US-12621077-B2 - Electromagnetic pulse generator system

Abstract

A reusable battery-operated electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generator system comprising a pyroelectric element that accumulates high-voltage charge, immersed in a dielectric bath. A heating element heats the dielectric bath and the pyroelectric element, while a temperature sensor monitors their temperatures. The components are housed within a thermal chamber that provides insulation. A switched pulse actuator controls the rapid discharge of the accumulated charge from the pyroelectric element. The system includes a pulse shaping subsystem, a power supply unit, and a broadband radiating element such as an ultrawideband antenna for emitting the EMP. The pyroelectric element is heated and cooled to control accumulation of high voltage charge, which is discharged as an electrical pulse that is shaped and radiated as EMP.

Inventors

• Renyuan Wang
• John E. McGeehan
• Sean Sengele
• Amrita V. Masurkar
• Timothy M. Dresser
• Caprice Gray Haley
• Alexander D. Johnson

Assignees

• BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240612

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generator system, the system comprising: a dielectric bath; a pyroelectric element having a body and opposing faces that is immersed in the dielectric bath and configured to accumulate high-voltage charge across the polar faces; a heating element configured to heat the dielectric bath and the pyroelectric element; a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the dielectric bath or the pyroelectric element; a thermal chamber for enclosing the pyroelectric element, the dielectric bath, the heating element, and the temperature sensor, and for providing thermal insulation from external environments; and a switched pulse actuator configured to control and actuate a rapid electrical discharge of the accumulated charge from the pyroelectric element.
2. 2 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack for powering at least the heating element to heat the dielectric bath and the pyroelectric element.
3. 3 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , further comprising a pulse shaping subsystem configured to shape the electrical discharge in the time domain.
4. 4 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric bath comprises a solid dielectric, a liquid dielectric, and/or a gel dielectric.
5. 5 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , further comprising a broadband radiating element for radiating, as electromagnetic pulse radiation, energy from the electrical discharge.
6. 6 . The EMP generator system of claim 5 , wherein the broadband radiating element is an ultrawideband directional antenna and/or an ultrawideband antenna configured so as to radiate the electromagnetic pulse radiation substantially isotropically.
7. 7 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , further comprising integrated control electronics to control and coordinate the EMP generator system.
8. 8 . The EMP generator system of claim 7 , further comprising a remote control configured to communicate with the integrated control electronics.
9. 9 . The EMP generator system of claim 8 , further comprising an isolator configured to provide electrical isolation between the remote control and the integrated control electronics while facilitating data communication between the remote control and the integrated control electronics.
10. 10 . The EMP generator system of claim 9 , wherein the isolator comprises an optical link and/or a radio link.
11. 11 . The EMP generator system of claim 2 , wherein the battery pack is rechargeable.
12. 12 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , wherein the pyroelectric element comprises an LiTaO 3 crystal.
13. 13 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , wherein the pyroelectric element comprises a plurality of pyroelectric sub-elements that are connected in series and/or connected in parallel.
14. 14 . The EMP generator system of claim 1 , wherein each of the opposing polar faces of the pyroelectric element or of a pyroelectric sub-element is in intimate electrical contact with an electrical conductor that covers less than the entirety of the polar face.
15. 15 . A method for generating an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), the method comprising: electrically isolating between two polar faces of a pyroelectric element at a temperature T 1 ; heating the pyroelectric element to a temperature T 2 (T 2 >T 1 ) while maintaining the electrical isolation; discharging a charge that has accumulated on the polar faces of the pyroelectric element to thereby produce an electrical pulse; radiating the electrical pulse from an antenna; and cooling the pyroelectric element to a temperature T 3 (T 3 <T 2 ), wherein: while maintaining a state of electrical isolation between the polar faces of the pyroelectric element, heating of the pyroelectric element is carried out such that the heating is achieved over a time interval that is shorter than the RC time constant of an equivalent resistance-capacitance circuit.
16. 16 . The method for generating an EMP as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising electrically shorting the two polar faces of the pyroelectric element.
17. 17 . The method for generating an EMP as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising further heating the pyroelectric element to a temperature T 4 (T 4 >T 2 ) while maintaining electrical isolation.
18. 18 . The method for generating an EMP as set forth in claim 15 , wherein, while maintaining a state of electrical isolation between the polar faces of the pyroelectric element, cooling of the pyroelectric element is carried out such that the cooling is achieved over a time interval that is shorter than the RC time constant of an equivalent resistance-capacitance circuit.
19. 19 . The method for generating an EMP as set forth in claim 15 , wherein cooling of the pyroelectric element is carried out through natural cooling.
20. 20 . The method for generating an EMP as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising shaping the electrical pulse.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generation technology, and specifically to EMP generators that utilize the pyroelectric effect in pyroelectric materials. BACKGROUND Devices designed to emit bursts of electromagnetic energy have applications across various fields, including but not limited to, electronic warfare and asset protection, data security, and electronic equipment testing. Traditional methods for generating these bursts involve complex mechanisms that can be cumbersome and pose safety risks. These methods often involve the use of explosives or processes that can lead to the devices being single-use, raising concerns about sustainability and cost-effectiveness There are also electronic based solutions, but these are typically bulky and power-hungry. There is a recognized call for a more practical approach to creating EMP energy bursts, with more compact equipment that does not require an external power source. A system that does not rely on destructive materials or methods and can operate multiple times without the need for extensive reconfiguration would be a significant advancement. Such a system would address concerns related to safety, operational efficiency, and the environmental impact of the current technologies, fulfilling a gap in the market for safer and more reliable energy burst generation. SUMMARY One embodiment is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generator system comprising a dielectric bath; a pyroelectric element immersed in the dielectric bath and configured to accumulate high-voltage charge across polar faces thereof; a heating element configured to heat the dielectric bath and the pyroelectric element; a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the dielectric bath and/or the pyroelectric element; a thermal chamber for enclosing the pyroelectric element, the dielectric bath, the heating element, and the temperature sensor, and for providing thermal insulation from external environments; and a switched pulse actuator configured to control and actuate a rapid electrical discharge of the accumulated charge from the pyroelectric element. In another embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises a battery pack for powering at least the heating element to heat the dielectric bath and the pyroelectric element. In a further embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises a pulse shaping subsystem configured to shape the electrical discharge in the time domain. In still another embodiment, the dielectric bath comprises a solid dielectric, a liquid dielectric, and/or a gel dielectric. In an even further embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises a broadband radiating element for radiating, as electromagnetic pulse radiation, energy from an electrical discharge. In yet another embodiment, the broadband radiating element is a ultrawideband antenna configured so as to radiate substantially isotropically. In yet a further embodiment, the broadband radiating element is a ultrawideband tapered slot antenna. In yet a still further embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises integrated control electronics to control and coordinate all parts of the EMP generator system. In yet even another embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises a remote control configured to communicate with the integrated control electronics. In yet an even further embodiment, the EMP generator system further comprises an isolator configured to provide isolation between the remote control and the integrated control electronics while facilitating data communication between the remote control and the integrated control electronics. In still even another embodiment, the isolator comprises an optical link. In still an even further embodiment, the isolator comprises a radio link. In still yet another embodiment, the battery pack is rechargeable. In still yet a further embodiment, the pyroelectric element comprises an LiTaO3 crystal. In still yet a further embodiment yet, the pyroelectric element comprises a plurality of pyroelectric sub-elements that are connected in series and/or connected in parallel. In yet a still further embodiment, each of opposing polar faces of the pyroelectric element or of a pyroelectric sub-element is in intimate electrical contact with an electrical conductor over less than the entirety of the polar face. A different embodiment is a method for generating an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) including: electrically shorting between two polar faces of a pyroelectric element; electrically isolating between the polar faces of the pyroelectric element at a temperature T1; heating the pyroelectric element to a temperature T2 (T2>T1) while maintaining the electrical isolation; discharging charge that has accumulated on the polar faces of the pyroelectric element to thereby produce an electrical pulse; radiating the electrical power of the electrical pulse from an antenna as an EMP; and cooling the pyro