Microwave Facilitated Atmospheric Energy Projection System: concept for scalable multistage electromagnetic missiles

Philip James Paustian

doi:10.1117/12.391807

14 July 2000 Microwave Facilitated Atmospheric Energy Projection System: concept for scalable multistage electromagnetic missiles

Philip James Paustian

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4031, Intense Microwave Pulses VII; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391807
Event: AeroSense 2000, 2000, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The Microwave Facilitated Atmospheric Energy Projection System (MFAEPS) uses microwave energy at resonant frequencies of oxygen that occur around 60 GHz or the lone absorption peak at 118 GHz to reduce the atmospheric concentration of O₄⁺ a thermally unstable cluster ion that is vital to the most significant reaction for squelching electron transport via recombination in cold dry air: O₄⁺ + e^- equals O₂ + O₂. A voltage pulse generator discharges creating an ionizing wave that follows the microwave pulse. The plasma created by the voltage pulse generator's discharge propagates in the path created by the microwave pulse because the heated oxygen can form less O₄⁺ and thus a lower impedance pathway is created for the avalanche progression of the plasma. The microwave pulse heats O₂ in its path from 20 K to 700 K above ambient temperature. Multiple ionizing waves can be launched in rapid succession down the same path to deliver more current to the target. The neutral but paramagnetic oxygen molecule absorbs energy at the 60 GHz and 118 GHz frequencies because the magnetic moment of the oxygen molecule interacts with the rho-type triplet rotational ground states of oxygen. MFAEPS can be scaled up from environmentally friendly non-lethal crowed control to electronic warfare counter measures and anti-cruise missile defense systems.

Citation Download Citation

Philip James Paustian "Microwave Facilitated Atmospheric Energy Projection System: concept for scalable multistage electromagnetic missiles", Proc. SPIE 4031, Intense Microwave Pulses VII, (14 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391807

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KEYWORDS

Microwave radiation

Oxygen

Molecules

Atmospheric plasma

Missiles

Plasma

Projection systems

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