迈克尔孙—莫雷实验与狭义相对论

Michelson-Morley Experiment and Special Relativity

迈克尔孙—莫雷实验在狭义相对论的创立过程中是有过重要作用的。但是,有些人并不是很清楚地知道:为什么顺着地球运动方向与逆着地球运动方向的两束光,速度如果不同,就会发生干涉以及干涉条纹的移动表示了什么。本文具体分析推导了这个问题。在该实验中,由于证实了没有发生这种干涉条纹的移动,从而否定了"以太"的存在,并把相对性原理从只适用于力学现象推广到包括电磁现象的一切物理现象,建立起了狭义相对论的完整理论架构。

Michelson - Morley Experiment played an important role in the process of building special relativity. If the speeds of two beams of light one is along the direction of earth movement, and the other is against, are different, interference and the shift of interference fringe will take place. However, some people are not very clear about what this fact indicates. This paper will analyze this question in detail. Michelson - Morley Experi- ment confirms that there is no shift of interference fringe, and so denies the existence of ＂ether＂. Moreover, the experiment broadens the range of the application of special relativity from mechanics phenomenon to all physical phenomena including electromagnetic phenomenon. Therefore, Michelson - Morley Experiment has built up a whole theoretical framework for special relativity.