An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) can damage electrical systems through the impact on electric and magnetic fields. EMPs can be caused by nuclear explosions or high-intensity devices. Military applications require specific detonation criteria, and shielding can cause problems. EMPs were first identified during nuclear testing, and the 1962 Starfish Prime test caused severe electrical damage in Hawaii. Modern technology is more vulnerable to EMPs than older technology.
An electromagnetic pulse, otherwise known as an EMP, is a wave of electromagnetic radiation that can couple with electrical systems. This coupling often causes damage to a device’s current or voltage due to the resulting impact on electric and magnetic fields. Often, this explosion is the result of an explosion caused by nuclear energy producing a fluctuating magnetic field with sudden impact. An electromagnetic pulse can also be caused by a simple burst of short-lived electromagnetic energy from a high-intensity, broadband device.
In terms of military application, electromagnetic pulses are caused by the detonation of a bomb hundreds of miles above the earth’s surface. When used as a weapon, it is called a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse device. For this effect to be utilized, the detonation must fall within the parameters of three distinct criteria: detonation altitude, waste energy yield, and full interaction with the Earth’s natural magnetic field. Additional problems can occur when a target is shielded with electromagnetic pulse protection.
In the early days of nuclear testing, scientists identified the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. However, the researchers were unaware of the full extent of the effect, which resulted in its weapons applications being slow to realize. Scientists led by Enrico Fermi expected some kind of pulse from the first US nuclear explosion test in 1945. Therefore, all electronic equipment was shielded from the electromagnetic pulse.
With the completion of the high-altitude nuclear tests conducted in 1962, electromagnetic pulses were further understood. In July of that year, a 1.44 megaton nuclear weapon was detonated 250 miles (about 400 kilometers) above the earth’s surface in the Pacific Ocean. Known as Starfish Prime, the bomb caused severe electrical damage in Hawaii, located 898 miles (about 1,445 km) away. This has further stimulated research on electromagnetic pulses.
A nuclear electromagnetic pulse requires a specific series of events to take place. This process has been defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission. These surges act much faster than traditional high voltage events such as lightning, making protection difficult. Gamma radiation from a nuclear detonation causes atoms in the upper atmosphere to lose electrons. Essentially, these electrons push the Earth’s magnetic field away in the same way as a geomagnetic storm.
An important aspect of electromagnetic pulses is the fact that modern technology is much more susceptible to adverse effects than older technology. Devices attached to electrical wires essentially act like lighting rods, attracting the pulse. Vacuum tube technology, widely used during the 20th century, was more likely to survive an explosion. With the replacement of these electrical devices with solid-state equipment, the vulnerability of electronics is much more widespread.
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