Simulation of Lightning Electromagnetic Fields and Application to Immunity Testing

A kind of low-cost electric and magnetic field simulators, which are used to produce simulative lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) with adjustable waveforms and intensity output, are presented. The lightning electric field can be produced within the GTEM cell by feed-in of impulse voltage output by a Marx generator. The lightning magnetic field can be produced within the coil by feed-in of surge current from the lightning surge generator. The simulated magnetic field is measured by a “B-dot” coil. The measured results show that the lightning electric field simulator and magnetic field simulator could provide relatively homogeneous LEMP environment within certain area in the GTEM cell and the coil within 3 dB deviation. The effects of the simulated lightning electric fields on some electronic devices and the influence of the turns and size of the coil on the homogeneity of the simulated magnetic fields are also investigated.