Atticus Rare Books

Zur Theorie der Lichtfortpflanzung in dispergierenden Medien. Offprint from Sitzungsbericht der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1922, pp. 18-22 [THEORY OF THE LIGHT PROPAGATION IN DISPERSIVE MEDIA]

Einstein, A. [Albert]

Berlin: Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1922. 1st Edition. FIRST EDITION, COMMERCIAL OFFPRINT ISSUE, OF EINSTEIN’S THEORY OF THE LIGHT PROPAGATION IN DISPERSIVE MEDIA. WEIL 120.

“After 1917 Einstein firmly believed that light-quanta were here to stay [thus] it is not surprising that he would look for new ways in which the existence of photons might lead to observable deviation from the classical picture. In this he did not succeed. At one point, in 1921, he thought he had found a new quantum criterion, but it soon turned out to be a false lead [as demonstrated in this paper]” (Schilpp-Shields 162).

That paper — the one offered here — is Einstein’s evidence that his 1921 efforts were incorrect. In it, Einstein introduces a calculation on the topic and explains why [his] earlier proposed experiment had not been well considered because it could not predict a good choice between two theoretical alternatives” (Calaprice, Einstein Encyclopedia, 98). Item #1648

CONDITION & DETAILS: Berlin: Koniglich Akademie der Wissenschaften. Commercial offprint from Sitzungsberichte der Koniglich preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, III, 1916, pp. 18-22. Octavo (252 x 179 mm). Original printed wrappers. Pristine inside and out. Fine.

Price: $350.00