Lorenz believes that all matter molecules contain electrons, and cathode ray particles are electrons. The interaction between ether and matter comes down to the interaction between ether and electron. This theory successfully explained Zeeman effect, and won the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics together with Zeeman.

He fills the gap between classical electromagnetic field theory and relativity, is a connecting link between classical physics and modern physics, and is the leader of the first generation of theoretical physicists. He also derived the transformation equation of Einstein's special theory of relativity, which is now known as Lorentz transformation.

Lorenz's most important contribution to physics is his electronic theory. Long before he wrote his thesis, he was deeply influenced by Fresnel's collected works. Later, inspired by H. von Helmholtz, he used J. C. Maxwell's electromagnetic theory to deal with the reflection and refraction of light at the dielectric interface as his doctoral thesis. At the end of the paper, he mentioned the prospect of combining magneto-optical theory with material molecular theory, which was the root of his later creation of electronic theory.