Eur. Phys. J. B 45, 103-110 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2005-00169-4

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

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

Corresponding author: ^a aurelien.drezet@uni-graz.at

Received: 2 February 2005
Revised: 16 March 2005
Published online: 16 June 2005

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.