Marconi's Reminiscenses

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 18, 14 November 1930, Page 5

Marconi's Reminiscenses

JWARCHESE MARCONI, who has been nominated president of the Italian Academy, recently addressed a meeting of the Italian Society for the Development of Science at Bolzano. After referring to’ the widening of the field of research by numerous recent discoveries in relation to the propagation of electric waves, and after having referred to the universal acceptance of the theory of Heaviside and of Kennelley of the existence in space o£ a reflecting layer of ionised particles, the speaker mentioned the numerous scientists who had studied and amplified the theory in question. He said that the results of the most recent researches served to confirm the hypo-. theses by which not one but several layers capable of reflecting electric waves existed at heights which varied according to the hour and the position of the transmitting station. The position of these layers was influenced by the effect. of light, by the electrical and 1agnetic activity of the sun, and also, perhaps, by other causes so far undiscovered. After having analysed the progress made in radio communication on short waves, Senator Marconi recalled that the special qualities of these waves were studied and demonstrated by him at the end of 1915. He’went on to explain the phenomenon whereby electric waves always preferred the longer to the shorter way between two stations, and added that " this phenomenon is utilised in radio transmissions. The speaker also referred to electric "echoes," which, he said, were divided into two classes according to the path which they took, and pointed out that the waves passed easily through the Heaviside Layer. , After confirming that the existence of reflecting layers is the most acceptable hypothesis for the explanation of the phenomenon of the transmission on waves ‘over great distances, Senator Marconi explained the importance of the angle of transmissions with reference to the earth. He concluded his address with the hope. that the science of radio would always work for the special benefit of humanity.