Kinetic model of the propagation of intense subnanosecond electromagnetic pulse through the lower atmosphere

The propagation of high-amplitude electromagnetic pulses (EMP's) having a pulse length of nanoseconds through the lower atmosphere is studied by using a kinetic model for free electrons. It is shown that an EMP with an amplitude above 1 MV/m can be transported to altitudes of 50 km from the ground without significant energy loss due to the shortness of its pulse length. The distortion of these pulses due to air breakdown and the energy distribution of the electrons in the plasma in the tail of the pulse will also be characterized.