Development of a Theoretical Flashblindness Model.
Abstract
A photochemical model of flashblindness is formulated and used to predict the recovery of the visual system from elevated states of adaptation produced by nuclear weapon explosions. The model is based upon a mathematical characterization of retinal photopigment kinetics which permits the prediction of the relative concentration of a photopigment and its photoproducts for an arbitrary illuminance-history. Photoproduct concentration is used to characterize the state of visual adaptation, and this formulation is then applied to determine the dependence of recovery time on such parameters as source-observer distance, source yield, source altitude and ambient retinal illuminance. Calculations of recovery time are performed without computer assistance by means of an analytic approximation which can be used for brief exposures when the average retinal illuminance produced by a fireball is known. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0755135