508 APPENDICES
Stefan Meyer from Vienna cites relativity (from now on, relativity refers to the
special and the general theory). The Report is in essence identical with that of the
year before.
- Warburg, von Laue, and E. Meyer repeat their earlier nomination.
Planck nominates Einstein for general relativity since '[he] made the first step
beyond Newton' [P2]. Arrhenius nominates Einstein for Brownian motion. Per-
rin, Svedberg, and Gouy, all of them major contributors to experiments on Brown-
ian motion, are also put in nomination. The Report goes in detail into statistical
problems, including Einstein's PhD thesis and its correction as well as his work
on critical opalescence. However, it is noted, Einstein's statistical papers are not
of as high a caliber as his work on relativity and quantum physics. 'It would
undoubtedly appear peculiar to the learned world if Einstein were to receive the
prize for [statistical physics]. .. and not for his other major papers.' It is suggested
that one should wait for clarification of the red shift problem—and for the solar
eclipse of May 29!
- Warburg repeats his earlier nomination; Waldeyer-Hartz from Berlin
and L. S. Ornstein from Utrecht cite general relativity. A letter dated January 24,
1920, signed by Lorentz, Julius, Zeeman, and Kamerlingh Onnes stresses the
theory of gravitation. The successes of the perihelion motion and the bending of
light are emphasized. It is suggested that the red shift experiments are so delicate
that no firm conclusions should be drawn yet. Einstein 'has placed himself in the
first rank of physicists of all time.' Lorentz was deeply impressed by the results
of the 1919 eclipse expeditions. A few months earlier, he had described these to
Ehrenfest as 'one of the most brilliant confirmations of a theory ever achieved'
[L3].
Bohr adds his voice, too, citing Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and
the theory of specific heats, but 'first and foremost' relativity. 'One faces here an
advance of decisive significance for the development of physical research' [Bl].
Appended to the Report for 1920 is a statement by Arrhenius, prepared at the
request of the Committee, on the consequences of general relativity. Arrhenius
noted that the red shift experiments still disagreed with the theory and that criti-
cism had been leveled from various sides against the bending of light results of the
1919 eclipse expeditions. Some of these objections were indeed sensible (for details
and references, see [W3]). Less fortunate was Arrhenius's reference to an alleged
explanation of the perihelion effect based on an alternative theory.* The Com-
mittee concluded that for the time being relativity could not be the basis for the
award.
- In a brief, forceful note Planck repeats his nomination of Einstein.
"This was in reference to work by E. Gehrcke, one of the leaders of the 'Arbeitsgemeinschaft
Deutscher Naturforscher' (Chapter 16). As early as 1917 Einstein had pointed out that Gehrcke's
theory is based on contradictory assumptions [E4]. In 1921 Lenard proposed Gehrcke for the Nobel
prize.
