Some aspects of German radar calibration
My contribution to the HISTEST2011 Symposium held at Bournemouth University on 17 September 2011
Since the end of the Second World War, countless numbers of books and papers on radar and its technology reached daylight. In the beginning, it was all Allied achievements that counted. In my perception very little has been published on radar calibration, not to mention on aspects of German solutions.
For this occasion, I would like to explain two unique technologies that solely had been commenced in Germany; followed by two aspects of a more applied nature.
First, the unique Rehbock artificial target apparatus FZG 64.
Second, I would like to deal with a very exceptional technique, which was commenced by PTR (an equivalent to NPL in Britain). They measured accurately λ of SHF signal sources by means of an interferometer technique, based on the fundamental principle of Michelson’s optical interferometer.
Third, wave-meter type Rel mse 2032a for the S-Band radar spectrum. Particularly between 3200 – 3800 MHz. This apparatus might basically not have been unique, it, however, shows the German standard of this kind of test gear.
Finally, I would like to examine how the output power of Würzburg – Mainz and its successor Mannheim radar was measured. The latter technology might be in principle not unique, since I cannot arbiter the fact whether in this country similar applications existed. Being acquainted for nearly fifty years to the German approach of technical tasks, their solutions most likely differ from what was commenced abroad.
I strongly believe though, that it still makes sense to deal with technical historical aspects. Today’s technical evolution is advancing very rapidly and - state of the art - is having a life cycle of, say, two up to five years. What to think of technology of seventy years ago? Measurement and instrumentation is nowadays mainly relying on sophisticated embedded software, where one is hardly be able to guess the purpose of systems from viewing the in-or-outside of boxes or frames. Will the next generation be in the position to explain - and understanding - how problems were being solved some seventy years ago? You may think - they are most likely not interested in these obsolete aspects at all. One has to accept this opinion; but as long as there is still knowledge around – this Symposium is a good opportunity to preserve virtually hidden information, before it might be vanished.
Stg.C.D.V. & T.
Diemen, 12 September 2011
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Please notice: that for ppt-slide-number 20 - I have to apologise that I don't know its origin!
Please consider also, or proceed with: Würzburg Rep