ABSTRACT
The primary objective of Project 2.2 was to measure initial- and residual-gammaexposure rates as a function of time at various distances from high-yield-thermonuclear
detonations. Secondary objectives were to measure the residual gamma~exposure rate
at the lip of the crater from a high-yield, land-surface shot; and to field test a prototype
thermal detector to be used in a radiological-defense-warning system.
The residual-gamma radiation was detected by an unsaturated-ion chamber, whose
output determined the frequency of pulses that were recorded on electro-sensitive paper.
Most of the initial-gamma-radiation stations consisted of scintillation detectors whose
output determined the frequency of pulses that were recorded on magneiic tape. Some
initial-gamma instruments were similar to those used during Operation Castle. The
exposure vate near the cruter was measured with a detector-tclemeter unit dropped
from a helicopter.
Residual-gamma-exposure rate versus time was obtained after Shots Zuni, Flathead,
Navajo, and Tewa.

The observed average-decay exponents for these events were 1.1 for

Zuni and Tewa, 1.2 for Flathead, and 1.3 for Navajo.

In some cases, the effect of rain-

fall in leaching the activity decreased the exposure rate by a factor of two.
Records from Shot Flathead at 7,730 fee: and from Shot Navajo at 13,870 feet indicated
that at these locations about *h, of the total inttiul-gamma exposure was delivered after
the arrival of the shock front.
‘The crater-lip measurements indicated that the method was a feasible one; however,

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no usable data was obtained.
The thermal-radiation detector responded satisfactority to a
distance of 20 miles.

detonation at a

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