Modeling of Army Research Laboratory EMP simulators

Presents the capabilities and limitations of a variety of EMP (electromagnetic pulse) simulator models useful for the Army´s EMP survivability programs. Comparisons among frequency- and time-domain models are provided for two US Army Research Laboratory EMP simulators, AESOP (Army EMP Simulator Operations) and VEMPS II (Vertical EMP Simulator II). The models discussed have been developed to predict the field levels, waveshapes, and peak field contours for the VEMPS II and AESOP simulators. Each model has features that make it attractive for different applications. Detailed FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) models allow accurate close-in predictions. These models have been invaluable in the design of the VEMPS II, as well as in gaining a basic, physical understanding of the detailed field structure. The FDTD models have also been used to provide the sources for and to validate the simpler models. These simpler models have been extremely useful in estimating fields at large distances from the simulators. They also serve as a convenient engineering tool in support of simulator tests