Publications Details

4.5m GTEM RS105 Test Capability Commissioning

Bowman, Tyler C.; Baker, Nicholas S.; Oliveira, Matthew P.H.; Nelson, Howard W.

This work details the reconfiguration of the 4.5 m Gigahertz Transverse Electromagnetic test facility at Sandia National Laboratories to operate in accordance with the RS105 (radiated susceptibility) test from MIL-STD-461 representing a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse. This reconfiguration involved removal of the existing continuous wave source and connecting both a high voltage feed and a coaxial feed housing the Marx bank pulser. Marx control settings were calibrated for several voltage levels across two pulsers, and position-dependent measurements of the peak electric field were taken throughout the test volume for each pulser. The results showed field uniformity and purity across the test volume comparable to continuous wave operations, and field peaks were measured from 1.63 kV/m to 54.8 kV/m, with maximum capabilities expected to exceed 100 kV/m. Some challenges in consistent pulser operations at lower Marx bank voltages and high frequency reflections in the system were identified for future capability improvements.