Notes on the page proof and publication of "Schallausbreitung in teilweise dissoziierten Gasen" by A. Einstein

TL;DR

This paper discusses the discovery and analysis of Einstein's corrected page proof for his 1920 publication on sound propagation in dissociated gases, focusing on differences in the proof and the correctness of specific equations.

Contribution

It provides insights into Einstein's revision process and clarifies the accuracy of key equations in his original publication.

Findings

Identification of differences between original and corrected proofs

Confirmation of the correctness of equations (18, 21, 22)

Historical insight into Einstein's publication process

Abstract

Recently, the page-proof, with corrections, of Einstein's 1920 publication on the "Propagation of Sound in Partly Dissociated Gases" was discovered in Leiden. The last two pages of the proof are crossed out and replaced by a sheet in Einstein's handwriting. In these notes, I briefly address the following two questions: A) Concerning the page proof, what is the difference between the contents of the crossed-out pages and the new page? B) Concerning the publication, are Eqs. (18,21,22) correct?