Kenneth F. Schaffner 
Nineteenth-Century Aether Theories [PDF ebook] 
The Commonwealth and International Library: Selected Readings in Physics

Nineteenth-Century Aether Theories focuses on aether theories. The selection first offers information on the development of aether theories by taking into consideration the positions of Christiaan Huygens, Thomas Young, and Augustin Fresnel. The text then examines the elastic solid aether. Concerns include Green’s aether theory, Mac Cullagh’s aether theory, and Kelvin’s aether theory. The text also reviews Lorentz’ aether and electron theory. The development of Lorentz’ ideas of the stagnant aether and electrons; Lorentz’ theorem of corresponding states and its development; and Lorentz’ response to the Michelson-Morley experiment are discussed. The book discusses the relative motion of the earth and the luminiferous aether and laws of the reflection and refraction of light at the common surface of two non-crystallized media. The text also focuses on the electrical and optical phenomena in moving bodies; simplified theory of electrical and optical phenomena in moving systems; and rotational aether in its application to electromagnetism. The selection is a dependable reference for readers wanting to study aether theories.