Evaluation of Infrared Simulation Data

Infrared/optical nuclear-effects simulation data from DNA/AFGL sounding rockets HIRIS II (MWIR-LWIR auroral spectrum survey) and EXCEDE: Spectral (atmospheric excitation by a 3-keV electron beam) and instrumented NKC-135A aircraft are evaluated and interpreted. Most of the particle-irradiated air wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kofsky,Irving L, Villanucci,Dennis P, Sluder,Randall B
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCEPTABILITY
AIRBURST
AIRGLOW
ATMOSPHERES
Atmospheric Physics
AURORAE
BACKGROUND RADIATION
CALIBRATION
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTRON ACCELERATORS
EXCEDE project
EXCITATION
EXPLOSION EFFECTS
HIGH ALTITUDE
HIRIS-2 project
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERMEDIATE INFRARED RADIATION
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION SIMULATION
OPTICAL DATA
Optics
PARTICLE BEAMS
PE62704H
PHOTOMETRY
PROFILES
RADIOMETRY
SOUNDING ROCKETS
SPACEBORNE
UPPER ATMOSPHERE
WU11
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Summary:Infrared/optical nuclear-effects simulation data from DNA/AFGL sounding rockets HIRIS II (MWIR-LWIR auroral spectrum survey) and EXCEDE: Spectral (atmospheric excitation by a 3-keV electron beam) and instrumented NKC-135A aircraft are evaluated and interpreted. Most of the particle-irradiated air within HIRIS's field of view during high signal/noise spectrum scans near the atmosphere's limb is at altitudes approx. 10's of km distant from the rocket. Excitation altitude profiles and total column energy input rates for calibrating and scaling the infrared spectral intensities are calculated. The brightness distribution of air near EXCEDE: Spectral, measured at 113 and 123 km altitude with radiometrically calibrated onboard cameras, is found to differ markedly from predictions of code models. The intensity and broadening of the radiating volume suggest that a discharge may be taking place within a few meters of the accelerators; beyond this distance the electron beam's transport appears to be as expected. A plasma with high concentrations of approx. 10 eV temperature electrons is consistent with many of the optical/IR features that were observed, among them the H20, enhanced C02, continuum, and strong N2-triplet manifold emissions. It is suggested that discharges excited by charged particle beams ejected from sounding rockets may allow verification of theoretical models of the intensity of plasma radiations excited by nuclear explosions. (Author)