Electronic Bomb

When detonated, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon (also known as an E-bomb or electronic bomb) generates a pulse of energy ca­pable of short-circuiting a wide range of electronic equip­ment, including computers, radios, and public utility power supplies. First described in 1870 by Heinrich Hertz, the electronic bomb ef­fect was again noted after early experiments with nuclear weapons. When the nuclear weapon explodes, it also pro­duces a brief EMP (measured in nanoseconds) that radiates away from the bomb like a shock wave.

This very short pulse of electromagnetic energy could generate short-lived transient voltages, measured in thou­sands of volts, on the exposed electric conductors like electronic chips, the conductive tracks and wires on the printed circuit boards. These transient voltages can destroy or "wound" the electronic circuitry within a device. A wounded device may still function, but its reliability may be seriously impaired. It may keep working intermittently, which could be more disturbing than a complete breakdown.

The EMP device is only effective in a finite area around the device. The calculation of electromagnetic field strength at a given radius for a given device is not difficult. Deter­mining the probability of an "electronic kill" is much more difficult. A large device may destroy all communications and semiconductor devices for several miles in a swath extend­ing in all directions from the weapon.

The lethality of an EMP devise to electronic equipment is determined by the power generated and by the charac­teristics of the pulse. The shorter or smaller pulse waveforms like the microwaves are quite more effective against the electronic equip­ment and are more complicated to protect against. A short pulse is more dangerous, because it produces greater power for a given amount of weapon energy and can produce a broader frequency spectrum. The broad frequency spectrum im­proves the coupling of energy into the targeted devices.

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