Founder of Herouni Mirror Radio telescope
Paris Misaki Herouni was a Soviet and Armenian physicist and engineer. He was a member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences in the fields of radio-physics, radio-engineering, and radio-astronomy and the head of the Antenna Systems chair, which he founded, at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia and Radio Physics Research Institute (RRI). In 1986, he was awarded the USSR State Prize.
Biography
Herouni was born in Yerevan, Armenia, on December 17, 1933. His father was a survivor of the Armenian genocide from Hadjin.
Upon completion of his undergraduate studies in Yerevan, Herouni attended the Moscow Power Engineering Institute, where he earned his graduate degree in radio technology in 1957. He earned his doctorate of philosophy in radio techniques from the same institution in 1965. Herouni became an associate professor in 1968 and a full professor in 1983.
Because of his many scientific discoveries, Herouni received numerous awards such as: the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Silver Medal of Catholicos of All Armenians (given to him by Vazgen I), the State Prize of Soviet Armenia in the field of Science (1985), the Medal « Veteran of Labour », a Bronze Medal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, and the Lomonosov Gold Medal from the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In addition, Herouni held over 20 patents and published over 340 scientific works, including two monographs during his lifetime.
Scientific works
Radio Astronomy
Herouni’s scientific discoveries and theories include his theory and calculations on the Method of the Large Double Mirror Antennas with Fixed Spherical Main Mirror, his theory and equations of electromagnetic field diffraction on the apertures of different configurations. He also developed radio holography—methods of field determination in space by measurements of complex fields near (NF) emitting or scattering objects. In addition, he created methods of Near-to-Far (NF – FF) measurements of antennas and scattering objects parameters. He created the Theory of Field Diffraction in antenna edges when illuminating the part of the main aperture and Antenna Metrology direction.
Herouni proposed and developed the Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope, also known as the « Herouni Mirror Radio telescope ». It has a large antenna with a diameter 54 m (177 ft) and one of the best parameters among all large antennas in the world. He concluded and built an Antenna Parameters and Phase Shift Angle, being the first 11, based on the World National Primary Standards.
He was the first to come across the powerful radio-flare on the Eta Geminorum star, a red giant and the powerful flares associated with that type of star. He also was the first to measure an aperture of an antenna, in the World Radio Hologram. Using this, he designed and built many highly, effective automatic complexes of equipment for NF – FF antenna measurement.
AREV Solar Power Plant
Herouni worked on the AREV-1 which is a 100 kW solar thermal power plant based on heat absorption of reflected sunbeams and rotating a compressor by the heated air to generate power.
