Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009jahh...12..141c&link_type=abstract
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage (ISSN 1440-2807), Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 141 - 152 (2009).
Physics
Plasma Physics
Arecibo, Space Radar, Plasma Physics, Incoherent Scatter, Radar Astronomy, Radio Astronomy
Scientific paper
The giant radar/radio astronomy dish near Arecibo, Puerto Rico, was conceived by William E. Gordon in early 1958 as a back-scattering radar system to measure the density and temperature of the Earth's ionosphere up to a few thousand kilometers. Gordon calculated the required size of the antenna by using the Thomson cross-section for scattering by the electrons, and assuming that the elementary scattered waves would be incoherent. During the summer and autumn of 1958 Gordon led a study group that published a design report in December 1958. The report showed that a dish 1000 feet in diameter would be required, and described a limestone sinkhole in Puerto Rico that would make a suitable support for such a dish. Meanwhile, in November 1958, Kenneth L. Bowles performed an ionospheric radar experiment that showed that the Gordon calculation for the scattered power was roughly correct, but that the calculated spectral width was too big. The consequence of these results was that a dish substantially smaller than 1000 feet could have satisfied the original goals for the radar. However, from the spring of 1958 the value of 1000 feet had been in the minds of the study team, and a large suite of important experiments that such a dish could do had been identified. These apparently became the raison d'être for the project, and the possibility of shrinking the dish to accomplish only the original goals seems to have been ignored. The project was sold to a new federal funding agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), which was interested, in part at least, because ballistic missiles traveled through the ionosphere and it was important to fully understand that environment. Gordon's original calculation contained a remarkably beneficial error. Without it, it is doubtful that such a large dish would have been built.
No associations
LandOfFree
Genesis of the 1000-foot Arecibo dish has received 1 rating(s) and 1 review(s), resulting in an average rating of 4.00 on a scale from 1 to 5. The overall rating for this scientific paper is very good.
If you have personal experience with Genesis of the 1000-foot Arecibo dish, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Genesis of the 1000-foot Arecibo dish will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Sixto A. Gonzalez
Nice summary of the design, construction, and initial work done at Arecibo
Was this review helpful to you? Rating [ 4.00 ]
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1863196