Vertical Interferometer Experiments: Michelson-Morley, Miller, etc.

[jeremyfiennes]

The original interferometer experiments -- Michelson-Morley, Miller, etc. -- were all done parallel to the Earth's surface. Have any been done vertically?

 

[Nugatory]

The original interferometer experiments -- Michelson-Morley, Miller, etc. -- were all done parallel to the Earth's surface. Have any been done vertically?

Yes, although some of these experiments have found only that it is difficult to build a structure that can be rotated from vertical to horizontal and back again without it distorting by even a few nanometers under its own weight.

If you're looking for evidence that the speed of light doesn't change when moving parallel to or perpendicular to the local gravitational field there are other ways of doing that. Consider that a M-M device that is horizontal on the surface of the Earth is still changing its orientation relative to the gravitational fields of the sun and moon; although small these fields are detectable. And of course these days every GPS receiver on the surface of the Earth is validating the light-speed assumption vertically as well as horizontally every moment it's operating.

 

[jeremyfiennes]

Yes, although some of these experiments have found only that it is difficult to build a structure that can be rotated from vertical to horizontal and back again without it distorting by even a few nanometers under its own weight.

If you're looking for evidence that the speed of light doesn't change when moving parallel to or perpendicular to the local gravitational field there are other ways of doing that. Consider that a M-M device that is horizontal on the surface of the Earth is still changing its orientation relative to the gravitational fields of the sun and moon; although small these fields are detectable. And of course these days every GPS receiver on the surface of the Earth is validating the light-speed assumption vertically as well as horizontally every moment it's operating.

Thanks. I appreciate the problem. The original interferometers were floated in tanks of mercury, which can hardly be upended! I am interested in the idea of gravity as an aether inflow, and am looking for something to demonstrate or refute this in the case of the Earth's gravity. Cheers.

 

[PeterDonis]

I am interested in the idea of gravity as an aether inflow

Do you have a reference for this idea?

 

[jeremyfiennes]

Do you have a reference for this idea?

For instance: <http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0610/0610076v1.pdf>.

 

[Nugatory]

For instance: <http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0610/0610076v1.pdf>.

You've been victimized by a crackpot publishing in a crackpot journal.

This thread is closed, as under the Physics Forums rules we do not discuss crackpottery even to debunk it.