From the Berlin "Entwurf" Field Equations to the Einstein Tensor II: November 1915 until March 1916

TL;DR

This paper analyzes Einstein's November 1915 papers on General Relativity, showing how his field equations evolved from initial formulations to the final form involving the energy-momentum tensor trace.

Contribution

It reveals the development of Einstein's field equations during November 1915, linking early equations to the final form with the trace term.

Findings

Einstein's November 1915 equations evolved into the final field equations.

The additional trace term originated from Einstein's initial November 4 equations.

The paper clarifies the historical development of Einstein's gravitational field equations.

Abstract

I discuss Einstein's path-breaking November 1915 General Relativity papers. I show that Einstein's field equations of November 25, 1915 with an additional term on the right hand side involving the trace of the energy-momentum tensor appear to have sprung from his first November 1915 paper: the November 4, 1915 equations. Second paper among three papers.