Abstract
KANTOR'S experiment1, which appeared to contradict the second postulate of special relativity, gave rise to a series of other experiments2–6. In all cases these experiments were made with rotating systems, and interpretations of Kantor's experiment have only been made from this point of view7,8. Two of these experiments used the same principle but reached different results. Experiment [1] was carried out in air and the magnitude of the fringe shift was Δ = 0.5 fringes. In experiment [3], which was carried out first in air, turbulence in the air disturbed the fringes, so that they were extremely unstable. When this experiment was carried out in vacuo, the fringe shift was found to be less than 0.02 fringes. It is therefore interesting to investigate the influence of the air turbulence on the fringe pattern, which we did with a specially adapted Rayleigh interferometer. A diagram of the experimental arrangement is shown in Fig. 1.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Kantor, W., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 52, 9, 978 (1962).
James, J. F., and Sternberg, R. S., Nature, 197, 1192 (1963).
Babcock, G. C., and Bergman, T. G., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 54, 2, 147 (1964).
Rotz, F. B., Phys. Lett., 7, 4, 252 (1963).
Beckmann, P., Dept. of Elect. Eng., Univ. of Colorado, Reprint (1964).
Waddoups, R. O., Edwards, W. F., and Merrill, J. J., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 55, 2, 142 (1965).
Vyšín, V., Phys. Lett., 8, 36 (1964).
Datzeff, A. B., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 17, 2, 121 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ZÁHEJSKÝ, J., KOLESNIKOV, V. Optical Experiments to verify the Second Postulate of the Special Theory of Relativity. Nature 212, 1227 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2121227a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2121227a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.