Dielectric Cherenkov Effect in Inertial Frames With Substratum Flow
Horst E. Wilhelm
Keywords: Dielectric Cherenkov effect, inertial frames, substratum flow, Maxwell equations
By means of the generalized, Galilei convariant Maxwell equations, a theory of Cherenkov radiation is given for a dielectric at rest in a arbitrary inertial frame [](w) with EM substratum flow w. The Frank-Tamm theory if shown to hold only in the substratum rest frame []o(o) (isotropic light propagation) or approximately in inertial frames [](w) with negligible substratum velocity, |w|/c[]0. Based on the new substratum Cherenkov effect theory, an experiment is proposed which permits measurement of the terrestrial substratum velocity w. Implementation of this experiment would provide empirical evidence (i) of the EM substratum of the physical vacuum (carrier of EM fields and waves) and (ii) of the non-relativity of the velocity of [charged] particles.
