Accession Number:

AD0626946

Title:

UTILIZATION OF RIOMETERS FOR THE DETECTION OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN SPACE

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA

Personal Author(s):

• Potts, B. C.

Report Date:

1966-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

31.0

Abstract:

The memorandum considers the detection of overhead nuclear explosions in space by riometer measurement of the effects of explosion-induced ionization on the absorption of high-frequency cosmic noise. The induced ionization is calculated as a function of height and time for a 1-kT X-ray impulse having temperatures of .5, 1.0, and 2.0 kev and having burst heights from 1,000 to 100, 000 km. The absorption at each height due to the induced ionization is then calculated at a radio frequency of 30 Mc. In order to determine the change in the effective antenna temperature as a function of time at the riometer, the total absorption through the ionosphere is then determined. The response of a riometer with several time constants is found for this sharp change in received cosmic noise power. Detection ranges are calculated for each X-ray temperature and several possible riometer time constants based on the criterion that the nuclear burst must produce a 1-db peak response in the diode current of the riometer. These detection ranges are tabulated and compared with those that were found neglecting riometer response time.

Descriptors:

• *NUCLEAR PROPERTIES
• *RIOMETERS
• DETECTION
• HIGH ALTITUDE
• IONOSPHERE
• NOISE
• RADIOMETRY
• TEMPERATURE

Subject Categories:

• Nuclear Instrumentation

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE