A High-resolution Aerial System of a New Type

Abstract

SummaryA method of constructing an aerial system of high resolution but small area and low cost is described. Its application to the production of narrow pencil beams at metre wavelengths for investigations in radio astronomy is discussed. A small-scale model has been constructed to test the principle.

Galactic Absorption of 19·7 Mc/s Radiation

“…The principle of operation of the Mills Cross has been outlined by Mills and Little (1953) and will be given in detail in a paper being prepared for publication by Mills, Httle, Sheridan, and Slee. The aerial consists of two arrays of horizontal half-wave dipoles arranged in the form of a cross.…”

An Investigation of the Strong Radio Sources in Centaurus, Fornax, and Puppis

“…They have all been shown to have an angular extent of the order of 1 0 or more, and in one case (Centaurus-A) it is known that the object comprises at least two distinct emitting components (Mills 1953 ;Bolton et al 1954). The major part of the published material is based on interferometer observations which had to be interpreted under various simplifying assumptions.…”

An Engineer Becomes Astronomer

“…He also assigned the laboratory's brightest young Technical Officer, Alec Little, to help and this was the beginning of a long and fruitful association. A small "Cross" of a mere 36 m was quickly constructed and confirmed all expectations, even detecting continuum radiation from the Large Magellanic Cloud for the first time (Mills & Little 1953). After this successful demonstration, manpower and funds were made available for the construction and operation of a full scale Cross, and I set about establishing the basic design and finding a suitable site.…”