New Direct Test Proposed for Einstein's Velocity Addition Formula
| Scientific Paper | |
|---|---|
| Title | New Direct Test Proposed for Einstein\'s Velocity Addition Formula |
| Read in full | Link to paper |
| Author(s) | Dan Wagner |
| Keywords | {{{keywords}}} |
| Published | 2011 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the NPA |
| Volume | 8 |
| No. of pages | 4 |
| Pages | 681-685 |
Read the full paper here
Abstract
When the group velocity, as opposed to the phase velocity of light is measured, Einstein's predictions for one-way light velocities in a transparent medium differ from Fresnel's predictions by substantial amounts even at speeds as low as our speed relative to the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (365,000 m/s). Calculations show that if Einstein is wrong, then a measurable light round-trip time difference will be found between clockwise and counterclockwise fiber optic light paths, where each light path has synthetic fused silica fiber in one direction and air-core fiber in the other direction. The magnitude of the difference will be a function of velocity of the experiment and observer (both the same) relative to a presently unknown preferred reference frame (i.e. a frame preferred by physics not by physicists for convenience). If the light round-trip time difference is measured on an oscilloscope and the length of the loops is about 1,000 m, then a speed as low as 365,000 m/s relative to the preferred reference frame can be detected.