General relativity and the growth of a sub-discipline "gravitation" in the German speaking physics community

TL;DR

This paper examines the historical development and institutionalization of gravitational theory in Germany from 1915 to the 1990s, highlighting growth in research, education, and organizational structures within the field.

Contribution

It provides a social and institutional history of relativistic gravitation research in Germany, emphasizing the growth of research activities and organizational support over time.

Findings

Institutionalization achieved through dedicated institutes and society sections.

Research activity increased with more publications and academic positions.

Challenges remain for young researchers entering the field.

Abstract

We will follow the growth of gravitational theory in Germany from 1915 to the 1990s, i.e., relativistic theories of gravitation, mainly Einstein's, as a branch of physics in the sense of social, more precisely institutional history. As criteria for a continued professionalizing of the field, we use the numbers of published research papers, reviews, monographs, courses at universities, appointments of lecturers or professors as well as the status of those involved (members of academies). The foundation of special institutes for gravitational research and of particular divisions of physical societies forms the final stage of this process of institutionalization. At present, an institutionalization of research in relativistic gravitation has been achieved in Germany through a thriving topical section "Relativity and Gravitation" of the German Physical Society and a Max-Planck-Institute for Gravitational Physics. While an institutionalization of the field became achieved, the situation for young German relativists for entering into research in the field was not noticeably improved. Much of research in general relativity still is done at universities in rather small groups, the continuity of which is not guaranteed.