Riometer News 2010

It is with sadness that we report the death of Ian Axford.  Professor Sir Ian Axford  FRS went to the big Aurora in the sky on March 13, 2010 after a long illness.  Ian was a founding member of the UCSD team that created the imaging Riometer system in the 1980’s when it was realized that the steerable phased array system developed by Kenneth Bowles for solar wind studies could be modified to create an image of changing auroral absorption in real time. The first practical system was made at the University of Maryland by Professor Rosenberg and his team.  La Jolla Sciences provided the Riometers for that system and now many IRIS systems are installed in the world. Ian joins another team member, Stefan Maagoe, but LJS Riometer production continues.

Improvements continue at La Jolla Sciences.  The old-style circuit board prints have been converted to digital form leading to a more accurate layout and simpler production.  After 37 years we are now making the best Riometers we have ever made in conjunction with Radio Technology of Australia. To date about 345 Riometer systems have been supplied world wide.

Since La Jolla Sciences has over the years developed advanced techniques for radiofrequency noise measurements, we are initiating a new service in offering VHF noise calibration measurements for those who wish to recalibrate existing Riometers and others who seek absolute noise reference measurements for other VHF equipment.

In a further attempt to interest others in manufacturing Riometers, we are now also offering Riometers in kit form to allow others to investigate the manufacturing process at low cost.  We also have available the Gerber files of our layout which could be used as the basis of a new Riometer design utilizing more readily available components.

Please contact us if you are interested either in pursuing our new calibration services or in obtaining a Riometer construction kit.

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