ELECTROMAGNETIC METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE SIZE OF NUCLEAR UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS BASED ON SIGNALS RECORDED WITHIN A...

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSED WORK IS TO INVESTIGATE THE MANNER IN WHICH ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS EMITTED BY NUCLEAR UNDERGROUND TESTS (UGT'S) MIGHT BE USED TO DIAGNOSE THE TEST, IF THE SENSORS ARE ALLOWED TO BE WITHIN A FEW KILOMETERS OF THE SITE. THERE ARE MANY CAUSES OF EM EMISSIONS, INCLUDING CABLE CURRENTS AND ELECTROSEISMIC EFFECTS IN ADDITION TO THE OFTEN HYPOTHESIZED "MAGNETIC BUBBLE". THE COMPLICATED, AND POORLY UNDERSTOOD, NATURE OF THESE EMISSIONS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION, E.G., YIELD. THE ELECTROSEISMIC EFFECT OFFERS THE BEST CHANCE OF PROVIDING DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION, PERHAPS IN CONJUNCTION WITH NORMAL SEISMIC TECHNIQUES. IF ELECTROMAGNETIC DETECTION TECHNIQUES PROVE FEASIBLE, THEY WOULD AUGMENT NORMAL SEISMIC TECHNIQUES IN THE DETERMINATION OF WEAPON YIELD, AND POSSIBLY OTHER PARAMETERS. IF THE ELECTROSEISMIC EFFECT IS SHOWN TO BE A USEFUL TOOL, THE RESEARCH CAN BE EXTENDED IMMEDIATELY TO OTHER AREAS, E.G., EARTHQUAKE DETECTION AND PROSPECTING (OIL AND MINERAL).