Electric Field Detection and Ranging of Aircraft

The electric field transported by charged aircraft during free flight can be observed quantitatively in distances of up to some 100 m. A system of three plane sensors arranged in the corners of a triangle or the Earth surface is described, by which the flight path of aircraft is detected in the range of 40 to 500 m with velocities of approximately 50 m/s. The theory and typical experimental results are discussed.     

Electric Charging and Discharging Processes of Moving Projectiles

Every type of missle is electrically charged during free flight. The physical mechanism, leading to the electric charging and discharging effects, was investigated by measuring the electric field surrounding projectiles while leaving the muzzle region, during free flight, and on impact on targets. The electric charge on projectiles is 10-13 108C. Numerous experimental results were obtained with calibers 4-155 mm and velocities 50-120lm/ s. A physical model about the complex charging effects is derived.     

Detection of Projectiles by Electric Field Measurements

A number of various physical mechanisms cause aircraft, missiles, and projectiles to he electrically charged during free flight. The electric charge is in the 10-6 C range for aircraft and in the 10-10 C range for projectiles. The electric field thus transported provides information by which measuring the position and velocity of a projectile is possible. A measuring device is described to determine the position of a projectile in free flight while it is passing a target plane. The electric field distribution is measured by means of three electrodes in the manner of metal plates which are positioned in the proximity of the trajectory of the projectile. A mathematical formula can be derived to describe the coherence between the values measured of the electric field strength and the coordinates of the projectile. This measuring device consists of the target plane, 1 × 1 m2 in size, and the electric device controlled by a microprocessor. The measuring system has been tested with projectiles of the 4-30 mm caliber range and at velocities within the 50-1100 m/s range. The accuracy of the coordinates measured was found to be ± 7.5 mm.     

Variations of mesopause temperatures in Europe

Mesopause temperatures were derived from ground measurements of the near infrared OH1 spectrum. Preliminary data are presented. Seasonal variations at Wuppertal (51° N, 7° E) are well represented if the Cole and Kantor (1978) model [1] is raised by 10 K and shifted by about 18 days. Latitudinal variations from 68° N to 51° N are found much smaller than the model variations. During a stratospheric warming, mesopause and stratosphere temperatures were found to be in anticorrelation only if a substantial longitudinal shift is introduced.