The Rhombic EMP Simulator

Abstract

A complete analysis has been carried out of the twoconductor rhombic antenna as an EMP simulator. The distribution of current along the conductors and the electric field in the working space bounded by rhombic wires have been determined at low, middle, and high frequencies. The analysis indicates that, at low frequencies, when the termination is the characteristic impedance, a traveling-wave current with very low standing-wave ratio propagates along the wires of the rhombic structure; but it is very sensitive to the load. As the frequency is increased, the standing-wave ratio also increases somewhat and it becomes less sensitive to the load. The electric field in the working space exhibits a reasonably constant amplitude with a standing-wave ratio of 1.5 or lower at all three frequencies.