Abstract
When the phase velocity of light in a moving medium is used to predict the phase velocity of that light relative to a stationary observer then the Einstein low speed approximation to his velocity addition equation and the Fresnel drag equation both predict the exact same result. Therefore existing interference fringe shift experiments do not differentiate between the Fresnel and Einstein predictions. However, when the group velocity of light is used, the Fresnel prediction and the Einstein prediction are different. When Fresnel predictions based on group velocity are made for the proposed experiment, the difference in round trip arrival times for the two halves of a split laser pulse is substantial. When Einstein predictions based on group velocity are made the difference in round trip times is, of course, zero. Thus a positive result for the proposed experiment would violate Special Relativity Theory (SRT) with regards to the relativity of simultaneity and suggest that the Lorentz-Poincare’ physical viewpoint on the SRT equations is a better viewpoint. If the Einstein prediction for group velocity is not correct, then when positive data for the experiment configuration shown in Figure 1.0 is collected at various orientations at different times of the day it is possible to identify a local preferred reference frame in which the speed of light is actually (not just apparently) isotropic. This reference frame could be used in place of star reference frames for spacecraft navigation. Other implications of a local preferred reference frame are explained in the paper.
Highlights
In a paper by Wagner (2008, May/June) and in a subsequent paper by Wagner (2011, July 6-9), an experiment was proposed to decide whether Fresnel’s or Einstein’s equations more accurately combine moving medium velocity with group light velocity in the medium to obtain group light velocity relative to a stationary observer
Once this point is understood, there is ample reason to believe that the experiment proposed in the earlier papers could produce results which differ from those predicted by Special Relativity Theory (SRT)
Einstein’s reasoning must apply to group velocity because for Special Relativity Theory this is another velocity in the moving medium and again if it were different from the stationary case it could be used to detect the medium’s motion with respect to a preferred reference frame
Summary
In a paper by Wagner (2008, May/June) and in a subsequent paper by Wagner (2011, July 6-9), an experiment was proposed to decide whether Fresnel’s or Einstein’s equations more accurately combine moving medium velocity with group light velocity in the medium to obtain group light velocity relative to a stationary observer. Since the publications of these papers it has become apparent that a simple key point buried in the earlier, more detailed, paper is somewhat lost to the reader because the paper notations differ from Einstein’s notions and even though their relationship is specified, the reader must put in an unnecessary amount of effort to gain understanding. Once this point is understood, there is ample reason to believe that the experiment proposed in the earlier papers could produce results which differ from those predicted by Special Relativity Theory (SRT). This brief paper is intended to clarify the point and thereby generate support within the scientific community for performing the proposed experiment
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