YIELD MEASUREMENTS.
Device yield is usually determined by several
methods, two of which involve photo-optical techniques.
Growth of the in-
tensely hot and radiating mass of device debris and air that constitute
the nuclear fireball varies with its yield.
Cameras were therefore used
to record this growth, and film records subsequently analyzed to infer
yield.
The duration and the intensity of the energy pulse in the optical-
thermal spectral region also vary with yield; thus, light detectors coupled to recorders were also used to derive yield.
In addition, yield may be determined by collecting and analyzing a
representative sample of the device debris.
Inferences are then drawn
regarding the yield, based on knowledge of the materials in the cnexplodef
device.
The construction,
instrumentation placement, and data recovery for th
photo-optical yield determinations did not usually require personnel to bF
in areas with a high potential for exposure to radiation.
Cameras and
light detectors need only a clear field of view of the burst point and
enough breadth of view to encompass the fireball.
Camera placement did
not involve personnel at times and places of heavy contamination.
Film
recovery generally did not involve high exposure potential, as the photo
Stations were uSually at ranges and in directions not heavily contaminates
by fallout.
The sampling of device debris, however, necessitated much closer con-
tact with higher levels of radioactivity.
The technique used in CASTLE
and most atmospheric tests was to fly aircraft with collectors directly
through portions of the radioactive cloud.
About 90 percent of the fis-
sion debris was usually considered to be in the upper portion of the
radioactive cloud
(Reference 2).
representative sample.
Several aircraft were used to obtain a
The aircrews were exposed to the radiation emitty d
by the radioactive particles in the cloud as they flew through.
The air
craft flying these sampling missions picked up significant amounts of raf
dicactive material on their surfaces, posing additional and continuing
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