An experimental demonstration of the aether's existence, even simpler than M&M:
If something has measurable physical properties, it "is something", i.e. exists. The aether has a measurable magnetic permeability m0=4px10–7 and electrical permittivity e0=8.854x10–12. And therefore exists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_theories
Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Laureate in Physics, endowed chair in physics, Stanford University, had this to say about ether in contemporary theoretical physics:
"It is ironic that Einstein's most creative work, the general theory of relativity, should boil down to conceptualizing space as a medium when his original premise [in special relativity] was that no such medium existed [..] The word 'ether' has extremely negative connotations in theoretical physics because of its past association with opposition to relativity. This is unfortunate because, stripped of these connotations, it rather nicely captures the way most physicists actually think about the vacuum. . . . Relativity actually says nothing about the existence or nonexistence of matter pervading the universe, only that any such matter must have relativistic symmetry. [..] It turns out that such matter exists. About the time relativity was becoming accepted, studies of radioactivity began showing that the empty vacuum of space had spectroscopic structure similar to that of ordinary quantum solids and fluids. Subsequent studies with large particle accelerators have now led us to understand that space is more like a piece of window glass than ideal Newtonian emptiness. It is filled with 'stuff' that is normally transparent but can be made visible by hitting it sufficiently hard to knock out a part. The modern concept of the vacuum of space, confirmed every day by experiment, is a relativistic ether. But we do not call it this because it is taboo."
Dear Jeremy,
the constants e0 and m0 do not verify the existance of the aether. Their values depends on the system of units and do not describe the properties of matter.
Lets take e0: This constant exists only in the SI-system and is needed to describe the relation between Coulombforce and distance between point charges in the vacuum. In an older system this constant is equal to one. It only calibrates the force unit. Furthermore, the value of m0 follows from e0 and the vacuum velocity of light. Therefore be carefully, what is a physical property? The quantities e0 and m0 are no properties. Properties can be represented in theory as operators. Here, we only gauge the vacuum conditions.
With Regards
R. Mitdank
Peter Farrington Thanks for the quote. I had seen bits of it, but it is nice to have the whole thing. Exactly! The question is: when and principally why did the aether become taboo. Lorentz in 1895 (well befor Einstein) is already referring to the "M&M null result". When it simply wasn't null. And M&M themselves did not report it as such. That for me is the mystery.
Rüdiger Mitdank A property is by definition something that can be measured. And something with properties is by definition something. Therefore the aether is something, i.e. exists.
Peter Farrington A curiosity. You seem to accept the aether. Do you also accept that it refutes Einstein's 2nd postulate, and hence the whole of SR and GR? This to me is self-evident. But to others it might not be.
Regards,
Jeremy
I do not think this is self evident if you accept that the mass of the photon is zero.
I don't see what mass has got to do with it. Aether theory says the speed of light is constant through the aether. Relativity says it is constant relative to an observer. The two are incompatible and cannot both be right.
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