An investigation of the usefulness of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic measurements for treaty verification

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6294530· OSTI ID:6294530

Sweeney, J J

From FY 1986 through FY 1988, we monitored extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic (EM) fields to determine whether these signals could be detected from underground nuclear explosions. Signals clearly related to underground tests were detected only when the ELF field sensors were located within 10 km of surface ground zero. Theoretical analysis, based on the results of these measurements, shows that the ELF impulse signals from underground nuclear tests are of longer duration than those from lightning sources and are, therefore, less efficient in exciting resonances in the earth-ionosphere cavity, even though the source strength for each may be the same. Thus, ELF signals from underground nuclear tests with yields of <150 kT are generally lower than the background signals caused by worldwide lightning activity. Our conclusion is that ELF monitoring probably will not be useful for detecting underground nuclear tests at distances >10 km from the tests. 16 refs., 24 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6294530
• Report Number(s): UCRL-53899; ON: DE89010560
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450300* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
&amp; National Defense-- Nuclear Explosion Detection
645202 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions &amp; Properties-Theoretical-- Electromagnetic Interactions &amp; Properties
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COMPUTER CODES
DIPOLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC DIPOLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPLOSIONS
FIELD TESTS
IONOSPHERE
LONG WAVE RADIATION
MAGNETIC DIPOLES
MONITORING
MULTIPOLES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
S CODES
TESTING
TREATIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
VERIFICATION