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a letter from you to him could have a favorable effect. If you would be so kind as
to write such a letter, please mention nothing about my having asked you to do so.
In truth, you did have in mind to present the affair to him last summer already.
A younger brother of De Broglie (whom we know) undertook a very interesting
attempt to interpret the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantum rule (Parisian dissertation,
1924).[5]
I think this is a first, weak ray to cast light on this worst of all our physical
puzzles. I also found some things that speak for his construction.
Geiger and Bothe have executed an experiment that speaks in favor of rigorous
light quanta and against the views that Bohr-Kramers-Slater recently set
forth.[6]
They showed that deflected radiation in the Compton effect and the electron flung
out toward the other side are statistically interdependent events. The principle of
energy momentum does, however, seem to apply strictly and not just statistically.
With cordial regards and good wishes for the holidays and the New Year to you,
your wife, Mr. and Mrs. De Haas, and the little
children,[7]
yours,
A. Einstein.
400. To Robert A. Millikan
Berlin, 16 December 1924
Dear Colleague,
I thank you very much for your friendly letter and hope that I can come and visit
you in 1926 together with
Lorentz.[1]
If it should not be possible for me to travel in
1926, I would definitely come 1927. I already am very much looking forward to it.
I would also very much like to speak with the gentlemen in Washington about the
problems of terrestrial
magnetism.[2]
But my thoughts in this direction are still
quite indefinite at the moment.
With kind regards, yours,
A. Einstein
401. From Auguste Piccard
[Brussels,] 18 December 1924
Highly esteemed Professor,
Although I cannot relay any results to you today, I still would like to tell you
about what we have done and what we are going to do in the next few
days.[1]