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EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) Weapon

Technology along with EMP Shielding &
Detection Methodology
1st Author: Viren Pereira 2nd Author: Prof. G. R. Kunkolienkar
Dept. of Electrical & Electronics Engineering Dept. of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Goa College of Engineering, Ponda - Goa - India Goa College of Engineering, Ponda - Goa - India
virenbusiness@gmail.com grk@gec.ac.in

warhead detonated hundreds of kilometres above the Eath's

surface is known as a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse
AbstractIn today's world we are surrounded by the most (HEMP) device. Effects of a HEMP device depend on a very
sophisticated & hi-tech microprocessor & microcontroller large number of factors, including the altitude of the
technology, which controls transport, finance, Electricity, detonation, energy yield, gamma ray output, interactions with
Communications, etc. An EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) has the
destructive tendency to devastate any electronic equipment in its
the Earth's magnetic field, and electromagnetic shielding of
specified path range, causing electronic equipment to burn out. targets. The fact that an electromagnetic pulse is produced by
With the continuous development, use & dependability of a nuclear explosion was known since the earliest days of
modern day equipment, it is almost impossible for us go back nuclear weapons testing. The magnitude of the EMP and the
from the current microelectronic generation. This makes the significance of its effects, however, were not realized for some
Electro-Magnetic Pulse one of the most deadliest & Terrifying time [1].
weapon in the world causing huge collateral & infrastructural
damage to any nation & her interests. During the first United States nuclear test on 16 July 1945,
electronic equipment was shielded due to Enrico Fermi's
This paper includes all the basses of Electro-Magnetic Pulse
generation & it's possible causes & effects on the nearby
expectation of an electromagnetic pulse from the detonation.
electronic components within its specified range capability. Along The official technical history for that first nuclear test states,
with miniature prototypes that are developed, so as to "All signal lines were completely shielded, in many cases
demonstrate the effect of Electro-Magnetic Pulse on various doubly shielded. In spite of this many records were lost
smart & dumb devices & their consecutive role in Modern because of spurious pickup at the time of the explosion that
Warfare as Directed Energy Weapons (DEW's). paralyzed the recording equipment."[2] During British nuclear
testing in 19521953 there were instrumentation failures that
Currently, there is a lot of research going on the Electro- were attributed to "radioflash", which was then the British
Magnetic Pulse phenomenon. Scientists in military & defense term for EMP [3][4].
organizations around the world are working on the EMP
Technology & its application as a weapon in Military Warfare.
There is even subsequent research going on in the shielding of On July 1962, a 1.44 megaton Hydrogen Bomb was dropped
crucial electrical & electronic components against an EMP & the project was called the Starfish Prime test. Starfish Prime
attack. The current EMP shields developed can only prevent a also made those effects known to the public by causing
small amounts of Electro-Magnetic Pulse. However, a perfect electrical damage in Hawaii, about 1,445 kilometres (898 mi)
shield against an EMP attack of huge intensity is still not devised, away from the detonation point, knocking out about 300
although Ferro-Magnetic cages provides a protective shield streetlights, setting off numerous burglar alarms and damaging
against an EMP strike. However it's nearly impossible to realize a telephone company microwave link.[5] The Bluegill Triple
every structure, building, Electronic gadget or vehicle shielded by Prime and Kingfish high-altitude nuclear tests of October and
Ferro-magnetic Cages. As it doesn't only cause inconvenience in
its installation but even has a huge initial capital coast for its total
November 1962 in Operation Fishbowl finally provided
installation, hence doesn't make it economically viable to electromagnetic pulse data that was clear enough to enable
construct. physicists to accurately identify the physical mechanisms that
were producing the electromagnetic pulses.[6]
I. INTRODUCTION
In the current generation Scientists & Researchers are
E LECRO-MAGNETIC PULSE (EMP) is a burst of
electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of
electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of
constantly studying the effects of EMP & its use in warfare.
However after the World War focus is more put on its
Shielding & Prevention Techniques. Along with stresses given
high-energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or
on EMP Detection Sensors as well. But though all said & done
from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field. The resulting
the threat EMP posses a very real & has disastrous
rapidly changing electric fields and magnetic fields may
consequences to any country & her interests. "White Sands
couple with electrical/electronic systems to produce damaging
Missile Range" in America are on a constant process to
current and voltage surges. In military terminology, a nuclear
diagnose & analyse.

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II. RESEARCH GOAL

The objective behind this paper is to go in the analysis &
designing of EMP Devices along with their shielding
mechanisms & EMP detection sensors to counter the threat as
well. The main goal behind it is to provide an EMP strike on
anything that contains microelectronics which includes enemy
vehicles, Electric Power Grids, SCADA, Telecommunications,
Transport Systems (Airplanes, Trains, & Buses) etc, so as to
make their electronic circuits fry & cause catastrophic
malfunctioning in their circuitry. Which would either damage
them permanently or temporally or reduce their life cycle to
20% or less. EMP Devices are classified under Directed
Energy Weapons (DEW's) category. A directed-energy
weapon (DEW) emits energy in an aimed direction without the
Fig 1: EMP Simulator at "White Sands Missile Range" - US means of a projectile. It transfers energy to a target for a
desired effect. Intended effects may be non-lethal or lethal.
This Facility simulates the after effects (Electro-Magnetic
Pulse) of an Atomic Bomb without any bang or exposition as EMP Devices can be utilized as effective means of attack
shown in Fig 1. This construction basically creates the EMP against type of system, vehicle or communication system
pulse within controlled parameters on a given area. The containing microelectronics in it. Which form the Pillars of
objective behind this testing is to shield military vehicles & the initial attack strategy of any nation just before the full
aircrafts from the threat caused due to EMP. The device is a attack is commenced. Thereby, rendering the other side on
huge cylinder containing specific coil windings, so as to very curtail disadvantage at the very start of any attack. Now
energise the given area with EMP radiation. Wherein in the the research goal lies on the fact of constructing & designing
Vehicles are placed under this device to check for its EMP such devices & studding their behavior with both smart &
shielding as shown in Fig 2. So as to check for failure rate & dumb devices. This provides the major backbone in its
EMP withstand ability, until a the desired predefined standard application in military projects.
is achieved.
In this paper we will be dealing with two types of EMP
Discharging Device Prototypes:
1. AA Battery Tesla Coil
2. AA Battery Marx Generator

And EMP shielding through Ferro-Magnetic Cages, along

with an EMP Sensor Prototype.

III. DAMAGES CAUSED BY EMP

EMP Radiation tends to damage & cause malfunctioning of
any equipment that contains microelectronics in it. In this
microprocessor era nearly every gadget is made up of
electronic circuits. Hence its important to know which systems
would be effected the most during an EMP attack. Here are
some of the systems most likely to suffer major & catastrophic
damage:
A. SCADA
Fig 2: EMP Testing on an "Anti-EMP E6 Aircraft"
SCADA system components by their nature are frequently
Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP) is can be created from : situated in remote environments and operate without
1. Geomagnetic Solar Storm proximate human intervention. Although their critical
2. Nuclear Missile Detonation electronic elements usually are contained within some sort of
3. EMP Discharge Devices metallic box, the enclosures service as a protective Faraday
cage is typically minimal. Generally such metallic containers
Concerns & Damages caused by EMP: are designed only to provide protection from the elements and
1. SCADA Malfunctioning a modicum of physical security. They typically are not
2. Communication Systems designed to protect the electronics from high energy
3. Banking & Finance electromagnetic pulses that may infiltrate either from the free
4. Medical field or from the many antennae (cable connections) that may
5. Transport Systems compromise electromagnetic integrity. The major concern for
SCADA vulnerability to EMP is focused on the early time E1

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component of the EMP signal. This is because, even in the capacitor charges & the potential across the two electrodes of
power industry, SCADA systems generally are not directly the spark gap rises gradually, until it ionizes the air. Finally
coupled electrically to the very long cable runs that might be the gap breaks down, the spark gap then tends to act as a
expected to couple to a late-time E3 signal. switch for the current to flow through it, & the capacitor
discharges. Once the capacitor is discharged, the potential
B. Telecommunications
across the gap can no longer maintain the spark or bridge
Telecommunications provides the connectivity that links the across the gap & inevitably extinguishes the arc. This
elements of our society together. It is a vital capability that switching of the arc spark takes pace many times & is
plays an integral role in the normal day-to-day routine of the determined by the spark gap distance & the potential gradient
civilian, business, and government sectors of society. Without between the two electrodes of the spark gap.
communications we would have no contact with anybody,
which even plays a bigger role in military applications were The Top load acts like a huge capacitor emitting lightning
communications is the most vital aspect in any situation. like discharges/strikes directed to a lower potential or ground.
Hence a nation without telecommunications could leave us Wherein, the dielectric medium between both the potentials is
defenceless against enemies. air, within its specified strike range capability.
C. Banking & Finance
EMP attacks could damage the electronic circuits controlling
& governing our Bank accounts & stock exchanges. Causing a
wide spread panic in nation & to her interests, wherein bank
accounts will be frozen, ATM cash points un-operational &
the economy of the country suffers a crucial blow.
D. Medical
Medical records will be deleted, including the
malfunctioning & damaging of the expensive & sophisticated
medical equipments. which in today's generation we can even
think of conducting a surgical procedure without them being
by our side.
E. Transportation
All transportation systems will be brought to a stop
including buses, trains, airplanes etc. With thousands of
airplanes crisscrossing everyday loss of communication signal Fig 4: Block Diagram of AA Battery Powered Tesla Coil -
between them & their landing bases will create crashing of 100 kV
planes on the ground. thereby creating ground explosions as
well, losing millions of lives in the process as well. Here we have implemented & constructed a light weight &
portable AA Battery powered high voltage Tesla Coil which is
IV. TESLA COIL USED IN EMP GENERATION relatively a quick, cheap, and safe project. So, as to catch the
premature glimpse of its destructive nature. Although this is
not a true Tesla coil, as it does not utilize a resonant air-core
transformer or operate at high frequencies, in effect it is
similar. It still throws out plasma discharges from the top load
and about 5.5 centimeter arcs to ground. Estimated output is
about 100kV.

Fig 3: Tesla Coil Equivalent Circuit

As shown in Fig 1, the Tesla Coil consists of a Primary Step-

up Transformer, High Voltage Capacitor, Spark gap, Primary
& Secondary side of the Tesla Coil, & the Toroid design. At
the initial stage supply voltage is stepped up by a step up
transformer to a higher voltage potential. At which the Fig 5: AA Battery Powered Tesla Coil-100 kV

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The AA battery powered Tesla Coil is a miniaturized replica creating the EMP Pulse covering roughly about 1m diameter.
of the Tesla Coil. The intent of the project is to provide a
swallow insight of the possibilities & applications of EMP in This design has the same effects as that noticed in the AA
military defense. Its effective EMP radiation covered a Battery powered Tesla Coil, but without the need of a 5cm
diameter of 1 meter, effecting any electronic device in its path. spark. In the AA Battery Powered Marx Generator, a very
small spark of 2mm is generated causing the same EMP
V. MARX GENERATOR USED IN EMP GENERATION Radiation of 1m diameter coverage area. effecting both Smart
& dumb devices.

VI. EMP SHIELDING & DETECTION SENSORS

A. EMP Shielding
A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by
conducting material or by a mesh of such material. Such an
enclosure blocks external static and non-static electric fields.
Faraday cages cannot block static or slowly varying magnetic
fields, such as the Earth's magnetic field (a compass will still
work inside). To a large degree, though, they shield the
interior from external electromagnetic radiation if the
conductor is thick enough and any holes are significantly
smaller than the wavelength of the radiation. For example,
certain computer forensic test procedures of electronic systems
that require an environment free of electromagnetic
interference can be carried out within a screen room. These
Fig 6: AA Battery Powered Marx Generator rooms are spaces that are completely enclosed by one or more
layers of a fine metal mesh or perforated sheet metal. The
A Marx generator is an electrical circuit first described by
metal layers are grounded to dissipate any electric currents
Erwin Otto Marx in 1924. Its purpose is to generate a high-
generated from external or internal electromagnetic fields, and
voltage pulse. Marx generators are often used to simulate the
thus they block a large amount of the electromagnetic
effects of lightning on power line gear and aviation
interference (EMI) along with EMP (Electro-Magnetic
equipment. As shown in Fig 4, the prototype of the modified
Pulses).
circuit to the input of the Marx Generator is shown, designing
it such that the effective radius of the EMP radiation to the
surrounding is reduced. So as to avoid failing of other devices B. EMP Detection Sensor Prototype
in its vicinity. Hence we restrict the design by using just AA This Sensor is used to detect Electromagnetic field (EMF)
batteries, so that the overall power is reduced thereby reducing & Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP). It is a small prototype
the EMP radiation to about a meter or so. developed by us, detecting even stray amounts of
electromagnetic energy from a distance of 1 meter. However
However, while conducting this experiment care must be ongoing research & development in its final use, range
taken so as to keep all your smart & dumb devices that are not capability & effectiveness in battle are yet to be considered.
involved in this experiment away from these prototypes. As
they may cause damage both of equal proportion either in
short term or long term range. hence care must always be
taken while conducting such experiments on EMP.

The Marx Generator is supplied power from a battery source

of 2 AA batteries, wherein the supply is inverted from DC to
AC. This 3V AC is given to a switching transformer that
converts it to 3kV & supplies to a capacitor bank of 3kV in
parallel. The spark gap acts as a switch for the capacitors to
discharge & charge, producing high frequency AC currents.
Once the capacitor is discharged, the potential across the gap
can no longer maintain the spark or bridge across the gap &
inevitably extinguishes the arc. Latter all these currents are
given to a Marx Generator consisting of capacitors & resistors.
Here the capacitors charge in parallel & discharge in series
(i.e.: if 5 capacitors of 3kV charge, they will discharge in
Fig 7: EMP Detection Sensor Prototype
series 5*3kV= 15kV). which is then given to a spark gap
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VII. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

[5] Vittitoe, Charles N., "Did High-Altitude EMP Cause the Hawaiian
The future of EMP Technology in modern Warfare looks Streetlight Incident?" Sandia National Laboratories. June 1989. (http:/
really bright indeed due to its destructive effects which /www. ece. unm. edu/ summa/ notes/ SDAN/ 0031.pdf)
destroys any system containing microelectronics. The
[6] Longmire, Conrad L., "Fifty Odd Years of EMP", NBC Report,
Following tasks were carried out during the study, analysis & Fall/Winter, 2004. pp. 4751. U.S. Army Nuclear and Chemical
evaluation of EMP Technology in Warfare: Agency (https:/ / www.cbrniac. apgea. army. mil/ Products/ Documents/
USANCA Journals and Reports/ NBC_Report_Fall_Winter04.pdf)
The AA Battery Powered Tesla Coil of 100kV was [7] Theoretical Notes - Note 353 - March 1985 - EMP on Honolulu from the
designed & constructed. This prototype project was Starfish Event* (http:/ / www. ece.unm. edu/ summa/
carried out successfully & throws out plasma discharges notes/TheoreticalPDFs/ TN353.pdf) Conrad L. Longmire - Mission
from the top load and about 5.5 cm arcs to ground, having Research Corporation
an estimated output of about 100kV. Along with EMP
radiation which covers a diameter of about 1m, creating
all electronic systems to malfunction & even cause
permanent damage.

The AA Battery Powered Marx Generator also created the

same effect that was noticed with the Tesla Coil
prototype. The Marx Generator also covered a range of
1m causing devices to reset , malfunction or damage
them.

Another phenomenon noticed is from smart & dumb

devices, the smart devices suffer more damage as
compared to dumb devices.

The smart devices tend to Reboot, switch off

automatically & need manual intervention to reset. Along
with higher long & short term damages to a maximum.
Hence we could say that more sophisticated the circuit
more tendencies for it to be damaged faster. As compared
to dumb devices which will continue to work even after
EMP radiation is passed through it.

EMP Radiation hence can cause drastic effects in SCADA

systems which govern our Power Grids, Water Supply
etc. In regard to National Power Grids, it will cause a
Power outage hence damaging not only the SCADA
systems but equipment which will even take 6 to 12
months to replace. thereby rendering any Nation
defenseless during that time.

Ferro-magnetic Cages & EMP Sensor Prototypes hold the

key to protect our technology.

REFERENCES
[1] Broad, William J. "Nuclear Pulse (I): Awakening to the Chaos Factor",
Science. 29 May 1981 212: 10091012

[2] Bainbridge, K.T., Trinity (Report LA-6300-H), Los Alamos Scientific

Laboratory. May 1976. p. 53 (http:/ / www. fas. org/ sgp/ othergov/doe/
lanl/ docs1/ 00317133.pdf)

[3] Baum, Carl E., "Reminiscences of High-Power Electromagnetics", IEEE

Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility. Vol. 49, No. 2. pp.211
218. May 2007. (http:/ / www. ece. unm. edu/ summa/ notes/ History/
BaumReminiscences. pdf)

[4] Baum, Carl E., "From the Electromagnetic Pulse to High-Power

Electromagnetics", Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol.80, No. 6, pp. 789
817. June 1992 (http:/ /www. ece. unm. edu/ summa/ notes/ SDAN/
0032.pdf)

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