Aether Theories: Past and Present

Anna Hoskins, Idaho State University

There have been many theories about aethers through the years.  Aether has been attributed as being the medium of light waves, the absolute frame of reference, and even the modern vacuum can be called an aether.  We will look at the different functions and properties of aether as well as its rejection.  The Michelson-Morley experiment, Lorentz transformations, relativity, and the quantum-mechanical vacuum will be discussed.