On Einstein's last bid to keep a stationary cosmology

TL;DR

This paper explores Einstein's brief 1931 consideration of a dynamic steady state universe with continuous matter creation, predating and paralleling later steady-state models, and analyzes the historical context influencing his ideas.

Contribution

It highlights Einstein's early, little-known attempt at a steady state cosmology and examines the circumstances that led him to consider continuous matter creation.

Findings

Einstein briefly explored a steady state universe in 1931.

He considered continuous matter creation to maintain constant density.

Historical circumstances influenced Einstein's cosmological ideas.

Abstract

It is commonly known that the steady-state model of the universe was proposed and championed in a series of influential papers around mid-twenty century by Fred Hoyle, Hermann Bondi, and Thomas Gold. In contrast it is little known that, many years before, Albert Einstein briefly explored the same idea; that is of a 'dynamic steady state' universe. In 1931 during his first visit to Caltech, Einstein tried to develop a model where the universe expanded and where matter was supposed to be continuously created. This latter process was proposed by him to keep the matter density of the universe constant. However, Einstein shortly abandoned the idea. The whole event has already been described and analyzed by C. O'Raifeartaigh and colleagues in 2014. It is the purpose of this brief note to point out what might have prompted Einstein to consider a continuous creation of matter and the prevailing circumstances at that time that drove Einstein's intent.