Nitrogen Chemistry in Sea Level Air Following Large Radiation Doses.

Abstract

The electron densities near a large yield nuclear burst during the first few seconds can impact the performance of terminal defense radars. The main chemical parameters which determine the electron density in this situation are the electron attachment and detachment rates. This report describes work done to determine the production of HNO (base 3) and N (base 2) 0 the results of an experiment done at Oak Ridge were used to revised the reaction scheme used in the chemical integration code used to simulate the nuclear case. It was found that the irradiation time is a critical factor in the production of HNO (base 3). An order of magnitude or more less HNO (base 3) was produced in the nuclear cases simulated than in the laboratory experiment where the irradiation times were longer. HNO (base 3), however might still be an important attacher of electrons in the nuclear case. The bomblight does not appear to affect very strongly the electron densities in the air outside the fireball. The delayed gamma-ray radiation tends to overwhelm the bomblight effect.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 15, 1984
Accession Number
ADA154376

Entities

People

  • M. Scheibe

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Chemistry
  • Department Of Defense
  • Dose Rate
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Ionization
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Production
  • Radiation
  • Sea Level
  • Security
  • Systems Engineering
  • Terminal Defense
  • Water Vapor
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics