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25-11-2010
LOFAR lightning protection strategy presented at EMC 2010 Wroclaw
| Submitter: | Menno Norden |
| Description: | One of the threats to the world's largest radio telescope is lightning. The total LOFAR antenna area of 0.29 km2 represents a "risk area" of 0.6 km2. Assuming a typical lightning density of 2 strikes per square km per year, LOFAR is expected to be struck at least once per year (!). Fortunately, the station electronics are reasonably well protected. Induction damage is not expected when lightning strikes more than 12 m from the closest antenna. Within a 4 meter radius of a strike, plasma channels may destroy an antenna and parts of the connecting coax cables. However, since most LOFAR antennas are more widely spaced than that, LOFAR is expected to be able to continue operation after such an impact with only a fractional loss of amenity. A paper on this subject, written by M.J. Norden and J.D. Bregman, was presented in Wroclaw, Poland at the European EMC 2010 conference. http://www.astron.nl/sites/astron.nl/files/cms/PDF/EMC%20Lightning%20Final%20ACC.pdf |
| Copyright: | Astron |
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