Modular, high-power, wideband transmitters for electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) testing

Applied Physical Electronics, L. C., (APELC) has developed a suite of high-power, wideband, dipole antennas targeted for use by the test and evaluation and the directed energy communities. Four dipoles spanning the frequency range of 50 to 500 MHz have been developed, manufactured, and used to support testing for various customers. The suite of dipoles was developed to address the new MIL-STD 464 C and all of the dipoles can be sourced by the APELC MG15-3C-940PF Marx generator. The dipoles feature corner reflectors to increase their directivity, which act to reduce side lobe levels. Additionally, a common, proprietary connector is implemented into the design of each dipole to facilitate the interchange of dipoles during deployment or testing scenarios. The dipoles manufactured to date vary in size from 20 cm in diameter and 245 cm in height to 17 cm in diameter and 37 cm in height for the 60-MHz and 400-MHz dipoles, respectively. The average amplitude of the peak electric field measured 110 kV/m and 200 kV/m for the 60-MHz and 400-MHz dipoles, respectively (electric field strengths normalized to 1 meter from source). Temporal and spectral data will be presented for each dipole offered and methods for obtaining higher peak electric field amplitudes will be discussed.