GENERATING LIGHT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 39, 9 November 1938, Page 15

GENERATING LIGHT

Aurora 60 Miles High A PROFESSOR’S PLAN A plan for illuminating large areas of country by means of upwardly-pro-jected radio waves was explained by its originator. Professor V. A. Bailej. Professor of Experimental Physics iu the University of Sydney. Professor Bailey said that the scheme was to create a Ju?* ‘ c s discharge in regions about. 60 milG above the earth. The principle gassimilar to that employed in mercury ami other vapour lamps and ne tubes, but no connecting wires 01 glass envelopes would be used. If sufficient energy was supphefl. 11 said the area illuminated would be 5000 square miles, and the 0 the light would be similar to that full moonlight on a clear night. Ihe li-ht would have the appearance ot emanating from a glowing cloud about 10 times as large as the .J" effect, it would be «» generated aurora. The light might be slightly coloured —perhaps pink. For the area mentioned 1 000.000 kilowatts would, be required to produce an illumination on i ground equal to that required for roadwav lighting. That was a , lar,,e amount of energy, but its use justified for certain commercial or military purposes. A noticeable effect could, however, be produced in the skeven with 500-kilowatt radio transmitters similar to those used by the Cut cinnati (U.S.A.) and Moscow broadcasting stations. He hoped that one o these might be used for experiments. An array of aerials about a mile square would have to be Provided, which would be able to radiate, energy, at a suitable wavelength, in a narrow vertical beam. For New gout i Wales the most suitable wavelength would be about 196 metres, but the wavelength would vary with the UtitUde’ Scientific Value.

Apart from any commercial or military value the scheme might have. 1 rofessor Bailey said, it would certainly have important scientific value, as it would enable controllable spectroscopic and other investigations to be made of the atmosphere at heights of 66 miles, or so. The scheme is the outcome ot re search done by Professor Bailey at the University of Sydney into the motions of electrons in gases in the presence of a magnetic field. , Professor Bailey’s earlier work on this subject has been published in the “London Philosophical Magazine and in “Nature.” and his first reference to the generation of artificial aurorae was made in the specification of a patent application lodged in November, 1936. The more complete theory is discussed in “Nature” of October 1, 1938.