Classical unified field theories: Difference between revisions

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Albert Einstein's generalized theory of gravitation was an attempt to ascertain a universal law of gravitation and the electromagnetic force as a unified field theory. Einstein never fully developed a Unified Field Theory, nor has any physicist or researcher in the fifty-odd years since it was first postulated. His attempts at constructing a theory that would unify General Relativity and quantum mechanics would be continued by other researchers.

Description

Einstein began to form a generalized theory of gravitation with the universal law of gravitation and the electromagnetic force in his first attempt to demonstrate the unification and simplification of the fundamental forces. In 1950, he described his work in a Scientific American article. Einstein was guided by the belief of a single statistical measure of variance for the entire set of physical laws and he investigated the similar properties of the electromagnetics and gravity forces, as they are infinite and obey the inverse-square law.

There is no one version of this theory. In multiple papers Einstein published various approaches to such a theory, all ultimately unwsuccessful. Einstein attempted to find equations that could be used to describe the interaction of matter and radiation, in which particles would appear as a limited region in space in which the field strength or the energy density are particularly high (Pais: "Subtle is the Lord").

Aftermath

Einstein became increasingly isolated in his research over a Generalized Theory of Gravitation (being characterized as a "mad scientist" in these endeavors) and was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts at constructing a theory that would unify General Relativity and quantum mechanics. Einstein never fully developed the Unified Field Theory, nor has any physicist or researcher in the fifty-odd years since it was first postulated.

External links and references

Einstein, Albert, "On the Generalized Theory of Gravitation". April, 1950. [Manuscript notes, much overwritten] (German)

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 ==Description==
-Einstein began in [[1917]] to form a ''generalized theory of gravitation'' with the universal law of gravitation and the electromagnetic force in his first attempt to demonstrate the unification and simplification of the [[Fundamental interaction|fundamental force]]s. {{ref|Pais0}} Einstein's reasons in studying the unification theory was to join gravity and electromagnetism, to gain a singularity-free solution of the source-free general relativistic field equations which could represent particles, and to gain a deeper understanding of quantum theory. {{ref|Pais1}} From [[1945]] onward, the Generalized theory of gravitation was studied by Einstein more exclusively. {{ref|Pais2}} In [[1950]], Einstein described his work in a ''[[Scientific American]]'' article. Einstein was guided by the belief of a single statistical measure of [[variance]] for the entire set of [[physical laws]]. He investigated the similar properties of the [[electromagnetics]] and [[gravity]] forces, as they are infinite and obey the [[inverse-square law]].
+Einstein began to form a ''generalized theory of gravitation'' with the universal law of gravitation and the electromagnetic force in his first attempt to demonstrate the unification and simplification of the [[Fundamental interaction|fundamental force]]s. In [[1950]], he described his work in a ''[[Scientific American]]'' article. Einstein was guided by the belief of a single statistical measure of [[variance]] for the entire set of [[physical laws]] and he investigated the similar properties of the [[electromagnetics]] and [[gravity]] forces, as they are infinite and obey the [[inverse-square law]].
-Einstein's generalized theory of gravitation is a universal mathematical approach to field theory. He investigated reducing the different phenomena by the process of logic to something already known or evident. Einstein tried to unify gravity and electromagnetism in a way that also led to a new subtle understanding of quantum mechanics. Einstein assumed a four-dimensional space-time continuum expressed in axioms represented by five component vectors. Particles appear in his research as a limited region in space in which the field strength or the energy density are particularly high. Einstein treated subatomic particles as objects embedded in the unified field, influencing it and existing as an essential constituent of the unified field but not of it. Einstein also investigated a natural generalization of symmetrical tensor fields, treating the combination of two parts of the field as being a natural procedure of the total field and not the symmetrical and antisymmetrical parts separately. He researched a way to delineate the equations and systems to be derived from a [[variational principle]].
+There is no one version of this theory. In multiple papers Einstein published various approaches to such a theory, all ultimately unwsuccessful. Einstein attempted to find equations that could be used to describe the interaction of matter and radiation, in which particles would appear as a limited region in space in which the field strength or the energy density are particularly high (Pais: "Subtle is the Lord").
-Particles appear in his research as a limited region in [[space]] in which the field strength or the [[energy|energy density]] are particularly high. Einstein treated [[subatomic particle]]s in this research as objects embedded in the [[field (physics)|unified field]], influencing it and existing as an essential constituent of the unified field but not of it. Einstein also investigated a natural generalization of symmetrical [[tensor field]]s, treating the combination of two parts of the field as being a natural procedure of the total field and not the [[symmetrical]] and antisymmetrical parts separately. He researched a way to delineate the [[equation]]s to be derived from a [[variational principle]].
-On September 14, 1953, Einstein published the esential ideas of the generalization of the gravitation theory in the ''Annals of Mathematics''. In 1953, Einstein stated,
-:''The development is now closed'' [...]. ''The mathematical conclusiveness of the theory cannot be opposed. The question of it's physical validity, however, is completely undecided. The reason for this is that comparison of calculated solutions with experiment entails field equations which at the moment cannot be formulated''.
-This was the fourth version and only differed slightly from the earlier versions. An earlier version, besides the Scientific American article, was publish in a brochure in March 1953, which comprised thirty three pages and is an appendix to the fourth addition of the ''The Meaning of Relativity'' (1945). The theory was a result of fifty years of work. {{ref|seelig}}
 ==Aftermath==
+Einstein became increasingly isolated in his research over a Generalized Theory of Gravitation (being characterized as a "''[[mad scientist]]''" in these endeavors) and was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts at constructing a theory that would unify General Relativity and [[quantum mechanics]]. Einstein never fully developed the Unified Field Theory, nor has any physicist or researcher in the fifty-odd years since it was first postulated.
-In eight papers total that Einstein published, had two basic approaches to such a theory. The methods consisted of a five-dimensional manifold of space time and another being based on the generalization of Riemann geometry. These methods were ultimately unsuccessful. Einstein failed in his attempt to find equations that could be used to describe the interaction of matter and radiation, in which particles would appear as a limited region in space in which the field strength or the energy density are particularly high {{ref|Pais}}.
+==See also==
-Einstein became increasingly isolated in his research over a Generalized Theory of Gravitation (being characterized as a "''[[mad scientist]]''" in these endeavors) and was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts at constructing a theory that would unify General Relativity and [[quantum mechanics]]. Einstein never fully developed the Unified Field Theory, nor has any physicist or researcher in the fifty-odd years since it was first postulated. His attempts at constructing a theory that would be a simple unify field, combining General Relativity and [[quantum mechanics]] continue by other researchers.
-==See also==
 * [[Fundamental interaction]]
-* [[Philadelphia Experiment]]
-* [[Dynamic theory of gravity]]
-==References==
+==Further reading==
-* {{note|seelig}} Seelig, Carl, "''Albert Einstein : a documentary biography''". London, Staples Press, 1956. LCCN 56004089, pg 212-213.
-* {{note|Pais}} Pais, Abraham, "''Subtle is the Lord : the science and the life of Albert Einstein''". Oxford [Oxfordshire] ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1982. ISBN 019853907X (LCCN 82002273) [''ed''. This book suffers from "''omitting details as much as possible''. (page 327)]
-:: {{note|Pais0}} Pais, "''Subtle is the Lord''" pg. 325.
-:: {{note|Pais1}} Pais, "''Subtle is the Lord''" pg. 342.
-:: {{note|Pais2}} Pais, "''Subtle is the Lord''" pg. 348.
-==Further reading==
 * Einstein, A. and M. Grossmann, "''Outline of a Generalized Theory of Relativity and of a Theory of Gravitation''".
 * Einstein, Albert, "''A Generalized Theory of Gravitation''". The American Physical Society. 1948.
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 * G. Kunstatter, and J. W. Moffat and J. Malzan, "Geometrical interpretation of a generalized theory of gravitation", J-MATH-PHYS, 886 -889. apr, 1983.
-==External articles==
+==External links and references==
 * Einstein, Albert, "''[http://www.alberteinstein.info/db/ViewImage.do?DocumentID=34170&Page=1 On the Generalized Theory of Gravitation]''". April, 1950. [Manuscript notes, much overwritten] (German)