| RefNo | MS/603/8/90 |
| Previous numbers | 1428 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Dayton C [Clarence] Miller, Department of Physics, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio, to Sir Joseph Larmor, St. John's College, Cambridge, England |
| Creator | Miller; Dayton Clarence (1866-1941); American physicist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 9 June 1921 |
| Description | He writes to Larmor on the present state of his aether drift experiments. He commnces with the work done with Professor [Edward Williams] Morley in 1904-5 and reported in the Philosophical Magazine. He encloses a photograph of the instrument used [not present] and summarises the results. Later 1905 experiments on an elevation near Cleveland showed a displacement, which they were initially sceptical of. Circumstances, including Morley's retirement, meant that the experiment could not be set up again, and Morley was convinced that the apparent displacement was due to a temperature effect. The opportunity of repeating the experiment, using the same interferometer [a second photograph not present] at Mount Wilson, mounted on a point called 'Aether Rock' [a third absent photograph]. Results are not yet conclusive and reductions will take many months. He thinks that there is very definite frnge displacement of the kind to be expected with aether-drift, but other possible effects must be eliminated. Dr. St. John is diligently at work on his spectroscopic measures. [Albert] Einstein has visited, and was much interested: 'He was very pleasant and seemed to be quite as much concerned for the real outcome of the experiments as I am, whether it is for or against the ether'.
With an appended sheet, showing sketched figures headed 'Displacement of Fringes...' with dates. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Typescript |
| Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink and pencil on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |