KALUZA’S AND KLEIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KALUZA-KLEIN-THEORY

摘要

The Kaluza-Klein-theory is one of the “classics” of modern theoretical physics. All theories that construct a space with extra dimensions, such as superstring and membrane theory, are based on the structure of this unified theory. The original five-dimensional theories by Theodor Kaluza (from 1921) and Oskar Klein (from 1926) have not yet been closely analysed, historically. What has survived as an established part of physics is a “folklore version” that mixes together elements from both theories. Our paper analyses the individual mathematical and physical contributions by Kaluza and Klein. It points out the importance of the achievements of these two founders of five-dimensional unified theories, and compares them with the folklore version of the Kaluza-Klein theory.