The classical ether-drift experiments: A modern re-interpretation

Abstract

The condensation of elementary quanta and their macroscopic occupation of the same quantum state, say k = 0 in some reference frame Σ, is the essential ingredient of the degenerate vacuum of present-day elementary particle physics. This represents a sort of 'quantum ether' which characterizes the physically realized form of relativity and could play the role of preferred reference frame in a modern re-formulation of the Lorentzian approach. In spite of this, the so called 'null results' of the classical ether-drift experiments, traditionally interpreted as confirmations of Special Relativity, have so deeply influenced scientific thought as to prevent a critical discussion on the real reasons underlying its alleged supremacy. In this paper, we argue that this traditional null interpretation is far from obvious. In fact, by using Lorentz transformations to connect the Earth's frame to Σ, the small observed effects point to an average Earth's velocity of about 300 km/s, as in most cosmic motions. A common feature is the irregular behaviour of the data. While this has motivated, so far, their standard interpretation as instrumental artifacts, our new re-analysis of the very accurate Joos experiment gives clear indications for the type of Earth's motion associated with the CMB anisotropy and leaves little space for this traditional interpretation. The new explanation requires instead a view of the vacuum as a stochastic medium, similar to a fluid in a turbulent state of motion, in agreement with basic foundational aspects of both quantum physics and relativity. The overall consistency of this picture with the present experiments with vacuum optical resonators and the need for a new generation of dedicated ether-drift experiments are also emphasized.

Stochastic space-time and laser interferometry

“…In this new scheme, see Ref. 6, the small irregular residuals observed in all experiments where light was still propagating in gaseous systems (the classical experiments and the 1963 MIT experiment with He-Ne lasers) acquire a crucial importance and become consistent with the average Earth's velocity of 370 km/s which is obtained from astronomical observations of the CMB. This remarkable agreement motivates additional, precise tests with a new generation of laser interferometers where optical cavities are filled with a gaseous medium.…”

The CMB, Preferred Reference System, and Dragging of Light in the Earth Frame

“…Hence, nothing prevents a non-zero effect because, when light is absorbed and re-emitted, the small fraction of refracted light could keep track of the velocity of matter with respect to the hypothetical Σ and produce a direction-dependent refractive index. Then, from symmetry arguments valid in the → 0 limit [36][37][38][39][40], one would expect |∆c θ | c ∼ (v 2 /c 2 ), which is much smaller than the classical expectation…”

“…After having illustrated why the evidences for Σ may be much more subtle than usually believed, in Section 2, we will review the basics of these experiments and, in Sections 3 and 4, we will review the alternative theoretical framework of [37][38][39][40]. This will be applied in Section 5 to the old experiments in gaseous media, where ∆c θ c was extracted from the fringe shifts in Michelson interferometers.…”

Reviewing Michelson Interferometer Experiment and Measuring the Speed of Starlight

“…However, this model involved the existence and drag effect of aether [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Michelson-Morley used an interferometer to test the aether wind and they obtained a null result of interference pattern shift [1] [3] [4] [5]. The theoretical calculation gave a significant interference shift value.…”