(1) Institut für Experimentalphysik, Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
Abstract:
We present a new derivation of theFresnel-Fizeau formula for the drag of light by a moving mediumusing a simple perturbation approach. We focus particulary on thephysical origin of the phenomenon and we show that it is verysimilar to the Doppler-Fizeau effect. We prove that this effect is,in its essential part, independent of the theory of relativity. Thepossibility of applications in other domains of physics isconsidered.