Re: An Explanation of Dayton Miller’s Anomalous “Ether Drift” Result

rambus2005@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
SR predicts a non-zero result. Very small but non zero.

Yes, due to the rotationf os earth and interferometer. They are VASTLY smaller than the errorbar and are completely negligible. <shrug>


The
only instance when the result would be zero is if the arms of the
interferometer were perfectly equal

Not true. In the limit in which the rotations can be ignored, SR predicts zero fringe shift for unequal arms, non-perpendicular arms, etc. As long as the center of the interferometer is at rest in an inertial frame, SR predicts zero fringe shift (ignoring effects due to the rotations that are enormously smaller than the errorbar).


and if the Earth didn't have a
variable speed.

As long as variations in the earth's speed relative to a locally inertial frame are negligible during the time-of-flight of the light, this can be neglected. And that is QUITE CLEARLY true.


A correct application of relativity shows a result that
depends on (L1-L2)*(v/c)^2 where L1-L2 is the (very small) difference
in the length of the two arms of the interferometer.

Not true. As long as the center of the interferometer is at rest in an inertial frame, SR predicts zero fringe shift (ignoring effects due to the rotations that are enormously smaller than the errorbar).


Tom Roberts
.

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