Hardening SDI links against nuclear explosions
Abstract
An evaluation is made of the threat posed to the communications network binding the sensor, weapon, and battle management elements of SDI into a cohesive system by nuclear detonations that may be encountered during operation. The interaction among hundreds or thousands of nuclear bursts is not well understood, and calls for a major research effort; the nuclear effects anticipated encompass absorption, increased levels of RF noise, and above all, multipath scintillations. All these effects are caused by the high levels of ionization generated by high altitude nuclear explosions. The mitigation of these various effects by system design measures is discussed.
- Publication:
-
Aerospace America
- Pub Date:
- November 1987
- Bibcode:
- 1987AeAm...25Q..20P
- Keywords:
-
- Nuclear Explosions;
- Nuclear Weapons;
- Radiation Hardening;
- Radio Frequencies;
- Satellite Communication;
- Noise Temperature;
- Ultraviolet Radiation;
- X Rays;
- Nuclear and High-Energy Physics