Pseudo atmospheric noise generator having variable amplitude probability distributions and discharge fine structure

摘要

A reliable, repeatable and stable VLF/LF atmospheric noise generator is capable of producing noise with known or given amplitude probability distributions and temporal characteristics such as pulse duration, pulse spacing, pulses per unit time and the discharge fine structure between pulses. A pseudo random noise carrier signal is multiplied in a plurality of digital-to-analog converters with the discharge envelopes created in a plurality of interconnected discharge envelope generators. The discharges are representative of cloud-to-ground discharges, intercloud discharges, the discharge rate, strokes per discharge and the discharge fine structure. All of the discharges are readily modifiable by suitably reprogramming operatively coupled memories and microprocessors in accordance with selected loading instructions.