Exploration of the Sun's Disk and its Astrophysical Results

Abstract

IN NATURE recently (Dec. 10, p. 1035), I took the opportunity, in connexion with the recent researches on practical relativity by H. E. Ives and G. R. Stilwell, to place on record that on principles scarcely anywhere denied now, a radiating atom, or system of atoms, falling free into the sun or describing a free orbit close around it should not experience any internal influence on the periods of its radiation, the relativist factor due to the velocity produced being exactly balanced by another scalar direct effect of the field of gravitation itself: so that there would be left in evidence only the inevitable kinematic (Doppler) effect arising from mutual approach of the radiator and the terrestrial observer which, however, would soon rise to preponderance with increasing velocity.