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The physical origin of the Fresnel drag of light by a moving dielectric medium

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Abstract.

We present a new derivation of the Fresnel-Fizeau formula for the drag of light by a moving medium using a simple perturbation approach. We focus particulary on the physical origin of the phenomenon and we show that it is very similar to the Doppler-Fizeau effect. We prove that this effect is, in its essential part, independent of the theory of relativity. The possibility of applications in other domains of physics is considered.

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  1. Institut für Experimentalphysik, Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010, Graz, Austria

    A. Drezet

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  1. A. Drezet
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Drezet, A. The physical origin of the Fresnel drag of light by a moving dielectric medium . Eur. Phys. J. B 45, 103–110 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2005-00169-4

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