Teller Light Production and Transmission in Mixed Gases and Associated Radio Frequency Radiation
Abstract
Teller Light Production and Transmission in Mixed Gases and Associated Radio Frequency Radiation. An electron beam of a few MeV traveling in air produces ultraviolet and visible molecular fluorescence radiation by the same physical mechanisms as do the Compton electrons in air that are produced by prompt gamma rays from a fissioning critical mass (Teller light), cosmic ray showers, and some atmospheric electrical discharges. The primary spectral components of the radiation in these phenomena are excited nitrogen molecular bands in the wave length range ~250400 nanometers, and lines in the visible wavelength as well. When asymmetries are present in the electron current distribution, broadband radiofrequency radiation is also generated. We propose to use our laboratory based accelerators to produce pulsed electron beams as sources to: (1), determine the relative intensity of various fluorescence radiation bands as a function of ion density and pulse length, (2), measure radio frequency spectra in the range of one to several hundred megahertz under the above parameter changes, (3), measure the relative wavelength dependence in the production and absorption of fluorescence radiation bands in air containing various trace gases such as O3, HNO2, NO2, and H2O over the equivalent of kilometer scale distances, and (4), measure polarization and scattering in the laboratory. For the case of Teller light, formation, absorption, polarization and scattering can influence the accurate determination of path length, origin, and other information content carried to a distant detector. Radiofrequency radiation may carry unique information as well. It is our proposition that electron linear accelerators in the few MeV range provide an effective, low cost tool for studying these effects
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 09, 2017
- Source ID
- HDTRA11710004
Entities
People
- Daniel Dale
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- Idaho State University