Yes, Albert Einstein collaborated with several mathematicians who made significant contributions to his work on general relativity and special relativity. One of the most notable mathematicians who influenced Einstein's theories was Marcel Grossmann.
Marcel Grossmann was a Swiss mathematician and a close friend of Einstein. He introduced Einstein to the mathematical concepts of non-Euclidean geometry and tensor calculus, which were essential for the development of general relativity. Grossmann's expertise in mathematics helped Einstein formulate his theory in a mathematically rigorous manner.
Einstein's early attempts to formulate the theory of general relativity encountered mathematical difficulties, particularly in dealing with the complex mathematical equations involved. Grossmann, along with his professor at the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Professor Heinrich Friedrich Weber, provided Einstein with guidance and assistance in mastering the necessary mathematical tools.
Grossmann's knowledge of Riemannian geometry, tensor analysis, and differential geometry played a crucial role in formulating the field equations of general relativity. He helped Einstein understand the mathematics behind curved spacetime, which is the foundation of general relativity. Grossmann's collaboration with Einstein was instrumental in shaping the mathematical framework of the theory.
In addition to Grossmann, there were other mathematicians who made significant contributions to Einstein's work. For example, Hermann Minkowski, a mathematician and physicist, introduced the concept of four-dimensional spacetime and formulated special relativity in a geometrically elegant manner using mathematical tools. Minkowski's geometric interpretation of special relativity influenced Einstein's understanding and development of the theory.
While Einstein was not a mathematician himself, his collaborations with mathematicians like Grossmann and Minkowski were crucial in providing the mathematical foundations and insights necessary for the formulation and development of his theories of relativity.