Importance of Secondary Electron Collisional Ionization (Avalanche) for X-ray Pulses Incident on Missiles-in-Flight

摘要

This report present a series of contour plots for both strong and moderate avalanche on the electric field-pressure plane. Plots are given for effective electric field durations from 0.1 to 100 ns, consistent with times corresponding to X-ray pulse widths of interest in nuclear weapon effects. The computations were carried out with special concern for accuracy. The adequacy of the air chemistry data set is confirmed by comparison with experimental swarm data. The effect of the delay for the avalanche frequency to reach its steady state value is included in the calculations. Keywords; Air Chemistry; Nuclear Weapons Effects; Secondary Electrons; Ionization; Swarm Theory; Monte Carlo technique; System Generated Electromagnetic Pulse (SGEMP); Single Electron Monte Carlo (SEMC).