Walther Ritz - Criticism of Maxwell-Lorentz Electromagnetic Theory

Criticism of Maxwell-Lorentz Electromagnetic Theory

Not so well known is the fact that in 1908 Walter Ritz produced a lengthy criticism of Maxwell-Lorentz electromagnetic theory, in which he contended that the theory's connection with the luminescent ether (see Lorentz ether theory) made it "essentially inappropriate to express the comprehensive laws for the propagation of electrodynamic actions."

Walter Ritz pointed out seven problems with Maxwell-Lorentz electromagnetic field equations:

• Electric and magnetic forces really express relations about space and time and should be replaced with non-instantaneous elementary actions (his emission theory).
• Advanced potentials don't exist (and their erroneous use led to the Rayleigh-Jeans ultraviolet catastrophe).
• Localization of energy in the ether is vague.
• It is impossible to reduce gravity to the same notions.
• The unacceptable inequality of action and reaction is brought about by the concept of absolute motion with respect to the ether.
• Apparent relativistic mass increase is amenable to a different interpretation.
• The use of absolute coordinates, if independent of all motions of matter, requires throwing away the time honored use of Galilean relativity and our notions of rigid ponderable bodies.

Instead he indicated that light is not propagated (in a medium) but is instead projected.