Electromagnetic pulse

This article is about the phenomenon in general. For nuclear EMP weapons, see Nuclear electromagnetic pulse. For Earth magnetosphere pulsations, see Magnetic pulsations.

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), also referred to as a transient electromagnetic disturbance (TED), is a brief burst of electromagnetic energy. The origin of an EMP can be natural or artificial, and can occur as an electromagnetic field, as an electric field, as a magnetic field, or as a conducted electric current. The electromagnetic interference caused by an EMP can disrupt communications and damage electronic equipment.[1] An EMP such as a lightning strike can physically damage objects such as buildings and aircraft. The management of EMP effects is a branch of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) engineering.

The first recorded damage from an electromagnetic pulse came with the solar storm of August 1859, or the Carrington Event.[2]

In modern warfare, weapons delivering a high energy EMP are designed to disrupt[3] communications equipment, the computers needed to operate modern warplanes, or even put the entire electrical network of a target country out of commission.[4]

  1. ^ Royal Air Force Common Core and Deployment Skills Aide-Memoire AP 3242B VOL 5, ABBREVIATIONS
  2. ^ Gutteridge, Nick (30 July 2020). "Electromagnetic pulses in history". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ "DHS Combats Potential Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack". Department of Homeland Security. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  4. ^ Weiss, Matthew; Weiss, Martin (29 May 2019). "An Assessment of Threats to the American Power Grid". Energy, Sustainability and Society. 9 (1): 18. doi:10.1186/s13705-019-0199-y. ISSN 2192-0567.