Electric field distributions inside a parallel plate NEMP simulator by time-domain moment method

The NEMP associated with a high altitude nuclear burst can induce large currents and charges on computer hardware systems, high sensitivity instruments, communications networks, and military application systems such as aircraft, missiles, and satellites. In this paper, the time-domain moment method is used to calculate the electric field distributions inside a parallel plate NEMP simulator. The structure of the simulator system consists of the excitation source, the input and output tapered transition sections, the parallel plate transmission line, and the terminated load. The simulator is excited by a pulse form voltage having double exponential shape. We assume that the simulator is a transmission line with the usable test volume in the middle between the plates. The field at the dominant transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM) for such transmission lines is indistinguishable from that in free space propagation. The results of electric field distributions and time-response of the electric fields at 3 different locations inside the simulator are presented. The analysis of NEMP fields distributions will provide a valuable insight into parallel plate type NEMP simulators desirable for their design and use.