Motion-Induced Noise in Electrode-Pair Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Receiving Antennas

The pressure fluctuations in the turbulent boundary layer surrounding the towed antenna cable cause it to vibrate in the geomagnetic field and thereby generate noise. This noise mechanism is the dominant one in current long antennas. Its effect can be reduced only by increasing antenna diameter and length. Tension, stiffness, and damping have no effect. Noise voltage spectra derived from pressure fluctuation data show striking agreement with those measured.