Albert Einstein | Autograph manuscript calculations related to field theory

Einstein, Albert 

Autograph manuscript calculations relating to Unified Field Theory, 

dark blue ink, with three lines of notes (in German), 1 page, folio (280 x 213mm), n.d.

[with]: signature ("A. Einstein") in black ink, on a leaf of ruled paper from a spiral bound notebook, 8vo (89 x 146 mm); handwritten description of an autograph card signed by Einstein (card not present)

ORIGINAL FIELD EQUATIONS IN EINSTEIN'S HAND: A REMARKABLE WORKING MANUCRIPT BY ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RENOWNED PHYSICISTS. 

Following his original and groundbreaking research on general relativity, Einstein attempted to generalize his theory of gravitation to include electromagnetism as another aspect of a single entity. In 1950, he described his "unified field theory" in a Scientific American article titled "On the Generalized Theory of Gravitation". 

The present field theory calculation involves a potential term Phi, and a possible wave function Psi. It is plausible that the E and B terms (which make up the potential Phi) represent the electric and magnetic fields. In some instances E and B appear to be vectors, as they have only one subscript, but in others they appear to have two subscripts, suggesting that they are tensors and thus not the usual E and B field vectors. The calculation is conducted in cylindrical polar coordinates, as suggested by the repeated use of rho and z subscripts, where rho is defined in terms of an r, hence r and z coordinates are present with the radial coordinate r dominating the calculation. This manuscript could represent a classical calculation involving electromagnetic fields only (which could constitute lecture notes, or a smaller research project), or a unified field theory calculation (which forms a part of some larger theory or project). 

Einstein's dream of unifying other laws of physics with gravity remains a driving force in contemporary physics, particular with regard to string theory, unified quantum-mechanical setting, and the modern quests for a theory of everything. However, his efforts to generalize his geometric theory of gravitation were ultimately unsuccessful, and as Einstein focused on his unified field theory, he became increasingly isolated, and in his pursuit ignored some developments in more mainstream physics.  

Sotheby's would like to thank Prof. Diana K. Buchwald and Prof. Daniel J. Kennefick of Caltech for their assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.

LITERATURE:

Einstein, Albert. "On the Generalized Theory of Gravitation". Scientific American. 1950, CLXXXII (4): pp. 13–17