APPENDIX B
TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND UNITS

Many of the definitions in this glossary relating to nuclear device and radiation phenom a have Deen
quoted or extracted from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (3rd edition), S$. Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, 1977.
AAA.

Anti-Atrcraft Artillery (Army).

AAGGM.

Anti-Aircraft Artillery and Guided Missile Center, Ft. Bliss, Texas (Army).

AACS.

Airways and Air Communication Service (Air Force).

AAU.

Administrative Area Unit (Army).

ACC.

Army Chemical Center, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland.

accelerometer.
ACF.

An instrument for determining the acceleration of the system with which it mo

American Car and Foundry,

Inc.

Later ACF Industries, Inc.

AEC.

Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, 0.C.
Independent agency of the Federal governmen with statutory responsibilities for atomic energy matters.
No longer exists; its functions have been assumed
by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Reguiatory Commission.

AF.

Store snip (Navy); also Air Force.

AFSWC.

Air Force Special Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

AFSWP.

Armed Forces Special Weapons Project.

AGC.

Amphibious force Flagship; now LCC.

airburst.

The detonation of a nuclear device in the air at a height such that the expanding

not touch the eartn's surface when the luminosity (emission of light) is at a maximum.

air particle trajectory.
AKA.

See MPE and MPL.

Albuquerque Operations Office of the AEC (DOE).

alpha emitter.
alpha

The direction, velocity, and rate of descent of windblown radioactiv P particles.

Attack cargo ship; now LKA.

allowable dose.

ALOO.

article.

A radionuclide that undergoes transformation by alpha-particle emission.
A charged particle emitted spontaneously from the nuclei of some radioactive

is identical with a helium nucleus, having a mass of 4 units and an electric charge of 2

units.

alpha rays.

See also radioactivity.

A stream of alpha particles.

AMN.

Airman; enlisted Air Force personnel.

AMS.

Army Map Service, Washington, 0.C.

Jements.
ositive

It

Loosely, a synonym for alpha particles.

AN/POR-39. An ion-chamber-type survey meter; this was the standard radsafe meter. Others in
the Navy version, the AN/PDR-T1B, the AN/PDR-18A and -188, and lower range Geiger-Muei ler
(AN/PDR-27, Beckman MX-5, and Nuclear Corporation 2610).

AQ.

irebal?l does

Oiler (Navy).

471

e included

instruments

Select target paragraph3