Wendt, Harry , Orchiston, Wayne, and Slee, Bruce (2008) W.N. Christiansen and the initial Australian investigation of the 21cm hydrogen line. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 11 (3). pp. 185-193.

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Abstract

On 25 March 1951 H.I. Ewen was working on his doctoral thesis at Harvard University when he detected the 21cm hydrogen emission-line (H-line). Within four months of the initial detection, small groups working in Australia and in The Netherlands were able to confirm Ewen’s detection, thereby heralding a new chapter in international radio astronomy. This paper examines the Australian efforts that culminated in the confirmation of the H-line detection, and led to an initial survey of the southern Milky Way which produced the first indication of the spiral arm structure of our Galaxy.

Item ID:	6527
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1440-2807
Keywords:	radio astronomy, hydrogen emission-line, Division of Radiophysics, W.N. Christiansen, J.V. Hindman
Additional Information:	Reproduced with permission from Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2010 01:56
FoR Codes:	02 PHYSICAL SCIENCES > 0299 Other Physical Sciences > 029999 Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970102 Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences @ 100%
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