitational equations. However, it does not seem that this generalisation is an essential generalisation', as the necessary identities between the initial equations are lacking.
| Artist: | Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) |
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| Place of origin: | Germany, Switzerland, USA |
| Auction house category: | Medicine & science |
| Artist: | Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) |
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| Place of origin: | Germany, Switzerland, USA |
| Auction house category: | Medicine & science |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |||||
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |||||
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