Prof. Albert Einstein has now gone “far beyond” the conclusions which he reached in his theory of a mathematical relationship between gravity and electro-magnetism, which provoked such widespread discussion last January, according to a copyrighted article by Dr. Norbert Wiener, assistant professor of mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. published in the May issue of the “Technology Review.”
Dr. Wiener and his colleague, Dr. Manuel S. Vallarta of Technology Institute claim to have discovered certain deficiencies in the theory which have been recognized by Einstein himself in private correspondence with them.
The publicity given to the January paper, Dr. Wiener’s article says, “led one to believe this is the manuscript of Einstein instead of a manuscript of Einstein.”
“I can say,” the article continued, “that no word of Prof. Einstein has ever lent color to that notion. His paper is but one of a series of which it is neither the first nor the last, nor in any notable way distinguished from the others.
“Einstein has recognized its conclusion as tentative and has now replaced it by a piece of work which, in his estimation, goes far beyond. We have this on the basis of direct advices from Prof. Einstein himself. His correspondence bears the tone of scholarly dignity and magnanimity.
“The pretended incomprehensibility of the Einstein theory has been used as capital by professional anti-Einsteins.” says Dr. Wiener. “These have had a recent recruit in a churchman of prominence, who has made his inability to understand it sufficient cause to utter a warning to the laymen not to be misled by such tempting obscurities. Without prejudice to the cause of religion I may remark that theological discussions have not at all times been distinguished by their character of lucidity.”
Dr. Wiener obviously was referring to a recent statement by Cardinal
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O’Connell. Archbishop of Boston, who saw behind the Einstein theory the specter of atheism.
“Einstein’s January paper.” says the article, “is one of the many attempts that have been made to bind up gravitational relativity and electrical theory into a single whole.
“The earlier form of the quantum theory could be rendered compatible with general relativity without excessive difficulty. It is only necessary to refer to the papers of Dedonder, of Fock, of Klein. But the trouble with all these pieces of work was that the formal quantum theory to which they attached them has become obsolete.
“The spinning electron of Goudsmit and Ulenbeck was first combined with quantum mechanical considerations in a reasonably satisfactory manner by Dirac, who changed the original difficult differential equation of Schroedinger from a second order equation to a system of first order ones. The Dirac equation has been harmonized with the old forms of gravitational relativity by J. M. Whittaker, son of Prof. E. T. Whittaker of Edinburgh, but at the cost of raising the order from the first to the second.
“At this stage Einstein comes forward with a new synthesis of electricity and gravitation which makes no mention of the quantum theory. He introduces, unlike his course in the older theory, a universal parallelism of directions at all points of space and time. In this he goes half-way back to our older pre-relativistic conceptions of mechanics.
“It is to be observed that this modification of the theory makes possible a comparison of spin through all space and time, and this in full accordance with the demands of the theory of the spinning electron and of the quantum theory, which does not localize the electron but spreads it through the universe.
“Although Einstein makes no mention of quantum-theoretical considerations, it was immediately seen by Wigner in Germany and by mathematical physicists of the Institute that the chief value of the Einstein theory was the fact that it rendered possible a good relativistic treatment of the Dirac equation.”
The Texas Zionist Association will celebrate its 25th anniversary at its forthooming convention which is to be held in Dallas on May 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th.
One of the chief subjects of discussion at the convention will be the proposal to purchase a tract of land through the Jewish National Fund for the formation of a Texas Cokny in Palestine.
Present officers of the Texas Zionist Association are L. A. Freed. Houston, President: Harry Sigel, Dallas; Coas, Bender, Breckenridge: and J. Swiff, Gaiveston. Vice-Presidents; R. Dou. Houston. Treasure: and I. E. Rioch. Dallas, Secretary. Rabbi A. Beagis, Fort Worth is chairman of the State Executive Committee.
Rabbi Joseph Hager was appointed Executive Director of the Wah Street Synacogne at a meeting of the heard of trustees of the congregation, which has its offices at 305 Broadway. New York.
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