Physical Phenomena Induced by Passage of Intense Electromagnetic Pulses (Including CO sub 2 Lasers) Through the Atmosphere

摘要

The electron fluid equations are combined with Maxwell's equations to investigate the physical phenomena that occurs when short, intense electromagnetic pulses (including the CO sub 2 laser pulse) interact with the atmosphere. The phenomena of ''tailed erosion'' occurs when the pulse intensity exceeds the air-breakdown threshold. In some cases, the erosion of the pulse occurs first in the middle of the pulse and then occurs in the tail of the pulse. In addition, we discovered that the amount of the energy that a pulse carries through the atmosphere is independent of whether it is propagating vertically upward from the Earth's surface or vertically downward toward the Earth's surface, provided the distance the pulse travels is the same for both directions of the propagation. 20 refs., 9 figs. (ERA citation 11:004487)