On the Simulation Fidelity Requirements for Vacuum Tank and Low Frequency Spacecraft Mode Damping in an SGEMP Simulator

This paper analytically examines the electromagnetic response of a satellite system in an SGEMP simulator vacuum tank. Both higher frequency tank modes and lower frequency system modes are considered. It is shown, for a spherical satellite in a spherical tank, that strong damping of tank modes brings the frequency response in the tank toward coincidence with the free space frequency response. It is also shown that higher resistances are required to optimally damp the lower frequency satellite modes than are necessary to optimally damp tank modes.