Discover
/
Article

Jordan, Pauli, Politics, Brecht, and a Variable Gravitational Constant

OCT 01, 1999
Pascual Jordan was one of the great theoretical physicists of the century. But his attempt to modify general relativity with a variable gravitational constant did nothing to enhance his reputation. Nor did his conspicuous membership in the Nazi Party.

DOI: 10.1063/1.882858

Engelbert L. Schucking

November 1952: “Eisenhower Elected President” proclaimed the headline in Die Welt. Why did they do that, those crazy Americans? This will mean the Dulles brothers in power and Adenauer’s rearmament of Germany. But I put politics out of my mind and rang the doorbell of the apartment on Hamburg’s Bundesstrasse. A maid with a little white cap opened the door.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. P. Jordan, Schwerkraft und Weltall, Vieweg, Braunschweig, West Germany (1952).

  2. 2. K. Henschel, ed., Physics and National Socialism, Birk‐hauser, Boston (1996), appendix F, p. 35.

  3. 3. R. Beyler, “From Positivism to Organicism: Pascual Jordan’s Interpretations of Modern Physics in Cultural Context,” PhD thesis. Harvard U. (1994), p. 207.

  4. 4. M. N. Wise, in Science, Technology and National Socialism, M. Renneberg, M. Walker, eds., Cambridge U. P. Cambridge, England (1994), p. 226.

  5. 5. A. Kratnish, The Griffin, Houghton Mifflin, Boston (1986).

  6. 6. O. Teichmuller, J. Reine u. Angew. Mathematik 174, 73 (1935).

  7. 7. P. A. M. Dirac, Nature 139, 323 (1937).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  8. 8. P. Jordan, Ann. der Phys., 6. Folge 1, 219 (1947).

  9. 9. P. G. Bergmann, Ann. Math. 49, 255 (1948).https://doi.org/ANMAAH

  10. 10. W. Pauli, Scientific Correspondence, K. v. Meyenn, ed., Springer, New York (1996), vol. 4, part 1, p. 737, and vol. 3, p. XXVIII.

  11. 11. P. Jordan, Schwerkraft und Weltall, 2nd ed., revised with E. Schucking, Vieweg, Braunschweig, West Germany (1955), p. 202.

  12. 12. K. Stellmacher, Mathematische Annalen 115, 136 (1937),
    and K. Stellmacher, 115, 740 (1938).

  13. 13. B. Brecht, Gesammelte Werke, Suhrkamp, Berlin, (1988), vol. 4. (plays), p. 197.

  14. 14. E. Schucking, Z. Phys. 148, 72 (1957).https://doi.org/ZEPYAA

  15. 15. Y. Thiry, J. Math. Pures et Appl. 30, 275 (1951).

  16. 16. M. Fierz, Helv. Phys. Acta 24, 128 (1956).https://doi.org/HPACAK

  17. 17. P. Jordan, Z. Phys. 94, 531 (1935).https://doi.org/ZEPYAA

  18. 18. P. Jordan, J. vonNeumann, E. Wigner, Ann. Math. 35, 29 (1934).https://doi.org/ANMAAH

More about the Authors

Engelbert L. Schucking. New York University, New York City.

Related content
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
/
Article
Bottom-up self-assembly is a powerful approach to engineering at small scales. Special strategies are needed to formulate components that assemble into predetermined shapes with precise sizes.
/
Article
The polymath scientist leaves behind a monumental legacy in both the scientific and political realms.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1999_10.jpeg

Volume 52, Number 10

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.