If Michelson were to answer the question posed in the title, given the line of reasoning he used in 1881, Michelson would seat at his desktop computer to calculate the expected fringeshifts for several solar speeds ar...If Michelson were to answer the question posed in the title, given the line of reasoning he used in 1881, Michelson would seat at his desktop computer to calculate the expected fringeshifts for several solar speeds around 400 km/s and various directions of motion. Present author did exactly the same in 2001 to plan his repetition of Michelson and Morley’s (MM) 1887 experiment. The paper sketchedly summarizes the procedure to calculate expected fringeshifts in the MM interferometer for solar speeds available at Miller’s epoch. In a pre-relativistic context, amplitudes of several fringeshifts may be expected in both MM and Miller experiments. However, all interferometer experiments up to 1930 were designed under the (incorrect from a modern viewpoint) assumption that fringeshifts would be smaller than one fringe-width. The inescapable conclusion is that those experiments were not appropriate to measure the true value of solar motion, always yielding a small, but lower than expected, value for solar speed. The ensuing “negative” interpretation led to the birth of relativity theory and to a new series of experiments implicitly designed to test the relativistic hypothesis of length-contraction, while the earlier “positive” experiments were designed to test a different hypothesis: whether the motion of Earth relative to some preferred frame can be measured using an interferometer of constant dimensions. With the benefit of hindsight this writer repeated the MM experiment, correcting main weaknesses identified up to the Michelson-Morley-Miller (MMM) measurements at Mount Wilson from April 1925 to February 1926. A new possible reinterpretation of the MMM data as a sequence of stationary measurements is pointed out. Our Michelson-Morley-Miller-Munera (MMMM) experiment at Bogota (Colombia) from January 2003 to June 2005 gave values for solar absolute velocity in the same range as those obtained by astronomical means. Surprisingly, our results are compatible with modern third-party MM-type experiments designed and interpreted within relativistic contexts. Thus, a so far unexplored possibility arises: can interferometric experiments distinguish between pre-relativistic and relativistic theories? Our answer is negative.展开更多
It is proved strictly based on general relativity that two important factors are neglected in LIGO experiments by using Michelson interferometers so that fatal mistakes were caused. One is that the gravitational wave ...It is proved strictly based on general relativity that two important factors are neglected in LIGO experiments by using Michelson interferometers so that fatal mistakes were caused. One is that the gravitational wave changes the wavelength of light. Another is that light’s speed is not a constant when gravitational waves exist. According to general relativity, gravitational wave affects spatial distance, so it also affects the wavelength of light synchronously. By considering this fact, the phase differences of lasers were invariable when gravitational waves passed through Michelson interferometers. In addition, when gravitational waves exist, the spatial part of metric changes but the time part of metric is unchanged. In this way, light’s speed is not a constant. When the calculation method of time difference is used in LIGO experiments, the phase shift of interference fringes is still zero. So the design principle of LIGO experiment is wrong. It was impossible for LIGO to detect gravitational wave by using Michelson interferometers. Because light’s speed is not a constant, the signals of LIGO experiments become mismatching. It means that these signals are noises actually, caused by occasional reasons, no gravitational waves are detected really. In fact, in the history of physics, Michelson and Morley tried to find the absolute motion of the earth by using Michelson interferometers but failed at last. The basic principle of LIGO experiment is the same as that of Michelson-Morley experiment in which the phases of lights were invariable. Only zero result can be obtained, so LIGO experiments are destined failed to find gravitational waves.展开更多
Many experiments concerning the determination of the speed of light have been proposed and done. Here two important experiments, Michelson-Morley and Sagnac, will be discussed. A linear moving variation of Michelson-M...Many experiments concerning the determination of the speed of light have been proposed and done. Here two important experiments, Michelson-Morley and Sagnac, will be discussed. A linear moving variation of Michelson-Morley and Sagnac devices will then be proposed for probing experimentally the invariance of the speed of light.展开更多
The postulate of constant speed of light for all reference frames is the foundation of relativity theories. The resultant time dilation and length contraction are generally accepted but still perplexing for most peopl...The postulate of constant speed of light for all reference frames is the foundation of relativity theories. The resultant time dilation and length contraction are generally accepted but still perplexing for most people. By re-examining the historical evidence, this paper confirms Einstein’s postulate and reveals the mechanism for the constant speed of light: the interaction between photons and matter can impart the speed of an inertial frame to the photons and thus result in the same speed of light for different inertial reference frames. This mechanism can consistently explain all major experiments on the constant speed of light.展开更多
This article is devoted to the key concept of modern electrodynamics—the invariance of the speed of light. The general principle of relativity is considered in detail. Some critical remarks to the relativistic invari...This article is devoted to the key concept of modern electrodynamics—the invariance of the speed of light. The general principle of relativity is considered in detail. Some critical remarks to the relativistic invariance and to the Lorentz transformations are presented. The general invariance of Maxwell equations is discussed. Different theoretical expectations for possible results of Michelson-Morley experiment and some physical consequences are considered. Some critical remarks to the notion of the light speed and its constancy are given. The relativistic law for velocity addition, including strangeness of a noncollinear addition and a superluminal motion, is discussed. Critical analysis of two works which proof the need for existence of an invariant velocity is consequentially made.展开更多
The old classical problems of theoretical physics are revisited from the point of view of nonlocal physics. Nonlocal physics leads to very complicated mathematical apparatus. Here, we explain the main principles of no...The old classical problems of theoretical physics are revisited from the point of view of nonlocal physics. Nonlocal physics leads to very complicated mathematical apparatus. Here, we explain the main principles of nonlocal physics using transparent considerations and animations.展开更多
文摘If Michelson were to answer the question posed in the title, given the line of reasoning he used in 1881, Michelson would seat at his desktop computer to calculate the expected fringeshifts for several solar speeds around 400 km/s and various directions of motion. Present author did exactly the same in 2001 to plan his repetition of Michelson and Morley’s (MM) 1887 experiment. The paper sketchedly summarizes the procedure to calculate expected fringeshifts in the MM interferometer for solar speeds available at Miller’s epoch. In a pre-relativistic context, amplitudes of several fringeshifts may be expected in both MM and Miller experiments. However, all interferometer experiments up to 1930 were designed under the (incorrect from a modern viewpoint) assumption that fringeshifts would be smaller than one fringe-width. The inescapable conclusion is that those experiments were not appropriate to measure the true value of solar motion, always yielding a small, but lower than expected, value for solar speed. The ensuing “negative” interpretation led to the birth of relativity theory and to a new series of experiments implicitly designed to test the relativistic hypothesis of length-contraction, while the earlier “positive” experiments were designed to test a different hypothesis: whether the motion of Earth relative to some preferred frame can be measured using an interferometer of constant dimensions. With the benefit of hindsight this writer repeated the MM experiment, correcting main weaknesses identified up to the Michelson-Morley-Miller (MMM) measurements at Mount Wilson from April 1925 to February 1926. A new possible reinterpretation of the MMM data as a sequence of stationary measurements is pointed out. Our Michelson-Morley-Miller-Munera (MMMM) experiment at Bogota (Colombia) from January 2003 to June 2005 gave values for solar absolute velocity in the same range as those obtained by astronomical means. Surprisingly, our results are compatible with modern third-party MM-type experiments designed and interpreted within relativistic contexts. Thus, a so far unexplored possibility arises: can interferometric experiments distinguish between pre-relativistic and relativistic theories? Our answer is negative.
文摘It is proved strictly based on general relativity that two important factors are neglected in LIGO experiments by using Michelson interferometers so that fatal mistakes were caused. One is that the gravitational wave changes the wavelength of light. Another is that light’s speed is not a constant when gravitational waves exist. According to general relativity, gravitational wave affects spatial distance, so it also affects the wavelength of light synchronously. By considering this fact, the phase differences of lasers were invariable when gravitational waves passed through Michelson interferometers. In addition, when gravitational waves exist, the spatial part of metric changes but the time part of metric is unchanged. In this way, light’s speed is not a constant. When the calculation method of time difference is used in LIGO experiments, the phase shift of interference fringes is still zero. So the design principle of LIGO experiment is wrong. It was impossible for LIGO to detect gravitational wave by using Michelson interferometers. Because light’s speed is not a constant, the signals of LIGO experiments become mismatching. It means that these signals are noises actually, caused by occasional reasons, no gravitational waves are detected really. In fact, in the history of physics, Michelson and Morley tried to find the absolute motion of the earth by using Michelson interferometers but failed at last. The basic principle of LIGO experiment is the same as that of Michelson-Morley experiment in which the phases of lights were invariable. Only zero result can be obtained, so LIGO experiments are destined failed to find gravitational waves.
文摘Many experiments concerning the determination of the speed of light have been proposed and done. Here two important experiments, Michelson-Morley and Sagnac, will be discussed. A linear moving variation of Michelson-Morley and Sagnac devices will then be proposed for probing experimentally the invariance of the speed of light.
文摘The postulate of constant speed of light for all reference frames is the foundation of relativity theories. The resultant time dilation and length contraction are generally accepted but still perplexing for most people. By re-examining the historical evidence, this paper confirms Einstein’s postulate and reveals the mechanism for the constant speed of light: the interaction between photons and matter can impart the speed of an inertial frame to the photons and thus result in the same speed of light for different inertial reference frames. This mechanism can consistently explain all major experiments on the constant speed of light.
文摘This article is devoted to the key concept of modern electrodynamics—the invariance of the speed of light. The general principle of relativity is considered in detail. Some critical remarks to the relativistic invariance and to the Lorentz transformations are presented. The general invariance of Maxwell equations is discussed. Different theoretical expectations for possible results of Michelson-Morley experiment and some physical consequences are considered. Some critical remarks to the notion of the light speed and its constancy are given. The relativistic law for velocity addition, including strangeness of a noncollinear addition and a superluminal motion, is discussed. Critical analysis of two works which proof the need for existence of an invariant velocity is consequentially made.
文摘The old classical problems of theoretical physics are revisited from the point of view of nonlocal physics. Nonlocal physics leads to very complicated mathematical apparatus. Here, we explain the main principles of nonlocal physics using transparent considerations and animations.
