A Dynamical Theory of the Electric and Luminiferous Medium. [Abstract]
A Dynamical Theory of the Electric and Luminiferous Medium. [Abstract]
复制标题
电和发光介质的动力学理论。
DOI：
--
复制
发表时间：
--
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
J. Larmor
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
J. Larmor
1. 本文的目的是尝试开发一种从单一分析基础演化以太动力学特性的方法。这种程序的一个优点是，通过从一致和明确的基础上从头开始构建一切，我们可以确定结构的不同部分的一致性，并且不容易得出相互矛盾的结论。这种处理的数据当然在于数学函数的属性，该数学函数表示介质受到干扰时能量的分布。扰动所产生的后果都可以通过动力学分析从该函数的表达式中推导出来；物理解释的职责是努力识别其中的各种实际现象，并到目前为止建立或反驳所提供的解释。克拉克·麦克斯韦（Clerk Maxwell）采用了这种方法，在发现和阐明电定律方面取得了最辉煌的成果。他还引导其发展到光学领域，并由此得出了光的电理论。他对活性介质能量的表达是根据带电和电流现象的推理构建的；由于电坐标的无形特征，以及它们与作为电表现形式所在的物质系统的坐标完全不确定的联系，这个过程可能会带来比可能更大的困难。在接下来的讨论中，发展顺序从光学问题开始，自然而然地引导到电学问题。我们将证明可以为以太分配一个能量函数，这将完整地说明以太必须做什么才能满足物理光学的普通需求；然后我们的目标将是研究电现象在多大程度上可以解释为同一介质活动的非振动表现。成功地将能量的纯分析方法应用于阐明光学现象的功劳属于麦克卡拉。然而，他无法发现一种机械说明，可以通过类比的方式让人了解他的媒介的特性，因此他的理论由于被认为与物质结构中所例证的能量的普通表现形式不相容而被忽视。我们将发现，现在借助旋转塞瑟的机械例子可以消除这些困难，开尔文勋爵想象这个例子来说明发光介质和电介质的特性。这里要检查其特性的塞瑟不是一个简单的陀螺仪，而是一种充满磁性分子的介质的类似物，这些分子在远处的磁系统的作用下。但是，同样的特性被认为会致命地困扰麦卡拉的介质并使其变得不可想象，而在由陀螺动量主导的实际机械介质中也存在同样的特性。
1. The object of this paper is to attempt to develope a method of evolving the dynamical properties of the aether from a single analytical basis. One advantage of such a procedure is that by building up everything ab initio from a consistent and definite foundation, we are certain of the congruity of the different parts of the structure, and are not liable to arrive at mutually contradictory conclusions. The data for such a treatment lie of course in the properties of the mathematical function which represents the distribution of energy in the medium, when it is disturbed. The consequences which should result from the disturbance are all deducible by dynamical analysis from the expression for this function; and it is the province of physical interpretation to endeavour to identify in them the various actual phenomena, and in so far to establish or disprove the explanation offered. A method of this kind has been employed by Clerk Maxwell with most brilliant results in the discovery and elucidation of the laws of electricity; he has also been led by its development into the domain of optics, and has thus arrived at the electric theory of light. His expression for the energy of the active medium has been constructed from reasoning on the phenomena of electrification and electric currents; this procedure offers perhaps difficulties greater than might be, owing to the intangible character of the electric co-ordinates, and their totally undefined connexion with the co-ordinates of the material system which is the seat of the electric manifestations. In the following discussion, the order of development began with the optical problem, and was found to lead on naturally to the electric one. We shall show that an energy-function can be assigned for the aether which will give a complete account of what the aether has to do in order to satisfy the ordinary demands of Physical Optics; and it will then be our aim to examine how far the phenomena of electricity can be explained as non vibrational manifestations of the activity of the same medium. The credit of applying with success the pure analytical method of energy to the elucidation of optical phenomena belongs to MacCullagh; he was however unable to discover a mechanical illustration such as would bring home to the mind by analogy the properties of his medium, and so his theory has fallen rather into neglect from supposed incompatibility with the ordinary manifestations of energy as exemplified in material structures. We shall find that such difficulties are now removed by aid of the mechanical example of a gyratory sether, which has been imagined by Lord Kelvin to illustrate the properties of the luminiferous and electric medium. The sether whose properties are here to be examined is not a simple gyrostatic one it is rather the analogue of A medium filled with magnetic molecules which are under the action, from a distance, of a magnetic system. But the same peculiarities that were supposed to fatally beset MacCullagh’s medium and render it inconceivable, are present in an actual mechanical medium dominated by gyrostatic momentum.