Electrolytic detector

The electrolytic detector, or liquid barretter, was a type of detector (demodulator) used in early radio receivers. First used by Canadian radio researcher Reginald Fessenden in 1903, it was used until about 1913, after which it was superseded by crystal detectors and vacuum tube detectors such as the Fleming valve and Audion (triode).^[1]^[2] It was considered very sensitive and reliable compared to other detectors available at the time such as the magnetic detector and the coherer.^[3] It was one of the first rectifying detectors, able to receive AM (sound) transmissions. On December 24, 1906, US Naval ships with radio receivers equipped with Fessenden's electrolytic detectors received the first AM radio broadcast from Fessenden's Brant Rock, Massachusetts transmitter, consisting of a program of Christmas music.^[4]^[5]

^ Sarkar, T. K.; Mailloux, Robert; Oliner, Arthur A. (2006). History of Wireless. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 369-370. ISBN 0471783013.
^ Phillips, Vivian J. (1980). Early Radio Wave Detectors. London: Inst. of Electrical Engineers. pp. 64-79. ISBN 0906048249.
^ Belrose, John S. (5–7 September 1995). "Receiver Technology". International Conference on 100 Years of Radio. IEEE. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
^ Lee, Thomas H. (2004). Planar Microwave Engineering: A Practical Guide to Theory, Measurement, and Circuits, Vol. 1. Cambridge Univ. Press. p. 11. ISBN 0521835267.
^ Davis, L. J. (2012). Fleet Fire: Thomas Edison and the Pioneers of the Electric Revolution. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1611456592.

[Sarkar1-1] Sarkar, T. K.; Mailloux, Robert; Oliner, Arthur A. (2006). History of Wireless. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 369-370. ISBN 0471783013.

[Phillips1-2] Phillips, Vivian J. (1980). Early Radio Wave Detectors. London: Inst. of Electrical Engineers. pp. 64-79. ISBN 0906048249.

[3] Belrose, John S. (5–7 September 1995). "Receiver Technology". International Conference on 100 Years of Radio. IEEE. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2010.

[Lee-4] Lee, Thomas H. (2004). Planar Microwave Engineering: A Practical Guide to Theory, Measurement, and Circuits, Vol. 1. Cambridge Univ. Press. p. 11. ISBN 0521835267.

[Davis-5] Davis, L. J. (2012). Fleet Fire: Thomas Edison and the Pioneers of the Electric Revolution. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1611456592.

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