The physical origin of the Fresnel drag of light by a moving dielectric medium

Abstract

We present a new derivation of the Fresnel-Fizeau formula for the drag of light by a moving medium using a simple perturbation approach. We focus particulary on the physical origin of the phenomenon and we show that it is very similar to the Doppler-Fizeau effect. We prove that this effect is, in its essential part, independent of the theory of relativity. The possibility of applications in other domains of physics is considered.

Absolute Motion Determined from Michelson-Type Experiments in Optical Media

“…So that ∆t ′ first grows with the increase of n, and further declines to null. This corresponds to behavior of the function (7) in the range 1 < n 2 ≤ 2. Still, Demjanov [3] claims that the experimental curve measured by him changes the sign and goes to negative in accord with (7) at n 2 ≥ 2.…”

“…in aether. In this event, it is important that the Fresnel drag of light, obtained above from kinematical relation (3), can be derived independently in optics of moving media [7]. One way or another, the accuracy of the derivation must be higher than v 2 /w 2 .…”

“…Passing by (1) to reference frame of the moving medium, we will obviously obtainũ = u, i. e. the speed of the wave becomes isotropic again. In other words, the drag (2) does not lead to the anisotropy in the reference frame of the moving medium.…”

“…The form (4) can be considered independently on the group transformation (2) used to motivate it [1]. Substituting (4) for u in the right-hand part of (1) gives the anisotropy of the wave's speed as observed in the moving together with the medium reference frame:…”

On the electrodynamics of Minkowski at low velocities

“…The theory was not only a consequence of the relativity principle formulated by Poincaré but also of the constant light celerity principle formulated by Einstein. Hence, it should have been (and was) applied to the optics of moving media [7] and to fast particles in media [8]. Moreover, it was thought to be the only possible explanation for the entire electrodynamics of moving media especially for slow motions [9].…”