Simple Test of Special Relativity Involving Fresnel Drag and Light Propagation in a Uniformly Moving Medium

Stephan J G Gift

doi:10.4236/jamp.2021.911171

Abstract

In this paper, a simple test of special relativity involving light transmission through a uniformly moving medium and Fresnel’s drag coefficient is discussed. It is shown using Fresnel drag that there is a difference in propagation time of two light beams travelling in opposite directions in such a medium and that this time difference is independent of the index of refraction of the medium. This result has been experimentally confirmed by Wang et al. but cannot be explained by special relativity. Fresnel drag in the context of ether theory provides a full and accurate explanation that is consistent with the existence of a preferred frame.

Highlights

Special Relativity is today the accepted theory of space and time
Fresnel drag in the context of ether theory provides a full and accurate explanation that is consistent with the existence of a preferred frame
We show that in ether theory the speed of light in a moving medium whether measured by an observer in the laboratory or one co-moving with the medium is not constant as required in special relativity

Summary

Introduction

Special Relativity is today the accepted theory of space and time. Albert Einstein introduced this theory just over 100 years ago, following the failure of the Michelson-Morley experiment to detect movement through the luminiferous ether that was believed to be the medium of light transmission [1]. The existence of Fresnel dragging resulting from movement of the medium through the ether was directly demonstrated by Fizeau in 1851 in an experiment using light transmission through moving water that produced the predicted phase shift rather than a null result. We show that in ether theory the speed of light in a moving medium whether measured by an observer in the laboratory or one co-moving with the medium is not constant as required in special relativity We use these results to derive the experimental finding by Wang et al [6] that there is a difference in propagation time of two light beams travelling in opposite directions in such a medium as measured by a co-moving observer and this difference is independent of the index of refraction of the medium. We show that special relativity is unable to produce this experimentally confirmed result and the existence of a preferred frame is supported by the evidence

Fresnel’s Drag Coefficient

Light in a Moving Medium

Conclusion