[McQueen]

Since the speed of a wave is dependent on the density of the medium, while the speed of light does not change with changes in space-time, then the aether needs to be something different from space-time. If the medium was connected to space-time, the speed of light would change with reference, since the density of the aether would change as time and distance changes the density of the medium. This is not observed.

You have to give up all preconceived notions of what you might think the aether is and evaluate the type of aether that seems to be indicated through evidence and circumstance.  Don’t be in any doubt about this, there is plenty and I do mean a whole lot of evidence that an aether does exist. Why do you have to persist in thinking of the aether along the lines of the luminiferous aether with its impossible qualities. Give up that notion of the aether and consider what newer later evidence indicates.  The thread that has been highlighted shows how far from the luminiferous aether things have progressed.

[stacyjones]

The speed of light is the same in all references. On the other hand, the wavelength and frequency of light can change between references; red and blue shift.

Since the speed of a wave is dependent on the density of the medium, while the speed of light does not change with changes in space-time, then the aether needs to be something different from space-time. If the medium was connected to space-time, the speed of light would change with reference, since the density of the aether would change as time and distance changes the density of the medium. This is not observed.

For light to always propagate at the same speed, through an aether, that aether would need to be something that is not impacted by relativity, since the speed within the medium always holds constant regardless of relative reference. The one thing that comes to mind is the aether has a speed of light reference; same in all references. Photons are not really moving in the aether, since the aether is also at the speed of light.

Everything is with respect to the state of the aether in which it exists, including the rate at which the atomic clocks tick which are used to determine the speed of light.

A "relativistic aether" is one in which everything is relative to it. That is why the speed of light is always determined to be 'c'.

[arcmetal]

I doubt that anyone can say Einstein finds the idea of an ether attractive because he is having a hard time grasping the theory of relativity.

Another, but more subtle, argument from authority.

In fact the aether turns up in respectable electromagnetics textbooks until the 1950s because it's an easy concept for teaching military technicians, along with the Bohr atom and a few other tricks needed to bring conscripts up to speed for modern warfare. But in this more relaxed arena I think we would do better to avoid the absurdities inherent in both models.

Of course, can agree with what I have highlighted.  My problem is with the prevailing common notion that has thrown the baby out with the bath water by saying "there is no aether", and so don't look for it. ... Nothing to see here folks just move along.... Yet, all these waves here waving without a medium.

Its interesting that now they are starting to find more hints of its existence, but this has only happened because our technology has gotten better.... With a new telescope one can find new stars.

[stacyjones]

Of course, can agree with what I have highlighted.  My problem is with the prevailing common notion that has thrown the baby out with the bath water by saying "there is no aether", and so don't look for it. ... Nothing to see here folks just move along.... Yet, all these waves here waving without a medium.

Physicists want to relate general relativity and quantum mechanics. In order to do so they would have to allow themselves to understand Einstein's gravitational wave and de Broglie's wave-particle duality wave are both waves in the relativistic aether. Therefore, physicists are unable to relate general relativity and quantum mechanics.

It is more important for them to deny the existence of the aether than it is to correctly understand what occurs physically in nature.

[Colin2B]

Thus, at the time of the MM experiment, no one had the idea of a "relativistic" ether since that idea didn't exist yet.

Sorry, missed this.
Yes, we are agreed then. If an aether exists it will have to have relativistic properties eg vacuum and not the pre M&M idea of a non-relativistic medium such as air or water.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

The only thing that could be said to be anything akin to an aether is the Higgs field.

[Colin2B]

The only thing that could be said to be anything akin to an aether is the Higgs field.

I was wondering how these fields relate. I know the Higgs and Photon field interact, but I thought they were still very separate.
Can you expand on your thoughts?

[jeffreyH (OP)]

That is the point. Massless particles would have an entirely different interaction with the Higgs field. I am not saying the Higgs field is the aether. It is no more absurd than the alternatives.

[stacyjones]

The only thing that could be said to be anything akin to an aether is the Higgs field.

The aether has mass. Particles of matter are condensations of the aether. The Higgs is the process by which aether condenses into particulate matter.

[stacyjones]

I was wondering how these fields relate. I know the Higgs and Photon field interact, but I thought they were still very separate.
Can you expand on your thoughts?

The aether has mass. Particles of matter are condensations of the aether. The Higgs is the process by which aether condense into particulate matter.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

I was wondering how these fields relate. I know the Higgs and Photon field interact, but I thought they were still very separate.
Can you expand on your thoughts?

The aether has mass. Particles of matter are condensations of the aether. The Higgs is the process by which aether condense into particulate matter.

I have a suggestion. Change your user name to CutNPaste. It'll make things much clearer to your readership.

[Colin2B]

I was wondering how these fields relate. I know the Higgs and Photon field interact, but I thought they were still very separate.
Can you expand on your thoughts?

The aether has mass. Particles of matter are condensations of the aether. The Higgs is the process by which aether condense into particulate matter.

I have a suggestion. Change your user name to CutNPaste. It'll make things much clearer to your readership.