Boundary Layer Effects on EMP Coupling to a Cylindrical Antenna

A simple theory of the boundary layer that forms at the metal surface is developed and applied to a cylindrical antenna in a close-in EMP environment. The thickness, the electric field and the voltage jump associated with the layer are determined. Additional effects due to the boundary layer on response of a cylindrical antenna are estimated using the theory of an insulated antenna immersed in a dissipative medium. Numerical results are given for an example problem. Using the simple ideas presented here, it is easy to assess the practical importance of the boundary layer effects in close-in EMP coupling problems.