OCULAR EFFECTS OF THERMAL RADIATION FROM ATOMIC DETONATION - FLASHBLINDNESS AND CHORIORETINAL BURNS
Abstract
The project was designed to determine the effect of the flash of atomic detonations at night upon the ability of military personnel to carry out their assigned tasks when such tasks involve the use of vision. It is considered that in general three types of visual tasks are involved in military operations: (a) reading of instruments in ships, aircraft, tanks, and vehicles; (b) central acute vision at low levels of illumination; and (c) peripheral vision at very low levels. After an atomic flash each individual involved in such military visual tasks would attempt to return to seeing under the light level then available to him. The time required for him to see under each of these circumstances was determined. When the eye observes an atomic fireball, the energy received in the retinal image per unit time and area depends on the relative opening of the eye (pupillary diameter divided by focal length) and the energy emitted by the fireball per unit area. Due to the concentration of energy in the image formed on the retina, skin burns and retinal burns follow different laws. As a result of this concentration retinal lesions are produced at distances many times greater than those for minimal skin burns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1955
- Accession Number
- AD0633876
Entities
People
- D. V. L. Brown
- H. W. Rose
- Paul A. Cibis
- Victor A. Byrnes