迈克尔逊实验真的帮了爱因斯坦吗?

摘要

迈克尔逊-莫雷实验是科学史上极为著名的实验，对于它在爱因斯坦的狭义相对论创立中的地位与作用，一直存在较大的争议。霍尔顿及其支持者认为，该实验对狭义相对论的创立几乎没有起作用，也有一些学者对此提出了异议。本文在全面比较争论双方的论据之后认为，霍尔顿等人提出的证据更多，论证也更为充分。就目前的研究而言，迈克尔逊实验的确没有对爱因斯坦创立狭义相对论起直接的、重要的作用。%　　Michelson-Morley experiment is well-know experiment in history of science and there is a long-time debate about its function in the origin of Einstein’s special relativity. Gerald Holton and his supporters argue that this experiment just plays very small and indirect role to the genesis of special relativity while John Stachel et al hold the opposite opinion. This essay compares their evidences and argues that Holton and his supporters provide much more evidences and more sufficient demonstrations. That is to say, Gerald Holton and his supporters are right so far.