nutting: the ether 201 



Two important facts give us clues to the actual magnitudes of 

 the constants of the ether (a) the fixed finite nature of the veloc- 

 ity of propagation (independent of the motion or intensity of the 

 source) indicates definite electrodynamical properties in the space 

 traversed, in fact that 



c = (k/j,)~2 



We but require a second independent relation between c, k, 

 and ix to determine the actual values of k and ix for the ether. 

 (b) Again, space has a definite fixed capacity for radiant energy, 

 a function of the frequency of the radiation, its spectral distri- 

 bution, the velocity of propagation and the amount already pres- 

 ent. Expressions for what correspond with entropy and specific 

 heat may be derived without difficulty. This capacity for energy 

 is dependent upon boundary conditions while the velocity con- 

 stant is not. 



There exists rather conclusive evidence that short wave and 

 pulse electromagnetic energy is emitted in even multiplies of a 

 small but finite quantity proportional to the frequency. On the 

 other hand there is no evidence that such is the case with the long 

 waves of wireless telegraphy. However, it does not follow that 

 even light waves or gamma rays are necessarily propagated in 

 space in these discrete units. A spherical wave or pulse may be 

 subdivided radially by an absorbing screen, a lens or a mirror; 

 tangentially by partial absorption or reflection or by double refrac- 

 tion and there is no evidence of any limit to the attenuation a 

 pulse or wave may suffer during propagation. 



To summarize the properties of the ether we may say that it 

 has no mass and no ridigity in the mechanical sense and that its 

 parts have no identity. Having no mass it can have no density, 

 having no rigidity it cannot be subject to strain. The ether does, 

 however, possess electromagnetic properties analogous to each of 

 these. 



Having no identity, its displacements and velocities, if it has 

 any, are unknown to us. Tagging the ether with electromag- 

 netic disturbances is, as we have seen, ineffective. The core of 

 the matter is this : What kind of a medium can have real tangible 



