Why do you suppose the interferometer experiment which excluded the 'ether' has not detected 'Dark Matter'?

Question

The interferometer led to the exclusion of ether in theoretical physics.So now, with thoughts of dark matter-could that revive an ether theory, noting that just because you can't detect it, doesn't mean it's not there.

Answer 1

If we can use the argument that "just because you can't detect it doesn't mean that it is not there" to prove any theory or belief, then we would have to consider every possible theory and every possible belief. That however would be an absolute waste of time.

First, any theory must have "explanatory power", meaning that it must present an explanation that is coherent, logical, mathematically consistent, and be better than any other competing theory. Now, the propagation of light through vacuum has been thoroughly explained by Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism without the use of an "ether". Later, experiments verified this fact.

Now, as for Dark Matter, no one knows what it may be. Just because there are people conjecturing that dark matter is possibly the ether that was never found does NOT mean that's what it is. We do know that Dark Matter interacts very weakly with ordinary matter, so it will take us some time before we can detect it experimentally. But more importantly, we need a theory that can explain what is Dark Matter. And I don't see the "ether theory" can be an adequate explanation for Dark Matter.

Answer 2

For starters, the Michelson-Morley Interferometer used light as an operative medium. Apparently, Dark Matter doesn't interact with light very strongly. Hence, light isn't a good operative medium.

Further, fundamentally the essential interaction with light is very different. The Ether was proposed as the medium carrying the electromagnetic disturbance. Like water is the medium carrying ocean waves, and air carries sound waves. The Michelson-Morley apparatus used visible light, the wave, to detect motion relative to the medium, the Ether.

Assuming Dark Matter pervades all space, trying to detect it with a Michelson-Morley apparatus is analogous to submerging the apparatus in a tank of water, and trying to detect the presence of the water. I could be wrong, but I don't believe it would clue you into the fact that the apparatus is submerged in water, and not in air.

Answer 3

The Michelson-Morley experiment did not actually produce a null result. In fact the published results were merely somewhat below the expected value. They did say at the time that perhaps there were experimental conditions which minimized the results and that the experiment should have been continued at 3 month intervals for an extended period. Perhaps it should be revisited. Of course if the Michelson-Morley experiment conclusions do show the existence of "dark-matter" or "aether-wind" we'll likely need to revise the theory of relativity too.

Answer 4

How would dark matter revive the idea of a preferred reference frame?

Answer 5

Apparently, that is one of the things that might happen. Science is far too complex.

Answer 6

damn! i never thought of that! luminiferous ether it is!