Unified Field Theory - 4

VOL.
16, 1930
MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS
761
ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. I

By TRAcY YERKES THOMAS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Communicated September 30, 1930
In a number of notes in the Berlin Sitzungsberichtel followed by a revised

account in the Mathematische Annalen,2 Einstein has attempted to develop a unified theory of the gravitational and electromagnetic field by introducing into the scheme of Riemann geometry the possibility of distant
parallelism. According to this view, there exists in each point of the underlying continuum of the world of space and time, a local cartesian coordinate system in which the Pythagorican theorem is satisfied. These
local coordinate systems are determined by four independent vector fields
with components h?(x) depending on the coordinates x: of the continuum.
There is, therefore, associated with each point, a configuration consisting
of four independent vectors; it is assumed that these vector configurations
are in parallel orientation in such a way that the arbitrary orientation of
the configuration at one point determines uniquely the orientation of the
configurations at all points of the continuum. This affords the possibility
of determining whether or not two vectors at different points are parallel,
namely, by comparing their components in the local systems: Two vectors are parallel if the corresponding components are equal when referred
to a local system of coordinates. It is in the theory of the space of distant
parallelism that Einstein has hoped to find his long-sought unification of
electricity and gravitation.
It is important to determine an exact relation between the coordinates
zi of the local system and the coordinates x} of the space of distance parallelism. This problem is solved in the present communication in such a way
that certain requirements specified precisely in Sect. 2 are satisfied. As
so defined there is a certain analogy between the local coordinates and the
normal coordinates introduced into the theory of relativity by Birkhoff3
and later discussed by the writer.4 The relation between the zt and xi
coordinates enables us to construct a set of absolute invariants with respect
to transformations of the xs coordinates sufficient for the complete characterization of the space of distant parallelism. Equations in the local
system, in which the coordinates zt are interpretable as coordinates of
time and space, can be transformed directly into equations of general invariantive character. In view of this property we are led to the construction of a system of wave equations as the equations of the combined gravitational and electromagnetic field. This system is composed of 16 equations for the determination of the 16 quantities hi and is closely analogous
to the system of 10 equations for the determination of the 10 components
762
PRoc. N. A. S.
gas in the original theory of gravitation. It is an interesting fact that the

covariant components h of the fundamental vectors, when considered as
electromagnetic potential vectors, satisfy in the local coordinate system
the universally recognized laws of Maxwell for the electromagnetic field
in free space, as a consequence of the field equations.
It is my intention to supplement the results of the present paper by a
series of papers devoted to an existence-theoretic treatment of the field
equations and related problems.
1. Let us denote by h9(x) for i = 1,2,3,4, the components of four contravariant vector fields; we observe that the Latin letter i is thus used to
denote the vector, and the Greek letter a to denote the component of the
vector. In general, we shall adopt this convention of Einstein, i.e., we
shall employ a Latin letter for an index which is of invariantive character
with respect to the arbitrary transformations of the xi coordinates, and a
Greek letter in all contrary cases. Departures from this rule, as well as
departures from the rule that an index which appears twice in a term is to
be summed over the values of its range, will be such as are easily recognized
on observation. By means of the quantities hF(x) we impose on the underlying continuum its structure as a space of distant parallelism in accordance
with the following
POSTULATES OF SPACE STRUCTURE
A. In any coordinate system (x) there exists a unique set of components
A, of affine connection, for the determination of the affine properties of the
continuum.
B. In any coordinate system (x) there exists a unique quadratic differential
form gpdxadx" of signature -2, for the determination of the metric properties of the continuum.
C. At each point P of the continuum there is determined a configuration
consisting of four orthogonal unit vectors issuing from P.
D. Corresponding vectors in the configurations, determined at two points
P and Q of the continuum, are parallel.
E. The components hi of the vectors determining the configuration at any
point P of the continuum, are analytic functions of the xi coordinates.
The quadratic differential form in Postulate B will be referred to as the
fundamental form and its coefficients gas as the components of the fundamental metric tensor. The four unit vectors with components h?'(x),
which enter in Postulates C, D and E, will be referred to as the fundamental vectors. Since these vectors are orthogonal by Postulate C, the
expression gahi'hlk is equal to zero for i # k; the condition that the
fundamental vectors are unit vectors, likewise specified by Postulate C,
means that for i = k, the expression g.Xhlh' has the value 1. Hence
we can write
VOL. 16, 1930
gashhIk
763
ek(1.1)
where, following Eisenhart,5 the convenient notation ej for + 1 or -1, is
=
introduced. The fact that the fundamental form has signature -2 by

Postulate B leads us to take
e= 1,e2 = e3 =
1;
more precisely, the signature -2 requires that one of the ej have the value
+ 1 and that the remaining ej have values -1, the selection of the particular es to which the value + 1 is assigned being an unessential matter of
notation. From (1.1) we see that the product of the determinants gas|
and h, '12 is equal to -1. This shows that the determinant |gB| is negative and leads to the conclusion of the independence of the fundamental
vectors. It is, therefore, possible to deduce from the fundamental vectors
a system of four covariant vectors with components hs(x) uniquely defined
by the relations
W'h = b, hahs = k;
the components h' will be called the covariant components of the fundamental vectors to distinguish them from the contravariant components
hS of these vectors. In consequence of the above relations, equations (1.1)
can be solved so as to obtain
gap
i=l
eighth'(1.2)
E
as the equations defining the components of the fundamental metric tensor.

The condition that the fundamental vectors be parallel as demanded by
Postulate D has its analytical expression in the equations
x + hi Vs = 0.
This gives
AL
hc'i
bhsa
bx-y
(1.3)
as the equations which define the components A' of affine connection.

Let us now suppose the existence of another system of fundamental vectors in the same space of distant parallelism. Let us denote the contravariant components of these vectors by *h?(x) in the (x) coordinate system,
and let us put
764
MATHEMATICS: T. Y. THOMAS
PROC. N. A. S.
*h = ah
(1.4)
A*;
these equations define the quantities ak as analytic functions of the x'
coordinates in consequence of Postulate E. Multiplying both members of
(1.4) by *h'h- we obtain the equations
h,,
(1.5)
a.*7'h
which represent the transformation induced by (1.4) on the covariant

components hL. On account of the uniqueness of determination of the
components A;,(x) demanded by Postulate A, we must have
6
h6his bh~ace=*hia *hso

From (1.4) and these latter equations, it readily follows that the quantities
ak are constants. The quantities ak are, however, not arbitrary constants,
since they must satisfy a condition of orthogonality, namely,
4
e ea' as =
ek k5
(1.6)
which is obtained from (1.5) as the direct result of the uniqueness of determination of the fundamental form specified by Postulate B. Taking the
determinant of both members of (1.6) we find that the determinant a
has the value 1. We can therefore define uniquely a set of quantities
b' by the equations
a' bi = Sk, aj bSt=a
Another form of the conditions (1.6) which is sometimes useful, can be derived in the following manner. Multiply both members of (1.6) by b,
so as to obtain
emar = elb.,
or
a=
elembl.
When we multiply both members of these latter equations through by

elal and sum of the index 1, we find
4
ke
aka7 = eker
(1.7)
The transformation (1.4) in which the coefficients a4 are constants satisfying (1.6) or (1.7) will be called an orthogonal transformation of the components of the fundamental vectors.
VOL. 16, 1930
765
2. The idea of the local coordinate system (z) is inherent in the idea of
the configuration formed by the four vectors whose components h? are
subject to the orthogonal transformations (1.4), and, in fact, the construction of the local system was not carried beyond this stage by Einstein.
Nevertheless a configuration of four vectors is not a coordinate system and
we must face the problem of showing exactly how a system of local coordinates z' can be defined. We require of the local system that it satisfy
certain conditions which are stated precisely in the following
POSTULATES OF THE LOCAL SYSTEM
A. With each point P of the space of distant parallelism there is associated a local co6rdinate system (z) having its origin at the point P.
B. The coordinate axes of the local system (z) at the point P are tangent
to the fundamental vectors at P, in such a way that the zi axis is tangent to the
vector with components h? and has its positive direction along the direction
of this vector.
C. The interval ds is given by
ds2 = (dzl) 2-(dz2) - (dz3) 2
(dz4) 2
(2.1)
at the origin of the local system.

D. The paths6 of the space of distant parallelism which pass through the
origin of the local system (z) have the form
=eV'
(2.2)
where the e are constants and v is a parameter.

The above postulates give a complete geometrical characterization of the
coordinates z2 of the local system. The paths which enter in Postulate D
are, in general, defined as those curves which are given as solutions of the
invariant system of equations
dx" dx7'=0,
d~x"+ -a
(2.3)
dv
dv dv
where
d~a
-1=
(A"a+ Ae);
(2.4)
such curves are generated by continuously displacing a vector parallel to

itself along its own direction and are analogous to the straight lines of
affine Euclidean geometry. If we denote the components of affine con-
766
PRoc. N. A. S.
nection A; by Ni4 (z), when referred to the local coordinate system, we

have in consequence of Postulate D that
e =o
along a path through the origin of the local system. It follows immediately from these latter equations that the equations
= 0
(2.5)
k.k
are satisfied identically in the local system. When we replace the components 'Xjk in (2.5) by their values in terms of the components A' we obtain a system of partial differential equations for the determination of the
coordinates x' in terms of the coordinates zi, namely,
N7k j
( 82Xe
+ AO'
(2.6)
This system of equations possesses a unique solution x = spa(z) satisfying

a set of initial conditions
x= p (z = 0),
(2.7)
~~~ ~ aazi
z
(Z' 0),
Pi'
~~~~(2.8)
where pa and pi' are arbitrary constants.7 By Postulate A condition (2.7)

is satisfied, provided that the constants pa denote the coordinates of the
point P; it remains to determine
the values of the constants pi in
(2.8). For this purpose we consider
the relation, imposed by Postulate
X B. between the local coordinates
/
and the fundamental vectors at the
point P; this is illustrated in the
accompanying figure in which we
o
k
_
Z have indicated only the positive z'
and z2 axes and the corresponding
tangent vectors with components
el and h2, respectively. In consequence, we see that
(axo)
ahW(p),
where the o, are positive constants. On account of this set of equations

and the condition imposed by Postulate C, it readily follows that the oi
are equal to 1. Hence as = +1, since these constants are positive,
-and the above set of equations becomes
VOL. 16, 1930
767
(2.9)
(P).
(az )zO *
The values h?(p) are therefore to be ascribed to the above constants P?.
By repeated differentiation of (2.6) and use of the initial conditions (2.7)
and (2.9), we determine the successive coefficients H(p) of the power series
expansions
a
pa + ha (p)zi
- -
2!
Hia (p)z'z'
- Htjk(P)z ZZk -
3!
(2. 10)
Thus we have that

Hew = A
4yhqhj,
where
AN= 2
a +
(2.11)
It
and
H'jk
AzahhJi k,
where
Aa= 1 [(
-2(AO AO's + Ae7 Acp + AaaAB8Y)
(2.12)
etc. The jacobian of (2.10) does not vanish since it is equal to the determinant 11i (p)I at the origin of the local system; hence (2.10) possesses a
unique inverse. Either the transformation (2.10), or its inverse, gives a
unique defination of the local coordinate system.
3. Let us denote by z' the coordinates of the local system determined
by the point P and the components of affine connection A4y(-x) which
result from the components Ap7(x) by an analytic transformation T
of the Xa coordinates. The relation between the z' and z coordinates
must then be such that
iZ
0 (Z
0) x
ak (Z"
) -(3 .1 )
Also this relation must be such as to satisfy the system of equations
(ala-*
+ VP ?a--z
Z- = 0.
(3.2)
Hence
i,
(3.3)
768
PRoc. N. A. S.
This follows from the fact that (3.3) satisfies (3.2) and the initial conditions (3.1), and that (3.2) possesses a unique solution which satisfies the
conditions (3.1). We can therefore say that the local coordinates z' remain
unchanged when the underlying coordinates xi undergo an arbitrary analytic
transformation T. In a similar manner we can show that when the fundamental vectors undergo an orthogonal transformation (1.4), the local co6rdinates iz associated with any point P likewise undergo an orthogonal transformation, i.e., a linear homogeneous transformation
a'Zk~a:
|=|'
(3.4)
which leaves the form

4
Z eiz'z~
invariant. The behavior of the coordinates z? of the local system (1) under
arbitrary analytic transformations of the xi coordinates, and (2) under orthogonal transformations of the fundamental vectors as described by the
above italicized statements, is of great importance for the development of
the theory of relativity.
4. If we transform the components of a tensor to a system of local coordinates z? and evaluate at the origin of this system, we obtain a set of
quantities which are of the nature of absolute invariants with respect to
transformations of the xt coordinates. To prove this formally we shall find
it convenient to denote a set of tensor components T., (x) with respect
to the (x) system, by t Ikm.l in the (z) coordinate system, i.e., we shall
adopt the convention that in the (z) coordinate system, Latin letters when
|, correspond to indices of covariant or contravariant
enclosed by
character. If we put
T'k...
tik.
.mi)z =
then
Tk~"m (X)
Tk. .-'m(X
in consequence of (3.3). The explicit expressions for these invariants are

obtained by evaluating at z = 0 both members of the set of equations
(4.1)
t k .i
=
This gives
T k-m T Ihy . .. h h'a. . hj,.
Similarly, if we differentiate the components t any number of times and
evaluate at the origin of the (z) system, we obtain a set of quantities, namely,
...
VOL. 16, 1930
769
each of which is an absolute invariant with respect to analytic transformations of the xe coordinates. On account of this invariant property, the
name absolute derivatives will be used to refer to these quantities. To derive the explicit formulae for any absolute derivative Tg:]., ... we
have merely to differentiate (4.1) with respect to z... .z and evaluate
at the origin of the (z) system. For example, the first absolute derivative
of the covariant vector with components Ta is given by the formula
TkP = (a
TaA7)
hk 14.
We next consider the absolute derivatives of the fundamental vectors,

using the covariant components h, of these vectors as the basis of discussions. Let us denote these components by A' 1 when referred to the
(z) coordinate system. Then
Alj1
14
(4.2)
In general, the absolute derivatives are defined by the equations

1,k...
.3)
(4)Z
=
We note that
A'j,= h' hj= 5j
also that
(z'
(4.4)
= 0);
|J
hj',k- hLl
(4.5)
821L' -h?,x6 A -^ox
and
|~k
- [
LiX~X
Aajp
h'AaB-y hjahk'h7
(4-6)
|
The special formulae (4.5) and (4.6) will be important in our later work.
By (4.3) the absolute derivative M.k... .m is symmetric in the indices
k. . .m. Hence, these quantities satisfy the identities
.70
PRoc. N. A. S.
(4.7)
|h;k...m = h>p...
where p... q denotes any permutation of the indices k... m. To derive

other identities satisfied by the h>,k. . .m we observe that the equations
(6AbI\) zjzk
(4-8)
=0
%zk!
which are equivalent to (2.5), are satisfied identically in the (z) coordinate
system. By repeated differentiation of (4.8) and evaluation at the origin
of the (z) system, we obtain
S
(h1,k ... m) =
|(4.9)
where the symbol S is used to stand for the summation of all the terms obtainable from the one in parenthesis by permutating the indices jk. . m
cyclically. As special cases of the identities (4.9) let us observe that
(4.10)
hjk + hk = 0
and
hj,kz + hk,lj + hjk
0.
(4.11)
The identities (4.7) and (4.9) constitute a complete set of identities of the
absolute derivatives hi,*... , in the sense that any other identity satisfied by these quantities is derivable from these identities.8
When we make an orthogonal transformation (1.4) of the components of
the fundamental vectors, the components A!j, go over into a set of components *Aiji referred to the (z*) system, which are related to the ATjj by
(4.12)
*Aji, aiP = AP aj';
this follows from (1.5), (3.4), and (4.2). Differentiating both members of
(4.12) with respect to zk... z and evaluating at the origin of the local
system, we obtain
(4.13)
*hM*..." at = hr ...t a.... .a
We express this result by saying that the absolute derivatives I,k*...
constitute the components of a tensor with respect to orthogonal transformations of the fundamental vectors. A similar discussion can, of course, be made
on the basis of the contravariants components h? of the fundamental vectors; also equations similar to (4.13) give the transformation of the components T*.-. -. or more generally of the components Tk.M,p.. , induced by the transformation (1.4) of the fundamental vectors.9
5. It is the sense of the local coordinate system (z) that the coordinate
771
VOL. 16, 1930
z' is interpretable as the time coordinate and Z2, Z3, Z4, as rectangular cartesian coordinates of space. Let us, therefore, put
z1
t, Z2
X, z3 = y, z4 =Z
in accordance with the unusual designations. More precisely, we should

say that z1 has the significance of a time coordinate and Z2, Z3, Z4, the sig-m
nificance of rectangular cartesian coordinates x, y, z at the origin of coordinates, i.e., in the infinitesimal neighborhood of the origin, since the
interval ds has the exact form (2.1) only at the origin of the local system.
In conformity with this interpretation of the coordinates of the local system,
we now impose on the space of distant parallelism, the following
POSTULATE OF THE UNIFIED FIELD
The equations
U1
, 6X2
1A +
by2
1A
bZ2
IA
a)t2
(5.1)
are satisfied at the origin of the local system.

According to the above postulate, the field equations of the combined
gravitational and electromagnetic field are of the nature of a system of
wave equations-a type of equation which has already shown itself to be of
fundamental importance for the study of gravitational or electromagnetic
phenomena. The relationship of the above system of field equations to
the field equations of the earlier theory of gravitation and to the Maxwell
equations of the electromagnetic field is discussed in the following'section.
When (5.1) is expressed in general invariative form, we have
4
EehJ kk=O
k 1
=
(5.2)
as the proposed system of field equations for the unified field theory. The
system (5.2) is obviously invariant with respect to transformations of the xs
coordinates, since the factors which compose the system are themselves
directly invariant; it is also invariant with respect to orthogonal transformations (1.4) of the fundamental vectors. To prove this we observe that
*h_,,klat
hPrsajqdka'
from (4.13). Putting I equal to k in these equations and multiplying

through by ek, we obtain
(k~1 ek hjkk) as = ( E erhq rr)
772
PROC. N. A. S.
on making use of (1.7). This proves the assertion of invariance of (5.2)

with respect to orthogonal transformations of the fundamental vectors.
6. If we denote the components of electric force by X, Y, Z and the
components of magnetic force by a, P, y then Maxwell's equations for the
electromagnetic field in free space, are
6z
by
bz
at
ax
a:
bz
ox
6z
at
~~~~(6.1)
_az
aY~~~ax
by
Ox
a a
ax
at
az=0
by
Oz
and
a_ 6x
z _j
by
6z
aac
y _ bY
ax
at
1 Z
at
(6.2)
0 _ 6a _> JZ
bx
by
tjax
by
at
bz
where x, y, z are rectangular Cartesian coordinates and t is the time. It
is possible to write the above equations in a more contracted form. For
this purpose we define a set of skew-symmetric quantities Fjk as the elements of the matrix
-x
-Y
-Y
-a
-z -,
and then construct the following two sets of equations
Fjk,l + Fklj + Fljk

and
(6.3)
E ekFk,k
k=I
0,
(6.4)
VOL. 16, 1930
773
where Fjk,l is now used to denote the ordinary partial derivative of Fik
with respect to z'. The expanded forms of (6.3) and (6.4) give equations
(6.1) and (6.2), respectively. Functions soy of the coordinates x, y, z and
the time t are called electromagnetic potentials if they are such that
Fjk
_
=.bfk
aJZk b'k
aJZ
(6.5)
If the Fjk have the form (6.5), equations (6.3) are satisfied identically.
Now consider the covariant components h' referred to the local system,
i.e., the components Al'1, and put
= A1i1
(6.6)
for a fixed value of the index i; also define a set of quantities Fjk by (6.5),
using the so given by (6.6) for that purpose. Then
Fjk
a k_
az~kl(6.7)
Differentiating and evaluating at the origin of the local system, we have

Fjk, hjkl -hkjlv
the absolute derivatives Fjkl given by these equations satisfy the first set
of Maxwell's equations (6.3) in consequence of the identities (4.11). Moreover,
4
E ekFjkf*
E (ekh>k
ekhkik)
3 4
E ek hJkk.
Hence, the second set of Maxwell's equations (6.4) is satisfied in consequence of the field equations (5.2). In other words, the covariant cornponents of the fundamental vectors when considered as electromagnetic potential vectors, satisfy, in the local coordinate system, the universally recognized
laws of Maxwell for the electromagnetic field in free space, as a consequence
of thefield equations (5.2). This fact strongly suggests that the components
hA will play the r6le of electromagnetic potentials in the present theory.
Taking account of the field equations (5.2) we easily deduce the system
of equations
4
E ekgijkk = 2 E ek el
k=1
k,l =1
Or, denoting the components gag by

ordinate system, we have
a-2
-)X2
+ a-2B
+
~a2Bby2
OZ2
Blij,
hik hi.*.
(6.8)
when referred to the local co-
24__(
1- at2
B_
2 E= 1 ekelh, khj'k (6.9)
~~~~~k,1
774
PROc. N. A. S.
at the origin of the local system. Now in the earlier theory of gravitation,
the field equations could be given a form analogous to (6.9) in which the
right members were equal to zero;3 since the nature of the solution of (6.8)
is determined by the form of the left members of (6.9) it follows that the
functions gaff possess the same general character as in the earlier theory of
gravitation. Moreover, the interpretation of the quantities hl as electromagnetic potentials would lead us to expect that in a purely gravitational
field, i.e., more precisely, in a comparatively inappreciable electromagnetic
field, the square of the hlk would be negligibly small quantities. In this
case the right members of (6.9) vanish approximately and we are left with
the system
ij1
ax2
62BI j
ay2
-Blij
_Blij
__
= o
bt2
as a first approximation. It is, therefore, to be expected that the quantities ga, will successfully assume the r6le of gravitational potentials as in
the previous theory of gravitation.
1 A. Einstein, Berliner Berichte, 1928-30.
A. Einstein, "Auf die Riemann-Metrik und den Fern-Parallelismus gegriindete einheitliche Feldtheorie," Math. Ann., 102 (1930), pp. 685-697.
' G. D. Birkhoff, Relativity and Modern Physics, Harvard University Press (1923), pp.
124 and 228.
4 T. Y. Thomas, "The Principle of Equivalence in the Theory of Relativity," Phil.
Mag., 48 (1924), pp. 1056-1068.
6 L. P. Eisenhart, Riemannian Geometry, Princeton University Press (1926), Chap. I.
6This has reference to the path in the sense inwhich that word is used in "The Geometry
of Paths," Trans. Am. Math. Soc., 25 (1923), pp. 551-608.
7 It is obvious that the system of differential equations (2.6) possesses a unique formal
solution
pa" + paZ + -1 pa
x
(a)
z"zj +
S
2! ~
2
such that the conditions (2.7) and (2.8) are satisfied. A proof of convergence of the
series (a) can be given in the following manner. Consider a system of equations
azixzk
(b)
0,
where the ly are analytic functions of the variables Xc. The conditions of integrability of (b) are that
_AP,-
115
+ Fe,
- Fa Fa5 = 0
identically. These conditions are satisfied by taking all the functions

another in accordance with the equations
FPP
equal
to one
L.
16, 1930
775
~X1 + *-+ XI
rat-
ere M and p are constants; the system (b) then possesses a unique solution
X"
Pia Zs + pai Z" ? +
pa, +
(C)
isfying the conditions
Xa = Pa (zi =),
axC1
ai=c, (ki = 0).
)w choose the above constants M and p so that each function Fib, dominates the corre)nding functions
and, furthermore, choose the pa and Pa such that
Ac',,,
pa2lpaI lp,P>Ica
view of the fact that (c) is likewise a solution of the system
(
a~x
_ F aX ~k )zjzk
O.
s then easily seen that each expansion (c) dominates the corresponding expansion (a).
e convergence of the expansions (a) within a sufficiently small neighborhood of the
ues zi = 0, is therefore established.
I The proof is analogous to that given in my paper "The Identities of Affinely Con-
Ated Manifo'ds," Math. Zeit., 25 (1926), pp. 714-722.

'A method of covariant differentiation based on the non-symmetric components
Dffine connection Lily is used by Einstein.2 The point of view adopted in the present
restigation in which covariant differentiation, or more precisely absolute differentian, is brought into relationship with the local coordinate system, necessarily depends on
symmetric connection; for this reason I have rejected the method of Einstein. It
uld be possible also to define covariant or absolute derivatives on the basis of the
ristoffel symbols P'm, derived from the components gae and, in fact, this has been adated by T. Levi-Civita, "Vereinfachte Herstellung der Einsteinszhen einheit!ichen
Idgleiz-hungen," Berliner Berichte, 1929. This method for the construction of invarits can be brought into relationship with the local coordinates; in fact, it is only necesy to replace Postulate D of the Postulates of the Local System by a similar postulate on
geodesics of the space of distant parallelism. My primary objection to this is that we
a good deal of the simplification inherent in the above theory. For example, in
ce of the quantities hik given by (4.5) we would have the more complicated set of
ariants
(6h r acihshah
-~f
hlhk
776
MA THEMA TICS: H. S. VA NDI VER
PROC. N. A. S.
investigation. Now there is a certain psychological influence exerted by the method

itself upon the investigator. What I mean is that one is naturally led to the construction of special invariants which, on the basis adopted for the formation of invariants, are
represented by simple analytical expressions. So, for example, the field equations proposed by Einstein2 have a very simple analytical form in terms of the covariant derivatives used by him, but these same equations would be considerably more complicated in
form if expressed in terms of the covariant derivatives used by Levi-Civita; also the
simple form (5.1) or (5.2) of the field equations assumed in the above investigation is
peculiar to the method of absolute differentiation which I have adopted. Thus the
different methods of construction of invariants will lead us, in practice, to the assumption
of different systems of field equations; these systems of field equations must, roughly
speaking, be of the same general character but will nevertheless, not be precisely equivalent, considered as systems of partial differential equations.
It is possible to develop a process by which the above methods are brought into relationship with one another and which will, moreover, permit the ready construction of
invariants depending on combinations of these methods. This process has its geometrical foundation in the study of those surfaces xa = f' (u, v) which are defined as
solutions of the system of equations
a axe axy
62Xa
- = 0,
+ Aza
12Xa
+ r
IXa-
(a)
(V =o),
= 0 (U = 0),
i ?oy X .ai
and so constitutes a generalization of the process of covariant differentiation or extension, as developed in The Geometry of Paths. In this way we are led to a set of relations
Xa = g" (y, z) which, for Zt = const., denote a transformation to a system of coordinates
9, and which for y9 = const. denote a transformation to a system of coordinates z.
If t(y, z) represents the components of a tensor either in the (y) or (z) coordinate system,
then
6___y__Z_
O, Z
defines, when considered as a function of the xi coordinates, the components of a tensor

in the (x) coordinate system. As an alternative method of procedure the system (a)
can be replaced by the system
a__a +
0,
axe
62Xa + ray
a, ?6X8
(.
ayjbyk
(2C++
byl
aX*)yJzk 0O
bX'Y
W)kI yjykA= 0
b-y
ax
) Zjzk
= 0
(z = 0),
(y
(b)
= 0).
The consideration of system (b) enables us, moreover, by imposing initial conditions corresponding to (2.9), to develop a theory of absolute invariants which is a generalization
of that of the above investigation. The details of this process will not be developed here
as it is not necessary for our work on the theory of relativity.
830
MA THEMATICS: T. Y. THOMAS
PRoc. N. A. SE
* NATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOW.

1 : Borel, "Sur quelques points de la Th~orie des fonctions," Ann. Acole Norm. sup.,
Ser. 3, 12, 1895.
2 H. Poincar6, "Sur les determinants d'ordre infini," Bull. Soc. math.
France. 14,
1886.
3 t. Borel, "Legons sur les fonctions monog~nes," Paris, 1917.
4 Cf. Carleman, "Les fonctions quasi analytiques," Paris, 1926.
5 C. de la VaWI~e Poussin, The Rice Inst. Pamph., 12 (1925), No. 2.
ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. II

BY TRAcY YERKES THOMAS
Communicated November 6, 1930
In our previous note' we constructed a system of field equations for the

combined gravitational and electromagnetic field which, on the basis of the
interpretation of the quantities h, as electromagnetic potentials, led to
Maxwell's equations in their exact form at the origin of the local coordinates. To secure the exact form of Maxwell's equations in the local coordinate system was, in fact, the principal motive for the introduction of
this system of field equations. Actually, however, a system of field equations constructed with primary regard to a law of conservation appears
to be of deeper physical significance. This latter point of view is made the
basis for the construction of a system of field equations in the present noteand the equations so obtained differ from those of Note I only by the appearance of terms quadratic in the quantities hok. It would thus appear
that we can carry over the interpretation of the h as electromagnetic potentials; doing this, we can say that Maxwell's equations hold approximately in the local coordinate system in the presence of weak electromagnetic fields.
Equations of Note I will be referred to by prefixing the numeral I before the number of the equation in question.
1. In the Einstein theory of gravitation the operation of forming the
divergence of a tensor constituted an almost unavoidable generalization
from the analogous operation of pre-relativity physics. When dealing
with quantities of the nature of absolute invariants, however, as we shall do
in the development of the present theory, it is by no means obvious how
this operation can best be defined. However, actual investigation of the
identities of the field theory points to a definition of the operation of divergence which is well adapted to a statement of the laws of conservation;
the reasons for this particular definition will be apparent from the identities
of the following sections.
,
VOL. 16, 1930
831
DIVERGENCE RULE: The formuka

4
VmTj... m = Ad em [ Tj ... mm + 2hmrT...m]
defines the divergence of the invariant TjI... m with respect to the index m.
Any covariant index, i.e., covariant under transformations of the fundamental vectors, can of course appear in place of the particular index m in
the definition of the divergence operation. It should be observed that the
term involving the absolute electromagnetic forces 2 hk in the above
formula, corresponds to those which contained the components of affine
connection in the divergence formula of the earlier theory of relativity.
A generalization of the above formula to include invariants T with any
number of contravariant indices could obviously be made but this is not
necessary for the requirements of the present note. On the basis of the
divergence rule we obtain the field equations from the following
POSTULATE OF THE UNIFIED FIELD. The divergence of the absolute electromagnetic forces is equal to zero, i.e.,
Vk hk
(1.1)
There are 16 equations in the system (1.1) for the determination of the
16 electromagnetic potentials h,. By reference to the field equations in
what follows we shall mean equations (1.1) rather than the corresponding
equations of our previous note.
2. Before proceeding further we must derive certain special identities
which we shall need in the following work; this will be done in as concise
a manner as possible. We have
hjt=
ha'.
Hence
h.,k
= 2
[h',k
k j] +
hmjh'kl + hmkhZ'j
(2.1)
(2.2)
when use in made I (4.5) and I (4.10). Interchanging k,l in (2.2) and
adding, we obtain a set of identities which can be reduced to the form
h5,kz = 3 [hj,kj, + h.i,k +
hm,k h7l + hmlh k].
(2.3)
We observe that these latter identities constitute an inverse form of the

identities (2.2) in that (2.2) expresses the hij,kj in terms of the hjakj while
(2.3) gives h',kz in terms of the hk Il invariants.
The invariants h',k,l satisfy a set of identities
82
hjk,l + h1,Ij +
14i j +
= 2 [I4, h*, + hm,k
j
PROC. N. A. S.
hnst h7'*
(2.4)
which is easily deduced from (2.2).

Let us denote the quantities A', byX,,l with reference to a system of
local coordinates and define the invariant Ajm by the formula
AjkimSV
(See Sect. 2 in Note I.) Now transform equations I (4.6) to local coordinates, differentiate, and evaluate at the origin of the local system;
we thus obtain a set of identities which can be written
hj,kl,m
hj,kl
Ajkim + hit
1
,kl
h1, hl ,ji + h1,1 hrnjk

1
+ hM hi,+
. (2.5)
+ ht ,k hj + h'
t
Interchanging the indices j,k in (2.5) and subtracting the resulting identities from (2.5) we obtain
hjklm - hkjl,m = h,klm- '4jim +
(h'k
I4,k + hsk hjj + [h',1

h,,1
hk,l) + hrnk (h h11-I4sj) + htmt, (h;,k- hti1)1.
(2.6)
To the identities (2.6) we now add those two sets of identities which result
from (2.6) by permutating the indices k,l,m cyclically. By a suitable
arrangement of terms the set of identities so obtained can be given the
form
8h;,klm = 3 (h5,kl,m + hj lmk + hs,mk,1 + hjm htl + h;,mk +

hJ,k h'imI + hik h5,Im + hti hM.km + h;,m hk,
(2.7)
These identities express the invariants M,k1m in terms of the invariants

14,1,km plus invariants of lower order in the derivatives of the electromagnetic potentials.
To obtain the inverse form of the set of identities (2.7) we deduce the
formula
A;Mm =
-31 h',jkl + 6 (h; 1h ,ki + hikk j1

h
hlh4 ,jk)
which we use to eliminate the invariants Alum from (2.5). The result of
this elimination is a set of identities which can be put into the form
3hk,k,m
j, +
h', h',Jk
hikl + h",k h,11 + h
,, h;,kl).
3h1,klm + hm,,jk + 2 hI, h, kl + hik h'

+ 3 (ha
Finally the set of identities
(2.8)
VOL. 16, 1930
833
hmkj + hmjjk + hmjkl + hil

(3 h1mjk + hi.km) +,tk (3 h4njl + hj!,1)
kjklm = 3 (hlmk + hjmkjl) +
(2.9)
+ 5 hi,1 Inki + hM~m hjkj + 6 h14j hMkj + hrnk (8 kia + htj)

+ h (8 hj,kt + hljk) + 3 (hjk h;,mk + kjk h1,im)
can be obtained by eliminating the invaants jl between the identities
(2.7) and (2.8).
3. The identities of Sect. 2 can be used to deduce identities of especial
interest for the field theory. By use of (2.2) it readily follows that
4
Vk hj,k
identically. Hence
= 4
ek (,kk + 4 hrak7,,)
(3.1)
k=
ek
(hj,kk
+ 4 hk h,) =
(3.2)
constitutes a system of equations completely equivalent to the field equations (1.1).

Now put I = k and m = j in (2.9), then multiply these equations through
by ejek and sum on the two repeated indices. This gives
4
Ej
k=1
j=1
ej ek
(h,kkj + hj hj,
+ 2h
(3.3)
,kr) = 0
identically. We next consider the set of identities

4
= 3
E3 E ej ek hkj hi
j=l k-l
=2
j=l
4
,
k=1
ej ek hjm
X
(hikk + hrm h j) + 4 j=l
8
4
E
k=l
ej ek
(ki,k Wkj)j
which we use to eliminate the last set of terms from (3.3). As a result
we obtain the set of four identities
.
ei{[
ek
(hjkk + 4 hr,k hk,i)] + 2 hj,m

ek
(k7~k k,.k
+4
By (3.1) this last set of identities can be given the form

Vj Vk
Mk
Wk,j)
= 0.
(3.4)
834
PRoc. N. A. S.
i.e., the divergence of the left member of (1.1) vanishes identically. The identities (3.4) are the mathematical counterpart of the laws of conservation
of the physical world.2
4. If we fail to take into account the conditions imposed by the field
equations on the structure of space, then the number of independent
invariants hM,kh... .1 of order r + 1 in the derivatives of the electromagnetic potentials h$, i.e., the number of arbitrary values (hjad ... 00
which these invariants can assume at a point Q, is
16 K(4, r + 1)- 4K(4, r + 2),
where K(p,q) denotes the number of combinations with repetitions of p
things taken q at a time; this is an immediate consequence of the fact that
I (4.7) and I (4.9) constitute a complete set of identities. We shall denote
the above number by N(r + 1) and observe that we can write
N(r + 1) = 12K(4,r) + 8K(3,r) + 4K(2,r)
It can easily be shown that the number of independent quantities
(hJk,11. .ir)Q is likewise given by N(r + 1). To do this we transform the
expression for hk given by 1 (4.5), to a system of local coordinates, differentiate repeatedly, and evaluate at the origin of the system. We
thereby obtain a system of equations of the form
h ,j
hkjl.l]+ *(4.1)
h'kl..l
where the * is used to denote terms of lower order than those which have
been written down explicitly. Now let P denote the operations of holding j
fixed, permuting the indices k.i.... 1 cyclically, and adding the resulting
=
[^a...lr
terms. Then
2 P(hk,1. ,.) = P (hMkz1... .)
- P
(h~j1 ... 1)
+ *
from (4.1) or
= 2 P (h,k,li ... I) + *.
(4.2)
In view of (4.1) and (4.2) it follows that if we consider the quantities
W.; his*; .k. M
el.. _
(r + 2) hkl1.. .
to have fixed values at Q, the number of independent quantities (hj'k,l1... 00

is equal to the number of independent quantities (atz.. .r)Q, i.e., the
number N(r + 1).
By making use of the above result it can be shown that N(r + 1) gives
the number of arbitrary partial derivatives of the rth order of the quantities h5,k at the point Q. The reader can easily work out the details of this
demonstration.
5. When account is taken of the conditions imposed by the field equa-
VOL. 16, 1930
835-
tions, the number of arbitrary partial derivatives of the quantities hj1,k

at the point Q is decreased. A lower bound to this number can, however,
be deduced in the following manner. Taking the absolute derivative of the
left member of (1.1) we obtain
(Vk h;,k),l = 0.
(5.1)
By (3.4) four of the equations of the set (5.1) are linearly dependent on
the remaining equations (5.1) and the field equations (1.1). In fact,
(Vk hik), =
where the dots have been used to denote a linear expression in certain of
the left members of (5.1) plus a linear expression in the quantities in the
left members of (1.1) with coefficients equal to the absolute electromagnetic
forces. Assuming that the h5,k and al their partial derivatives to those of
order r (. 1) inclusive have fixed values at the point Q, it follows that the
number of partial derivatives of the quantities h.,k of order (r + 1) at
Q, whose values are determined as a consequence of equations (1.1), is
at most equal to
16K(4,r) - 4K(4,r - 1).
(5.2)
Hence the arbitrary derivatives of the hj,k of order r + 1 at Q cannot be
less than the difference of N (r + 2) and (5.2), i.e.,
16K(3,r + 1) + 8K(2,r + 1);
for r = 0 this expression likewise gives the number of arbitrary derivatives
of the first order of the hk*. In our next note we shall apply the above
lower bound to the problem of constructing the general existence theorem
for the field equations.
1 These PROCEEDINGS, 16, 761-776 (1930).
2 If we replace (1.1) by
Vk h,k
where D is the analogue of the vector of charge and current density of the classical
theory, then (3.4) yields
Vj Dj = 0.
These latter equations are the analogue of the equation of the classical theory which
shows that electric charge is conserved. We have purposely failed to introduce the
invariants D of unknown structure into our field theory as it is our wish to investigate
the extent to which the physical world can be described by equations of the type (1.1).
48
PROC. N. A. S.
ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. III

Communicated December 9, 1930
It is the object of the present note1 to deduce the general existence

theorem of the Cauchy-Kowalewsky type for the system of field equations
of the unified field theory. The existence theorem at which we arrive
differs, however, from the usual form of such theorems in that certain
linear combinations of partial derivatives of the h', namely, the absolute
electromagnetic forces g1,k, occur among the arbitrary functions, rather
than these derivatives themselves. The theory is carried sufficiently
far to determine the characteristic surfaces of the four-dimensional world,
i.e., those three-dimensional surfaces which are characterized by the fact
that if taken to "bear" the data of the problem our existence theorem
ceases to apply, inasmuch as certain of the coefficients of the power series
expansions of the h. become indeterminant. These surfaces are analogous
to the characteristic surfaces which arise in connection with the well-known
equation
1 2 bt2
S-c2
which represents the propagation of a disturbance with constant velocity

c; we have not, however, undertaken a discussion of the wave surfaces in
the present note.
Before proceeding to the investigation of the mathematical problem
at hand I would like to make a remark concerning the general nature of
the field theory previously presented. Einstein2 has pointed out that
the vanishing of the invariant hj, is the condition for the four-dimensional
world to be Euclidean, or more properly pseudo-Euclidean. From the
point of view of our previous notes this fact has its interpretation in the
statement that the world will be pseudo-Eucidean only in the absence of
electric and magnetic forces. This means that gravitational and electromagnetic phenomena must be intimately related since the existence of
gravitation becomes dependent on the electromagnetic field. Thus we
secure a real physical unification of gravitation and electricity in the sense
that these concepts become but different manifestations of the same fundamental entity- provided, of course, that the theory shows itself to be
tenable as a theory in agreement with experience.
Equations of preceding notes will be referred to by prefixing the serial
number of the note to the number of the equation in question.
1. In the statement of the existence theorem which we shall deduce
VOL. 17, 1931
49
the components ht, are divided into groups which exhibit different degrees
of arbitrariness; for the purpose of exposition we shall presuppose this
fact by dividing these components into suitable groups in accordance
with the following
RULE: The group G, (a = 0, 1, 2, 3) for the components h. is composed
of all components that can be formed from ha by taking a = a + 1 and
i = 1, 2, 3, 4. There are four components h, in G, and we shall denote
these components by Pi, when reference is had to their division into groups.
In an analogous manner the following rule will be selected to divide the
components h,k into groups.
RULE: The group ~5m(m = 0, 1, 2) for the components hi,k is composed
of all components that can be formed from h,,k by taking k = m + 1 and i, j1, 2, 3, 4 subject to the inequality j > m + 1. If there are Km components
hj,A in group 5m, then
Km = 12 - 4m.
We shall denote the components hM in group km by Kim, where I = 1,
Km. It should be observed that the groups G and 05 are mutually exclusive; also that the elements Kim in any group @$m are independent,
i.e., unrelated by equations of the type I (4.10).
2. In terms of the notation introduced in Sect. 1 equations I (4.5)
can be written
6pim +ZP2K,
-)i,
(?=
(2.1)
1, 2,3,4
ff= 1,2,3
\r =1, ..., a/
where the E denotes a homogeneous polynomial, quadratic in the Pi, and
linear in the Kim; also the inequalities ,u < , ,u < v are satisfied by the
indices in these equations.
Now consider equations II (2.4), i.e.,
hj,k,i
hk,j
hl,j,k
= 2 [h', hk,
j
+ ht,k
h1'MJ
+ hm,l
h7,k].
(2.2)
I
Putting
(2.2), these equations show that hj,2,1 for
j > 2 can be expressed in terms of derivatives of the K10 plus a quadratic
polynomial in the Kim. If the contravariant vector component h' $ 0
and if R(P) denotes a rational function of the potentials Pi,, these latter
equations can be given the form
k = 2 and
= 1 in
-xl
R (P) ax +
l
E K2,
where I = 1.... 8 and the inequalities q . 1, v > q are satisfied. More
50
PROC. N. A. S.
generally, it can be observed that the system of equations (2.2) can be

written
dKxm =ZR (P)

a<
(2.3)
(P) K
1, ..., |M
provided that the quantities

h and |h h2l
constructed from the hi components do not vanish; the inequalities

q _ m, v > q are also satisfied by the indices in (2.3).
3. When account is taken of the field equations
Akhj,k
(3.1)
= 0
the form of (2.3) will remain unchanged, provided that an arrangement of

the components h.9,k into new groups 6) is effected. To see how this is
bh'3,1
_ axl
.k
Whbi
4,3 4,3
2,1
ax I
hi'
b,
3,2
(,XI
bhi4,2
ax,
Whi2,1
aX
aix,
aX2
-hl
-hl
-h2
-hl
-h4
-h4
Wi
4,1
123
h/
124
hl
134
-h4
-h4
234
j=1
hI
.j= 2
j=3
j=4
-hl
-h2
h/
-hl
-h2
4h
h4
h/
h/
4h
-hl
/4
aX2
-hl
h2
h2
h4
-hl
h4
-h2
TABLE 1
brought about we consider the four sets of equations (2.2) corresponding

to j k I equal 123, 124, 134 and 234, respectively; likewise the four sets
of equations obtained by letting j have the values 1, 2, 3 and 4 in (3.1).
The equations so obtained can be solved for the following derivatives
dh3,l
h4, d3,2
h4,2
h2,
h2,
h4,
h4,3
a)X11 axly axlp aXl - aXl' 6X2' a-Xl' a-X2"
VOL. 17, 1931
51
We have, in fact, indicated the determinant formed by the coefficients

of the above derivatives in Table 1 which is so constructed that (1) each
row corresponds to an equation of the system, namely, an equation (2.2)
or (3.1) determined by the indicated values of j k I or j, respectively, and
(2) the elements h, in any column are the coefficients of the derivatives
at the top of this column.
By an ingenious method J. M. H. Wedderburn3 has shown that the
determinant in Table 1 is equal to the product of two fourth-order conjugate imaginary determinants. This leads to the easy reduction of this
determinant to the form
h'
(ekhi'I~2
2}
(3.2)
h
h2 + ahlh2 1
32
( khk '){|h
I shall take this opportunity to express my thanks to Professor Wedderburn for this contribution.
Let us now denote the components h1,,k in the four sets of derivatives
in the first four columns of Table 1 by KI(7 and the components h/,k in the
two sets of derivatives in the last four columns of the table by K72; we
indicate this readily by the following schematic arrangement
K1*1
h$3,1, h4,l,h3,2h4,
K1*2 h2,1, hi4,3

All independent h/4k are included in the components K*. There are
= 16 components K7l, and K2 = 8 components K72, to introduce a
notation corresponding to that employed in Sect. 2. In terms of these
designations it is therefore clear that if the expression (3.2) is different
from zero, equations (2.2) and (3.1) can be put into the form
K*
a </ =
R (P) a tq +
/m=1, 2
ER (P)K*2
(3.3)
=l...,K*|
1,
a\a
1w
...
M/
where the inequality v > q is satisfied by the indices in these equations.

4. The system composed of (2.1) and (3.3) is harmonic in the sense
of Riquier.4 Moreover, this system is completely integrable. To see
this let us observe that if we form the conditions of integrability we obtain
a system R involving the following quantities
piIj
(4.la)
52
1l 2, 3, 4; A
j
Vv, =1, 2, 3, 4; v
>
O, 1,p 2, 3
t;v, t >,u
K;q ~2K;q
Kgq ax
a Kv.
and
PROC. N. A. S.
(4.1b)
1q
=12; p= 1; ...,Kg
Vv,
2, 3,4;
>; v, {> q
Now it can be shown that the components hA and also that, subject to the
condition of symmetry in their lower indices, the components A' and A'8
can be assigned arbitrary values at a point Q of the space;' moreover,
arbitrary values can be assigned to these quantities at Q irrespective of
the values at Q of the quantities in (4.lb). The number of arbitrary
A'7 and A' a is therefore equal to 136, and since these quanquantities hA,
are
determined
tities
by the quantities in (4. la), it follows that there can
not be less than 136 of the quantities in (4. la) to which arbitrary values
can be assigned at the point Q. There are also 24 arbitrary quantities
K;p in (4. lb). Now in Note II we established the expression
16K(3, r + 1) + 8K(2, r + 1)
as a lower bound to the number of arbitrary derivatives of the (r + 1)st
order of the quantities h,k. We deduce from this that no less than 184
of the derivatives of the Kpq in (4.1b) can have arbitrary values at Q.
Hence 136 + 24 + 184, or 344, is a lower bound to the number of arbitrary quantities in (4.1). Now 344 is also the number of arbitrary quantities in (4.1) as deduced by actual calculation based on the admissible
ranges of the indices of these quantities. It follows, therefore, that all
quantities in (4.1) can be given arbitrary values at a point Q of space
and hence that the above system R, giving the conditions of integrability
of (2.1) and (3.3), must be satisfied identically. This gives the following
EXISTENcE THEoREM:
Let
4lm (Xm+1,
v (xU+1 X4)
X4)
[i = 1, 2, 3, 4; a = ,1, 2, 3] m = 1, 2; 1 = 1, ..., Km]
denote sets of functions of the variables x'+1, .. ., x4 and xm+l, ..., x4, respectively, analytic in the neighborhood of the values xa = qa of their arguments; furthermore the via are subject to the condition that at ea = qa the
and the expression (3.2) do not vanish.
corresponding determinant
Then there exists one, and only one, set of potentials ha1, in a system of coordinates xa, each function ha(x) being analytic in the neighborhood of the
values xa = qa, which constitutes a set of integrals of the field equations (3.1)
such that
Ih
VOL. 17, 1931
53
P= $i (X1,x2,X3X4) Pia = q3ia (X+1
[i = 1, 2,3, 4]
. 4..
X4)K1 = *
.x4)
i= 1 2,314; = 1,2,31 Im = 1 2; = 1, . ..,K1
xi
m
qlp ..Xl go,lL x1 q1,
qm J
=
5. Let us denote by Sk a k dimensional surface in the four dimensional

space $4, and consider the three surfaces Si, S2, S3 defined by
S3: xI = p(X2, x3, x4)
5x = c(x2, x3, x4)
x2 = (X3, X4)
(5.1)
(xI = '(x2, x3, x4)
S1:
=
(3=
+1(x3, x4)
(X4),
where the functions so, w are analytic in the neighborhood of some set
of values xs = qs of the coordinates; as so defined any surface S, is contained within the surface Sk provided that the inequality i < k is satisfied.
We shall take the above surfaces Si, S2, S3 and the surface S4, or four
dimensional space itself, as those surfaces which "bear" the data in our
problem. In other words, we now assign the Pi, over the surface S4-, and
the Ki. over the surface 54-m as shown by the scheme
Over S4-m:
Over S4-:
R*
Klm =
Pic = 1i0 (Xc+l . ..., X4)
.(X'+ls, . .*, X4), (5.2)
[i = 1, 2, 3, 4;= 0, 1, 2, 3] [m = 1, 2; 1 = 1, ..., K"]
where the v and 2* are analytic functions of the indicated surface coW
ordinates.
Now let qs denote the co6rdinates of a point on the surface Si and make
the transformation
= X3yl = xi _ (, y2 = X2-, y3,y4 = X4-q4 (5.3)
so that the above surfaces Si, S2, S3 become
iS3: Yl
{:: y
SI:
y2
ty3
(5.4)
=0
0.
In order that the existence theorem of Sect. 4 may apply it is necessary

that the data given for the x coordinate system be determined with respect
to the y coordinate system over the surfaces S. It is obvious that the
54
PROC. N. A. S.
absolute electromagnetic forces will be so determined since these quantities, i. e., Klm, are absolute invariants under coordinate transformations.
If we denote the components h' by l with respect to the y coordinate system, then the components 1 in group G, are likewise determined over the
surface S4-,. In connection with the demonstration of this fact we lay
down the following:
DEFINITION: A group of components G which is related by a transformation T to the corresponding components in groups G of the same and lower
serial order, will be said to be closed with respect to the transformation T.
Since the groups Go are closed with respect to the transformation (5.3)
in this sense, the above statement, namely, that the components 1, in
group G,, are determined over the surface S4-,, is immediately evident.
Let us now put
-{J(X3, X4)
= xi _p(X2, XI, X4), P =
''
= X-q4
(X4),
and consider the equation
|ga~ a
(5.5)
in which the ge denote the ordinary contravariant components of the

fundamental metric tensor, i.e.,
4
ek hk hk-
k=i
Under the transformation (5.3) the left member of (5.5) becomes an

expression in the l having the form of the first factor of (3.2); similarly
the left members of the two equations
ar (aff == 0 I
laEla=1@E1 r2hh2 h"2h I -_
(5.6a)
(5.6b)
Of=
and
ha h | a
=0
assume a form in the components P. corresponding to the first and second

determinants in the last factor of the expression (3.2). Suppose that the
equation (5.5) and at least one of the equations (5.6), i.e. (5.6a) or (5.6b),
are not satisfied over the surface Si; then take the above-mentioned
point on Si with coordinate q4 occurring in the transformation (5.3) to
be a point on SI at which the left member of (5.5) and the left member
of either (5.6a) or (5.6b) do not vanish. The existence theorem of Sect. 4
will then apply with respect to the y coordinate system and on the basis
of this application the following existence theorem can be stated.
VOL. 17, 1931
55
EXISTENCE THEOREM: Consider a set of three surfaces Si, S2, S3 defined

by (5.1) and a set of analytic functions $5 and M * defined over these surfaces
and the four dimensional space S4 as represented by (5.2), the functions 13
being subject to the condition that (1) the corresponding determinant ha |
does not vanish over S1, and (2) the equation (5.5) and either equation (5.6a)
or (5.6b) are not satisfied over the surface Si. Then there exists one, and
only one, set of potentials h, in a system of co6rdinates x', the ha, (x) being
analytic functions of the xa coordinates, which constitutes a set of integrals of
the field equations (3.1) such that the quantities Pi, and K7m assume the assigned values $ and k * over the surfaces S.
6. Equations (5.5) and (5.6a) satisfied over a curve S, are invariant
under coordinate transformations. It is possible, however, to make an
orthogonal transformation of the fundamental vectors, i.e., a transformation of the form
(6.1)
*h' = a' ha,
.
so that with respect to the *h potentials an equation of the type (5.6a)

will not be satisfied over the curve S1.6 Equations (5.5), on the other
hand, remain invariant in form under an orthogonal transformation (6.1)
of the fundamental vectors. A curve S, over which the equation (5.5)
is satisfied, will be called a characteristic line with respect to the surface S3.
Those surfaces S3 over which the equation (5.5) is satisfied will be called
characteristic surfaces; they are analogous to the characteristic surfaces
determined by the wave equation as mentioned in the introduction to
this note, and must therefore be expected to represent the wave surfaces
in the present theory.
By a formal process based on the general theory of characteristic surfaces
as developed by Volterra and Hadamard, it was recently shown by LeviCivita7 that an equation of the form (5.5) determines the characteristic
surfaces for the Einstein gravitational equations in regions free of matter;
the existence theorem for the equations of Einstein, however, was not
established by Levi-Civita. An investigation of the characteristic surfaces determined by the field equations (3.1) will be undertaken in a
later communication.
1 Previous notes on the Unified Field Theory have appeared in these PROCEEDINGS,
16, 761-776 and 830-835 (1930).
A. Einstein, "Die Kompatibilitat der Feldgleichungen in der einheitlichen Feldtheorie," Sitzungsberichte preussischen Akad. Wissenschaften, 1930, 18-23.
3 Wedderburn's method is as follows: For simplicity the revised notation
a = h', 8 = h', = h', a =h
a = h, b = h2, c = h, d =h
2
is introduced. Then (1) if we rearrange the rows and columns, and (2) if we multiply by
-] certain of the rows and columns in Table 1, this table assumes the form represented
56
PROC. N. A. S.
by Table 2. Denoting V/E1 by i as usual, we now add i times each even column to the
preceding odd column in Table 2 and then subtract i times each odd row from the preceding even row. Table 3 shows the result obtained. By an obvious rearrangement
of rows and columns Table 3 assumes the form given in Table 4, which shows that the
determinant of the elements in Table 1 is equal, apart from algebraic sign which we have
disregarded, to the product of two-fourth order conjugate imaginary determinants.
Expansion of the fourth-order determinant in the lower right hand corner of Table 4
shows that this determinant has the value
(a2
52)[(a/
72
ba) + i(c -d)].
Taking the absolute value of this expression, the expression (3.2) is obtained. The
fact that (3.2) and the determinant formed from the elements in Table 1 have the same
algebraic sign is easily observed by replacing the h? by Kronecker's 5? in (3.2) and Table 1.
0 -c
0 -y
0 -/ 0
'y
a
0 0 a
0 -0 0
0
0
0
a
d
0
0
a
5 000 Y
0
b
a 0
0 /
,B
a -y 0
-ie -e
-iy-y
-y a
-,8 0
0 -,8
a 0
-,B
0
0
d
ic 0 iy 0 a
0 5 0 -/3 0
a
O0
O
a
dO
0 a
5
Y
0
b
a
0
0
/
a
0
O -i-y O a
0O i-y y
/305O -y 0
O0
0
O
TABLE 2
5 0 -# 0
O iy y 5
a
0
0 -iy
TABLE 3
-ic -iy a -/
-c --Y 0
-/
iy
,B
iy
0 00
ic iy a -,B
-/3 a
-iy5
b /3
5 -ib
TABLE 4
4 C. Riquier, "De l'existence des integrales dans un systame differential quelconque,"
Annales de l'ecole normale superieure, serie 3, 10 (1893), pp. 65-86; Ibid., 123-50.
Two of the three conditions in Riquier's definition of the harmonic system are obviously
VOL. 17, 1931
57
satisfied for the system composed of (2.1) and (3.3). To show that the third condition
is likewise satisfied we assign to each of the quantities xa, Pi., and K7,, a single "cote"
in the following manner:
x" has the "cote" -a,
Pi, has the "cote" a,

K7m has the "cote" m.
Then (a - r) and (m - a) are the "cotes" of the derivatives in the left members of the
equations (2.1) and (3.3), respectively; similarly (m - a) and (q - v) are the "cotes"
of derivatives in the right members of these equations. Hence
(a -T)
(,u -v) >O, (m
a)
(q -v) >0,
-T7
0, m - a > 0, ,-v < 0, and q-p < 0. The system composed of
(2.1) and (3.3) is therefore harmonic in the sense of Riquier. See also T. Y. Thomas,
"Invariantive Systems of Partial Differential Equations," Ann. Math., 31 (1930),
687-713; and Ibid., 714-726.
5 For an analogous proof, see T. Y. Thomas, "A Theorem Concerning the Affine
Connection," Am. J. Math., 50 (1928), 518-520.
6 We have
ak al
[(* h
-ha hO)
(a)
(*hal *hB - *h2 *)
since
h.4
in which the expression in brackets in the right member is assumed to be taken at a

point P on Si. Now assume that the left member of (a) is linearly dependent on the
independent polynomials of the set
4
E ek
k=1
ap a.
(b)
ep.
Then we can write

4
- k1 (APq ek 1) ap a' - k-i ek

where the APq are constants. Equating coefficients, we obtain
ak] ala2
[(hk hh I
-hl hk)
k) Yx; ax
(hk h1
where A is a constant. Putting k

Hence we can deduce that
kk
Akk,
ha= Aek ,
=
I in this last equation we see that A must vanish.
x-a a x-P
ixf
5Xdxa -
In other words the rank of the matrix
aXI TX2
ax' ax2
TX 3 6X4
?x3 a-X4
is less than two at P. However, this is not possible since the above matrix is
have the form
seen to
58
PHYSICS: E. H. KENNARD
011
* *
PROC. N. A. S-
when account is taken of the functions 4 and ,6 in Sect. 5. Hence at a point P on S,

the right member of (a) is linearly independent of the independent polynomials of the
set (b). It is therefore possible to choose the values of the constants a4 so that at a
point P on SI the right member of (a) and the independent polynomials (b) can have
independent values; in particular, the constants a4 can be so chosen that the right
member of (a) will be different from zero while all expressions (b) vanish. This proves
the statement in Sect. 6 that by making a suitable orthogonal transformation (6.1) of
the fundamental vectors, the expression in the left member of (a) can be given a value
different from zero over the curve Si.
7 T. Levi-Civita, "Caratteristiche e bicaratteristiche delle equazioni gravitazionali
di Einstein," Rendiconti Accad. Lincei, 11, 1930, pp. 1-11; Ibid., pp. 113-121. In
this connection, see also T. Y. Thomas, "On the Existence of Integrals of Einstein's
Gravitational Equations for Free Space and Their Extension to n Variables," these
PROCEEDINGS, 15 (1929), pp. 906-913.
QUANTUM-MECHANICAL MOTION OF FREE ELECTRONS IN

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
BY E. H. KENNARD
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Communicated November 25, 1930
The motion of an electron in an electric or magnetic field was treated

quantum-mechanically by the author and by Darwin for the case of a
certain type of wave-packet in a uniform field.1 2 Later writers3 4'5 have
concerned themselves for the most part with the energy and the chatacteristic functions, which are needed for radiation problems. In this paper
formulas are obtained by the Ehrenfest method for the motion of the
centroid of any packet in an electromagnetic field of general type, the
field being treated in the usual way as a perturbing term in the Hamiltonian
function for the electron. Only the non-relativistic case is considered,
based upon Schrodinger's equation; for the Dirac electron the usual
method of approximation leads to this same equation plus terms expressing
the spin effect,4 but the attempt to justify the approximation for such
purposes encounters an extraordinary difficulty that seems to be connected
with the "negative energy" problem and has not yet been overcome.
The general result obtained below is that in a uniform electric and
magnetic field the packet-centroid moves as the electron should move
according to classical theory, while in non-uniform fields its acceleration
is a kind of average of the classical value.
VOL. 17, 1931
V ,MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS
ill
3. Since sodium thiocyanate peptizes proteins, it should alleviate and

perhaps counteract all disturbances due to coagulation of the nerve proteins.
4. It has been shown experimentally that intravenous injections of
sodium thiocyanate solutions bring rabbits out of the unconsciousness due
to ether, amytal or morphine more rapidly than is normal. The rabbits
breathe approximately twice as rapidly under these conditions.
5. It has been shown experimentally that intravenous injections of
sodium thiocyanate solutions into rabbits can prevent death from strychnine or histamine; and can prevent anaphylactic shock in rabbits previously sensitized by subcutaneous injection of an egg-white sol.
6. Potassium thiocyanate cannot be substituted safely for sodium thiocyanate because of the greater toxic action of potassium salts. This has
been known for over half a century and yet many medical men give potassium and sodium salts interchangeably. The only justification for
this is the as yet unproven assumption that potassium salts do not affect
human beings as they do dogs and rabbits.
1 This work is part of the programme now being carried out at Cornell University
under a grant from the Heckscher Foundation for the Advancement of Research established by August Heckscher at Cornell University.
2 Eli Lilly Research Fellow.
3 Bancroft and Richter, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 16, 573 (1930).
4 Bayliss, Principles of General Physiology, 399 (1915).
5 Claude Bernard, Leqons sur les effets des substances toxiques et medicamenteuses, 5,
(1857.)
6
7
Keith, Canadian Med. Assn. J., 16, 1171 (1926).

Rabuteau, .8le'ments de toxicologie, 541 (1887).
ON TIHE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. IV

By TRACY YERKES THOMAS
Communicated December 22, 1930
In this note' we shall consider the characteristic lines or bicharacteristics

(Hadamard) determined by the differential equation of the characteristic
surfaces. The bicharacteristics are the so-called geodesics of zero length
which give the light tracks in the Einstein theory of gravitation.2 It is
shown that a characteristic surface is generated by the totality of bicharacteristics issuing from a point P of the continuum. In a system of
metric local coordinates (see Sect. 3) this characteristic surface has the form
4
E
k=1
ekw w
112
PPROC. N. A. S.
and so appears to an observer in the local system as a spherical wave

propagated with unit velocity.
While local coordinates were first mentioned in connection with the
Unified Theory in Note I, my attention has been called since writing that
note to the fact that such coordinates are not new in mathematical literature. In 1901 Poincare published a paper ("(juelques remarques sur les
group continus," Rend. Circ. Matem. Palermo, 15, p. 321) in which he
introduced a set of quantities of the character of affine local coordinates
(see Sect. 3). More recently a similar system of variables was used by
J. A. Schouten ("Kontinuierliche Transformationsgruppen," Math. Ann.,
102 (1929), p. 244). Also A. D. Michal ("Scalar Extensions of an Orthogonal Ennuple of Vectors," Am. Math. Monthly, 37 (1930), p. 529) has
defined a system of geodesic coordinates Sk which become identical with
the metric local coordinates when k is allowed to become indefinitely large.
1. In Note III a three-dimensional surface
T _ Xi -
p(X2,
X4)
X3
(1.1)
was called characteristic provided that the equation
ge
-x- -cX = 0
(1.2)
was satisfied over this surface. If we substitute (1.1) into (1.2) this
equation becomes
4
Egapp
=2
F=g'1 -2 E g1P, + E
PJ=2
where
a=2
Pa =Xa
=o
(1.3)
2, 3, 4).
The characteristic surfaces (1.1) are defined by the differential equation
(1.3).
If we put
ID" =ap
6Pa
then
dX2
p2
(a
= 2,
3, 4)
x
dx4
dx3 =d
p3
p4
4E
(1.4)
a=2
defines a system of curves on the characteristic surface (1.1). Through

any point P of the surface (1.1) there passes in general one and only one
VOL. 17, 1931
113
curve C of the system (1.4); these curves C are the bicharacteristics determined by the field equations of this theory.3
2. We have supposed the equation of the characteristic surfaces to
be solved for the coordinate xl in the previous work. Let us now take
this equation in the more general form
(2.1)
subject to the condition that the function 7r depends explicitly on the xl
coordinate. Then from (2.1) we have
7r(xl,
Pa
where
. .
X4)
.,
(=2 3, 4)
ql
(2.2)
(a =1,2, 3, 4).
qa
Hence
q2F
Also
qPa
and
ql
geGq qe
(ai = 2, 3, 4);
2gaeq
(2.3)
2g'pq
E papa)
when the condition
ge'qaq
(2.4)
is taken into account. The set of equations (1.4) can therefore be given
the more symmetrical form
dx=
2g"qo.
(2.5)
dv
On solving equations (2.5) for the quantities qc, we obtain
=
1/2 ga
dqa
= qa
ga
dx.
(2.6)
Now put
dx-
(2.7)
so that qa, is the second derivative of the function wr(x), and then differentiate (2.4) with respect to x7 where y = 2, 3, 4. This gives
-
a3
2gaqay2
y(-a
qaql, + 2g aqlqo,)
(= 2,3,4)
Making use of (2.5) and (2.7) this last system of equations becomes
114
dq7
ld1
gaD
dv + X
(qad
qaq0 =dv
(ey
eogI
PROC. N. A. S.
qlf
.q
(2.8)
2, 3, 4)
Now differentiate the equations (2.5), which are satisfied along a bicharacteristic C on the characteristic surface (2.1), with respect to the
parameter v; from the equations so obtained eliminate the q" and the
derivatives of the q, by means of (2.6) and (2.8), respectively. We thus
obtain a set of equations which takes the form
d2xa+
di dxy
dv2 + ~ dv dv
1 ( ql dxi
q,
aX?
dv
1 bg, dx dxy\ dxa

4 axI dv dv JTdv (2.9)
where the Ip, are the Christoffel symbols derived from the components
gap At a point P with coordinates xo on a bicharacteristic C, equations
(2.5) determine the values of the derivatives of the xa with respect to the
parameter v, i.e.,
/dxa\
' dv )o
(2.10)
2
If for v = 0, we suppose that xa = xo and the derivatives of the xa with

respect to the parameter v have the above values (2.10) then equations
(2.9) determine a solution
(2.11)
x = E (v)
representing the bicharacteristic C. By a change of the parameter v
equations (2.9) can be given a simpler form. In fact, under a transformation of parameter (2.9) becomes
d2xa
a di dxdu2~~+ ro-f
du du
d2u+ 11 ag,, di dxv aql dx8 du
bx" dv JdvJ dea (22
_ Ldv2
ql 4 ax 1 dv dv
du 2.12)
jdu\2
kdv!
Choosing the new parameter u to be such a function of v that the bracket

expression in the right member of (2.12) vanishes along C, we have
d2e
- U2 +
dj2+
iw
dxi dxy = 0
dud
du du
(2.13)
VOL. 17, 1931
115
along the bicharacteristic C. Since the condition
dxa dx8
d =0
g1du
(2.14)
is satisfied on account of (2.4) and (2.6) along C, this curve is of the type
commonly described as a geodesic of zero length. Moreover, the fact
that the equation (2.1) of the characteristic surface depends explicitly
on the xl coordinate is in no way involved in (2.13) and (2.14) so that
these latter equations must be satisfied along the bicharacteristics on any
characteristic surface regardless of the particular form 7r(x) = 0 of the
equation by which the characteristic surface is defined.
3. In Note I we introduced a system of local coordinates zi' which
possessed the property that the equations of a path through the origin
of the local system had the form of the parametric equations of a Euclidean
straight line through the origin of a system of rectangular cartesian coordinates. As the paths are determined by the affine connection of the
continuum it seems natural to refer to the above coordinates as affine
local co6rdinates. The equations (2.13) to which we are led by the foregoing work suggest that* we likewise construct a system of metric local
co6rdinates. defined by the metric properties of the continuum in an analogous manner. More precisely, a system of metric local coordinates w'
will be characterized geometrically by the postulates in Sect. 2 of Note I
except for the fact that postulate D regarding the paths of the continuum
will be replaced by a similar postulate involving the geodesics (2.13). By
a method similar to that employed in Note I it can be shown (1) that the
metric local co6rdinates wi remain unchanged when the underlying co6rdinates
xa undergo an arbitrary analytic transformation T, i.e.,
and (2) that when the fundamental vectors hi undergo an orthogonal transformation
* = ak Ii
(3.1)
the metric local coordinates associated uith any point P likeuise undergo
an orthogonal transformation, i.e., a linear homogeneous transformation,
W
which leaves the form
ak W*
116
PROC. N. A. S.
(3.2)
E ekw w
k=l
intariant. The local coordinates wi are related to the underlying coordinates ea by a transformation of the form
x
- h(Pw'
- I (Pww i - I!
-s
2! 11-.
ajPw'w -I...
in which the coefficients I are determined by successive differentiation of

the equations
axflae 2VjWk)ww
2ea + Zx%;)
w=O
(WIC-kk
6
and evaluation at the origin of the local system.

(x) to a system of
If we transform the components of a tensor 7i"'
metric local coordinates thereby obtaining tkr..41j (w) and evaluate the
components t at the origin of this system, we obtain a set of absolute
invariants Tk '. under transformations of the Xa coordinates. More
generally, if we differentiate the components t any number of times and
evaluate at the origin of the (w) system, we obtain a set of.quantities,
namely,
Tk .j..p .q
= (
(-kVq w
(3.3)
each of which is an absolute invariant with respect to transformations of

the ea co6rdinates. Let us denote the components h, and gtp by B1l and
Cl,, respectively, in a system of metric local coordinates. Then the
equations
h.
m
and
= (
gijlk.. .m= ( ak.
1AB
(3.4)
(3.5)
define sets of absolute invariants h and g under arbitrary analytic transformations of the xe coordinates. When the fundamental vectors undergo
an orthogonal transformation (3.1) the absolute invariants (3.3), (3.4)
and (3.5) transform by the tensor transformation implied by the indices
in the symbol of the invariant.
The explicit formulae for any of the invariants (3.3), (3.4) and (3.5)
VOL. 17, 1931
117
as well as the identities satisfied by the invariants (3.4) and (3.5) can
easily be deduced.
4. It is a known fact that the totality of characteristics through a
point P of the continuum of a partial differenti.al equation of the first
order, generates a characteristic surface.3 Hence an integral surface of
(1.3) is generated by the totality of characteristics through P of this
equation. When the equation (1.3) is taken with reference to a system
of metric local co6rdinates and the point P is at the origin of this system,
the discussion of this integral surface is of especial interest.
Denoting the components gel by Clill when taken with respect to a
system of metric local coordinates the eqtiation (1.3) becomes
4
Cllll- 2 E Cililri + E E C1ii- rirj

i=2 -;=2
i=2
= 0,
(4.1)
where
~w
W (i
rj
(4.2)
2, 3, 4).
The geodesics (2.13) through the origin have equations

wt=
(4.3)
rtu
in which the vi are arbitrary constants; hence the condition that (2.13)
should be a bicharacteristic of the field equations, i.e., the condition that
(2.14) be satisfied along (2.13), is
4
i=1
ei7i
(4.4)
0.
It is seen that q 1 O0 since if this were not true it would follow from (4.4)
that the remaining quantities n7' would likewise vanish. The normalizing
condition n' = 1 can therefore be imposed. Equation (4.4) then becomes
(,q2)2
(Xq3)2 +
(4.5)
(X74)2 = 1.
Taking
X2
sinO cos so,f3
sin O sin so, X4
COS
(4.6)
the condition (4.5) is satisfied automatically. With these values of the

-'s equations (4.3) for i = 2, 3, 4 are the equations of transformation
between a system of spherical co6rdinates 0, so, u and a system of rectangular
cartesian co6rdinates W2, W3, w4.
We shall have occasion to use the following identities4
Wi
Clj1w, w
-ClkjiW' (k
2, 3, 4).
(4.7)
118
PROC. N. A. S.
From these identities we have that

1 = ClU@
Xk
-Clkjl7i (k
2, 3,
4),
if we take the point with coordinates wt to lie on one of the geodesics of

zero length passing through the origin.
A set of functions w'(i = 1, 2, 3,.4) and ri(i = 2, 3, 4) depending on
three independent variables is said to constitute an integral of (4.1) in
the general sense of Sophus Lie (1) if the functions wi and r, satisfy (4.1)
and (2) if
4
dwl =
E rdwt.
(4.8)
t=2
We can readily construct an integral of (4.1) in this sense. Let us put

ri= 'i = 2, 3, 4), thereby defining the ri as functions of the variables
0, s on account of (4.6). Equations (4.3) define the wi as functions of
the variables 0, so, u. At the origin, i.e., when u = 0, equations (4.1) are
satisfied since these equations reduce to (4.5). Using (4.7) equations
(4.1) can be put into the form
Cjijji77j= 0;
(4.9)
in fact, the left members of (4.1) and (4.9) are identically equal. Now the
above functions w' and ri satisfy (4.1). This is seen from the fact (1) that
(4.9) is satisfied for u = 0 and (2) that the left member of (4.9) is invariant along a geodesic of zero length issuing from the origin. To show
that (4.8) is also satisfied we observe that the differential du is identical
with the left member of this expression; the right member of (4.8) likewise
becomes equal to du when account is taken of (4.3) and (4.5). Hence
the above functions wt and ri of the independent variables 0, so, u constitute an integral of (4.1) in the sense of Lie.
From (4.3) for i = 2, 3, 4 and (4.5) we have
u
Hence (4.3) for i
V(W2)2 + (W3)2 (W4)2.
1 gives
WI= -
(W2)2 + (w3)2 + (w4)2
(4.10)
or
W1
+ V(w2)2 + (W3)2 + (W4)2
(4.11)
VOL. 17, 193 1-
119
The parametric equations (4.3) are equivalent to (4.10) for u _ 0 and to

(4.11) for u > 0. By elimination of the variables 0, ic, u from the above
integral formed by wt and ri it follows immediately that both (4.10) and
(4.11) constitute an integral of (4.1) in the ordinary sense where the
quantities ri are defined by (4.2).
The complete integral surface which is the graph of (4.10) and (4.11) is
a cone with center at the origin. This is illustrated in the accompanying
figure in which the co6rdinate W4 is suppressed for the purpose of graphical
representation.
If wl has a constant negative value (4.10) represents a sphere with center at the origin of a system
of rectangular cartesian coordinates W2, W3, W4;
similarly (4.11) is the equation of a spherical surface with center at the origin if wl is taken as a
positive constant. Hence if wl increases algebraically starting with some negative value the complete integral surface composed of (4.10) and (4.11)
appears as a series of moving concentric spheres
\
which first shrink down to a point, namely, the
origin, and then expand. Introducing the coordinate w' as the time coordinate, the above
surface is seen to shrink or expand with unit
velocity.
In a later communication we shall investigate
the possibility of interpreting the integral surface (4.10) or (4.11) as a
wave surface in the four-dimensional continuum.
1 Previous notes have appeared in these Proceedings, 16, pp. 761-776 and pp. 830-835,
1930; also, 17, pp. 48-58, 1931.
2 T. Levi-Civita, "Caratteristiche e bicharatteristiche dellee quazioni gravitazionali
di Einstein," Rendiconti Accad. Lincei, 11, pp. 1-11, 1930; Ibid., pp. 113-121.
3 E. Goursat, Leqons sur l'integration der e'guations aux derivees partielles du
premier ordre. 2nd ed., 1921, pp. 184-192.
4 These identities can be derived in a manner similar to the analogous identities in
normal coordinates (Riemann-Birkhoff). See 0. Veblen, "Invariants of Quadratic
Differential Forms," No. 24, Cambridge (1927), p. 96.
V'OL. 17, 1931
325
the operators which correspond to themselves under this automorphism

is that the order of G is odd. This is also a necessary and sufficient condition that G is the direct product of K and C. When the order of G is of the
form 2m the number of the invariants of K is the same as the number of
the invariants of H and at least equal to the number of the invariants of
C, and the group generated by H and C contains the square of all the
operators of G and is of index 2t under G, where i represents the number
of the invariants of C. Hence the order of the cross-cut of C and H is 2'.
When either H or K is cyclic then the three subgroups H, K and C must be
cyclic and their common cross-cut is of order 2. If this condition is
satisfied and G is also decomposable into H and K there are m/2 - 1 or
(m - 1)/2 such groups as mn is even or odd.
G. A. Miller, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 10, 472, (1909).
ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. VI

Communicated April 2, 1931
Let us suppose that the functions hI in group Go have the values 6 throughout a finite region R of the four dimensional continuum; these special
values of the hI can obviously be imposed, at least throughout a sufficiently
small region of the continuum, by a suitable coordinate transformation.
A coordinate system for which the h' have the above special values will
be referred to as a cannonical co6rdinate system. Interpreting the coordinate xl as the time t let us now assume that a disturbance is produced
at a time t = 0 throughout a closed region Ro of space.' After a time
t = p(X2, X3, X4), the effect of this disturbance will be felt at a point
(X2, X3, X4) outside the region X?. For a definite value of t the equation
Sp(X2, X3, X4) = t will represent the surface of the space (x2, X3, X4) which,
at the instant t, separates the region affected from the region unaffected
by the disturbance. If we assume that the values of the h, and their derivatives vary in a continuous manner when we pass from one region to
the other, then it follows from the result in sect. 8 of Note V under the
hypothesis of canonical coordinates that the surface t -~p(X2, X3, X4) = 0
must be a characteristic surface of the field equations. Wave surfaces
are thus identified with the characteristic surfaces.
Now assume the expression for the element of distance in the region R
in the form
326

4
ds2 = dt2
PROC. N. A. S.
E ya
a=2 p= 2
E
dxa dx
(a)
where we have put t = xl and -y,Xo = - g,, in terms of the notation used
in previous notes. We shall refer for the moment to the co6rdinates for
which the form (a) of the element of distance is valid as Gaussian coordinates in conformity with the terminology used by Hilbert.2 It will
be assumed likewise that the co6rdinates of a system of Gaussian coordinates have the significance of coordinates of time and space as implied
by the above expression for the element of distance. Use has been made
of Gaussian coordinates in this sense in recent work on cosomology.3
Owing to the special form of the element of distance (a) in Gaussian
coordinates the function s must, therefore, satisfy the equation
4 4 a aS p aS
a=2 P=2
be Z5
over the surface (p = t where ya0 is the cofactor of the element -ya, in the
determinant
divided by this determinant. The equation
(p(X2, X3, X4) = const.
(b)
therefore represents a family of parallel surfaces, and hence the successive

positions of the wave front form a family of parallel surfaces which are propagated with unit velocity.
The hypersurface formed from the totality of bicharacteristics issuing
from a point P is a characteristic surface (see Sect. 4 of Note IV). Let
us denote the sheet of this hypersurface corresponding to IV (4.11) by
S; let us also denote the surface of intersection of S with the hypersurface
t = const. by S*. It can be shown that from the given position Ro of the
wave at time t = 0, the position of the wave (b) at any later time t can be
obtained by taking the envelope of the surfaces S* corresponding to the different
points of Ro.4 In other words Huygen's principle can be applied for the
construction of the wave fronts. A discussion of wave surfaces in general
from this point of view has lately been made on the basis of contact transformations by L. P. Eisenhart.5,
In particular if the surface Ro reduces to a point P the corresponding
wave surface (b) assumes the form
(w2)2 + (w3)2 + (w4)2 = const.
(c)
in a system of metric local coordinates with origin at P. The invariance
of (c) under orthogonal rotations of the fundamental vectors he, i.e. Lorentz
transformations of the metric local coordinates, has its interpretation in
the experimental fact that the velocity of light is independent of the
motion of the source or the observer.
VOL. 17, 1931
327
The orthogonal trajectories of the family of wave surfaces (b) are

light rays in the usual sense; these curves, however, are geodesics of zero
length6 when considered with respect to the Gaussian ccordinates (t, x2,
x3, x4). This establishes the geodesics of zero length or bicharacteristics
of the field equations as the light tracks in the unified field theory.
A treatment of the problems of optics can be made on the basis of the
above theory of gravitational and electromagnetic waves. In fact, a
step in this direction has recently been taken by Synge and McConnell7
who have deduced formulae for the angle of reflection and refraction of
light from a moving surface by a method adaptable to the point of view
of the present theory. Other interesting problems in geometrical and
physical optics await investigation from this standpoint.
1. We shall add to this note a brief discussion of the problem of the
determination of the structure of the continuum by the assignment of
data in a system of local coordinates. Let us define a three-dimensional
variety S3 and a two-dimensional variety S2 in a system of affine local
coordinates zl by
S3:4.(Z',
...,Z4)
=O,2
4)(Z1l ... Z4)

'l(1 J . .,4
*(ZI,
,z4)
= 0
=0
where the functions 4) and ' are assumed to be analytic in the neighborhood
of the origin. We shall suppose that 4) and I are independent as functions
of z' and z2; this causes no loss of generality as it involves at most a relettering of the coordinate axes. Now put
(1.)
D(Z), X2 = '(z), X3 = Z3, X4 = Z4.
This defines an analytic transformation of coordinates which possesses
a unique inverse in the neighborhood of the origin of the local system.
We shall say that the origin of the local coordinate system is a characteristic point with respect to the hypersurface S3 if the expression
XI
(aq,)2 --2
VaZ1)
()2 -
VYZ2) V5Z3) V5Z4)
vanishes at the origin of these co6rdinates. Our discussion will be divided

into two parts: (A) the case for which the origin is a characteristic point,
and (B) the case for which the origin is not a characteristic point with
respect to the hypersurface S3. We shall refer to these two cases as
hypothesis (A) and hypothesis (B), respectively.
Now suppose that the quantities Kll defined in Note III are given over
S3 and the K72 over S2; this can, in fact, be accomplished by taking the
K1, to be analytic functions of the coordinates (x2, X3, X4) and the K72
as analytic functions of the coordinates (X3, X4), i.e., analytic in the neighbor-
328
PROC. N. A. S.
hood of the values xo corresponding to the origin of the local system.

Now observe that the coefficients H of the power series expansions
I (2.10) are uniquely determined on account of (1.1). Hence, if we know
the derivatives at x' of the h. and Klm up to the order r inclusive, the
derivatives of the h' of order r + 1 at x4 will be determined by II (4.2).
Differentiation of III (3.3) under hypothesis (A) leads to the determination
at x' of the derivatives of the Klm of order r + 1, etc. By this process
we obtain uniquely determined convergent power series expansions8 of
the hX (x) in the neighborhood of the point x4; transformation by means
of (1.1) gives the functions h' in the affine local coordinate system. As a
matter of fact the functions h, are likewise uniquely determined in the
system of metric local coordinates having its origin coincident with the
origin of the affine local coordinates and we, therefore, arrive at the
following
EXISTENCE THEOREM. The specification of the functions K71 and Ki,
over the varieties S3 and S2, respectively, as analytic functions of the surface
coordinates determines uniquely a set of analytic integrals h, of the field
equations in a system of affine (or metric) local coordinates having its origin
at a point P on S2 not characteristic uwth respect to S3.
In particular we can take 4 = z' and T = Z2. We then arrive at a
theorem which on the point of view of our previous notes can be stated
roughly as follows: The specification at a particular instant t = 0 of the
absolute electromagnetic forces K7m throughout a small region Ro determines
the structure of the space-time continuum in the neighborhood of Ro.
2. A modification of the above existence theorem is necessary when
the hypothesis (B) is adopted. We can suppose that the functions 4 and
T satisfy the normal conditions C1 and C2 at a point P as explained in
Sect. 1 of Note V. Taking the point P as the origin of a system of affine
local coordinates z' we shall then have
az1 az1
6Z2 OJz2
6ZI 6Z2
OZ2 OZ2
OZ3 CZ3
6Z 6Za4
6z4 6z4
0Z2
(2.1)
6Z4 OZ3J
at the origin of these coordinates. At the point x' of the (x) coordinate
system defined by (1.1) the inequalities V (1.7) will, therefore, be satisfied.
Call S* the surface defined by T = 0 and consider the functions U and V
defined in Sect. 4 of Note V. If we specify the functions U over the
hypersurfaces S3 and S3 and the functions V over the surface S2 as analytic
functions of the surface coordinates, we can uniquely determine the successive coefficients of the power series expansions8 of the components
VOL. 17, 1931
329
h, about the point x4 by applying the method of the preceding section to

the equations V (4.1), V (4.2) and V (4.3). This gives the following
EXISTENCE THEOREM. The specification of the functions U over the
varieties S3 and S* and the functions V over the variety S2 as analytic functions
of the surface co6rdinates determines uniquely a set of analytic integrals h,
of the field equations in a system of affine (or metric) local co6rdinates having
its origin at a point P on S2 characteristic with respect to S3 and such that
at P the inequalities (2.1) are satisfied.
As mentioned in Note V the normal conditions (2.1) place no restriction
on the hypersurface S3.
1 Cp. E. Goursat, Cours d'analyse mathematique, 3, 94 (1927).
2 D. Hilbert, "Die Grundlagen der Physik," Math. Ann., 92, 1-32.(1924).
3See, for example, H. P. Robertson, "On the Foundations of Relativistic Cosmology,"
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 15 (1929), 822-829, where other references are also given; in
particular see footnote 4 to this paper.
4 Cp. J. Hadamard, Lecons sur la propagation des ondes, Hermann, 290 (1903).
5 L. P. Eisenhart, "Contact Transformations," Ann. of Math., 30, 211-249 (1929).
6 Proof of this statement can be based on the discussion in Sect. 2 of Note IV.
7J. L. Synge and A. J. McConnell, "Riemannian Null Geometry," Phil. Mag., 5,
7th Series, 241-263 (1928).

9 The proof of convergence involved here will possibly be given later in a comprehensive exposition of the present theory.
VOL. 17, 1931
199
ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. V

BY TRAcY YERxEs THOMAS
DEPARTMENT OP MATHEMATICS, PRINCETON UMVERSI
Communicated March 12, 1931
The general existence theorem established in Note III ceases to apply

when the data of the problem is ascribed over a characteristic surface Ss.
In treating this important exceptional case we arrive at an existence
theorem which is, roughly speaking, analogous to the existence theorem
for the ordinary wave-equation when the data is given over a characteristic
surface and which also bears certain resemblances to a theorem of Hadamard.' This theorem is capable of dynamical application. It follows
from it that there exists 'an infinite number of sets of integrals h' of the
field equations such that each set of integrals and their first derivatives
assume the same values over a characteristic surface S3; in fact, the conditions under which these integrals exist are such as to preclude the occurrence of more than a single set of integrals in case the surface ,S3 is
not a characteristic. This result leads to the interpretation of the characteristic surfaces as gravitational and electro-magnetic wave surfaces
in the four-dimensional continuum. A brief discussion of these wave surfaces will be given in Note VI.
1. Let us denote for the moment by Xl, ..., X4 the coordinates of
the continuum; let us also denote by Hi the contravariant components
of the ftmdamental vectors and by G'O the contravariant components of
the fundamental metric tensor. A characteristic surface S3 is then a
three-dimensional surface cI(X) = 0 such that over it the equation
G axe
(1.1)
is satisfied. Suppose that P is not a singular point on the hypersurface

b = 0, i.e., all first derivatives of the function 4) do not vanish at P, and
consider another surface S. defined by L(X) = 0 which passes through
the point P. This latter surface will be subjected to the following condition, the reason for which will later appear.
C1. The inequality
Gap
axa
-C'*X ;~(1.2)
holds at the point P.

The above condition is independent of the orientation of the fundamental
vectors. It is therefore possible, and we shall later find it expedient, to
200
PROC. N.
Al.|S
orientate the vector configurations throughout the continuum in the

following manner.
C2. The vector configurations are so oriented that the inequalities
(1.3)
z2 as t O
0
(1.4)
|Ha HI OXa OX"t(14

H2H 2
4El ;1E1 H4 H'H" a6) ax (1.5)
aEl
are satisfied at the point P2.

We shall refer to the above conditions C1 and C2 as normal conditions.
It is evident that C2 might also be regarded as giving conditions on the
surfaces S3 and S*. However, the above point of view has been preferred
as it does not involve an apparent restriction on the characteristic surface
S3.
In consequence of condition C1 it follows that the rank of the matrix
aXl aX2 6X8 6X4(16
6X1 6X2 6X3 6X4

must be two at the point P. In fact, if the rank of this matrix were less
than two, condition C1 would fail to be satisfied. It is therefore possible
to choose functions Q(X) and 2(X) such that the jacobian of the coordinate
transformation
Xi = D(X), X2 = I(X), X3 = Q(X), X4 = :(X)
will not vanish at P; this means that the above transformation possesses
an inverse throughout the neighborhood of the point P. Under this
transformation the equation of the characteristic surface S3 assumes the
form xl = 0, while the equation of the auxiliary surface S3 becomes x2 = 0.
Denoting the components of the fundamental vectors and the fundamental
metric tensor in the (x) coordinate system by the usual designation of
h and g, respectively, we have from (1.1) that the contravariant component
= 0 over S3; also by Cl we have that gl2 0 at P. Moreover, the
condition C2 results in the fact that the inequalities
(1.7)
h1 > 0, hlh _- hlh hl0,h14 - h4h1 t 0
are satisfied by the contravariant components h, at the point P. In
VOL. 17, 1931
201
treating the problem of the determination of integrals of the field equations

by the specification of data over a characteristic surface S3 we shall assume
in the following work the normalization of this problem afforded by the
selection of the (x) coordinate system and the assertion of the conditions
C1 and C2.
2. We shall find it expedient in making certain calculations to introduce
a slight change in notation. Let us put
=
h, -y = 5 = h
a = h2, b = h2, c = h1, d = 12
for the contravariant components hK; also
W= aC2-2_ 72 62, W* = aa-Bb--yc-Ad.
ca 14,=
h1,
The two-rowed determinants formed from the matrix

a a 7 1
a b c d|
will also enter into our calculations so that we shall use the abbreviations
A = ab-p#a, B = ac- ya, C= ad-ba
D = Pc- yb E=1d-bb, F= yd-Sc.
The above quantity W is nothing more than the contravariant component
g11 and hence vanishes over the characteristic surface S3; also W* stands
for the contravariant component g12 So that W* t 0 at P. Finally the
inequalities P Z 0, A Z 0 and F Z 0 are equivalent to (1.7).
3. Consider the matrix represented by Table 1. Each row in table 1
corresponds to an equation III (2.2) or III (3.1) determined by the indicated values of j, k, I or j, respectively, and the elements in any column
are the coefficients of the derivatives at the top of this column; more
precisely each row in Table 1 corresponds to a set of four equations but
the above terminology is convenient and has been used throughout this
note. It is necessarv to deduce a number of lemmas regarding certain
matrices and determinants formed from the elements in Table 1.
Let us denote by M1 the matrix formed from the elements in the first
six columns in Table 1. The fourth order determinant in the upper lefthand corner of M1 will be denoted by J. More generally a determinant
constructed from the elements in rows 1, m, . . ., n and columns p, q, .., r
in Table 1 will be designated by the symbol
m ...n
... r
P
Let us consider the eight determinants of order five in M1 which are formed
202
by bordering J in
minants show that
all
12345
1234 6
12345
12346
12347
|12348
12346
12345
possible
Expansions of these deter-
manners.
-a7W,
2 W
'
PROC. N. A. S.
1|2345123466
a2aw.
12346
12345
7
347
12346-
12345W
2348
Since W = 0 at a point P on a characteristic surface S3 it follows by a

theorem in algebra3 that if J 0 0 at P the rank of the matrix Ml is four
at P. We can, in fact, easily prove a more specific result, namely, that
every determinant of order five in Ml contains W as a factor.4 As we shall
later have use of this result we state it as the following
b.hI
jkl
~
a
1a
ax,
2,1
?ht4,1
6x1
a 3,2
aht 3,1
ahs4,2
15
alx'
ax
I
ah
4,1
A'
ahI4,2
ahI3,2
aX2
(X2
Z 2,1
ah
a C2
-c
0 -b
-c
ahI 8,2
aX2
ax'
-a
4,l
aX2
O-_Y
13
0O-f0
0 -b
-a
-a
-a
-d
0 -a
-d
-a
'y
-d
-b
123
=4
j 3
-Y
124
134
ah'4,2
-a
J= 2
234
-0
'y
-5
j= 1
TABLE 1
LEMMA I. Every determinant of order five of the matrix M1 has the form
WR(a, 9, -y, 5), where R (a, j,P'y, 5) denotes a polygnomial in the variabks
indicated.
Let us
first four
can then
LEMMA
denote by M.l the matrix determined by the elements in the

rows and first six columns in Table 1. The following lemma
be proved.
II. The matrix M2 is of rank four at a point P of a characteristic
surface.
This lemma shows in particular that the rank of M1 is four at P. To
prove Lemma II we consider the determinant
l 2 3 4
3 4 5 61
(a
VOL. 17, 1931
203
contained in M2. The assumption that the above determinant vanishes

gives a2 = B2 and since W = Oat P it follows that -y = 5 = O at P. Hence
F = 0 at P contrary to condition C2 in Sect. 1. This proves Lemma II.
By calculation we have that5
12
3 4 5 6 7 8
-4A2P + (B2 + C2-D2-E2)2.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 lOj
Since A t 0 and F t 0 we obtain the result stated in the following
LEMMA III. The inequality
11234567 8 >0
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
is satisfied at the point P.

4. We shall apply the symbols U and V to represent components
h1k as indicated by the scheme

U h',1, h',3; V h44,, h3,2, h4,2,
l4,' .
Equations III (2.2) and III (3.1) can now be solved for first derivatives
of the V with respect to xl and x2 in consequence of the fact that the
determinant
h
1234567 8
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
does not vanish at P by Lemma III. This solution gives
av
ER(h)
au + E R(h) av +
(a = 1, 2, 3, 4;
a1 =
WER
EZ
(4.1)
= 3, 4)
+R E + B-
(4.2)
2, 3, 4; # = 3, 4)
where R denotes a rational function of the h, and the * as usual denotes
terms of lower order than those which have been written down explicitly.
The occurrence of the quantity W as a factor in the first term of the right
member of (4.2) follows as a result of Lemma III; this fact is essential
in our later work.
By multiplying the four equations corresponding to the first four rows
in Table 1 by suitably chosen quantities p, q, r, s and adding to the equation
corresponding to the seventh row in Table 1 it is possible to obtain an
equation in which the coefficients of the derivatives of the components
U and V with respect to xl will vanish at P. This follows from Lemmas
(a
204
PROC. N. A. S.
I and II. Similarly it is possible to multiply the four equations corresponding to the first four rows in Table 1 by quantities p, q, r, s, and add
to the equation corresponding to the last row in Table 1 so as to obtain
an equation in which the coefficients of the above derivatives will likewise
vanish at P. We can, in fact, construct in an obvious manner a system
of linear equations in the unknown quiantities p, q, r, s or p, q, r, s with
the non-vanishing determinant
,,=11 2 3 4
|3 4 .5 61
and solve by Cramer's rule. This gives

P =
et,q 2 -2r
-(3 P
a2
a2-
-a
a2_ 2'r
aa_(2'2
(2'
a2C
2'
#2's
a2(
In the two equations so obtained the coefficients of the derivatives in

in the last six columns of Table 1, i.e., the derivatives of the quantities
U and V with respect to x2, will be given by the matrix
u
-v
ihA
in which
U =
a2
(32'
a2
w x
-x w
22Y
2
= a2
aB- #D
uE-oaC
a2
(32
2 _
'
(2
yD+SE-bW
-aF
-6A
X
v
u
a2
(32
Let us call the four equations corresponding to the first four rows in Table
1 the system L1 and the two equations which
we have constructed by the above process, the
0 -a 0 a -ey 0
system L2. Now differentiate L1 with respect
0 -3 00 - Y
a
to x2 and L2 with respect to xl. On combining the resulting equations we have a system
0 -0 0 a 0
a
L3 of six equations which can be solved for the
a 0 -a 0 -6 0 second derivatives with respect to xl, x2 of
the quantities U and V. Table 2 indicates
V W X
U
y Z
the determinant of the coefficients of these
-v
u -x w -z
y
derivatives in L3. Expanding5 this determinant
and neglecting additive terms containing
TABLE 2
W we obtain the simple quantity (2(3W*)2
which does not vanish at P in consequence of the normal conditions
imposed in Sect. 1; this fact permits the unique determination of the
VOL. 17, 1931
205
above second derivatives and leads to a system of equations L3 of the

form
O2U
6X I-X2(
62 V
O2 U
62U
x
+
R
+ *x (4 3)
ER a
=WF3R
xla62 V (xl(xx2l
(a6* l ifI = 1, 2)
It is to be observed that the first term in the right member of these equations contains W as a factor and that terms involving second derivatives
of V with respect to xl do not appear.
5. Let us write I (4.5) or III (2.1) in the form
-2
+EZ
RU+>ERV
ax +
614 614
ERU+RV
3x2
E RU +ZRV)
E RU + E RV
E RU + E RV
6h4
(5.1a)
(5. lb)
(5.1c)
614
Other equations of this type likewise result from the condition W = 0

over the surface S3; in fact we have
~2
Eglh' 6 a'
O (a
2,3,4)
(5.2)
=y = a = O at
over S3. Now a * O at P since a = O would give
P and we would have a contradiction with the normal conditions imposed
in Sect. 1. Making use of this fact and also the fact that W* 0 at P
equations (5.2) can be solved for the derivatives of the covariant component h' with respect to X2, X3 and X4. Hence (5.2) can be given the
form
3
_ 62 _ 6
621
(53
**
6X2 - ***''X3 - =*...-
206
PROC. N. A. S.
where the dots denote terms of the sort occurring in the right members
of (5.1) with the exception of the derivatives in the left members of (5.3).
It is to be borne in mind that equations (5.3) hold only over the surface
S3 and must not, therefore, be differentiated with respect to the coordinate
xl in the process of finding derivatives of the component h' which we shall
later employ. This circumstance, however, causes no difficulty since
such differentiations can be made on the equation (5.1a) which contains
the derivative of h1 with respect to xl in its left member.
6. Suppose that each component U is defined over the surfaces S3
and S3* as an analytic function of.the surface coordinates. We represent
this by writing
U = J(X2, X3, X4) for xl = 0
(6.1)
U = K(x1, x3, x4) for x2 = o
where it is to be understood that over the two-dimensional surface S

defined by xl = x2 = 0 the functions J and K are identical, i.e.,
J(0, x3, x4) = K(0, x3, X4).
Over the surface S2 we shall ascribe the components V as indicated by
the equation
V = L(x3, X4) for x1 = = 0.
(6.2)
Similarly the components h' will be defined throughout the four-dimensional continuum, over the above surfaces S3, S2 and along the curve Si
given by x1 = =X3 = 0 as shown by the following equations
h- PS(X'1 x2, x3, x4)
[i=1, 2, 3,
h = Qi(X2, X3, X4)
4]
-XI
h= R(x3, x4)
-XI
X2 = O j
hi
X1 =X2
__
(6.3)
SI(X4)
=
X3
O0
A value (h')o will be assigned the component h1 at the point P, which is

now taken as the origin of the (x) coordinate system, such that the conditioiis W = 0 and ,B 0 are satisfied at P. It will, moreover, be assumed
that the values of the h, in (6.3) are such that the remainder of the normal
conditions imposed in Sect. 1, namely, W* t 0,4 t 0 aiid F t 0 hold
likewise at the point P; there is also the condition, which is a consequence
of the underlying postulates of the space of distant parallelism, that the
determinant ji t 0 at P.
I I
VOL. 17, 1931
207
The specification of the above data is sufficient to determine the power

series expansions of the components hs in the neighborhood of the point
P. We observe, for example, that the quantities in the right members
of (4.1) and (4.2) are known at P so that the left members of these equations are determined. Likewise the left members of (5.1) and (5.3) are
determined at P since all quantities occurring in the right members of
these equations are known from the assignment of the above data. In
other words, all first derivatives of the quantities U, V and hs are determined at the point P. To assist in the calculation of the higher derivatives of these quantities we lay down certain rules of anteriority which
indicate the order in which these derivatives are to be determined. If
21 and e3 denote derivatives of U or V we shall say that 2I is anterior to
e when one of the following conditions is satisfied:
(1) 21 is of lower order than !;
(2) 2 is of the same order as e8 but involves fewer differentiations
with respect to xl;
(3) 21 is of the same order as Q, involves the same number of differentiations with respect to x1, but fewer differentiations with respect to X2;
(4) 1 is of the same order as !8, involves the same number of differentiations with respect to xl and the same number of differentiations
with respect to X2.2, but 21 is a derivative of a quantity U whereas 58 is
a derivative of a quantity V.
The rules of anteriority for the derivatives of the components h1 can
be made on the basis of the idea of the "cote" which we have previouslv
used (footnote 4 to Note III). Let us assign "cotes" to the ha and the
coordinates xa as follows:
Xa
has "cote" -a
has "cote" 5
ha has "cote" a
(i * 1 ifa= 2)
hi
Then if G and Z denote derivatives of components ht we shall say that

E is anterior to Z if:
(1) G is of lower order than Z;
(2) E is of the same order as Z but the "cote" of Q is algebraically
less than that of Z6
Finally we shall say that 21 is anterior to S if 21 is of lower order than
: and conversely that z is anterior to 21 if G is of lower order than W.
Now differentiate one of the equations (4.1), (4.2) or (4.3) any number
of times with respect to the co3rdinates x" and evaluate at the point P.
The resulting equation will then express the derivative in its left member
208
PROC. N. A. S.
as a sum of polynomials in anterior derivatives. In case we are dealing

with an equation (4.2) the vanishing of the factor W at P prevents the
occurrence in the right member of (4.2) of derivatives which are not anterior to the derivative in the left member of this equation; a similar
remark applies to an equation (4.3). If we differentiate one of the equations (5.3) any number of times with respect to coordinates x2, x3, x4 and
evaluate at P the derivatives in the right member of the resulting equation
will be anterior to the derivative in the left member. This will likewise
be the case if we differentiate one of the equations (5.1) any number of
times with respect to the coordinates ea except in the case of an equation
(5.1b) which involves in its right member a derivative of the component
hI; in this case, however, the derivative of the component h1 resulting
from differentiation of the equation (5. ib) can be eliminated by an obvious
substitution so as to obtain an equation in which the right member contains only derivatives anterior to the derivative in its left member. From
the above considerations it is obvious that any derivative of U, V or h,
can be determined at P when the values are known at P of all derivatives
anterior to the derivative in question. It follows, therefore, that the
power series expansions of the components hs about the point P will be
fully determined by the value (h')o of the component 14 at P and the
specification of data given by (6.1), (6.2) and (6.3) in accordance with the
condition 14 t 0 at P and the normal conditions in Sect. 1.
7. It was shown in Note II that the expression
16K(3, r + 1) + 8K(2, r + 1)
(7.1)
constituted a lower bound to the number of arbitrary derivatives of the

quantities U and V of the (r + I)st order; also the method explained in
Sect. 4 of Note III enables us to say that there cannot be less than
4K(4, r + 2) derivatives of the h1, of order (r + 1) to which arbitrary values
can be assigned at the point P when the condition W = 0 over the surface
83 is disregarded. When this latter condition is taken into consideration
it follows, therefore, that the difference between 4K(4, r + 2) and
K(3, r + 1), or
4K(4, r + 1) + 3K(3, r + 1) + 4K(2, r + 1) + 4
(7.2)
is a lower bound to the number of derivatives of the h1, of the (r + 1)st

order to which arbitrary values can be assigned at the point P.
If we differentiate r times the equations (4.1), (4.2), (5.1), (5.3) and
r - 1 times the equations (4.3), and then form the conditions of integrability of the resulting equations we obtain a system M involving the U,
V and h1 and the derivatives of these quantities to the order (r + 1) at
most. Now the data specified by (6.3) shows that the number of arbitrary
VOL. 17, 1931
209
derivatives of ht, of the (r + 1)st order at P is at most equal to (7.2);

the number of arbitrary derivatives of U and V of the (r + 1)st order is
easily seen to be equal to (7.1) in consequence of (6.1) and (6.2). If,
therefore, one of the equations of M is not satisfied identically and if,
moreover, this equation involves at least one of the derivatives of the
components U, V or h. of order (r + 1) we shall be led to a contradiction
with the fact that (7.1) or (7.2) constitutes a lower bound to the number
of these derivatives which are arbitrary at the point P; in case an equation
of M does not involve a derivative of U, V, or h, of order (r + 1) and yet
is not satisfied identically we shall have a similar contradiction with regard
to the lower bound for derivatives of order less than (r + 1). It follows,
therefore, that all conditions of integrability involved in the determination of the power series expansions of the h, must be satisfied and, hence,
that these expansions are unique. As the power series expansions of the
h, can be shown to converge within a sufficiently small neighborhood at
the point P we arrive at the following7
EXISTENCE THEOREM. Let us specify the functions U over the surfaces
S3 and S. and also the functions V over the surface S2 as arbitrary analytic
functions of the surface co6rdinates represented by equations (6.1) and (6.2),,
respectively. Moreover, let us specify the value of the component h' at P,
i.e., xa = 0, and also the values of the remaining components ha as arbitrary
analytic functions in accordance with (6.3), the above values being taken
subject to the following conditions:
W = 0, IhI t O, , t O
W* 0, A t 0, F 0O
at the point P. Then there exists one, and only one, set of functions h, given
by convergent power series expansions about the point P, which constitutes
a set of integrals of the field equations III (3.1) and for which the surface
S3 is a characteristic.
It should be observed that the normal conditions incorporated in the
statement of the above existence theorem have been imposed merely to
avoid the ambiguity which would otherwise occur in the selection of
certain non-vanishing determinants formed from the coefficients of certain
of the previous equations; these conditions in no way restrict the characteristic surface S3.
8. Suppose that we confine our differentiations of the equations
(4.1), (4.2), (4.3), (5.1) and (5.3) in the process of determining the power
series expansions of the functions h, about the point P to differentiations
involving the indices X2, X3, X4 alone; this is evidently possible from the
rules of anteriority in Sect. 6. We then arrive at a determination of the
quantities h, and their first derivatives over the characteristic surface
210
PROC. N. A. S.
S3. Now if we consider the functions K in (6.1) which we can suppose

to be of the form
(P3(X1)3 + (4(X1)4
we see that this determination of the h, and their first derivatives over
S3 is independent of the (Pk. Different selections of the functions Pk(X3, X4)
will give different sets of integrals ht of the field equations and we arrive
at the fact that there exists an infinite number of sets of integrals ha of the
field equations such that each set of integrals and their first derivatives assume
the same values over a characteristic surface S3.
The above result can be extended in the following manner: Let us
supplement the above process by allowing a single differentiation with
respect to the coordinate xl. Then the quantities hs as well as their
first and second derivatives will be determined over S3 independently of
the functions O4, V5, . . . and there is an analogous result when we restrict
ourselves to p(>l) differentiations with respect to the coordinate xl.
Let us say that two sets of integrals ht of the field equations have contact
of order C over a characteristic surface S3 if the two sets of functions h ,
and all their derivatives to those of order C itclusive, but not derivatives
of the (C + 1)st order, assume the same values over S3. We can then
say that there exists an infinite number of sets of integrals h, of the field
equations having contact of order C(2. 1) with one another over a characteristic surface S3. It is important to notice that if the surface S3 were
not a characteristic the functional data common to each of these sets of
integrals would be sufficient to give a unique determination of a set of
integrals h, of the field equations.
I J. Hadamard, Lecons sur la Propagation des Ondes, Hermann (1903), pp. 296-310.
2 See footnote 6 to Note III.
3 Bocher, Introduction to Higher Algebra, MacMillan, p. 54 (1929).

4 Let Q denote any determinant of order five in Ml. Assuming J * 0, we have
= 0 whenever W = 0 by the result in the text. Hence JQ = 0 for W = 0 without
WT. Since the polynomial W

restricting J to non-vanishing values. Hence JQ
is irreducible it follows from the last equation that either J or Q must involve W as
a factor. But J is equal to a252 + 62yl2 so that W is not a factor.of J; hence W is a
factor of Q. While the above discussion is sufficiently general to admit the possibility
of J having zero values, the vanishing of J at the point P would, as a matter of fact,
be in contradiction to the normal conditions in Sect. 1.
I See footnote 3 to Note III.
6 A "cote" of a derivative is the integer obtained by adding to the "cote" of the
function which is differentiated, the "cotes" of all the variables of differentiation,
distinct or not.
7 The proof of convergence involved here will be given later in a comprehensive
exposition of the present theory.

Unified Field Theory - 4

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Unified Field Theory - 4

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VOL.

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

ON THE UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. I

Communicated September 30, 1930

In a number of notes in the Berlin Sitzungsberichtel followed by a revised

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

gas in the original theory of gravitation. It is an interesting fact that the

VOL. 16, 1930

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

introduced. The fact that the fundamental form has signature -2 by

as the equations defining the components of the fundamental metric tensor.

as the equations which define the components A' of affine connection.

which represent the transformation induced by (1.4) on the covariant

h6his bh~ace=*hia *hso

When we multiply both members of these latter equations through by

VOL. 16, 1930

ds2 = (dzl) 2-(dz2) - (dz3) 2

at the origin of the local system.

where the e are constants and v is a parameter.

such curves are generated by continuously displacing a vector parallel to

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

nection A; by Ni4 (z), when referred to the local coordinate system, we

This system of equations possesses a unique solution x = spa(z) satisfying

where pa and pi' are arbitrary constants.7 By Postulate A condition (2.7)

where the o, are positive constants. On account of this set of equations

VOL. 16, 1930

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

Thus we have that

-2(AO AO's + Ae7 Acp + AaaAB8Y)

Also this relation must be such as to satisfy the system of equations

which leaves the form

in consequence of (3.3). The explicit expressions for these invariants are

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

VOL. 16, 1930

We next consider the absolute derivatives of the fundamental vectors,

In general, the absolute derivatives are defined by the equations

A'j,= h' hj= 5j

821L' -h?,x6 A -^ox

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

where p... q denotes any permutation of the indices k... m. To derive

hj,kz + hk,lj + hjk

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

VOL. 16, 1930

in accordance with the unusual designations. More precisely, we should

are satisfied at the origin of the local system.

from (4.13). Putting I equal to k in these equations and multiplying

(k~1 ek hjkk) as = ( E erhq rr)

on making use of (1.7). This proves the assertion of invariance of (5.2)

and then construct the following two sets of equations

Fjk,l + Fklj + Fljk

VOL. 16, 1930

Differentiating and evaluating at the origin of the local system, we have

Or, denoting the components gag by

when referred to the local co-

MA THEMA TICS: T. Y. THOMAS

identically. These conditions are satisfied by taking all the functions

Pia Zs + pai Z" ? +

isfying the conditions

ai=c, (ki = 0).

Ated Manifo'ds," Math. Zeit., 25 (1926), pp. 714-722.

MA THEMA TICS: H. S. VA NDI VER

investigation. Now there is a certain psychological influence exerted by the method

defines, when considered as a function of the xi coordinates, the components of a tensor

* NATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOW.

h6his bh~ace=hia hso