ID: 
1505

1960-1969 The Bribie array (S44)

In the 1960s, ionsopheric physics research was flourishing at UQ.

One of the major experiments at the  Department's  ionospheric physics field station on Bribie Island was an array of aerials running  1 km N-S and 1 km E-W in the form of a cross.

It was able to effectively form a  radio beam that could be pointed to different directions to examine the structure of the ionosphere.

It could easily be seen in aerial photographs and maps but has now been demolished. Some momentos are framed here.

1) Hand-drawn diagram showing the variation of electron density as a function of height and indicating the areas under study by different members of the Physics Department

2) Hand-drawn diagram showing the radio part of the electromagnetic wave spectrum indicating the areas under study by particular  members of the Physics Department.

3) Diagram showing the operating principle of the ‘pencil beam array’ by which reflections from a particular area of the ionosphere were isolated. The transmiting and receiving fan beams were scanned by varying the delays of the signals going to and coming from the individual antennas.

4) Cover of a brochure showing the centre of the array with the hut housing the control and recording electronics

5) Control equipment for the pencil beam array

 

6) View of the array from one of the aerial towers.

 

 

This item is part of the UQ Physics Museum ‘100 Years of Physics at UQ’ Tour
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