Abstract

The Michelson-Morley null result is readily explained as a classical Doppler effect due to the fact that the out-and-back phase velocity is isotropic and thus in both arms of the Michelson Interferometer equal to c?= c (1-v²/c²). It is important to emphasize that the phase velocities rather than the group velocities must be considered which are different from each other in the transverse arm whereas they are identical in the longitudinal arm. This means that the Michelson Interferometer is -in principle ? unsuited to detect an absolute frame of reference or ether-drift. In order to reliably detect an absolute frame of reference where the speed of light is isotropic an experimental setup allowing to measure the one-way-phase velocity of an electromagnetic wave must be used. In this presentation a microwave setup will be described which uses a 12.5 GHz signal traveling along a 3 m long signal path. Both generator and oscilloscope are synchronized by a specially designed 3 m long ?micro-electro-mechanical? transmission line providing a non-electromagnetic signal path. This setup should be capable of detecting the absolute velocity of our solar system relative to the Cosmic Microwave Background (~360km/s) in a similar manner as Marinov had done it already in 1975.