[McQueen (OP)]

What would be the implications if new proof became  available that an aether did in fact exist?  What exactly would be the implications and repercussions for established physics.  Of course the old concept of a stationary, extremely stiff aether such as is described in the luminiferous aether theories, has been disproved beyond any reasonable doubt by the Michelson-Morley experiment, which also led to new proof of the constancy of the speed of light in a vacuum, similarly aetherosphere theories, wherein the aether exists in a small pocket around the earth are also unrealistic and defunct.  Yet the possibility of a dynamic type of aether is a stronger possibility today than it was in the 1920's when the idea of an aether was abandoned and Einstein's relativity theories came to the fore. 

The Michelson-Morley experiment is a watershed moment in the history of Modern Physics, because it yielded two apparently contradictory results, on the one hand the fact that light travelling against the movement of the earth did not slow down, as would have been the case if an aether of the type described as the luminfeorus aether, which was thought to possess a stiffness and rigidity greater than that of steel existed, on the other hand, the fact that the experiment proved the speed of light was a constant, pointed strongly to the fact that an invisible medium through which light propagated must be present. This statement deserves a more involved explanation.

Two opposing ideas emerged from the Michelson-Morley experiment. For many years proof had existed that radio-waves ( electromagnetic radiation ) and even light travelled in the form of transverse waves. The subject had been thoroughly investigated and there was little doubt of this fact. However, there is a problem with this. Waves traveling through the bulk of a fluid (such as a liquid or a gas) are almost always longitudinal waves. Transverse waves require a relatively rigid medium in order to transmit their energy.  As one particle begins to move it must be able to exert a pull on its nearest neighbor. If the medium is not rigid as is the case with fluids, the particles will slide past each other. This sliding action which is characteristic of liquids and gases prevents one particle from displacing its neighbor in a direction perpendicular to the energy transport.  Hence an aether if it did exist would have to possess a rigidity approaching that of steel and would therefore be easily detectable..  In direct opposition to this is the fact that the Michelson-Morley experiment  proved beyond doubt that the speed of light is constant. It is a well known fact that the speed with which a wave moves is solely determined by the medium through which it moves. Once a wave is created, the only reason its speed will change is if it enters a different medium or if the properties of the medium change. Therefore the fact that the Michelson-Morley experiment had proved beyond a doubt that the speed of light was constant was a strong indication that an invisible medium did exist.  Unfortunately of the two possibilities, the enormous influence of Maxwell's work with electromagnetic radiation took foremost importance in everyone's mind and since his equations seemed to indicate that an aether was not needed for the propagation of light, the idea of an aether was abandoned. Yet, ironically, the proof of the michelson-morley experiment was a more or less sure indicator that some sort of medium was present, the speed of light as constant indicated this very strongly.

What type of aether would have been acceptable to both Einstein, Lorentz and other scientists of the time. Indisputably and without any doubt it would have to be an aether that fused both electromagnetic radiation and gravity into a simple all encompassing solution. How is this possible ? One extremely simple solution is to start with the premise that the aether itself possesses electromagnetic properties.  Certainly the circumstances under which this could have come into being are present in abundance. The early Universe was filled with light, where did that light go ? Further what changes did that light undergo during the expansion phase. One strong possibility is that during the expansion phase of the Universe, light also, because of its physical structure and ability to interconnect  spread out throughout the entire Universe, losing energy till to all purposes it became undetectable !  According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle the very low energies of these early photons, meant that their lifetimes could extend almost indefinitely.

Thus a picture begins to emerge of the aether as an infinite number of more or less fixed dipoles that permeate the entire Universe, and have the ability to orient themselves in any direction. Such an aether would not only explain all the properties of light and of gravity but would explain phenomena such as super-conductivity.

The existence of an aether would also make many of the provisions of special relativity and general relativity defunct. However, not surprisingly given the brilliance of Albert Einstein, many of the conclusions drawn ffrom the fact that the speed of light is constant would not be affected, it would still serve as the infinite speed of the Universe, nothing can travel faster.
If one examines the concept of faster than light speeds, one soon comes to the conclusion that the Universe as we know it would immediately cease to exist; there would be no time, no then, no now and no when, there would be no here and no there. In short the Universe would exist as a continuum in which every event and every place all existed simultaneously. It would be chaos!

Another extremely important consequence of an aether would be that the principle of wave/particle duality , at least in its present form , would be out on its ear.

Dilip D. James (aka McQueen) has put forward an aether of the type described:

 If you are interested in reading more about Gestalt Aether Theory or GAT, the following links might be useful:

The first proof of the GAT (Gestalt Aether Theory) claims that the long cherished belief that it is the electron that is the fundamental charge carrier is false. Instead GAT claims that the fundamental charge carrier is the photon, and presents mathematical and written evidence in support of this claim. Surely this is an important enough assertion to deserve attention, especially since it is a well documented and observed fact that in every other interaction that involves electrons and energy exchange it is photons that are the mediators.  By introducing the concept of the photon as the fundamental charge carrier, the propagation of electricity is brought into line with all other observed phenomena involving electrons and energy exchange.

The second proof of the GAT claims that the present widely held belief that  electromagnetic radiation (in the radio wave wave lengths) is due to two or three causative factors, such as:

1) spin of the electron
2) revolution of the electron around the nucleus
3) spin of ions
4) vibrations of the crystal lattice in the conductor and so forth.,
is false.

GAT Theory claims that radio waves, just like visible light are also due to photon emission and thus brings into line the two phenomena, which apart from radio waves having massive (comparatively) wave lengths, share all other properties in common. Please do read and evaluate. Notice that there is a single causative factor for both visible light and radio waves, although implemented differently.

The third proof of the GAT puts forward the claim that light is finite, it does not travel for ever, as is assumed by Quantum Mechanics and modern physics and that the propagation of  incoherent light follows the inverse square law. It is asserted that the validity of this claim can be proven through experiment and mathematical calculations.

The fourth proof of the GAT (gestalt Aether Theory) examines the modern day theory of scattering and reflection of light and finds that it may be in error. A claim is made that light is composed of lines of photons and that these lines of photons  travel in straight lines. (a la Newton).

The Fifth Proof of the GAT Gestalt Aether Theory deals with the mechanism governing reflection in any type of medium.

More proofs of the Gestalt Aether Theory will be posted at regular intervals.

[stacyjones]

If the aether exists, has mass, physically occupies three dimensional space and is displaced by the particles of matter which exist in it and move through it it would mean the current notion of dark matter is incorrect.

It would mean we have finally related general relativity and quantum mechanics as Einstein's gravitational wave and de Broglie's wave of wave-particle duality both propagate through it.

It would mean we would understand what curved spacetime physically manifests itself as which is the state of displacement of the aether.

We would have laid the foundation for a theory of everything.

[McQueen (OP)]

It would mean we have finally related general relativity and quantum mechanics as Einstein's gravitational wave and de Broglie's wave of wave-particle duality both propagate through it.

If an aether is in fact found to exist, neither General Relativity nor De Broglie matter waves would have any existence. The existence of the aether would violate Lorentz's rule of invariance.

[McQueen (OP)]

The first step towards accepting the possibility that an aether exists would be to re-examine the Quantum mechanics theory on the propagation of an electric current.  Max Planck had established with the formulation of the Planck Postulate   that electromagnetic energy could be emitted only in quantized form, in other words, the energy could only be a multiple of an elementary unit:
E = hν
where h is Planck's constant. Yet amazingly the quantum mechanics explanation of electricity propagation is through electromagnetic propagation as a wave:

The mechanism of energy transport through a medium involves the absorption and re-emission of the wave energy by the atoms of the material. When an electromagnetic wave impinges upon the atoms of a material, the energy of that wave is absorbed. The absorption of energy causes the electrons within the atoms to undergo vibrations. After a short period of vibrational motion, the vibrating electrons create a new electromagnetic wave with the same frequency as the first electromagnetic wave. While these vibrations occur for only a very short time, they delay the motion of the wave through the medium. Once the energy of the electromagnetic wave is reemitted by an atom, it travels through a small region of space between atoms. Once it reaches the next atom, the electromagnetic wave is absorbed, transformed into electron vibrations and then reemitted as an electromagnetic wave. While the electromagnetic wave will travel at a speed of c (3 x 108 m/s) through the vacuum of interatomic space, the absorption and reemission process causes the net speed of the electromagnetic wave to be less than c. 

If photons are involved in the propagation of an electric current it is halfway towards proving that an aether does indeed exist.

[alancalverd]

the fact that the experiment proved the speed of light was a constant, pointed strongly to the fact that an invisible medium through which light propagated must be present.

On the contrary, it suggested that light, like a projectile, travels through a total vacuum at a constant speed.

In the presence of a dispersive medium (i.e. one with mass and stiffness) both the energy and intensity of a collimated light beam would decrease with distance from the source. Neither happens.

[stacyjones]

If an aether is in fact found to exist, neither General Relativity nor De Broglie matter waves would have any existence. The existence of the aether would violate Lorentz's rule of invariance.

From the Newton's laws to motions of the fluid and superfluid vacuum: vortex tubes, rings, and others'
http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.3900

"This medium, called also the aether, has mass and is populated by the particles of matter which exist in it and move through it" ...

... and displace it.

[stacyjones]

The first step towards accepting the possibility that an aether exists would be to re-examine the Quantum mechanics theory on the propagation of an electric current.

One of the first steps is understanding Maxwell's displacement current is a physical displacement of the aether.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_theories#Luminiferous_aether

James Clerk Maxwell said of the aether, "In several parts of this treatise an attempt has been made to explain electromagnetic phenomena by means of mechanical action transmitted from one body to another by means of a medium occupying the space between them. The undulatory theory of light also assumes the existence of a medium. We have now to show that the properties of the electromagnetic medium are identical with those of the luminiferous medium."

[alancalverd]

The first step towards accepting the possibility that an aether exists would be to

..abandon rational thought and all you know about physics.

[stacyjones]

..abandon rational thought and all you know about physics.

Or, understand there is evidence of the strongly interacting dark matter every time a double slit experiment is performed, it's what waves.

The wave of wave-particle duality is a wave in the strongly interacting dark matter.

In a double slit experiment the particle is always detected traveling through a single slit because it always travels through a single slit. It is the associated wave in the strongly interacting dark matter which passes through both.

[McQueen (OP)]

The whole gist of this thread is that very basic, extremely fundamental aspects of physics show that a perfectly logical explanation for the speed of light being constant does exist.  Whereas Einstein, as well as most living physicists today, don’t seem to have a clue as to why or how the speed of light is constant!  A commonly found explanation from physicists as to why the speed of light is constant, might go like this :

“Maxwell’s equations clearly point to the fact that the speed of light is what it is !  What more can anyone need!” Although Maxwell’s equation:  does yield the speed of light, it is important to understand that the values for both and cannot be calculated from more basic physics.  Both must be determined experimentally.   In the case of the magnetic constant it is dependent on the properties of the electron and has to be determined experimentally  and not theoretically, while the term the permittivity of free space cannot be determined unless the speed of light is known!  So to say that Maxwell’s equations predict the speed of light, is really not saying anything at all. n.b.
Of course if a medium, in the form of an aether,  did exist and indeed all the latest evidence in physics seems to be pointing in this direction, then the question of why and how the speed of light is constant does not arise,it just is !

AND if the speed of light is constant because it propagates through a medium, then a lot of the premises of special relativity and general relativity in particular will no longer hold true.  In the same way the holy grail of Quantum Mechanics , namely the principle of wave/particle duality will be out of the window.

[jeffreyH]

The gravitational constant is also involved in a circular calculation with various Planck values. So what? That is simply another indication that general relativity is right.

[McQueen (OP)]

The gravitational constant is also involved in a circular calculation with various Planck values. So what? That is simply another indication that general relativity is right.

There are certain posts that are better off being ignored! Further planck's constant plays a fundamental part in what I have been saying. So , as the saying goes, what ?

[stacyjones]

AND if the speed of light is constant because it propagates through a medium, then a lot of the premises of special relativity and general relativity in particular will no longer hold true.  In the same way the holy grail of Quantum Mechanics , namely the principle of wave/particle duality will be out of the window.

The speed of light is always determined to be 'c' because the aether is relativistic. Meaning, the atomic clocks used to determine the speed of light tick at the rate they do due to the state of the aether in which they exist.

The wave of wave-particle duality is a wave in the aether. In a double slit experiment the particle always travels through a single slit, it is the associated wave in the aether which passes through both.

[stacyjones]

The gravitational constant is also involved in a circular calculation with various Planck values. So what? That is simply another indication that general relativity is right.

What is referred to geometrically as curved spacetime physically exists in nature as the state of displacement of the aether.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/gpb/gpb_results.html

"Imagine the Earth as if it were immersed in honey. As the planet rotates, the honey around it would swirl, and it's the same with space and time," said Francis Everitt, GP-B principal investigator at Stanford University.

Honey has mass and so does the aether. The swirl is the state of displacement of the aether.

The aether displaced by the Earth pushing back and exerting pressure toward the Earth is gravity.

The state of displacement of the aether is gravity.

[arcmetal]

...  By introducing the concept of the photon as the fundamental charge carrier, the propagation of electricity is brought into line with all other observed phenomena involving electrons and energy exchange.

After all these years of trying to figure out what electricity is made of, I am finding this idea of
it being photons rather interesting.

[stacyjones]

After all these years of trying to figure out what electricity is made of, I am finding this idea of it being photons rather interesting.

One way to conceptualize the aether is to consider it to be a sea of photons which are displaced by the matter.

The Milky Way's halo is lopsided due to the matter in the Milky Way moving through and displacing the sea of photons analogous to a submarine moving through and displacing the water.

What ripples when galaxy clusters collide is what waves in a double slit experiment, the sea of photons filling 'empty' space.

Einstein's gravitational wave is de Broglie's wave of wave-particle duality, both are waves in the sea of photons.

The sea of photons displaced by matter relates general relativity and quantum mechanics.

[evan_au]

After all these years of trying to figure out what electricity is made of, I am finding this idea of it being photons rather interesting.

Electricity is a flow of electric charge. Photons are uncharged, and so cannot carry electric charge.
Electrons, protons, positrons and "holes" (the "absence" of an electron) are all charged, and can carry electricity.

One way to conceptualize the aether is to consider it to be a sea of photons which are displaced by the matter.

In space, we do see a sea of photons - it is variously called the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) or Sunlight, depending on its spectrum and source.
The pressure of sunlight has been used for experiments on Solar Sail propulsion (and it has been affecting comet tails before that). But the pressures are miniscule - not nearly enough to produce Earth's gravity.

And if you are talking about virtual photons as the carriers of the electromagnetic force (eg Van Der Waals force), I can assure you that they are alive and well, and holding together the rocks beneath our feet. They are not displaced by the matter, but are in fact what hold the matter together.

[stacyjones]

In space, we do see a sea of photons - it is variously called the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) or Sunlight, depending on its spectrum and source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_background

The CMB is a cosmic background radiation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_background_radiation

Cosmic background radiation is electromagnetic radiation

I am not referring to photons traveling at 'c'. I am referring to the sea of photons which fill 'empty' space analogous to the H2O molecules which fill the oceans.

It is the sea of photons filling 'empty' space which are displaced by the particles of matter the Earth consists of. It is the sea of photons displaced by the Earth pushing back and exerting pressure toward the Earth which is gravity.

[arcmetal]

After all these years of trying to figure out what electricity is made of, I am finding this idea of it being photons rather interesting.

Electricity is a flow of electric charge. Photons are uncharged, and so cannot carry electric charge.
Electrons, protons, positrons and "holes" (the "absence" of an electron) are all charged, and can carry electricity.

Could electricity then be a portion of the electron that travels as electricity, I mean some wave component of the electron?  Since it is one electron "bumping" (repulsion) into the next electron which then sets up a propagation wave that travels at near the speed of light.

I've noticed that its the signal that travels through the wires at the speed of light, the electrons move at a much smaller terminal velocity. If its moving at near the speed of light, I can't imagine its any massive particle that is moving that fast in copper wire at room temperature. Usually things that move that fast in a simple environment tend to be EM waves. Which might suggest that its the electron's wave component that is traveling like an EM wave. (or its just an EM wave ... which wouldn't that be a photon?)

So, are you saying its the charge of the electron that is traveling at that high speed across a wire?  That would imply that an electron's charge is able to travel from one electron to the next.

I think I'll need to try an calculate the speed of charge displacement in a simple "battery-switch-capacitor" circuit.

[McQueen (OP)]

quote author=McQueen link=topic=66682.msg487308#msg487308 date=1463138023]
As pointed out during the post, the ideal form for the aether, always supposing that such an aether exists, would be if it were an electromagnetic one.  In this thread  we have attempted to  show how light can have electromagnetic properties by connecting up from the tiniest sub-atomic causes, to the biggest conceivable cosmic cataclysmic event of the Big Bang.
Gestalt Theory of the aether suggests that since the electron is the fundamental unit of charge in nature and is a charged particle. The manner in which it regulates its energy is by emitting small bursts of electrical energy. These bursts of electrical energy are not emitted in one go but in small bursts of energy. See pic. 

What could be more natural than that the electron, a charged particle , regulates its energy by emitting and absorbing burst of electrical charge ?
Furthermore since these small bursts of electrical energy emitted by the electron are separated by small distances from each other and probably have differing strengths , with the strongest discharges being emitted first and the weaker ones subsequently, a natural consequence of this might be that the bursts of electrical energy emitted by the electron become polarized, with the result that an electromagnetic field takes shape around them forming a solenoid, making them electrically neutral.

The photon as it is in this form, is electrically neutral, can preserve its energy, is to all reason massless, odourless, moves at the speed of light and so on. A photon might take the completed form given below:


Further this is also the exact physical form that a ‘virtual photon’ of the virtual photon aether might take, as can be seen it is identical to a ‘real photon’ except that it has vanishingly small energy.
Thus if an aether as described here exists it is an electromagnetic aether, consisting of innumerable more or less fixed dipoles that are free to orientate themselves in 360 degrees and that permeate every last bit of the Universe. Such an aether would be electrically neutral, it would be massless , odourless, impossible to detect, would travel through matter as easily as if matter did not exists, since no electrons would be able to interact with photons of such low energies.  Yet at the same time, far from being the static aether of the 18th and 19th Century, it would be a highly dynamic aether, that was sensitive to the slightest change in energy and could line up in the direction of propagation of a real photon or even that of a ‘virtual photon’ giving a ephemeral tug that constitutes gravity.
This is why the speed of light is constant.


[/quote]