Beam steering system

A simple technique for steering the beam of a multimodule phased array MST (mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere) radar antenna is described. It is desirable to be able to point the antenna in multiple directions, so as to derive all components of the horizontal velocity. This was done on an experimental basis by adding parallel wire line to the feed and achieving a southward tilt of the antenna. It is proved possible to steer the beam through most of the available range without adversely affecting the VSWR seen from the transmitter. Calibrating the antenna direction can be accomplished by observing radio sources, though there are an inadequate number to cover all directions. For various assumed values of the aspect sensitivity in dB/deg, and the calculated antenna pattern, it is possible to calculate the effective pointing angle of the antenna, defined as that angle which would give an identical location for the centroid of the power spectrum if aspect sensitivity were absent. Using averaged apparent steering directions, eastward and northward winds were calculated for special radar runs simultaneous with 14 balloon launches at Peoria and results are presented

Propagating tides in the mesosphere

A preliminary search has begun for evidence of tides in the 1-hr average line-of-sight mesospheric velocity data from the Urbana radar in the period 1978 to 1982, inclusive. Observations are restricted to the southeasterly component of those velocities. Since observations are only available for a fraction of a day due to the absence of night-time ionization in the Urbana mesosphere, it was decided to adopt an unusual procedure in the search; namely, to perform a Fourier analysis in the vertical direction and look for rotation in phase of vectors representing spatial frequency components. Propagating tidal modes would then show as vectors with a net rotation corresponding to their downward phase velocity. Five year monthly averages of hourly mean horizontal velocities inferred from the Urbana data are given. Consistent diurnal variation is seen for a number of months. These data were analyzed for vertical spatial periods of 3, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 km. When plotted as a function of time of day, many of the phasors tended to show a net rotation. The sense of rotation of a spinning vector in the complex plane can be determined objectively by computing the signed area swept out by the vector in saving from point to point. This calculation, indicated downward motion in 8 out of 12 months for the 9-km component and in 11 out of 12 months for the 24-km component. A comparison of the magnitudes of the 6 modes showed that the primary component was the 24-km component, a result confirmed by the tidal models of Forbes

Neutron generator power supply modeling in EMMA

Sandia National Laboratories has prime responsibility for neutron generator design and manufacturing, and is committed to developing predictive tools for modeling neutron generator performance. An important aspect of understanding component performance is explosively driven ferroelectric power supply modeling. EMMA (ElectroMechanical Modeling in ALEGRA) is a three dimensional compile time version of Sandia`s ALEGRA code. The code is built on top of the general ALEGRA framework for parallel shock-physics computations but also includes additional capability for modeling the electric potential field in dielectrics. The overall package includes shock propagation due to explosive detonation, depoling of ferroelectric ceramics, electric field calculation and coupling with a general lumped element circuit equation system. The AZTEC parallel iterative solver is used to solve for the electric potential. The DASPK differential algebraic equation package is used to solve the circuit equation system. Sample calculations are described

Evaluation of the electromagnetic effects due to direct lighting to nuclear explosive areas at Pantex. Final report

This report summarizes the effort to quantify the electromagnetic environments in the nuclear explosive areas at Pantex due to direct lightning. The fundamental measure of the threat to nuclear safety is assumed to be the maximum voltage between any two points in an assembly area, which is then available for producing arcing or for driving current into critical subsystems of a nuclear weapon. This maximum voltage has been computed with simple analytical models and with three-dimensional finite-difference computer codes

Pantex lightning study recommendations report

A brief history of lightning protection at Pantex nuclear explosive areas (NEAs) is given. An assessment of current Pantex lightning protection at NEAs is summarized. Recommendations for further improvements in lightning protection are described

SAND2007-xxxx Unlimited Release Approximations to Wire Grid Inductance

Abstract By using a multipole-conformal mapping expansion for the wire currents we examine the accuracy of approximations for the transfer inductance of a one dimensional array of wires (wire grid). A simple uniform fit is constructed by introduction of the decay factor from bipolar coordinates into existing formulas for this inductance.

Validation of EMP bounds

Test data on canonical weapon-like fixtures are used to validate previously developed analytical bounding results. The test fixtures were constructed to simulate (but be slightly worse than) weapon ports of entry but have known geometries (and electrical points of contact). The exterior of the test fixtures exhibited exterior resonant enhancement of the incident fields at the ports of entry with magnitudes equal to those of weapon geometries. The interior consisted of loaded transmission lines adjusted to maximize received energy or voltage but incorporating practical weapon geometrical constraints. New analytical results are also presented for bounding the energies associated with multiple bolt joints and for bounding the exterior resonant enhancement of the exciting fields