Simulation of the high-altitude nuclear EMP by using a novel initial electron distribution method

Abstract

In previous studies, Klein-Nishina (KN) formula is used to simulate the initial distribution of the motion of the Compton electrons generated during the high-altitude nuclear pulse (HEMP). Here we introduce a mean initial value method (MIVM) to approximate the KN distribution. An attenuation coefficient is added to the current density formula. The method is found good in calculating the peak value of the transverse electric field. The difference of the half-width between the two methods is no larger than 20 percent. The computing time of the MIVM is much shorter compared with the KN formula method.