Albert Einstein (1879-1955) - photo 1

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Starting price
£ 100
Auction dateClassic
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1109136
Lot 334 | Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
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)
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
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
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