Ether-Drift and Gravity

Abstract

IT is well known that, by means of electrodynamic experiments, no one has yet succeeded in ascertaining the cosmic movement of the earth, which, particularly in relation to the spiral nebulæ, amounts to very high velocities. Apart from the still incompletely explained results obtained by Miller, which, from the work of Joos, should undoubtedly be considered as perturbations, Courvoisier at Potsdam and Esclangon at Strasbourg recently got positive results. These are interpreted by Courvoisier as indicating a Lorentz-contraction of the earth, in consequence of a movement of the earth towards the light-ether with a speed of 750 km./sec. and with an apex at A=60°; D=40°. In 1926 one of us (R. T.) demonstrated—by means of a very much refined repetition of Trouton's and Noble's experiments—that such a Lorentz-contraction is not obtainable electrodynamically; although 1/2,000,000 of the effect asserted by Courvoisier must have been detected in this way.