The theories of special relativity (SR) developed by James Clerk Maxwell, Max Planck, Hendrik Lorentz, and Albert Einstein do not rely on the existence of an ether composed of matter.
Prior to the development of special relativity, it was commonly believed that there existed a hypothetical medium called the "luminiferous ether" through which light and electromagnetic waves propagated. This idea was based on attempts to explain the wave-like behavior of light, which was well-established at the time.
However, the Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887, which aimed to detect the motion of the Earth through the ether, yielded null results, suggesting that the ether could not be detected. This experimental outcome posed a significant challenge to the prevailing notion of the ether.
In response to these experimental results, scientists, including Maxwell, Planck, Lorentz, and eventually Einstein, developed theories that did not require an ether. Instead, they formulated theories that redefined our understanding of space, time, and the behavior of electromagnetic waves.
Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity, published in 1905, introduced the principle of relativity and the constancy of the speed of light in all inertial frames of reference. It revolutionized our understanding of space and time by removing the need for an absolute reference frame or an ether.
Maxwell's equations, which describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields, were crucial in the development of special relativity. They provided the mathematical foundation for understanding the behavior of electromagnetic waves and were incorporated into Einstein's theory.
Hendrik Lorentz contributed to the development of the Lorentz transformations, a mathematical framework that describes how space and time coordinates transform between different inertial frames. These transformations formed the basis of Einstein's theory and helped reconcile discrepancies between observed phenomena and classical physics.
In summary, the theories of special relativity developed by Maxwell, Planck, Lorentz, and Einstein do not rely on the existence of an ether composed of matter. Instead, they revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and electromagnetism by introducing new principles and mathematical frameworks.