爱因斯坦在1916:从引力波到量子电磁辐射理论

Einstein in 1996:from gravitational waves to quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation

1916年,爱因斯坦预言引力波,并提出量子电磁辐射理论、完善光子概念、指出量子过程的内在随机性。百年之后,爱因斯坦预言的引力波通过激光的干涉被探测到,而激光正是基于爱因斯坦的量子电磁辐射理论。引力波探测技术还与爱因斯坦的光子概念和布朗运动理论相关。因此引力波首次被直接探测是对爱因斯坦广义相对论、量子电磁辐射理论2方面工作的100周年纪念。本文梳理引力波探测技术中的"爱因斯坦元素",即激光、光子和热噪声,然后通过对第一手资料特别是爱因斯坦那段时期的信件的分析考证,回顾爱因斯坦在1916年的研究历程,寻找爱因斯坦在引力波和量子电磁辐射理论2方面工作的历史联系。

In 1915,Einstein predicted gravitational waves,presented the quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation and completed his concept of photon.In one hundred years,gravitational waves were directly detected through the interference of lasers,which are exactly based on Einstein＇s quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation.The techniques of gravitational wave detection are also related to Einstein＇s concept of photons and theory of Brownian motion.The first direct detection of gravitational waves was a commemoration of the centenaries of both contributions of Einstein,one being general relativity and prediction of gravitational waves,the other being quantum theory of radiation.After a review of the＂Einsteinian elements＂in gravitational detection techniques,that is,the lasers,the photons and the thermal noises,we survey Einstein＇s research activities in 1916 and look for the historic connections between Einstein＇s work on gravitational waves and his work on quantum theory of electromagnetic waves,by analyzing the first-hand materials,especially the correspondence of Einstein during that period.