Editing Timeline of luminiferous aether (section)

=== Early experiments ===
:17th century: [[Robert Boyle]] was a proponent of an aether hypothesis. According to Boyle, the aether consists of subtle particles, one sort of which explains the absence of vacuum and the mechanical interactions between bodies, and the other sort of which explains phenomena such as magnetism (and possibly gravity) that are, otherwise, inexplicable on the basis of purely mechanical interactions of macroscopic bodies.<ref>Robert Boyle, ''The Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle'', ed. Thomas Birch, 2nd edn., 6 vols. (London, 1772), III, 316; quoted in E. A. Burtt, ''The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science'' (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1954), 191-192.</ref> 
: 1690 – [[Christiaan Huygens]]'s ''[[Treatise on Light]]'' hypothesized that light is a wave propagating through an aether.
: 1704 – [[Isaac Newton]] publishes ''[[Opticks]]'', in which he proposes a [[particle theory of light]]. This had trouble explaining [[diffraction]], so he adds a "fudge factor," claiming that an "Aethereal Medium" is responsible for this effect, and going further to suggest it might be responsible for other physical effects such as [[heat]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1727 – [[James Bradley]] measures [[stellar aberration]] for the first time, proving (again) that light has a finite speed as well as that the Earth is moving.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1818 – [[Augustin Fresnel]] introduces the [[wave–particle duality|wave theory of light]], which proposes light is a transverse wave travelling in an aether, thereby explaining how [[Polarization (waves)|polarization]] can exist. It is important to note that both Newton's particle theory and Fresnel's wave theory both assume an aether exists, albeit for different reasons. From this point on, no one even seems to question its existence.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1820 – Discovery of [[Siméon Poisson]]'s "Bright Spot", supporting the Wave Theory.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1830 – Fresnel develops a formula for predicting and measuring aether dragging by massive objects, based on a coupling constant. Such dragging seems to be at odds with aberration however, which would require the Earth ''not'' to drag the aether in order to be visible.
:: [[George Gabriel Stokes]] becomes a champion of the dragging theory.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1851 – [[Armand Fizeau]] carries out his famous experiment with light travelling through moving water. He measures fringing due to motion of the water, perfectly in line with Fresnel's formula. However he sees no effect due to the motion of the Earth, although he does not comment on this. Nevertheless this is seen as very strong evidence for aether dragging.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1868 – [[Martinus Hoek]] carries out an improved version of Fizeau's using an [[interferometer]] experiment with one arm in water. He sees no effect at all, and cannot offer an explanation as to why his experiment is so at odds with Fizeau's.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1871 – [[George Biddell Airy]] re-runs Bradley's experiment with a telescope filled with water. He too sees no effect. It appears that aether is ''not'' dragged by mass.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1873 – [[James Clerk Maxwell]] publishes his ''[[Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1879 – Maxwell suggests absolute velocity of Earth in aether may be optically detectable.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
: 1881 – [[Albert Abraham Michelson]] publishes his first interferometer experiments, using the device for the measurement of extremely small distances.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}  To Michelson's dismay, his experiment finds no "ether drag" slowing light, as had been suggested by Fresnel.
:: [[Hendrik Antoon Lorentz]] finds Michelson's calculation have errors (i.e., doubling of the expected fringe shift error).
: 1882 – Michelson acknowledges his interpretation errors.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}