Einstein's Theory of Unified Fields

Marie Antoinette Tonnelat, Richard Akerib

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781317698791
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 20th Century History
• Index: History

First published in1966, here is presented a comprehensive overview of one of the most elusive scientific speculations by the pre-eminent genius of the 20th century. The theory is viewed by some scientists with deep suspicion, by others with optimism, but all agree that it represents an extreme challenge. As the author herself affirms, this work is not intended to be a complete treatise or 'didactic exposition' of the theory of unified fields, but rather a tool for further study, both by students and professional physicists.

Dealing with all the major areas of research which together comprise the development of a working model, the author ranges over conservation equations, variational principles, solutions of spherical symmetry, and treats a wide selection of Einstein's own equations. The final chapter indicates problems associated with the unified field theory, in particular the energy-momentum tensor and geodesics.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Title Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Table of Contents
• Introduction--Purpose and Methods of Unified Theories
• 1. Mathematical Introduction
• 2. Field Equations, Variational Principles, Conservation Equations
• 3. The First Group of Einstein’s Equations--Expression of the Affine Connection as a Function of the Fields
• 4. The Second Group Of Einstein’s Equations
• 5. Spherically Symmetric Solution
• 6. The Field and the Sources
• 7. Some Problems Raised by the Unified Field Theory
• Appendix I. Relations Between Determinants
• Appendix II. Application of the Variational Principle to a Density Constructed with Riccps Tensor
• Appendix III. Proof of the Relation
• Appendix IV. Calculation of the Affine Connection in the Static Spherically Symmetric Case
• Appendix V. Isotropic Coordinate System in the Unified Field Theory
• References
• Index