Abnormal Solar Radiation on 72 Megacycles

Abstract

THE suggestion that the sun emits energy at a rate in excess of the black-body value on radio wave-lengths during periods of sunspot activity has been made by Appleton¹. Experimental evidence of this effect has been obtained by Hey², and Pawsey, Payne-Scott and McCready³. Details are given here of measurements of the intensity of some extremely large increases of radiated solar energy on 72.6 Mc./s. observed during July and August 1946. The equipment was not primarily designed for measurements of solar radiation and was engaged on other experiments using a vertically directed aerial system. In calculating the solar radiation intensity, allowance has therefore been made for the polar diagram of the aerial system and the position of the sun.