The Mystery of the Ether

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 53, 19 July 1929, Page 3

The Mystery of the Ether

Connection with. Radio Activity 1

SA a a ee ee eee Is there such a medium as the ether which continues to occupy a most prominent part in modern scientific discussion and speculation? © The latest arguements for and against this intangible "something"

are laid out in this fascinating article by .

J.C.

Jevons

in "Niodern Wireless. .

HE wave » theory of light built up "by: Young," Fresnel and : ‘Hukghens, ‘disputed by New- _, ton: and. re-established on a firmer’ foundation © by. Clerk "4 Maxwell,: ‘postulates the existence of a tenuous’ medium, ° " ‘sometimes . stated: to possess specific ‘mechanical :properties. such -as density and elasticity. ..Actually it appears to be ‘impossible ' to define’ its qualities in any ‘strictly . mechanical terms. Its ‘nature is: too ‘fundamental to be compared consistently with any known: kind .of. matter. It is as ed to occupy all space, eyen intkr-penetrating: molecules of the most compact, material substance. 2 "Action at-a Distance. " HE phenoma of attraction, repulsion _ ~ and ‘induction demands existence of ati all-pervading medium to justify the otherwise inguplicable "action at a distance." oo ; Cleric "Maxwell's Theory. I would, obviously: be, too highly comi: plicated. ‘and articfictal to. imagine that’: two such: universal: media should exist simultaneously. and independently of each other. :Nor-: it :is necessary to do‘so, for: Clerk ‘Maxwell has shown on mathematical grounds that the properties: necessary. to ‘explain the transission, ; reflection ‘and diffraction of ght rays are just those’ necessary to produce ‘the ‘known effects’ of ‘magnetism .and ¢lectricity. In short, he showed: that’ .the’ electro magnetic medium! must "be identical with . the luminiferous ‘ether. ‘It is’ known -that light vibrations originate from. the oscillations | of charged:-particles: :(electrons); of ‘incan-. descent, matter, and so’ give ‘rise’ to alternations of electric and magnetic’ fields. ; Similarly ‘the rapid movement of the electrons constituting the oscillating current in a transmitting: aerial set up wireless waves: in- the: ether, "Matter ‘and, Ether. rue ‘ultimate: constitution: of :matter. . has" been’ resolved "into..terms'’ of. ptotons and-electrons, which are -simply positive and negative -charges | of eléetridity. "Since. electricity and: -magnetism sare: both, held. to: be: different ant me ‘of the’same fundamental hapB ~mamely, a definite: styess' -or ms * get up. in’ ‘the.: ether, the very existence of ‘matter -itself-is ‘thus: made dependent * « "upon . this ombipotént mediiim. ’ . yen another. point of ‘view the de: velopment’ *of..": wireless. science in general, and: broadcasting in ‘particular, has brought ‘the existence of the ether into.common .or ‘everyday. practical experience., ‘In. Short,; whichever way one turns,, the 6.2 =xtjon.. of étheric energy. seenis: to, be, a; focus. of ‘modern. ‘scientific: interest and enquiry," ' ~ There -are, of: courses; schools . "of thought "which: set ‘up various ‘alternaes: ‘to;:the: ether. . For: ‘instance, the ‘theory, as dévelopedt by Planck, together‘ with.other recent discoveries," ‘connected, with ,the study’, of radio-activity: and’ molecular « ‘physics, appear to.offer fresh evidence-in: ‘favour of +3" corpuscular theory of radiation similar to’ that:advocated long’ ago ‘by

Newton, and afterwards. discarded : in favour‘of the luminferous ether. . Aecording to another theory. put forward by Thomson, the ‘electro-static and, electro-magnetic "lines of force" imagined by Faraday are actual realities, and consist of "strings" which are attachéd to the electric charges emitting radiation, and along which -s

vibrations such as wireless waves are transmitted. ‘Modern ‘Speculations FINALLY, Finstein proposes to re- . place the conyentional "ether" by a four-dimensional space-time . continuum in which space and time are inextricably mixed. Here the known properties of the electro-magnetic. and luminiferous ether are replaced by "fields" or "warpings" of space. A "field" which gives rise to purely action when viewed from one set of co-ordinates appears as a purely électric field when viewed from another set of co-ordinates in relative motion to. the first. ; "In other words, electricity and magnetism are identical in substance, but have different appearance, according to the standpoint of the observer. For instance, a, unit charge of electricity, insulated. and at ‘rest in space relatively to an observer, -possesses all the properties associated with static electricity. If, however, the same unit charge is moving relatively to the observer at-the speed of light, it acquires all the known magnetic. properties of an ordinary electric current. "Etheric Energies." PROFESSOR EINSTEIN has quite recently developed. his. "field" ‘theory . to: cover .the: known: laws of gravitation, thus fusing the mechanism -of-electro-magnetism: with’that of graaity in one comprehensive generalisation, Sir Bampfylde: Fuller now’ enters the arena to provide us with further provocative speculations. -In his" book on "Etheric Energies" he- investigates the significance and ‘yeactions ‘of ‘the medium, ‘which he conceives to be the vehicle not. only of radiant energy such as’light’ and heat, magnetism and ‘electricity, but also ‘of gravity, movement and sound. The author’ draws an ‘early ‘distinetion between text-book axioms or -standard theory. and the results so often secured by practical experiment., In _ this connection he points out that the brothers Wright-the pioneers of avia-. tlon-having . set ‘out "with absolute "faith in ‘existing scientific data, were

driven to doubt first one maxim and then another until they finally; cast it all aside and. ‘decided "to rely etitirely upon -their own. practical ° ‘investigations. :In exactly the same wey, practical electricians, particularly those who are interested in the development of .wireless science, are realising more and-

more that precise dogmatic definitions ‘and explanations are often irreconcilable with increasing knowledge. In short, when exploring the unknown one must learn to Yely: more upon experiment and less upon mere doctrine. . . Space and Time. REGARDING the. doctrine of Rela- -. tivity, he says: If the movement of a thing is simply a change of place in relation to another thing, its measurement is not perjudiced by the movement of the latter. We are simply concerned with relative positions, and the two movements can be compounded. On the other hand, if movement: affects spacial dimensions, time must enter as a factor of space, combining with it to make a "space-time continuum." This the author states is in direct conflict ;with all experience. He cannot eoneeive of the mingling of space with. time, and regards the uncomprehending ‘acceptance of the doctrine of Relativitiy as one of the mo:t disconcerting facts in the’mental his‘tory of ‘our time. It is‘ clear, he holds, that, all sub.stance is pervaded by ether-ether -is present everywhere in the material world-for heat and light are transmnitted -terrestrially as well as_celestially. .Light -and heat. from. a: fire cross a room as those.from ‘the sun ‘traverse inter-stella space. The method of. transmission must be the same. Etheric ‘vibrations must. be assumed to be devoid of ‘thickness.: They radiate spherically, "but, as they spread, their intensity diminishes only in accordance ‘with an inverse square layvy, and not inversely as the cube. of. the distance. The sphere of distribution must therefore be composed of radiating lines which possess superficial area but not thickness. For if they ‘did possess thickness, the diminution _of the intensity. would. be :greater. than that given. by the inverse square law. The conception .is .also .in. accord. with. the fact: that etheric- movements can cross one another: without: interference.: All ether energy is.in the nature of a vortex, When.a-. material * object, such as a wheel, is in rotation, it pro- . duces a centrifugal force from its centre outwards, because its circumference moves more rapidly than its centre. A

iquid in rotation may act in a contrary. fashion, developing a. centripetal or inward force. A whirlpool, for example, lraws things strongly inwards towards its centre. This tendency increases us consistency of substance diminishes. Jn a whirlwind the resultant force is violently inwards. It is ‘justifiable, © therefore, to assume that an etheric vortex would develop a very powerful indrawing force.: : ; Ether Vortices. [MAGINE that the ‘rings of electrons’ and the central nuclei which form the ultimate basis of maiter are ether vortices, one within the other, each extending its influence spirally across the surrounding ether so as to produce an indraught.' The extended overlapping influence of such ether vortices would then attract adjacent atomic systems, and so give ‘matter its coherence. The radiation of heat is due to an unbalancing of these vertical forces, created by friction, or electrical action, or other external agency, and a consequent streaming away of heat energy. Light radiation is treated on similar grounds, light ,being stated to * differ from heat only in that its effects do not ‘endure after the withdrawal of the etheric energy. that causes them. Miniature Solar System.: OMING to electricity, the author points out that matter is conceived by. modern science as a miniature solar system in which variously grouped circles of electrons revolve around central nuclei, as planets reyolve around the sun. The nuclei differ in nature from the electrons; their essential element is a proton which possesses peculiar properties of its, own. He conceives both electrons and protons to be vortices,. rotating in different directions, and the orbit around which. the electrons move to constitute a third vortex. Positive electricity is then identified with the proton vortex, and negative electricity with the -ring or orbit vortex of the electrons. An electric current is the result of a disturbance in a balanced system of such vortices, leading to a rapid interchange of adjacent vortices and the final detachment of a core vortex at ‘the end of the conductor. When an electric discharge takes place across a’spark gap, a series of very rapid oscillations occurs, the effect of which is to throw off a stream of broken spiral vortices alternately revélving in contrary directions, according to the direction of the momentary current which generated them. . These fly off-into space in all directions, and so form what -we are accustomed to think of as electric waves. _...., . Polarisation, _ These spirals may travel outwards. in loops’. progressing: in a sidelong fashion, or after a time may change their mode of progress and advance face forwards like’a screw. This corresponds to known alterations in the polarisation of transmitted wireless waves. It is not possible to follow the author further in his conception’- of (Concluded on page 4.}

The Mystery of the Ether (Concluded from page 3.) energy is propagated through space, nor to touch upen-many other aspects of this fascinating volume. Sufficient has, however, been said to show that, although he may not always succeed in carrying conviction, the author has ‘undoubtedly tackled his subject along original and thought-compelling lines, His book is.ene that should be on pile adyanced. radio student’s bookelt. ‘ 7