TESTING OF IONOSPHERIC ABSORPTION MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT AND STUDY OF IMPROVED TECHNIQUES FOR DATA COLLECTION.

Abstract : A transistorized Riometer Mark II absorption measuring equipment was tested at the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory, National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colorado, with entirely satisfactory results. Studies were conducted and techniques developed to provide automatic calibration and digital output capability to the Riometer Mark II. A prototype automatic cali brator was built and satisfactorily operated. The requirements and techniques of digital data conversion and recording were investigated, and a suit system is described. A study was made of antenna systems suitable for use in absorption measurements with riometers. A number of antennas were fabricated and tested. The results are discussed, and the type of antenna which has proven most useful is described. (Author)