EINSTEIN, Albert, (1879-1955). ‘Über einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes betrefenden heu

EINSTEIN, Albert, (1879-1955). ‘Über einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes betrefenden heuristischen Gesichtspunkt,’ in: Annalen der Physik, 4. Folge, Band 17, no. 6, 132-148 pp. Leipzig: Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1905. Signed frst edition of Einstein’s Nobel Prize-winning paper on the photon, in which he proposes that light is a collection of independent particles of energy, or light quanta — ‘Einstein’s only contribution that he himself called revolutionary’ (Pais). ‘Such a hypothesis,’ argued Einstein, ‘would provide an answer to the problem of black-body radiation where classical theories had failed, and would also explain several puzzling properties of fuorescence, photoionization and the photoelectric efect’ (Norman). A paper of foundational importance for modern physics, a key element in the quantum revolution, and with important implications for the formulation of the theory of relativity. Translated as ‘On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light,’ this was the frst of the four papers published by Einstein in 1905, his Annus Mirabilis. It was for this paper, together with one on the photoelectric efect published in 1906 (‘Zur Theorie der Lichterzeugung und Lichtabsorption’), that Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Signed ‘A. Einstein ([19]50)’ on right of caption title. Norman 689; Weil 6. See A. Pais, ‘Subtle is the Lord...’: The Science and Life of Albert Einstein (1982), pp. 376-378. Octavo (217 x 145mm). 132-148 pp., 1 leaf of plates. Later brown paper wrappers, printed paper letteringpiece on spine (small chips to edges and one short closed tear on back).