Ironically it was the Physics department here that developed a radio telescope; this is the astronomy department's first research project in the field.

Ph.D. Incentive

In 1950, Nobel Prize winner Edward M. Purcell, professor of Physics, gave Ph.D. candidate Ewen the research project idea that there might be measurable radiations from the atomic particles of hydrogen floating in the Milky Way.

Ewen took the challenge and built up antenna and associated detection equipment. Twice his electronic apparatus proved too insensitive; but the third model (pictured above) worked on the first try.

In March 1951, Purcell and Ewen announced that these hydrogen clouds radiate at a wavelength of 21 centimenters, and Ewen got his Ph.D. in Physics. The latter still insists, "Purcell provided the brains, I just the brawn."

While teaching here in 1951, Dutch astrophysicist H. C. van de Hulst gathered some information and equipment from Ewen and transmitted them to Leiden University astronomers. Work done at Kootwijk with slightly different equipment verified Ewen's report, which was further confirmed by the findings of an Australian radio telescope

The Agassiz telescope will still not be the world's largest; the Dutch are erecting a 75-foot one and the English a 250 footer. The latter will be used at lower frequencies, however, and might transmit pulse to mars.