Identification of Electromagnetic Object Response From Noisy Transient Measurements

Abstract

The response of an object subjected to high energy, transient electromagnetic (EM) fields called an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is an important issue in the survivability of electronic systems (e.g., aircraft), especially when the field has been generated by a high altitude nuclear burst. The characterization of transient reponse information is a matter of national concern. In this paper we apply identification techniques to : (i) improve signal processing at a test facility, and (ii) parameterize a particular object response.First, we discuss the application of identification-based signal processing techniques to improve signal levels at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Electromagnetic Test Facility. We identify models of test equipment and then use these models to deconvolve the input/output sequences from the noisy measurements for the object under test. A parametric model of the object is then identified from this data. The model is then used to extrapolate the response to the threat level EMP.