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Einstein's conversion from his static to an expanding universe

Nussbaumer, Harry

In: The European Physical Journal H, 2014, vol. 39, no. 1, p. 37-62

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    Titel
    • Einstein's conversion from his static to an expanding universe
    Autor
    • Nussbaumer, Harry. Institute of Astronomy, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
    Dokumententyp
    • Postprint
    Sprache
    • Englisch
    Veröffentlicht in
    • The European Physical Journal H, 2014, vol. 39, no. 1, p. 37-62. Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Andere elektronische Ausgabe
    Klassifikation
    • Physik
    OAI-PMH-ID
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:325594
    Summary
    In 1917 Einstein initiated modern cosmology by postulating, based on general relativity, a homogenous, static, spatially curved universe. To counteract gravitational contraction he introduced the cosmological constant. In 1922 Alexander Friedman showed that Albert Einstein's fundamental equations also allow dynamical worlds, and in 1927 Georges Lemaître, backed by observational evidence, concluded that our universe was expanding. Einstein impetuously rejected Friedman's as well as Lemaître's findings. However, in 1931 he retracted his former static model in favour of a dynamic solution. This investigation follows Einstein on his hesitating path from a static to the expanding universe. Contrary to an often advocated belief the primary motive for his switch was not observational evidence, but the realisation that his static model was unstable.