Motion characteristics and laws of the debris from a near-space nuclear detonation

Background The debris motion is an important phenomenon of a high-altitude nuclear detonation, which is also a foundation for the study of the geophysical phenomena such as the ionosphere effect and artificial radiation belt. Purpose The study aims to clarify the debris motion characteristics and laws from a near-space nuclear detonation. Methods Firstly, a fluid dynamics model of debris motion from a near-space nuclear detonation was established. Many influence factors were considered, such as the variation of energy dissipation, air density varies with height, gravity, air temperature rise caused by X-ray depositions and radiation cooling. Then the parameters of debris motion within the explosion equivalent of 1 kt~10 Mt and the explosion height of 30~80 km were systematically studied. The evolutions of parameters such as center height, horizontal radius, expanding velocity, ascending velocity, and shape of debris were given. Finally, the variation laws of typical characteristic parameters such as maximum a