Nonlinear Characterization of Electromagnetic Pulse Response Using Continuous Wave Electromagnetic Data

Although anticipated developments in directed energy weaponry require the characterization of electromagnetic hardness with respect to short duration electromagnetic pulse energies, continuous wave (CW) radiation, rather than pulse bombardment, iscurrently used to nondestructively test aircraft systems. This proposal addresses the need for an analysis methodology capable of converting system continuous wave response to system pulse response. The proposed innovation is based on nonlinear indicialtheory and on a recently developed identification tool allowing the extraction of a system's impulse response kernel from essentially arbitrary data. Using this approach, the Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of predicting B-2 system responses tolow-level pulse excitation. The proposed Phase II effort will further validate the method in the nonlinear regime. This will be accomplished through data analysis of existing large amplitude pulse tests, small scale laboratory testing, and acquisition ofintermediate scale model airplane data. Phase II will result in deliverable software and cost effective nonlinear system identification procedures with the potential to accelerate CW testing in a significant way. This innovation will save the governmenta considerable amount of money by reducing test time, while allowing a quantitative assessment of airplanes which are subject to EMP hardness requirements.