An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Nuclear-EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse)-Type Lightning Simulatoes with Combined Peaking Capacitor and Crowbar.

Experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out to determine the feasibility of combining nuclear electromagnetic-pulse-type lightning simulators which use peaking capacitors with crowbar switches to provide both a double exponential lightning test pulse with a long unipolar tail and a very fast risetime. The purpose of the simulator is to provide a relatively economical and simple lightning simulator for the indirect effects testing of full sized advanced composite aerospace vehicles. The theoretical analysis and experimental investigations have verified the validity of the concept of combining the peaking capacitor and the crowbar switch to obtain high-current waveforms which also have a high current rate of rise with economical components. Keywords include Lightning, Simulation, Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse, Peaking Capacitor, and Crowbar Switch.