emp: electromagnetic pulse,
electromagnetic pulse (EMP), which is a physical phenomenon, is mainly used to destroy enemy electronic equipment. The longest time of electromagnetic pulse usually lasts only one second, and it is a sudden and high-intensity pulse of broadband electromagnetic radiation.
Electromagnetic pulse is a physical phenomenon, which has the following two meanings:
(1) Electromagnetic radiation generated by explosion (especially nuclear explosion), lightning, sunspot, conduit effect or electrical sparks, or alternating electromagnetic field that changes dramatically with photoelectrons due to Compton scattering or photon scattering, and electromagnetic shock wave acting on electronic materials, blasting equipment or surrounding media, which is called EMP.
The gamma rays generated by nuclear explosion will radiate from the explosion point to all directions at the speed of light, and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the air, resulting in negatively charged electrons and extremely strong electromagnetic fields (commonly known as electromagnetic pulses).
this electromagnetic field may couple electrical equipment or electronic equipment, and generate destructive current and surge. See electromagnetic pulse bomb for details of the damage effect on electrical appliances. Electromagnetic pulse is hardly detected outside the impact range, unless the equipment is a nuclear weapon or a weapon specially used to generate electromagnetic shock waves;
(2) a broad band, high intensity and short-lived electromagnetic energy eruption. The electromagnetic pulse produced by a nuclear explosion or an asteroid impact has most of the same energy.
Extended information:
EMP weapon application:
At present, electromagnetic pulse weapons are mainly divided into nuclear explosion electromagnetic pulse weapons and non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse weapons. Several experiments of nuclear explosion in space have revealed that the influence of nuclear electromagnetic pulse effect and bomb equivalent is less than that of nuclear air explosion height.
when a 1,-ton air explosion occurs at an altitude of 6 miles, the EMP damage area can be spread over half of the United States. With the same equivalent explosion at a height of 3 miles, the EMP damage area can spread all over the United States plus most of Mexico and Canada.
The gamma pulse generated by a (purely theoretical) micro-equivalent nuclear device is used to generate controllable EMP effect.
the electrical devices struck by EMP pulse are subjected to temporary electronic destruction from the outer edge to the overvoltage near the center. Modern semiconductor devices, especially those based on MOS technology (such as commercial computers) are most vulnerable to damage due to transient high voltage.
long ground lines (such as electric transmission lines) act as huge antennas for EMP pulses. Therefore, the power transmission network and communication network are extremely vulnerable. They are likely to be destroyed by EMP pulses.
any electronic equipment containing semiconductors, including the system of airborne platform, may be shut down or burned by electromagnetic pulse, unless the system is completely protected by heavy and expensive electromagnetic shielding, well-designed filters and careful grounding. The electromagnetic pulse generated by the air explosion of nuclear weapons is an extremely effective regional weapon. There is no doubt that it will destroy the urban infrastructure.
A more flexible type of EMP weapon system can use micro-equivalent nuclear weapons (equivalent to less than 2, tons), conventional explosion-driven EMP devices, and plasma technology to generate EMP.
Micro-equivalent nuclear weapons or conventional EMP devices can be dropped near the target as bombs [possibly mounted on the Space Shuttle (TAV)] or as missile warheads.
However, the destructive effect of EMP on electrical and electronic equipment is unpredictable. These EMP "strike" forces are best used to deal with enemy platforms and facilities that rely on complex electronic equipment, especially the enemy's command, control and communication systems (strategic objectives) and enemy air defense systems (operational objectives). The missile equipped with EMP warhead is also an effective weapon to gain air superiority in combat, because modern high-performance fighters rely on complex and fragile electronic equipment.
the main trouble of EMP effect caused by nuclear explosion is that it will destroy all electronic equipment in the effective range. The pulse is transmitted in a non-directional way and covers the planetary area, which may damage enemy equipment or affect friendly forces.
another obstacle to the use of nuclear-driven EMP weapons is that the whole world hates nuclear weapons, especially those in orbit. Once a nuclear bomb explodes in space, the charged particles it produces are easily captured by the Van Allen radiation belt of the earth.
All satellites passing near the radiation belt will be exposed to intense radiation, thus disintegrating or destroying satellites with weak shielding. Charged particles will stay in the radiation zone for a long time, and neither friends nor enemies can use the airspace.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia ---EMP.