January, 2007 PROGRESS IN PHYSICS Volume 1 New Measurement of the Earth’s Absolute Velocity with the Help of the “Coupled Shutters” Experiment Stefan Marinov∗ Submitted by Erwin Schneeberger, e-mail: [email protected] An account is given of a new execution of my “coupled shutters” experiment. This time the following definite figures for the Earth’s absolute velocity have been obtained: magnitude 360 40 km/sec with equatorial coordinates of the apex δ = 24◦ 7◦, ± − ± α = 12.5h 1h (for February 1984). ± 1 Introduction periments were to be repeated by the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics. On inquiry, I learnt that I carried out the “coupled shutters” experiment for the first JILA is not carrying out the experiments, because pre- time in 1979 in Brussels [1, 2]. The precision achieved liminary engineering studies had indicated that it lay with that first experiment was not sufficient for accurately beyond the expertise of the laboratory to achieve the determining the Earth’s absolute velocity. Thus with that mechanical tolerances needed to ensure a valid result. experiment I could only establish that this velocity was not greater than 3,000 km/sec. The “coupled shutters” experi- After presenting my objections that the fact that JILA ment is relatively very simple and cheap [1, 2], however no in the USA is unable to repeat my experiments cannot be scientist in the world has repeated it. The general opinion considered as a ground for the rejection of my papers on the expressed in numerous letters to me, in referees’ comments measurement of absolute velocity, Prof. van der Merwe sent on my papers, and in speeches at various space-time confe- me on the 24 January 1984 the following “second report” of rences which I attended or organized [3] is that my experi- the same referee: ments are very sophisticated and difficult to execute. The It is with regret that I cannot change my recommenda- unique discussion in the press on the technical aspects of tion regarding Dr. Marinov’s papers. In trying to jus- my experiments is made by Chambers [4]. Here I should tify the validity of his experimental work, Dr. Marinov like to cite the comments of my anonymous Foundations highlights the points which cause the rest of the com- of Physics referee sent to me by the editor, Prof. van der munity so much concern. He states, “If I in a second- Merwe, on the 23 June 1983: hand workshop in a fortnight for USD 500 achieve the I was informed by (name deleted) of the Department necessary accuracy, then, I suppose, JILA can achieve of the Air Force, Air Force Office of Scientific Re- it too.” I know of no one in the precision measurement search, Bolling Air Force Base, that Dr. Marinov’s ex- community who believes that measurements of the quality claimed by Dr. Marinov could be realized ∗Stefan Marinov (1931–1997), a Bulgarian born experimental and theoretical physicist who invented a new and highly original method to under such conditions and in so short a time. It will measure the anisotropy of the observable velocity of light (the “coupled take very much more than this to change the direction shutters” experiment). He reported on the results of his experiment in a of physics. I suspect that even scientists working in the few short papers published in the peer-reviewed journals (Physics Letters, most reputable laboratories in the U.S. or the world, General Relativity and Gravitation, Foundations of Physics, etc.). After his formal education, Stefan Marinov worked from 1960 to 1974 with the would encounter great opposition in attempting to research staff and also as an Assistant Professor, at the Faculty of Physics, publish results as revolutionary as those claimed by Sofia University. Whilst there he devised and set up his first “coupled shut- Dr. Marinov. ters” experiment and with it detected an anisotropy in the observed velocity of light. His life in Bulgaria was difficult: he was jailed in 1966/1967, In this paper I present an account of the measurement of 1974, and 1977, by the Bulgarian communist regime, for inappropriate the laboratory’s absolute velocity, executed by me in Graz “political thinking”. In 1977 Marinov was deported from Bulgaria as a with the help of a new configuration of my “coupled shut- “political dissident”. After a few years in Belgium, the USA, and Italy, he continued his research in Graz, Austria, which became his home until his ters” experiment. Now the apparatus was built not in seven tragic death in 1997. Despite the significant attention drawn to his experi- days but in four. As the work was “black” (a mechanician in ment in the 1980’s (many papers discussing his experiment were publish- a university workshop did it after working hours and I paid ed in Nature and other journals), no other scientists attempted to repeat it. On the other hand, the experiment is simple, cheap, and can be easily him “in the hand”), the apparatus was built predominantly repeated in any well-equipped physics laboratory. We therefore publish this over the weekend and cost 12,000 Shillings (USD 1000.–). detailed description of the experiment, as given by Marinov himself in The driving motor was taken from an old washing-machine Deutsche Physik, in 1992. The editors hope that this posthumous publication and cost nothing. encourages and assists scientists who would like to repeat and enhance the “coupled shutters” experiment. (This paper was submitted by courtesy of As no scientific laboratory was inclined to offer mehos- Erwin Schneeberger, who was a close friend of Dr. Marinov, at Graz.) pitality and the possibility to use a laser source and labora- S. Marinov. New Measurement of the Earth’s Absolute Velocity with the Help of the “Coupled Shutters” Experiment 31 Volume 1 PROGRESS IN PHYSICS January, 2007 tory mirrors, my first intention was to use as a light source, the Sun. As I earn my bread and money for continuing the scientific research, working as a groom and sleeping ina stall in a small village near Graz, I carried out the experiment in the apartment of my girl-friend. The sensitivity which I obtained with Sun’s light (a perfect source of homogeneous parallel light) was good, but there were two inconveniences: (1) The motion of the Sun is considerable during the time when one makes the reversal of the axle and one cannot be sure whether the observed effect is due to the delay times of the light pulses or to the Sun’s motion; (2) One can perform measurements only for a couple of hours about noon and thus there is no possibility to obtain a 24-hour “sinusoid” (explanation of the measuring procedure follows). On the other hand, at fast rotation of the axle the holed rotating disks became two sirens, so that when my apparatus began to Fig. 1: The Graz “coupled shutters” experiment during preliminary whistle the neighbors knocked on the door, asking in dismay: measurements in the air of the laboratory; when performing mea- “Fliegt schon der Russe uber¨ Wien?” (Is Ivan already flying surements in vacuum the laser was mounted in parallel with the over Vienna?). After a couple of altercations, my girl-friend axle and the regulator for motor’s velocity (to be seen between the motor and the far disk) was taken outside the evacuated space. At threw out of her apartment not only my apparatus but also me. the left corner of the apparatus’ plate one sees the socket for one of Later, however, I found a possibility to execute the ex- the reflecting mirrors for the case that Sun’s light should beused periment in a laboratory (Fig. 1). The scheme of the experi- (the socket of the other reflecting mirror is at the far right corner). ment, its theoretical background and measuring procedure, The mechanician spent considerable time (and I lost money) for are exactly the same as for the Brussels variation [1, 2]. mastering the adjustable reflecting mirrors for Sun’s light which Since the description is extremely simple and short, I shall have not been used in the laser arrangement, so that the price of also give it here, noting that the mounting of the laser and the actually used apparatus had to be less than the half. of the mirrors on the laboratory table lasted two hours. But first, following the example of Nature which gives in two mutually perpendicular directions, but one cannot interesting quotations from its editions many years ago, I measure its value. should like to also give one similarly: If it were possible to measure with sufficient accuracy 2 Theory of the “coupled shutters” experiment the velocity of light without returning the ray to its A rotating axle driven by an electromotor, located exactly at starting point, the problem of measuring the first the middle of the axle, has two holed discs at its extremities. power of the relative velocity of the Earth with respect The distance from the centres of the holes to the centre of to the aether would be solved. This may not be as the axle is R and the distance between the discs is d. Light hopeless as might appear at first sight, since the dif- from a laser is divided by a semi-transparent prism and the ficulties are entirely mechanical and may possibly be two beams are directed by a couple of adjustable mirrors, to surmounted in the course of time. the opposite ends of the rotating axle, so that the beams can The names of the authors are Michelson and Morley, pass through the discs’ holes in mutually opposite directions.