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First edition, complete journal issue in original printed wrappers, of Einstein's discussion of the difficult problem of the energy of the gravitational field. "In his important October 1916 paper on general relativity, 'Hamiltonsche Prinzip und allgemeine Relativitatstheorie,' Einstein introduced a quantity whose spatial integral is the total energy-momentum of a closed gravitating system. This discovery marks the beginning of a new chapter in general relativity. New problems arise. Since [the integrated quantity] is not a general tensor density [but rather a pseudotensor], to what extent are the definitions of energy and momentum independent of the choice of coordinate system? During the next two years, this question was discussed by Felix Klein, Levi-Civita, Lorentz, Pauli, Schroedinger, and others, as well as by Einstein himself, who in 1918 came back to this issue one more time [in the present paper]. The significance of [the pseudotensor] is rather generally doubted, he wrote. He noted that the [pseudotensor] can be given arbitrary values at any given point but that nevertheless the energy and momentum integrated over all space have a definite meaning. Later investigations have shown that [the total energy-momentum] is well defined provided that the metric suitably approaches the Minkowski metric at spatial infinity. Many related questions continue to be studied intensely in the era of renewed activity following Einstein's death. Examples: Can one calculate the energy in a finite domain? Can one separate the energy into a gravitational and a non-gravitational part? Does purely gravitational energy exist? Is the total energy of a gravitating system always positive?" (Pais, Subtle is the Lord, p. 278). "[In the present paper], Einstein answers criticisms of his conservation law in general relativity and the pseudotensor used to express it. He argues that an integral form of the law is appropriate, and shows that the integral of a closed system's total energy is invariant and conserved and can be measured only far from the source. The pseudotensor played the key role in his analysis of gravitational waves" (Calaprice, Einstein Encyclopedia, p. 300). Weil 99. Complete journal issue, large 8vo, pp. 447-461. Original printed wrappers, uncut. Seller Inventory # ABE-1694123979517
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