Prompt nuclear EMP and Synchrotron radiation: a resolution of two approaches

• Published in: IEEE transactions on electromagnetic compatibility Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 552 - 558
• Main Author: Roussel-Dupre, R.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.08.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Approximation; Communities; Derivation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Electromagnetic compatibility; EMP radiation effects; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Information, signal and communications theory; Mathematical analysis; Maxwell equations; Maxwell's equations; Nuclear explosions; Pollution, environment geology; Radiocommunications; Synchrotron radiation; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; X-rays; Nuclear radiation; Geophysics; Radiation effect; Electromagnetic compatibility; Nuclear explosion; Electromagnetic pulse; EMP radiation effects; Maxwell equation; Maxwell equations; nuclear explosions; Comparative study; Synchrotron radiation
• ISSN: 0018-9375; 1558-187X
• DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2005.851724

The geomagnetic component of nuclear EMP generated by the prompt (t/sub max//spl sim/2 /spl mu/s) /spl gamma/-ray, neutron, and X-ray radiation from a nuclear explosion has been the subject of intense scrutiny for over 40 years. Recent work by certain members of the scientific community has suggested that a discrepancy exists in the calculations/derivation of nuclear EMP between treatments based on Maxwell's equations and the high-frequency approximation and those derived from a summation over particles emitting synchrotron radiation. In principle, the two approaches should be identical simply because the well-known Lie/spl acute/nard-Wiechert potentials for accelerating particles are derived from Maxwell's equations. In this paper, we start from the Lie/spl acute/nard-Wiechert potentials and derive an expression for nuclear EMP that is identical to previous work based on a solution of Maxwell's equations. Thus, the putative discrepancy between the two approaches is resolved and Maxwell's equations in this regard are again vindicated.