Development of Electric: Field Sensors.

Abstract : The purpose of this program was to obtain parametric data and develop criteria needed in the design of wire-mesh-type electric-potential sensors for arbitrary Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and Internal Electromagnetic Pulse (IEMP) environments. Tests were performed with various grid materials, thicknesses, and configurations in selected environments provided by the Febetron 706, Febetron 705, and Aurora flash gamma-ray machines, with varied environmental parameters such as air pressure and cavity material. It is shown that this technique can be used successfully when an essentially open-circuit voltage measurement is made, provided that care is taken to prevent large amounts of charge from being deposited on or scattered from the grid, which causes it to depart from the space-charge potential it is intended to measure. The various sources of these charges are described, and methods of minimizing the problem have been demonstrated. Furthermore, a method is illustrated that allows discrimination between the desired space-charge potential and the error-producing charge-deposition potential. (Modified author abstract)