34
.... " N It) en en ct I c c( OPERATION CASTLE PROJECT 7.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS March - May 1954 Headquarters Field Command Armed Forces Special Weapons Project Sandia Base. Albuquerque. New Mexico June 13, 1958 NOTICE This is an ex tract of WT-930, which remains classified SECRET/RESTRICTED DATA as of this date. Extract version prepared for: Director Def ense Nucl ear Agency Washington , D. C. 20305 31 August 1984 WT-930 (EX) EXTRACTED VERSION Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. OTIC S ELECTE"' MAYS 198E u D 5 07

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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Page 1: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

.... " N It) en en ct I c

c(

OPERATION CASTLE

PROJECT 7.1

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS

March - May 1954

Headquarters Field Command Armed Forces Special Weapons Project Sandia Base. Albuquerque. New Mexico

June 13, 1958

NOTICE

This is an extract of WT-930, which remains classified SECRET/RESTRICTED DATA as of this date.

Extract version prepared for:

Director

Defense Nucl ear Agency

Washington , D. C. 20305

31 August 1984

WT-930 (EX) EXTRACTED VERSION

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

OTIC

SELECTE"' MAYS 198E u

D

5 07

Page 2: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

UNCLASSIFIED

IEPORT. DOCUMENTATION PAGE ai.AD IIIIT1tUCT101el 81.P'Oitl. COIIPLI.TUIG PO.

I'· - ~-· ••••• II· HVY ACCIUIOII 110 a. ltiCIPti•Y'I CATA'-00 •u••••

WT-930 (EX)

•• Tl1''-l ,_. ..... .,., I . Y~l OF ltiPOitY 0 PlltiOD COVI.ID

OPERATION CASTLE, PROJECT 7.1, ELECTROMAGNET! C RADIATION CALIBRATION

1 . PIRFO .. I•O OltO. ··~ORT "UMOI.

WT-930 (EX) J. AUTMO"teJ a . ~o•T•acT o• ••••' •u•••.,•l

M. H. Olseon

I•· PI•Fo-..o o••••ui&Tio• ••1 ••o aoo111111 ..-. ~ROO .. &M ILIMIIIT. ~ROJICT . T&IIC

Headquarters, USAF a•1a 0 W\)ltiC UIIIT MUMel ..

Office for Atomic Energy, DCS/0 - AFOAT-1 Washington, D. c.

" · COIITII0'-'-1"0 OFFICI MAMI &MD AODIIIIIS II . RI~-T DATI

Headquarters Field Command June 13, 1958 Armed Forces Special Weapons Project II. •u•eiR O' ~•••• Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1e. MOMITO .. IMG AGIIIC"f ..... 1 a AOOIIIIIS(II _,,.,_, ,_ C_,,., .. Ollin) II . SICURIT"f CL All. (el .,. ,._..,

UNCLASSIFIED -fl • . DICt Alii "C ATIOM/ DOWMG .. AOUtG

ICN DULl

II. DeiTRiaUTIOII STATIMIMT (el llllelt-IJ

Approved for public release; unlimited distribution.

17 . DISTIIIIaUTIOM ITATIIIIIIIT (el llle .. elrecl -1eretll1t el•d H . II.,,.,_,,_ lt-'J

10. IUPP'-IMIMTAR"f ltOTII

This report has had the classified information removed and has been republished in unclassified form for public release. This work was performed by Kaman Tempo under contract DNAOOl-83-C-0286 with the close cooperation of the Classification Management Division of the Defense Nuclear Agency.

II . ICI"f WORDS (C_II_- ••••••• •'* II,. ...... _,. - '*""'" ..,. .,.c._._., Operation CASTLE Electromagnetic Radiation Calibration Instrumentation

H . AOSTIIIACT (C_,_- ••• .. •• •I* II ~teceu_,. _,_,,...,. .,.d _._,

-~A total of 17 stations, one close-in (320 km from Bikini and 23 km from Eniewtok) and the balance at distances, were operated for the<AfeAT electromagnetic experimental effort. Seventy-four sets of data were obtained from a possible total of 102. Of the remaining 28 sets, no data were obtained because equipment was not in operation, records were not readable, the alert notifications were not received, signals were not discernible, or equipment malfunctioned. /(Pf',.. s v . , , e .h /t 11

r... .JI ' ' C ) f.i 'd lv TPf /(v·f/l( - / ftt!-( 111 '{( I' I ,........

UNCLASSIFIED j

Page 3: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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FOREWORD

This report has had classified material removed in order to make the information available on an unclassified, open publication basis, to any interested parties. This effort to declassify this report has been accomplished specifically to support the Department of Defense Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program. The objective is to facilitate studies of the low levels of radiation received by some individuals during the atmospheric nuclear test program by making as much information as possible available to all interested parties.

Tlie material which has been deleted is all currently classified as Restricted Data or Formerly Restricted Data under the provision of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, (as amended) or is National Security Information.

This report has been reproduced directly from available copies of the original material. The locations from which material has been deleted is generally obvious by the spacings and "holes" in the text. Thus the context of the material deleted is identified to assist the reader in the determination of whether the deleted information is germane to his study.

It is the belief of the individuals who have participated in preparing this report by deleting the classified material and of the Defense Nuclear Agency that the report accurately portrays the contents of the original and that the deleted material is of little or no significance to studies into the amounts or types of radiation received by any individuals during the atmospheric nuclear test program.

- Ann ''or

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Page 4: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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ABSTRACT

A total of 17 stations, one close-in (320 km from Bikini and 23 km from Eniwetok) and the balance at distances, were operated for the AFCAT-l electromagnetic experimental effort. Seventj-four seta of data were obtained from a possible total of 102. Of the remaining 28 seta, no data were obtained because equipment was not in operation, records were not readable, the alert notifications were not received, signals wore not discernible, or equipment malfunctioned.

Broad-band (close-in, up to 4.0 Mc; at distances, about 100 kc) and narrow-band (about 200 cycles) measurements were made of the vertical field component. Close-in waveforms and field strengths were recorded for all shots except the first. Signals were received and waveforms, field strengths and azimuths were recorded at distances exceeding 12^000 km for both a north-aouth and an east-west path.

Spectrum analTses of the frequency con- tent of the close-in waveforms confirm the theoretical conclusion that the predominant frequency becomes lower as the yield increases. For a nuclear weapon in the 10-Mt range, the predominant frequency is about 8 to 10 kc, while in the 100-kt range it is about 18 to 20 kc.

Analyses of broad-band pulses received at distances show that the higher frequencies are attenuated relatively more and, when received at several thousand kilometers, the close-in differences largely disappear. An approximation of yield may be obtained at distances by measurement of peak field strengths.

■Where equipment capabilities permitted, times of detonation—- after allowing for travel time of the nuclear detonation signals and standard time signals were measured to within 2 msec, with one ex- ception.

Transmitting stations in the very low frequency band were oonitored at selected intervals. Generally, a north-south path crossing the auroral zone shows greater attenuation than an east-west path of equi- valent dibtance.

Page 8: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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FOREWORD

This report is one of the reports presenting the results of the 34 projects participating in the Military Effects Tests Program of Operation Castle, which included six test detonations. For readers interested in other pertinent test information, reference is made to kVT-934, "Summary Heport of the Commander, Task Unit 13, Programs 1-9," Military Effects Program, This summary report includes the following information of possible general interest: (l) An overall description of each detonation, including yield, height of burst, ground zero location, time of detonation, ambient atmospheric con- ditions at detonation, etc., for the six shots; (2) Discussion of all project results; (3) A summary of each project, including ob- jectives and results; (A) A complete listing of all reports cover- ing the Military Effects Tests Program.

PREFACE

The experimental and analytical work which this report suflnnarizea was performed by the staffs of the National Bureau of Standards and the Defense Research lÄboratory of the University of Texas, The Sferics Operations staff of the Air Weather Service operated standard very low frequency direction-finding equipment at detonation tines as requested by AFOAT-1, AFOAT-1 appreciates the efforts and close cooperation that have characterized the people of the above groups working on the prob- lem of Long Range Detection .J*^ especially

Dr. Otto J. Baltzer, Defense Research Laboratory A. Glenn Jean, Jr., National Bureau of Standards A, C. McNlsh, National Bureau of Standards Capt. Mack Slier, Air Weather Service

Lt. Col. Paul Wlgnall and his staff of the Special Projects Branch of AFOAT-1 handled the operational matters in a helpful and expeditious manner. Members of the three AFCAT-1 electromagnetic stations furnished data at a difficult time when the stations were being put into operation on a 24-hour basis. Mrs. Margaret Beach furnished valuable assistance in the preparation of the report.

. " - ' '

Page 9: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT 7

FOREWCliD 8

PREFACE 8

KLKCTROMAGNi-TIC RADIATION CALIBRATION 11 Objectivea 11 Background 11

INSTRUMENTATION 12 World-wide Timing 12 Local Timing 12 National Bureau of Standards Close-in Station 15 Distant Stations 15

OPLRATIONS 16 Equipcjent 16 Station Locations 16 Special Meaüurementa 16 Alert Notifications 16 Low-frequency Interference 18

RESULTS AM) OBSERVATIONS 18 Teller Light 18 Field Strenghts 18 Records 22 Fourier Analyses 25 Yield and Predominant Frequency 33 Narrow-Band Records 33 Peripheral Lighting Flashes 33 Low-Frequency Transmitters 33

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 39

REFERENCES AO

TABLES 1 Suianary of Castle Results 19

FIGURES 1 Timing traces recorded by NBS at Parry Island, Eoiwetok Atoll. 13 2 Typical NBS narrow-band field atrenght traces, with a timing

traoe recorded on a multi-beam oacillosope at a distant location 13

9

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Page 10: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

3 Block diagram showing the NBS cloao-ln waveform inatrunent«- tlon L;

U Pretlnent Information on Castle electromagnetic atatlonfl 17 5 Plot of aelected Caatle data ahowing the relationship between

peak field strenght and yield on an eaat-west path 23 6 Plot of aelected Caatle data ahowing the relationship between

peak field atrenght and yield on a north-aouth path 24 7 Selected recorda from Shot 1 detonated on 28 February 19S4 at

Bikini 26 8 Selected records from Shot 2 detonated on 26 March 1954 at

Bikini 27 9 Selected records from Shot 3 detonated on 6 April 1954 at

Bikini 28 10 Selected records from Shot 4 detonated on 24 April 1954 at

Bikini 29 11 Selected recorda from Shot 5 detonated on U May 195-4 at

Bikini 30 12 Seledted records from Shot 6 detonated on 13 May 1954 at

Enlwetok 31 13 Broad-band spectral curves for shot 2 as reclved at NBS

atations 32 14 Spectral Intensity, as a function of frequency, for Shot 2 as

recived at selected NBS stations 3i* 15 Spectral intensity, as a function of frequency, for Shot 3 as

recived at selected NBS stations .... , 3^ 16 Plot of selected Upshot-Knothole and Castle close-in weveformc

showing the relationship between yield and predamlnant frequency 35

17 Plot of the field strength of NSS as measured by DRL at Klrknewton, Scotland 36

18 Plot of the field strength of NSS as measured by DRL at Thule, Greenland 37

19 Plot of the field strength of NPM as measured by DRL at Thule, Greenland 37

20 Plot of the field strength of NPM as measured by DRL at Austin, Texas 38

21 Plot of the field strength of NSS as measured by DRL at Austin, Texafa 38

10

Page 11: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

■. " '

r ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATICN CALIBRATION

OBJECTIVES

In order to gain maxloiuui information on nuclear detonations as detemir.ed from the electromagnetic pulse received at distances, there are two fundamental problems; first, the dlscrimlriatlon of nuclear- weapon pulses from natural atmospherics and second, the determination of the maximum information on the source Itself and external conditions at detonation time, from the characteristics of the selected pulse. The 7.1 Castle project offered an opportunity to monitor detonations of nuclear devices of known composition and characteristics. More spe- cific objectives can be sunmarizod as follows:

1. Determination of pulse character before changes due to propa- gation become apparent.

2. Determination of pulse character as a function of external parameters such as distance, time of daj, and ionospheric conditions.

3. Measurement of field strength. 4.. Explanation of the causes of the electromagnetic phenomena

observed. 5. Relation of ptilse occurrence to sequence of events during the

detonation. 6. Relation between nuclear-weapon characteristics and pulse

characteristics, both close-in, and, insofar as possible, at distances. 7. Experimentation with prototype surveillance equipment. 8. Measurement of azimuthal errors in direction-finding equipment. 9. Determination of times of pulse reception to within 1 msec in

world time.

BACKGROUND

AFOAT-1 has supported experimental measurements of the pulse emit- ted at the time of a nuclear detonation during each series of atomic tests beginning with Buster-Jangle (Autumn, 1951). As a result of these experiments (References 1,2,3), the following can be stated with some assurance:

1. There is an electromagnetic pulse less than 100 naec long emitted at the tin» of a nuclear detonation.

2. At a distance of 20 km from the generating source, the field strength may be a few hundred volts per meter.

3. There id a general relationship between Idloton yield and the vertical component of the electromagnetic field.

A- The emitted frequency spectrum extends from about 2 kc or below up to a few megacycles, but the main components are in the region of about 6 to 50 kc,

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Page 12: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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5. Ther« Is an approximate Inverse relationship between yield and predominant frequency,

6. Pultes received close-in (i.e. approximately 20 km) exhibit very »hort rise times (less than a microsecond) In a negative direction (i.e. the electric field vector is downward),

7. The pulse is predominantly vertically polarised. 8. Close-in reception indicates that certain nuclear-weapon char-

acteriBtlcs can be determined from pulse fine structure. 9. Even low-yield nuclear detonations cam produce a pulse receiv-

able at distances in excess of 1,000 1cm. 10. The ground wave is generally not detectable beyond about 1,500

km from the source because the ionospheric sky wave reflections predom- inate.

11. A fix of the source of the pulse can be obtained with direc- tion-finding equipment; observed azinuthal errors to date using equip- ment tuned to 10 kc have been between 0 and 9 degrees; most errors have been less than 3 degrees.

12. At distances, the pulse is extended to approximately ten times its close-in length. This is the result of multiple arrivals by vari- ous paths, each characterized by one or more ionospheric reflection,

13. Close-ir fine structure disappenrs during sky wave propagation to distances.

INSTRUMENTATION

All stations, both close to and at distances from the detonation points, measured the vertically-polarized component of the emitted pulse. Close to the explosion, attenuators were sometimes needed to prevent overloading, while at distances, amplifiers were needed. At all places, the pulse (in no case greater than 1 msec in length) was displayed on oscilloscope cathode ray tubes, and recorded photograph- ically with either plate cameras triggered by the pulses or by strip film cameras started manually Just before detonation times.

World-wide Timiqg. In order to assist in locating the pulse, par- ticularly at distant locations where the energy was sometimes no greater than the noise, reliance at all stations was placed upon timing broadcasts from WV (Washington, D. C), WWVH (Maul, T. H.), JJI (Tokyo) or GBR (Rugby, England), To further assure a common time base, both GBR and WWV were recorded on the same film as a low frequency trans- mitter such as NSS (Annapolis, Maryland), This film was used for fur- ther correlation for instances where fading affected reception of WWV but did not affect reception of the high-powered low-frequency Navy traffic. In addition, all stations used locally-generated timing pulses coordinated with a world time station. The nuclear-device pulse and timing pips were presented on different beams of a multi-beam oscil- loscope and photographed.

Local Tlmiqg. Annex A of Reference 3 has a detailed account of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) local timing unit. A typical time record from a close-in station is shown in Figure 1 and one from a

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Page 13: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

Haolear-derlc« i _ 0n«-8«cond tick and beginning WWVH tone

Figure 1 Timing traces recorded by NBS at Parry Island, Enlwetok Atoll.

distant station In Figure 2. Times of detonations could be read from the films to less than a Millisecond; however, the world time at any station was limited by the accuracy of estimates for propagation time of the nuclear-device pulse, the timing pulses, or both. Effectively, this limited accuracy of world times to about ll msec.

On Figure 1, the upper trace shows the electromagnetic nuclear- device signal as picked up on the broad-band receiver. The lower trace

20 kc

12 5 kc

8 kc

Timing

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Figure 2 Typical NBS narrow-band field strength traces, with a timing trace recorded on a multi-beam oscilloscope at a distant location.

13

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showa the WWVH signal and local synchronised time ticks auperlxoposed. Note that the nuclear-de vice pulse was also picked up on the WWVU re-

'm celver. The specific second can be determined by counting WWVH aecona *" marks with reference to the missing 59th mark. Time in minutes and

hours is noted from a chronometer synchronized with WWVH and the start of the camera. Detonation time from the record shown in Figure 1 was 28 February l&4ii:59.996Z; with corrections for propagation times of the nuclear-device signal and WWVH, the time is 184.5:00.011Z.

National Bureau of Standards Cloae-lq Station. At the close-in site, a vertical antenna 0.6 inch In diameter and 2 meters long was used and located about 60 meters from the recording equipment in order to minimize distortion due to radiation. At the base of the antenna a cathode follower fed a coaxial line to the recording instruments which consisted easentially of several oscilloscopes set at various sweep speeds and gains. At close distances (320 km) to ground zero, pulses were strong (several volts per meter) so there was no concern with interference from natural sources or transmitting stations. Conse- quently, the bandwidth of the pulses was limited only by the oscillo- scopes. This limit was about 1*0 Mc for one type of oscilloscope used and about 13 Mc for the others. The low frequency limit was about 160 cpa. A block diagram of the close-in waveform instrumentation is given in Figure 3.

Distant Stations. At distant points operated by NBS and the Defense Research Laboratory (DRL)f 30-foot vertical antennae with standard cathode followers were used. Narrow-band (about 200 cpa) and broad-band (about 1 to 70 kc) recordings were made. A ground mat 50 feet square was used at each location. The NBS narrow-band field strength traces, with a timing trace, were recorded on a multi-beaa oscilloscope, as shown in Figure 2. Another oscilloscope and camera recorded the broad-band pulse. The DRL stations recorded the broad- band waveforms. The Air Weather Service (AWS) used a crossed-loop goniometer and recorded azimuths. In addition to other equipment, all distant NBS and DRL stations employed one standard recording channel with the same electrical characteristics. This channel, fed by a cathode follower, used a standard amplifier with a flat response over about 8 to 20 kc, and a gain of about 1,000. Reports by NBS (Reference U) and DRL (Reference 5) should be conaulted for further details.

The Air Weather Service operates a net of low-frequency (10 kc) narrow-band (about 0,5 kc) direction-finding stations for locating thunderstorm areas as an aid to weather forecasting. The equipment consists essentially of two identical amplifiers each fed by identical loops, one oriented north-south and the other east-weat. The output of one amplifier la connected to the vertical plates and the other to the horizontal plates of an oscilloscopo. The voltages add vectorially and the oscilloscope presentation shows a line indicating the direction of arrival of the pulse with & 180-degree ambiguity. To remove the ambi- guity, a vertical antenna receiving the eleotric vector and driving the grid of the cathode ray tube through a third identical amplifier can be used to cancel a portion of the oscilloscope presentation. The azi- nuthal flashes on the oscilloscope face, together with O.l-second and

15

Page 16: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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1-second timing lights synchronized with VWV, are recorded on 351101 Btrlp film. Further details are given In Technical Manuals (References 6,7).

The AFÜAT-1 operational stations wore essentially sferlcs direc- tion-finding stations similar to the description above but with a wider bandwidth (8 to 12 kc). A coincidence system was used between Dow Air Force Base, Bangor, l^dne and Austin, Texas so only signals in a pre- determined azimuth ( - 3 degrees) would present a distinctive mark on the film.

OPERATIONS

Equlpaent. The equipment for the experiments at the Pacific Prov- ing Ground was placed in a trailer and shipped as deck cargo. The tradier served as the main AFOAT-1 electromagnetic close-in station and contained «11 the equipment except that for determining world times of detonation. The trailer site selected was Enyu Island, on the south- eastern portion of Bikini Atoll, and across the lagoon from the detona- tion points. The timing equipment was erected in the AFOAT-l headquar- ters on Parry Island, Enlwetok Atoll.

Because of the expected high yield of Shot 1, the equipment on Enyu was not maimed but was actuated by an Edgerton, Germeahausen and Grier (EGG) relay timer. The radioactive debris from Shot 1 drifted over the trailer, making it impossible to enter the area after the detonation until the debris had decayed to a reasonable value. After a week the trailer on Enyu had cooled sufficiently for handling, so all equipttent was removed and relocated on Runit Island, Enlwetok Atoll, about 300 km from Bikini. The equipment was installed in a bunker on Runit where it was manned for the balance of the Bikini shots. For Shot 6, which was detonated on Enlwetok, 23 km from the bunker, the recording equipment on Runit was unmanned but was actuated by an EGG relay timer.

Station locations. Figure U shows the locations of the electro- magnetic stations, the agency responsible for the measurements at each place, and the distances from each station to Bikini and Enlwetok. For the most part for distant stations, locations already in use by NBS, DRL, AVS and AFOAT-1 were utilized. At Shemya, Thule and Kirknewton, however, site surveys were made by AFOAT-l personnel. Insofar as possi- ble, sites were chosen on east-west and north-south orientations in an attempt to get some idea of the propagation differences due to a day- light path, a dark path, and auroral zone transmission.

Special Meaaurements. Between detonations, low-frequency trans- mltters, NSS (Annapolis, Maryland), NLK (Arlington, Washington), NPM (Oahu T.H.), and GBR (Rugby, England) wore monitored on an agreed-upon schedule. In order to obtain information on various transmission paths at various times. There was also an attempt to monitor sferlcs to co- incide with the routine AVS four-minute recording scheduled every six hours, beginning at 0030Z.

Alert NotiflcatiOQS. The experimental equipment installed at the close-in locations, and at most of the distant locations, had a limited

16

Page 17: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

-"or-

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17

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Page 18: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

"TT-

recording tlme (in some cases, a feu seconds). In order to coordinate global operations, the day-to-day chanpea in ochedule vere aent to the several sites over re^aü-611" military TWX or commercial telephone cir- cuits. The messages were in code when schedule information was sent. In addition to schedule changes, the alert communication code was used to give estimated field strengths for the various shots and thus a&sist station personnel in setting amplifier gains.

Low-frequency Ii^erference. The distant stations at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and Maul, T, H, were less than 100 km from the Naval trans- mitters, NSS and NPM, respectively. Both transmitters use carriers (16 to 20 kc) that would interfere with broad-band recordings of a nuclear-device detonated thousands of kilometers away. Through the cooperation of the Navy, NFM, NSS and NLK were off the air at shot times. For security purposes these transmitters were also frequently taken off the air at other than shot times.

RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS

There was a total of 17 stations participating, although for any one shot no more than 15 stations were in operation. A summary of the results at the various locations is given in Table 1,

The detonation time was determined from the timing equipment on Parry Island, Enlwetok Atoll,

One of the means of locating the nuclear-device pulse when record- ed at distances from the test site is by knowledge of the time of det- onation. Where millisecond accuracy was possible, the agreement, with one exception, was within 2 msec of the Parry Island time after correc- tions for propagation and WWV times were made. Some equipment did not have the capability of resolving time to within a few milliseconds, as indicated by asterisks in Table 1.

Azimuthal errors are generally within the error experienced with this type of very low frequency (VLF) equipment, namely, -3 degrees.

Teller Light. An experiment at the Runit Island location, designed to record the Teller Light and the electromagnetic pulse simultaneously, failed on Shots 2, 3, U, and 5 because of the distance from Bikini, and on Shot 6 because of equipment malfunctions. The purpose of this exper- iment was to establish an electromagnetic fiducial in time coincident with other phenomena.

Field Strengths. For a given path, the attenuation is determined by distance, reflection coefficients of the ionosphere (day, night, sun- rise or sunset along the path), and ground conductivities. In addition, some workers have reported variations for east-west or north-south paths. (See the comments about the low-frequency transmitters later in this report.) All the above effects vary with frequency.

Dp until Castle, close-in measurements had been made of the ground wave at the Nevada Test Site at distances between 20 and 50 km, which was within line-of-sight of the detonation areas (References 1,3). An attempt was made to obtain measurements at comparable distances during this series; however, because of the radioactive fallout from Shot 1,

18

- «

Page 19: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

'■M ■",■ » -\ i"^ I ^.

T^LE 1 3UMMAKT Of CASTLE RESULTS

3t«tlon/Atf«ncy piitsnc« \km)

and calculated aiLMUth» to Bikini (B) and Enlvetok (K)

Tli»e a« recel/fll at the itatlon (Z), corrected for nuclear deto tranamlsslon tlaee; Renarlc»; Recorded ailrauth» to datonatioi- ^o data (y/a); a. Broad-band, center-to-peak (W whip, L loop); b.

nation pulse and 'JWV Ints; field Strength

Nerrou-band. ]

3hot 1 - 28 Febniarj 1954 - lU5:0O.0UZ Detonated at Bikini

! Shot 2-26 March ! Detonated at Blkln

1954 - 1330i00.373Z 1

Enlwetok/NBS B 20 and 320 E 23

Radioactive dabris fogged uaverora equlp- nent on Enyu Island, Bikini Atoll (20 ka fron detonation point).

j l830i'X).J78 Wavefom equipment ! was moved to Runlt Island, S^ilwetok for i

the balance of the series. a.-21.0 (W) |

Cuaa/SB3 B 2,270 E 1,720

! 1345:00.011 a. 0.94 W | 1830:00.378 a. b.

1.54 (U) 0.036 (8 ko) i 0.042 (12.5 kc) 0.023 (20 kc) 1

M«ul/NB3 B 4,200 E 4,420

1845 lOG.010 a. 1.77 («) b. 0.23 (8 ko)

0,26 (12.5 kc) 0.Ü26 (20 kc)

No time record, a. 1.79 (W)

Shemya/DRL B 4,680; 209° E 4,750; 2U0

Alert notification not received In tUne. 1830100.376 ». 210° I)0

0.054 (L)

Pt. Barrow/ NbS B 7,280 E 7,360

Poor timing record, ». 0.52 (W)

1 W3o.oo.y73 a. b.

Ö.61 (V) 0,010 (8 kc) 0,011 (12.5 ko) i 0.00097 (20 kc; I

Stanford 'Jniv/TaS B 7,740 E 8,CXX3

Not In operation. 1830:00.377 a. b.

0.42 ^u; j 0.020 (8 kc) 0.018 (12.5 kc) 1 0.0018 (20 kc)

Urson ATB/A/

B 8,030; 267° S 8.200; 2690

Off scale. 270° t30

1830i00.5 * 271° 13°

Boulder/NBS B 9,200 E 9,460

1^45lOO,012 a. 0,38 (W) b. 0.014 (8 kc)

0.16 12.5 kc) 0.0O15 (20 kc)

1830:00.379 a. b.

0.34 (W) i 0.016 (12.5 kc) 0.0015 (20 kcj

Thule/DRL B 9,630; 307° il0

\t 9,700; 310° il0

Alert notification not received In time. H30:00.378 a. 310° :30

~ 0.02 (U) I 0.025 (L) |

QuXuth/iT B 10,080; 287° E 10,280: 239°

Not In operation. Not In operation. !

Auatln/TlRL B 10,100i 2H20 il" I 10.3501 284° -1°

1345:20.011 a. OM (U) 287* i30 0.083 (L)

1830:00.373 a. 1.10 (U) 1 0.13 it) j

Tt Belvolr/fftiS B 11,530 I 11,750

1845100.011 b. Ü.006 (8 kc) 0.0O44 (12.5 ko)

1830100,378 a, b.

0.080 (W) j 0.0054 (8 ko) i 0.0052 (12.5 ko) | 0.00078 (20 kc) i

tadrews/AVJS B U,550; 296° S 11.770

Not In operation. 1830tOC.32 • 300° -3*

Dow nFB/k? a 11,750; 301° E 11 920

Squlpnent trouble. 1330iOO,35 * 295° -3° |

U Pal* Beaclv'A-JS B 11,850; 291° I 12.010 |

1845«OO.0O * 299° i30

1830iOO,37 • | 294° ^3° 1

IClrkn«wton/DRL i B 12,510; 12° I 12.530, 17°

Alert notification not received In tlm«. Poor time correlation. i 19° i30 «. 0.049 W

Klndley AFB/AW3 | B L2,360i 302° I 13,100 !

18Ui59.5a * i 308° V

Not in operation. |

*Vlthin ll»lt of resolution.

19

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Page 20: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

• • »■ »'

TABU 1 simjn OF CASTU, RISULT5 (Cont)

Stntlorv'A«onoy iJlntunr« (kaj »nd o«iculiit»<J • ll«lttl« to Bikini (b) »nd Enlv«'^k (E)

Tim« an r«c»lv»d «l th« ilntlon (2), oorraclad for nuclaar datonatlon pul»« and WUV trananlaalon lloai; Kanarki; Harordad ailnulha to datonatlüE fjolnla; Flald jlrangth dal« (»/■); a. broa.l-band, cantar-to-paak (V whip, L loop); b. Narrou-band.

Shot 3-6 April 1954 - 1820i00.4112 Dalonalad al Bikini

Shot 4-25 April 1954 - 1810i00.691Z Detonated al Bikini

tnlwetok/NKi fc 20 and 320 K 23

1820i00.Ul a. -15.0 (U) 1810:00.691 a. ~40.0 (W)

Cu.n/'J.'BC B 2,270 K 1,920

1020100.412 •. b.

0.61 0.0034 0.0065 O.OOHU

(U) (8 ko) (12.5 kc) 20 kcj

1810:00.692 a. 1.06 b. 0.023

0.043 0.020

W (8 ko) (12.5 kc) 20 ko)

Vtaul/KM b i,200 E 4,t2C

1820100.412 a. b.

0.27 0.010 0.013 0.0013

w) (8 kc) (12.5 kc) (20 kcj

No tlM reoord. a. 1.49 w)

fa 4,^80; 209° E 4,750; 214°

Alert noliricillon not reel ▼ed In lime. 1810:00.689 a. 0.039

214° -3° 0.33 (w) (L)

Pi. Barrow, VB-J

B 7,280 E 7,360

Poor llaa record. a. b.

0.046 0.X2f o.a»6 0.0031

(W) (8 kc) (12.5 kc) (20 kc)

No lime record, a. 0.29 (W)

Söunford Unlv/NBJ fa 7,740 E 8,000

182,'J!00.412 «. b.

0.048 0.0023 0.0033 C.002C.

(8 kcj (12.5 kc) (2C kc)

1810:00.691 a. 0.33 b. 0.0055

0.0087 0.0O12

(W) (8 kc) (12.5 kc) (20 ko)

Urson 17B/AJ' t 8,030; 267° I 8,200; 269°

Record not avallat^ a. Doubtful record.

boulder/Nbo fa 9,200 E 9,460

1820:00.412 a. b.

0.055 0.0011 0.0028 0.00031

(w) (8 kc) (12.5 koj 20 kcj

1810:00.690 a. 0.33 b. 0.0O8O

0.018 0.0011

;w) (8 kc) (12.5 kc) 20 kc)

Thul»/DhL b 9.630; 307° ll0

I 9,700; 310° -1°

182>O;0O.4ll a. 3U0 -3°

0.OO35 0.0012 ;!

1810:00.691 a. O.O46 307° 13° 0.025

W) (L)

Diiluth/Af b 10,080; 2B70

E 10,280; 289°

Not In operation. Record not aTallable.

kuBiin/'URl B 13,100; 2B20 -1° E 10,350; 284° il0

ISSÖlöö.ill a. 285° 13°

o.iß'i 0.016

(W) (L)

1810:00.691 a. 0.27 288° 13° 0.12

(W) (L)

7t &»lvolr/SbS fa U,530 h 11,750

1820:00.U2 a. b.

o.oie 0.0OO75 0.001 0.00022

w (8 kc) (12.' kc) (20 kc)

1810:00.690 a. 0.09O b. 0.0021

0.0055 0.00062

(W) (8 kc) (12.5 kc) (20 kc)

Andr«wi/AWS B 11,550; 296° E 11,770

Resultfl nogallve. 1810:00.69 • 294° ^3°

Dow AFE/AF E 11,750; 301° l 11,920

Results negative. Heavy «ferlc« activity.

U tain b«ach/AWS B 11,850; 291° E 12,070

Started too late. Not in operation.

Kirknewton/DRL fa 12,510; 12° E 12.530; 17°

1820:00.411 •. 29° I30

0.013 C.003

W (I)

1810:00.692 a. 0.0096 22° 13° 0.0O59

(w) (D

Elndlay AfB/AWS B 12,860; 302° E 13,100

Not In operation. Net In operation.

*Wllhli. limit of reaolutlon.

20

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Page 21: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

1 ' ',l." •

TkBlZ 1 iUMMAKI OF CAJTLE REÜ'JLTS (Cont)

3Utlon/iaoncy Dlitano« Iks)

T'.Br» um rar» l»ad «t Um station (2), corracted for nuclear leto nation pul ae «nd WWV traiiBalaalon tlaaai Hamarka1 Haoorded ailaitha to detonation \>o Inta, KlalJ jtrentfth

and o&loulat«d data (»/■), « Broad-band, c antar-to-peak (U whip, L looph b. Narrow-band.

Bikini (B) »ad 3hot 5-4 May IQ •4 - 1810 I00.156Z Shot 6-13 M^ 1954 - 1820:00.-042 EnlMtok (I) D«ton«t»d at Bikini Detonated at Knl wetok

Klüw»tok/NB3 1810iOO.156 34.0 (W) 1820:00,404 a. -775.0 (U) B 20 and 320 I 22 (Aitm/VBä lälö.oö.lw ■ ■ U5 (U) 1820100. ..04 a. -I.46 (W) B 2,270 o.yw (8 ko) h. 0.035 (8 kc)

I 1,920 0.-347 0.029

(12.5 kc) (20 ko)

0.028 C.04I

(12.5 kc) (20 kc)

M«ul/NB3 1810i00.156 1.31 M 1820:00.404 a. l.U W B 4,200 C.12 (8 ko) 1 4,420 0.056

O.OU (12.5 kc) (20 ko)

3h««y»/aU- 1810i00.155 215° ^3°

0.073 M 1820:00.401 a. 0.037 (W) B 4,680| 209° 0.42 it) 210° ^3° 0.38 (L)

I 4.750, 2U0

Ft Barrow/Iii3 151C:OT.15B 4. Ö.35 IV) So time reconl . b. 0.313 (8 kc) B 7,2«0 b. o.ou (8 ko) o.ou (12.5 kc) I 7,360 0.014 (12.5 kc) 0.0011 (20 ko)

O.'JOll (20 kc) Stanford 'JniT/Mi3 No raoord 1820100.405 a. 0.51 M fl 7,740 b. 0.012 (8 kc) C 8,000 0.019

0.00097 (12.5 kc) (20 kc)

Uraon iTB/AT Poor tigtial 1820100.3 • B 8,03O| 267° 272° i30

C 8,2001 269° Bould.^HM UlQiW.'fH b. 0.013 (8 ko) 1820:00.405 a. 0.30 (w) B 9,200 o.ou (12.5 ko) b. 0.0068 (8 kc) « 9,460 0.00057 (20 ko) 0.017

0.0017 (12.5 kn) (20 kc)

Thul«/m 1810(00.157 a. o.ou (w) 1820100.404 a. 0.071 (W) B 9,630i 307° tl0 306° 130 0.032 (L) 310° 13° 0.028 (I) 1 9.700, 310^ tl0

Duluth/ir 288° ±3°

a 1820:00.3 • 288° 13° B 10,080i 287°

t 10,280, 289°

iuatln/ERl. 1810)00.158 a. 0.259 (U) 1820 lOO.405 a. 0.24 (W) 8 10,100, 282« tl" 286" *30 0.14 (L) 2910 130 0.13 (L) 1 10.350 284° ±1° n BViTolr/irta laiöiöö.iü« a. 0.070 (W) 1820:00.405 a. 0.078 (W) B 11,530 b. 0.0037 (8 kc) b. 0.0020 (8 kc) I 11,750 0.0040 (12.5 kc) 0.0O56 (12.5 kc)

0,00031 (20 kc) O.OOO84 (20 ko) 1 IJxinnn/kVS 1810100.17 a Not In operation. I 11,550, 296° 296° t}0 1 11.770 Dow kTB/kf tUoonl not aTailabl« . 1820:00.2 • B 11,750, 301° C 11,920 U Palm Bwob/ikUS lälö.flö.U

292° i30 i J<ot In operatl 30.

B 11,850, 291° C 12.070 UrkMvton/bRL 1810)00.158

26° i30 a. 0.0O86 (w) 1820:00.404 a. 0.012 (H)

B 12,510, 12° 0.0063 (L) 21° 13° 0.0070 (L) 1 12,530, 17° tlrvU.y m/IU3 laiöiöö.ia

306° -l6 ■ Not In operatl 30.

B 12,860, 302° 1 13,100

Within limit of resolution.

21

1 ■■•"*■ -^ " ■ - > ^^A..

Page 22: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

T

the atation was moved to Eniwetok Atoll, about 320 km from the Bikini detonation locations. The Shot 6 detonation point was vithln llne-of- slght, but the records obtained were of questionable value, probably beoatue of spurious pick-up on lead-ins.

Since most of the electromagnetic energy recorded from a nuclear detonation Is In the VLF band, the ground waves recorded at 320 km have substantially the same shape as a closer recording with, of course, a decrease In magnitude. For example, from Reforonoes 8 and 9, decreaseo In ground wave amplitude to be expected over a sea water path between two locations 23 km and 320 km from the origin vary with frequency as foUowe: 1 kc, 27 db; 10 kc, 1L, db; 500 kc, 29 db; 2 Mc, 33 db; and 5 Mc, 39 db.

At distances, where no ground wave was recorded, the wave shape was an additive combination of more than one sky wave, and the result was usually similar to a damped sinusoid with higher frequencies atten- uated relatively more. From Reference 10, for a typical daylight path, sky-wave attenuation In decibels per 1,000 km la about 20 at 1 kc, about 2 at 10 kc and then rises gradually to about 50 at 1 Mc.

Field strength, especially at distant points, is only a very ap- proximate measure of yield. However, a rough estimate of yield within about an order of magnitude may be obtained from broad-band field- strength measurements. Figure 5 1» a plot of field strengths from the Castle shots for stations on an east-wect path recording broad-band waveforms. Probable curves are drawn In for three of the stations. Figure 6 Is a plot of field strengths of three stations on a north-south path. Field strength data from Guam, Shemya and Pt. Barrow are general- ly low. The reasons are not definitely known and these anomalies are being investigated. Contributing causes may be Interference between sky-wave modes, lonocpherlc absorption, ground constants, and, in the case of Pt. Barrow, attenuation due to auroral absorption. It is be- lieved that the Shemya field strength data, additionally, may be low because of local conditions at the receiving site.

Records. Figures 7 through 12 are selected Castle electromagnetic records (References ^,5). Records from all shots recorded are shown from Ekiiwetok; Guam; Maul, T. H.; Boulder, Colorado; and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia to illustrate changes with distance. Additionally, some typi- cal records from other locations are reproduced.

At Eniwetok, for Shots 2, 3» U and 5, the sweep time was long enough to record not only the ground wave, but also one or more sky waves (Figures 8, 9, 10, 11). At Guam, for Shot 3 (Figure 9), several sky waves are shown.

Close-in waveforms are broad band. The oscilloscopes had the capability of faithfully recording frequencies in the range from essen- tially dc to 13 Mc. This was more than adequate, since the maximum equivalent frequency recorded was about 3 or 4^ Mc. Two broad-band ver- tical electric component waveforms are included for each shot, except Shot 1. when all film on Enyu was exposed to radiation.

At least at a distance of 320 km some detail is preserved in the first hop sky wave (Figure 9, Eniwetok). The arrival times of the first

22

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Page 23: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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Page 24: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

•■w^'-l ■ I ' J w'wm't m^ i 'V ■■! m 'I m V ' »—-r" "r- _.-,-,"-

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X I- o z UJ X.

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P-PT »AHHOW - 7t00 T- TMULe-»rOO K-KmKNIWTON - 12,510

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m 1 111 " 1 J 1" 1 „ „« , , ,

100 1,000

YIELD (KT)

Flgxir» 6 Flot of selected Castle dit« showing the relationship betweer peak field strength and yield on a north-south path. Probsble curves, drayr by Inspection, are shoun for It. Barrow and Thule.

24

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Page 25: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

Bk/ wave giv« an Ionospheric layer height of about 90 km. Some records (not Included in thla report) show as many as five sky waves, but of coure« with less energy for each reflection, and they also Indicate an ionospheric layer height of about 90 km. AH clore-ln records show the oharacterlatlc first negative-going puls«:

The close-in record» from Shot 6 123 kx awayj appear to have spurious components imposed. This could b« pick-up on lead-ina or through the earth. Other experiaenta at compa- rable difltanoea at the Nevada Test Site have all involved detonations almost two ordera of magnitude lower in energy.

The changea in waveform due to the filtering effects of the iono- sphere (absorption of the higher frequency components) and interference between different sky-wave modes is quite apparent as the broad-band pulse is recorded at greater distances; the pulse loses character and presents a damped sine wave appearance. Broad-band wavefonm at the far stations, in general, mean about 6 to 100 kc, which encompasses the greatest portion of the energy available.

Fourier Analyses. The National Bureau of Standards has oerformed Fourier analyses of two of the Castle shots (References 11,12), The transform

g(f) =/ •E(.)e-^"d. (1)

has been computed by using the values of field strength tabulated as a function of time and performing the integration numerically on the SEAC, The magnitude of g(f) (the square root of the sum of the squares of the real and imaginary parts) for the Shot 2 pulse, as received at some MBS sites, has been plotted as a function of frequency in Figure 13.

In order to evaluate absorption due to earth and ionospheric losses, a distance factor is employed. For short distances this is the inverse of the distance, but for longer distances, the earth's curvature is taken into account, aaauming that the ionosphere and the earth act as a wave guide. From Reference 10, the factor is

-ysTNg »> K

Where: D= Distance from the origin, (km). R = Earth's radius, (km).

Figure H is a plot of the Shot 2 pulse, but the spectral inten- sity C , which is proportional to the amplitude of the received field strength per cycle of bandwidth is multiplied by VsiN-a. Figure 15 is a similar plot for Shot 3. Some propagation charactoristica may b« deduced fro« Figures U- and 15. For Shot 3, 126 kt, the peak frequen- cies of Figure 15 decrease from about 18 kc for Enlwetok (320 km) to 11 kc for Ft. Belvoir, Virginia (11,530 km). However, in the case of Shot 2, with a yield of 10.5 Mt, the peak frequency of Figure U re-

25

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Page 26: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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flgur« 13 Broad-b«uid »pectral CUTTSB for Shot 2 as received at the KbS »tatIons. Narrow-bard polr.te are Indicated by croseeB.

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malna very nearly the aame as the piilae Is propagated to distances. This la partially because the diatributlon of energy with frequency near the source was different for Shot 3 and Shot 2. The curves also ahow attenuation with distance at any freque.icy within the range ana- lyzed. It la apparent that the higher frequenclea are attenuated rel- atively more. It la Interesting to compare Figure 13, which shows "pectral Intensity values as received for Shot 2, and Figure H, which shows conparable values with the distance factor removed. Under the conditions of the Castle teats, as distance increases, attenuation due to distance becomes relatively lesa Important.

Yield and Predominant Frequency. There appears to be an approxi- mate relationship between yield and frequency at which peak energy occurs, and there is some theoretical Justification for this relation- ship (Reference 13). Plotted as Figure 16 is a theoretical curve from Reference 13, with points Indicating frequenclea with maximum energy, as calculated from close-in waveforms, for some of the Upshot-Knothole detonations, Caatle Shots 2 and 3, and estimated frequencies for Castle Shots 4, 5, and 6.

Narrow-Band Records. Narrow-band (approximately 200 cps) record- ings were also made during the Castle series. This technique may b« necessary in making measurementa under operational conditions. Valuea of spectral intensity were also calculated for field strength narrow- band values received for Shot 2 (Reference 11). Figure 13 has narrow- band points indicated by crosses and it will be noted that in most cases, the agreement with the corresponding broad-band spectral curve la quite good. In some cases, the trigger level was somewhat high, which resulted in missing the initial portion of the waveform. Other reasona for discrepancies were variation in bandwidth with signal level and aging of tubes.

Peripheral Lightning Flashes. Fast-frame moving picture photo- graphy (3,000 or more frames per second) of Ivy Mike show what appears to be lightning flashes between the natural cloud cover and the sea on the periphery of the fireball. This phenomena starts at about 5 msec after the beginning of the nuclear reaction and continues for about 75 aaec or more. These visible flashes were also evident on the high- speed photographic film recordings of the Castle series.

High-gain receiving equipment, with a bandwidth of about 1 kc to 1 Mc, long-wire antenna, and a tape recorder were used at Eniwetok in an attempt to detect these flashes. No signals attributable to the diachargea ware not<-d.

Low-Freouency Transmitters. An analysis of field strength mea- auramenta of low^-frequency transmitters has been carried out by NBS. (References 4.,12) At wldelj-aeparated locations during Castle, NBS and DRL monitored NSS, NLK, NPM and GBR to obtain field strength meaaura- »anta. Narrow-band equipment waa used; essentially the same aa that uaed for raoording the narrow-band field strengths from nuclear detona- tlona. Measurementa were made at the aame time at each location, once each hour. Five selected plota of field atrength versus time from

33

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Figur« 16 Plot of selected Upahot-Knothole and Castle close-in waveforma showing the relationship between yield and predominant frequency.

35

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Reference 12 are reproduced her«. Fipuros 17 and 18 ehow the field ■ trengtha of NSS as meaaured by URL at Klrlcnewton, Scotland and Thule, Greenland, renpoctivoly. These are eaaeDtlally north-south paths, with that to Klrknewton skirting the auroral zone, and that to Thule pene- trating the auroral ton«. Figure 19, for the NPM-Thule path, ia also north-south penetrating the auroral sone. Figures 20 and 21 «re plots of the field strengths of NPM and NSS, as measured by DRL at Austin on the same days and at the same times. These data are for an east-vest path.

It is readily apparent that there was considerable variation in recorded field strengths from day-to-day and during the day. Day and night variations in signal atrength are generally more pronounced on the north-south path than east-west. The magnitude of diminution in

24 MQich 1964

27 Apnl 1954

6 May 1954

1 1

i ^r-v^-

■^- — -j—- Sunset of midpoint ► —

0000 0500 1000 1500

GREENWICH MEAN TIME

2000 2400

Figure 17 Plot of the field strength of NSS AS measured by DRL at Kirknewton, Scotland.

signal from dark-to-dayllght paths was apparently greater when the auroral zone was penetrated. At Thule and Austin field strengths were lower during magnetically disturbed periods (i.e. 24 March 195'0 than during relatively quiet magnetic periods (i.e. 6 May 1954). Magnetic factors from the Cheltenham Magnetic Observatory were used as criteria.

The average daytime field strength from NSS at Kirknewton (5,800 km) waa about 0.45 mv/m, while at Thule (4,000 km), it was about 0.03 mv/m. If equal attenuation per 1,000 km is assumed for both paths, then NSS-Thule is low by 25 to 30 db as compared with NSS-Kirknewton.

The NPM-Austin path on 24 March, 27 April and 6 May 1954 showed higher day and night field strengths during magnetically disturbed periods than when comparatively quiet. This is an apparent disagree- ment with the NSS-Thule and NSS-Kirknewton results; however, it is in

36

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Page 31: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

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figure 18 Plot of the field strength of NSS as measured by DRL at Thule, Greenland.

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Figur« 19 Plot of the field strength of NPM aa measured by DRL at Thule, Greenland.

37

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38

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Page 33: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION CALIBRATION

——

agreement with other investigators over other than North Atlantic paths.

With NPM-Auatin (5,800 km) as a baas for predicting field strengths for NPM-Thule (7,600 km), the latter is low b7 6 or 8 db. This is an apparent contradiction of most similar measurements which glye greater attenuations over east-west paths, as compared with north - south paths. However, the auroral zone was not crosaad in the course of those measurements.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The first AFOAT-1 close-in (320 km) recordings of the electro- magnetic pulse emitted at the time of detonation of a large nuclear device (megaton range) were made during the Castle operations. Varia- tions in field strengths, measured with presumably identical equipment at the various locations, are not explainable. Waveforms were recorded at distances up to 12,000 km. Beyond about 2,000 to ^,000 km, closo-ln detail disappears. With proper correctiona for path, terrain, iono- spheric conditions, time of day, etc., it may be possible to make a fair estimate of yield as a function of field strength received. How- ever, corrections to be made are Imperfectly known. Frequency analysis of waveforms, together with other characteristics, may offer some as- sistance.

Reception and identification cf nuclear-device pulses, when time of detonation is known to a millisecond, is relatively easy; doing the same ttung on a 24-hour basis, when the detonation time is not known, is much more difficult. This means that more information is needed on techniques of discrimination and much of this can be learned by study- ing naturally-occurring atmospherics.

Studies of the various parameters affecting VLF propagation should be emphasized, and this should encompass a wall-coordinated theoretical and experimental approach. Studies in VLF propagation to date have largely been concerned with communications frequencies where transmis- sions are repeatable. Further work along this tack in the lower por- tions of the band is worthwhile. In addition, further studies of naturally-occurring atmospherics should be conducted, because natural flashes have many similarities to the man-made type. The sferics studies should be extended to the low-audio frequencies and into the megacycle range-—both being areas where limited work has been done so far.

39

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REFERENCES

1. Oleaon, M.H.; Electromagnetic Effects from Atomic Explosions; Project 7.1a, Operation Tumbler-Snapper, WT-537, January 1953? AFSWP; SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA. J

2. Oleson, M.H.; Electromagnetic Effects from Nuclear Explosions; _• Project 7.1, Operation Ivy, WT-6U, 31 January 1958; AE3WP; SECRET- * RESTRICTED DATA.

3. Oleson, M.H.; Electromagnetic Effects from Nuclear Explosions; Project 7.1, Operation Upshot-Knothole, WT-762, June 1955; AFSWP; ] SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA.

U. Kemper, John A. and others; Measurement of Electromagnetic fc' Effects During Operation Castle; 3C106, 1 December 1954.; National Bureflu of Standards; SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA.

5. Quarterly Report No, 5 on Contract AF 33(600)-22582 for the period 11 December 1953 - 10 March 1954; 22 March 1954; Defense Research Laboratory, university of Texas, Austin, Texas; SECRET,

6. Static Direction Finder, AN/GRD-1A; War Department Technical Manual TM 11-2693, 28 September 1945; UNCLASSIFIED.

7. Camera, PH-557/TFH; Developer, PH-559/TFQ; Viewer, PH-558/TFP; War Department Technical Manual TM 11-2338; 2 September 1947; UNCLASSIFIED.

8. Wait, James R., and Howe, H. Herbert; Amplitude and Phase Curves for Ground-Wave Propagation in the Band 200 Cycles per Second to 500 Kilocycles; NBS Circular 574; 21 May 1956; National Bureau of Standards; UNCLASSIFIED.

9. Radio Propagation; Department of the Army Technical Manual TM 11-499; August 1950; UNCLASSIFIED.

10, Chapman, F.W., and Macario, R.C.V.; Propagation of Audio- Frequency Radio Waves to Great Distances; Nature, May 19, 1956, Vol 177, Pages 930 to 933; UNCLASSIFIED.

11. Lupton, W,H.; Electromagnetic Pulse Investigations; 5C104; 1 December 1954; National Bureau of Standards; SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA,

12, Jean, A, Glenn, and others; Supplement to Quarterly Report on Project T/506/E/NBS for Period Ending December 30, 1954; 5C106, 27 January 1955: National Bureau of Standards; SECRET,

13. McNish, A,G.; Terminal Report on Project T/420/E/NBS; 3C107, 1 November 1954; National Bureau of Standards; SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA.

40

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