Microwave
to Win in War
Microwave is one
of the electromagnetic wave in electromagnetic wave spectra. This wave cannot
see by eyes, because the wavelength is bigger than light wave length. One function
of this wave is used as the radar. Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) is a
system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the presence of an object
(direction and speed of the object).
When the Second
World War or known as The Physicists’ War happen, there is a competition
between scientists to create modern technology that can be used to win the war.
One technology that is the center of all invention in that time is microwave technology.
Why microwave? Because microwaves open the ways for RADAR come into being.
Work method of radar is by send the electromagnetic wave
to the target. Time that need by the wave to reach the target and continue
reflect to the radiator can give information about the location of the object
that observed. One of the important things that become success key of radar is
the ability to see in the dark. It’s didn’t care in the afternoon or night, radar
can easy to identify the object, start from the location, movement, the shape
until the temperature. Radar technology become important medium for navigation needed
in the night, in the water, and when bad weather. The technology that used as
the eyes to see in the dark is microwave.
The use of technology is growing in the military, even
after the war ended. Missiles and bombs are equipped with radar technology as a
means of control. International spy network also utilize to communicate via
satellite. Now the most widespread use in the military is the technology of
Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS we know in everyday life is only a small
part in the military technological applications.
Radio waves have a far-reaching and not heard / seen by
humans but easy detection. So, that the radar uses radio waves. One example is
the radar designed to detect aircraft. Radar transmitter will emit a
high-frequency radio waves are spread out over and over again and it lasted a
microsecond Jets. Then turn off the radar will receive transmitted and turned her
to accept echo / echo her. Radar will measure the arrival time of echo / echo as
well as its Doppler shift. Radio waves move at the speed of light around
1000feet/microsecond so have a good time calculation to measure the distance
the aircraft using special equipment signal processing, radar can also measure
the Doppler shift and very accurate airspeed.
The potential
interference of radar on the ground is more than in the air. The example is
when police radar operation and issued a credit, it will mess up the echo on
close objects such as fences, bridges, buildings Dang Mountain. The way to
overcome this is by filtering its Doppler shift. Because the police are just
looking radar signals and radar Doppler shift focus to focus only on one car.
