D O C U M E N T 5 8 F E B R U A R Y 1 9 2 1 5 1
not mistaken. Since this enterprise is very close to my heart and I as a Jew also feel
the duty to contribute toward its success, to the best of my abilities, I
accepted.[4]
I
ask you please to tell Mr. Solvay and our colleagues that I only decided to renounce
participation at this Solvay congress with a heavy heart and that I heartily wish the
event good
success.[5]
I now have another hope of throwing a light on the realm of the molecular with
the aid of relativity theory. For there is a possibility that the following two postu-
lates can be united with each other.
1) The natural laws depend only on the ratios of the ’s ( and are
equivalent). [Weyl’s
postulate.][6]
2) The electromagnetic potentials do not explicitly enter into the laws, just the
field
strengths.[7]
I am very curious to see if these hypotheses will prove correct. I asked de Haas
to take over the brief report about the magnetic effect of rotation on his
own.[8]
I
am curious about what his careful experiments have yielded. Mr. Classen in Ham-
burg (university) thinks he has tracked down the reason experimentally for the too
small value of the effect; but I am skeptical for the time
being.[9]
I write in no more
detail because I do not know whether Mr. Classen approves of this, since his
research has not yet been completed.
I shall also have to come to Leyden somewhat later now, but in any case during
the course of the summer
term.[10]
With kind regards to you, your wife, and the de
Haas
family,[11]
I am yours,
A. Einstein.
58. To Wilhelm Wirtinger
Berlin, 22 February 1921
Highly esteemed Colleague,
I thank you very much for the news about your highly [welcome]
finding.[1]
The
property of the quantity is extremely [astonishing]. By recalcu-
lating it I have become persuaded that does not have the property
indicated by you, but that certainly does (just as by itself). I
must point out, besides, that the tensor is already indicated by Weyl as the
only linear tensor in depending only on the ratios of the ’s. The value
of your considerations is not reduced by this oversight. It would be of interest to
g g g
J K K =
K K
H H H
H
g
,
g