Readers who retain old copies of the journal RadCom will have seen two
historic photographs of a distinguished experimental physicist which
appeared in the April 1944 and May 1944 issues of the journal. The
distinguished hand was holding a flourescent tube in the presence of a high
electrical potential which illuminated the tube.
These historic photographs exhibit the first recorded experimental
verification of vector potential in the radio frequency spectrum. They
illustrate the time-varying potential in free space radiated by a toroidal
antenna ( which emits no magnetic field and has no standing electrical
charge). It cannot be explained in terms of scalar potential because
there is clearly a reflection from the roof of the vehicle and further
research would have shown that it travelled at the speed of light and was
time varying at the frequency of transmission. Nor can it be explained
directly in terms of an electric field for a field requires a difference in
potential for its creation.
The distinguished scientist who performed this historic experiment is
known to us all. He was Peter Dodd, G3LDO. Pehaps he should be
nominated for a Nobel Prize!
73, Roger, G2AJV.
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