Boffin

The Early Days of Radar and Radio Astronomy and Quantum Optics

By Prof. Robert Hanbury Brown

Professor Robert Hanbury Brown was one of the most important figures in the development of radar and of observational astronomy that the UK has ever produced. This fascinating autobiography provides a unique account of the history of radar in WWII and the development of radio astronomy in the post war years.

Boffin traces the evolution of radar from the static Home Chain used in the Battle of Britain to the inclusion of the first airborne radars used in aircraft for night-fighting. The book covers his work on the polarisation of radio waves, crucial in determining the optimum configuration of the radar aerials on all the early air-to-surface equipment operated by Coastal Command. Air-to-surface radar played a huge role in the detection of surfaced submarines and the winning of the 'Battle of the Atlantic'. In 1942, Hanbury Brown was seconded to the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, and working in conditions of great secrecy, he continued the development of the Eureka and Rebecca airborne radar programme.

Post War Hanbury Brown was involved in the early days in the development of Jodrell Bank. Sir Bernard Lovell commented that without Hanbury Brown it was unlikely that the Jodrell Bank Radio telescope would ever have been built. Boffin describes this period and his later work where Hanbury Brown became perhaps best known for his invention of the optical intensity interferometer. Working with other well-known figures in astronomy such as Cyril Hazard and Richard Twiss he was involved in many great advances. Using an optical interferometer he measured for the first time pulsars and quasars. Working in the Australian outback in the 1960s he designed and built a device with mirrors 23ft in diameter moving on a circular railway 600ft across.

Professor Robert Hanbury Brown was one of the brightest engineers of the time and Boffin provides his personal story and that of the development of Radar in WWII and the development of Radio Astronomy. This book is thoroughly recommended reading for anyone interested Radar, Astronomy and much besides.

Size: 174x240, 144 pages, ISBN: 9781 9101 9309 9

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