Implications of an Aether non Dragged by the Motion of Celestial Bodies on Optical Laws

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Scientific Paper
Title Implications of an Aether non Dragged by the Motion of Celestial Bodies on Optical Laws
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Author(s) Joseph Levy
Keywords Non-entrained Aether, NEAT, Hoek, Fizeau, Fresnel, Snell-Descartes' law, Light Speed Anisotropy, Refractive Media, Synchronization Procedures
Published 2012
Journal Electronic Journal of Theoretical Physics
Volume 9
Number 26
No. of pages 22
Pages 217 -238

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Abstract

The conventional optical laws take for granted that the one-way phase velocity of light in a refractive medium at rest in the Earth frame is C/n. But if one assumes the existence of a fundamental reference frame and of an aether non-entrained by the motion of celestial bodies, then Hoek's experiment shows that this velocity must be equal to C/n − V/n2 in the direction of the Earth absolute motion, and C/n + V/n2 in the opposite direction, where V is the absolute speed of the Earth frame. It is important to draw the consequences of this data and to check whether it complies with well established laws of physics. Such an anisotropy implies that, according to non-entrained aether theory (NEAT), the ratio of the speed of light in vacuo to the speed of light in refractive media (i,e, the optical index) must vary as a function of the orientation of the light signal. This is indeed what the calculation shows. Therefore, if NEAT is exact, except for some orientations, n is not the optical index in refractive media moving relative to the fundamental frame. However, as we shall see, NEAT does not preclude the fact that the Snell-Descartes' law sini=nsinr applies to a high degree of accuracy whatever the orientation of the light signal. Thus, even if it exists, the anisotropy remains unapparent. It is worth noting that, while resorting to assumptions quite different from special relativity, non-entrained aether theory accounts for well established experimental results. Moreover, as will be checked, a thorough analysis of Fizeau's experiment in light of Hoek's studies establishes the need for an aether drift, providing a strong argument in support of aether theory.