The Physics Surrounding the Michelson-Morley Experiment and a New {\AE}ther Theory

TL;DR

This paper revisits the Michelson-Morley experiment, incorporating angular effects and analyzing the physics behind fringe shifts, proposing a new aether theory that challenges the exclusive acceptance of special relativity.

Contribution

It introduces a revised analysis of fringe shifts considering angular effects and proposes a new aether theory based on Tangherlini transformations, challenging the dominance of special relativity.

Findings

Angular effects are fundamental in light reflection at moving mirrors.

Maxwell's electrodynamics and Galilean relativity are incompatible.

A new aether theory (NET) is consistent with experimental results and related to dark matter and cosmic background.

Abstract

From the customary view the Michelson-Morley experiment is used to expose the failure of the aether theory. The key point in this experiment is the \emph{fringe shift} of the interference pattern. Regularly, the fringe shift calculations are only presented from the perspective of the inertial frame where the one-way speed of light is anisotropic which gives a partial vision of the problem. In a spirit of revision of these facts we have meticulously analyzed the physics behind them. As a result, an angular effect which is based on Huyghens principle and plays a fundamental role in the reflection of light waves at moving mirrors is incorporated. Moreover, under the assumption of a null result in the experiment, on the one hand, the fringe shift conditions demand actual relativistic effects; on the other, it is confirmed that Maxwell's electrodynamics and Galilean relativity are incompatible formulations. From these two points at least three inertial theories follow: (1) the special theory of relativity (SR), (2) a new aether theory (NET) based on the Tangherlini transformations and (3) emission theories based on Ritz' modification of electrodynamics. A brief review of their physical content is presented and the problem of the aether detection as well as the propagation of light, within the context of SR and the NET, are discussed. Despite the overwhelming amount of evidences that apparently favors SR we claim that there are no strong reasons to refuse the aether which conceived as a continuous material medium, still stands up as a physical reality and could be physically associated with dark matter, the cosmic background radiation and the vacuum condensates of particle physics.