Annus mirabilis papers

The annus mirabilis papers are four papers that <a href="/facts/Albert_Einstein/CNTet8qu">Albert Einstein</a> published in the scientific journal <a href="/facts/Annalen_der_Physik/266TzQG2">Annalen der Physik</a> (Annals of Physics) in 1905. As major contributions to the foundation of <a href="/facts/Modern_physics/J9Kko1qU">modern physics</a>, these <a href="/facts/List_of_scientific_publications_by_Albert_Einstein/8MPhmTLV">scientific publications</a> were the ones for which he gained fame among physicists. They revolutionized science's understanding of the fundamental concepts of <a href="/facts/Space/tq6LUM3C">space</a>, <a href="/facts/Time_in_physics/5s0grGmk">time</a>, <a href="/facts/Mass/HHdc8XmF">mass</a>, and <a href="/facts/Energy/wd8PrQM7">energy</a>.

<ol><li>The first paper explained the <a href="/facts/Photoelectric_effect/gIDcdm5U">photoelectric effect</a>, which established the energy of the light quanta 
 
 
 
 E
 =
 h
 f
 
 
 {\displaystyle E=hf}
 
, and was the only specific discovery mentioned in the citation awarding Einstein the 1921 <a href="/facts/Nobel_Prize_in_Physics/o6w1nCbr">Nobel Prize in Physics</a>.</li>
<li>The second paper explained <a href="/facts/Brownian_motion/Th0g0wkr">Brownian motion</a>, which established the <a href="/facts/Einstein_relation_(kinetic_theory)/pLALxmow">Einstein relation</a> 
 
 
 
 D
 =
 μ
 
 
 k
 
 B
 
 
 T
 
 
 {\displaystyle D=\mu \,k_{\text{B}}T}
 
 and compelled physicists to accept the existence of <a href="/facts/Atom/FoQ4kGN5">atoms</a>.</li>
<li>The third paper introduced Einstein's <a href="/facts/Special_theory_of_relativity/vsFFc63E">special theory of relativity</a>, which proclaims the constancy of the <a href="/facts/Speed_of_light/sKSQwdNx">speed of light</a> 
 
 
 
 c
 
 
 {\displaystyle c}
 
 and derives the <a href="/facts/Lorentz_transformations/jotJL06G">Lorentz transformations</a>. Einstein also examined <a href="/facts/Relativistic_aberration/DCIDAfCU">relativistic aberration</a> and the <a href="/facts/Relativistic_Doppler_effect/1IUfmrfI">transverse Doppler effect</a>.</li>
<li>The fourth, a consequence of special relativity, developed the principle of <a href="/facts/Mass%25E2%2580%2593energy_equivalence/ExXawGcc">mass–energy equivalence</a>, expressed in the equation 
 
 
 
 E
 =
 m
 
 c
 
 2
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle E=mc^{2}}
 
 and which led to the discovery and use of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_power/jzSyvxSn">nuclear power</a> decades later.</li></ol>
These four papers, together with <a href="/facts/Quantum_mechanics/BRc3Mzgr">quantum mechanics</a> and Einstein's later <a href="/facts/General_theory_of_relativity/jVsoIg8X">general theory of relativity</a>, are the foundation of modern physics.

Annus mirabilis papers open-in-new

Annus mirabilis papers