V.V.Demjanov, Physical interpretation of the fringe shift measured on Michelson interferometer in optical media, Phys.Lett. A, 374, No 9, 1110–1112 (2010) arXiv:0910.5658
The shift of the interference fringe in the Michelson experiment is known to be null if measured in vacuum.
Victor Demjanov observed (experiments of 1968–1972 years) that when light goes in a dielectric medum with refraction index greater than unity n>1 the interference fringe shift is much above the level of the noise. He found experimentally that the interference fringe shift Δx, or equivalently the difference of times Δt=t⊥–t|| that light travels in two arms of the interferometer, as a function of Δε=ε–ε0, where ε is the dielectric permittivity of the optical medium and ε0=1 is the dielectric permittivity of vacuum (aether), looks in the range 0<Δε<2 as follows
In order to explain the run of the experimental curve Demjanov assumed that the light is dragged by the moving medium according to Fresnel formula
(1) c~=c/n+υ(1–1/n²)
where c/n is the speed of light in the dielectric medium that is at rest in aether, c~ the speed of light in the medium that moves with velocity υ relative to aether. Next, computing the time difference Demjanov used c~± from (1) instead of usual c±υ. In the result with the account of the Lorentz-Fitzjerald contraction effect he derived formula
(2) Δt'=υ²/c²(l/c) Δε(ε0–Δε)/√ε
that describes well the parabolic dependence shown in the Figure, where l is the arm of the interferometer.
Thus the estimation was obtained of the velocity υ of aether wind (velocity of the Earth relative to aether) that appeared to be 480 km/s.
A more accurate expounding of the Demjanov's theory can be seen in my article below.
R.T.Cahill, K.Kitto, Michelson-Morley experiments revisited and the cosmic background radiation preferred frame, Apeiron, 10, No 2, 104–117 (2003) http://redtime.vif.com/JournalFiles/V10NO2PDF/V10N2CAH.pdf
The authors noticed a small interference fringe shift among the noise in Michelson-type experiments performed earlier in gases (air and helium). Processing the experimental observations with their model c/n±υ (that is by and large incorrect even in the sign!), they estimated υ as several hundreds km/s. The right velocity order of the magnitude thus computed is due to that the algebraic form of their model is similar to linear asymptotics of the Demjanov's model.
V.P.Dmitriyev, Absolute motion determined from Michelson-type experiments in optical media, e-print 10 February 2010 http://arxiv.org/abs/1002.1619
The experiment on the Michelson interferometer, filled with an optical medium, is analyzed theoretically. The formula, that describes the dependence of the interference fringe shift on the dielectric permittivity of the medium, is accurately derived.
