‘Redshift’ in Electromagnetic Waves

Abstract

Electromagnetic waves are commonly described in terms of Maxwell’s Equations but it is often neglected that an essential part of Maxwell’s theory was that such waves propagate through an ethereal medium. According to Maxwell, it is the electromagnetic properties of this medium that determine the speed of light. As the aether has never been detected it has been conveniently ignored for over a century. However, since the 1990’s it has been accepted that around 70% of the mass energy density of the universe can be attributed to “dark energy”. This article considers that aether and dark energy are alternative descriptions of the same entity. By considering the propagation of spherical waves through such a medium, it is shown that the aether should have a finite electrical conductivity as well as the magnetic permeability and electrical permittivity considered by Maxwell. This finite conductivity results in thermal dissipation and a loss of transmitted energy giving a consequential ‘redshift’ in frequency and wavelength of electromagnetic waves. This ‘redshift’ is compared to that detected in astronomical observations of distant galaxies. It is concluded that this could provide an alternative explanation for phenomena that have been used to justify the current model of the universe.