Design and Implementation of a Narrowband HPM Test Facility based on the TPASCO Source

As HPM sources evolve towards actual use, there exists a critical need to determine system susceptibilities to HPM prior to deployment. We propose to design and implement a lightweight, modular, ruggedized narrowband test system appropriate to bothoutdoor field and indoor chamber testing. A total of five TPASCO (Tunable Post Accelerated Split-Cavity-Oscillator) hardware sets will span the 320 MHz - 2.9 GHz frequency range; these will be fitted with novel circular/linear polarization-agile antennasthat will project power densities, repetition rates, pulse lengths, and spectra consistent with virtually any near term narrowband HPM threat. TPASCO is a novel source that utilizes the high spatial modulation efficiency of SCO cavities (approaching100%), demonstrated by AF, Sandia, and recently Voss Scientific, in nominally axisymmetric geometry that allows tuning without need to break vacuum. The basis for this tuning method results from our recent work optimizing L-band SCO modulators, and theprojected TPASCO tunability matches conventional waveguide bandwidths. System advantages accruing from broadband hardware include fewer hardware sets, lower dollar cost, and less changeover downtime. Because frequency is intrinsically determined bycavity size, TPASCO is forgiving of variations in drive voltage, allowing a single low cost, pulse power hardware set to drive multiple TPASCO tubes. ANTICIPATED BENEFITSDuring this effort we will design and implement a highly flexible HPM test facility based on a frequency tunable high power 200 MW peak power source. The resulting facility will conduct experiments on susceptibility of military systems and infrastructureelectronic systems to single-shot and repetitively pulsed electromagnetic energy. By virtue of its portability via land, sea, or air transport, the facility, sensor suite and instrumentation will be universally available.POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONSCommercial applications of the HPM generator and associated test facility include the assessment of US electronic infrastructure components to attack from high power RF devices. Additionally,