What is aether (ether) actually? Is it space-time fabric curve or is it anti-matter? If not this what is it then, does it exist? Why is the concept disregarded after Einstein's theory of Relativity? But Ether experimentally satisfies maxwell's equation and is it due to ether we define relative permitivity?
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It is some hypothetical material substance that permeates the universe. More precise definition depends on the particular theory of aether.
With regard to electromagnetism its hypothetical material substance in which electromagnetic waves propagate in analogy to propagation of waves in water or sound in air. Because Maxwell theory is not invariant under Galilean transformations, the equations are written only for one particular frame of reference. The aether was supposed to define this frame.
The problem is, that if Maxwell equations pick out one special reference frame in which they are written, we should expect electromagnetic phenomena to work differently in different inertial frames. This was not observed. Moreover, Einstein showed, that we can write the EM theory without aether. Because we didnt find preferred inertial reference frame and we managed to explain electromagnetism without aether, we have no need for it and dropped the idea of aether as useless. Its not that it was refuted, we just realized it is unobservable and it needlessly complicated the theory and we stopped using it.
This is of course in the light of special theory of relativity. I do not know whether aether idea can be kept alive in quantum field theory or general relativity or if these two theories actually refute the idea of aether altogether.
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