Ir A.H. de Voogt: life and career of a radio pioneer

Abstract

AbstractThere are probably few radio astronomers who would be able to recall A.H. de Voogt, which is unfortunate, but at the same time unsurprising: for he published no original astronomical research, never carried out pioneering observations, nor is his name linked to either theoretical or instrumental breakthroughs. Yet he was described by the man who first observed the 21 cm hydrogen line from the Netherlands as a radio astronomy pioneer, at the very birth of the Dutch effort. He was, moreover, a trail blazer at the cutting edge of radio, not once but twice in his career. Without him it is unlikely that the 21 cm line would have been observed in the Netherlands in 1951, and arguably the H I mapping of the Milky Way under Jan Oort's leadership would have taken place much later, if at all. Radio astronomy observing itself might well have been compromised by interference had it not been for De Voogt's foresight.Anthonet Hugo de Voogt (1892–1969) built, while still a teenager, one of the very first amateur radio stations (call letters VO: · · · –/– – –) in Holland, earned the radio‐telegrapher's diploma during his student days, and was intimately involved in the foundation of the Dutch Society for Radio‐Telegraphy in 1916. Until the 1920s, he was very active in amateur radio and astronomy circles. Trained in electrical engineering at Delft, he joined the PTT (Post Office) as a telegraph engineer in 1919, worked his way through the ranks to become head of the telephone district of Breda in 1939, and was promoted to head the PTT Radio Service just days after the end of the war. As his department was responsible for overseas radio communication, he initiated a research effort to study radio propagation in the ionosphere and the effects of solar activity. To this end, he rescued a number of Würzburg‐Riese 7.5‐m radar antennas abandoned at the end of the war, made one available for Jan Oort's H I work, and launched a series of radio astronomical initiatives. His group also built a number of antennas, monitored solar emission, and participated in the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)