1. Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)
EMP Course
Overview for
Engineering and Acquisition Professionals
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)
Sam Frazier – Livefire Engr.

2. What is Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)?
EMP is a transient - a single intense burst of electromagnetic energy that can disrupt -- if not destroy -- electronic devices within an affected area.
EMP is created by natural and man- made sources
Nuclear EMP discovered in 1945 as by- product of the nuclear bomb.
High-Altitude EMP (HEMP) can blanket an entire U.S.-sized continent from a single nuclear bomb.
EMP is much more threatening to modern electronics than to old- fashioned ones.
Nuclear EMP in space is different from EMP near the ground, and is typically nastier.
source -
EMP isn't sensed by people, and it doesn't damage the human body, it’s a radio-wave
EMP doesn't linger (It’s a transient)
EMP is much more threatening to big electrical systems than to small ones.
Can be natural and man-made
Can be nuclear and non-nuclear.
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

3. Why Does HEMP Matter? HEMP is an asymmetric threat
U.S. heavily dependent on electronics
Some adversaries are not as dependent on electronics
Can be detonated over international waters
Large coverage area
Attack scenarios can employ multiple EMP events
Accuracy not that important
HEMP allows a weapon to destroy assets and material without radiation, blast, shock, etc.
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

4. Why Does HEMP Matter?
One or a few high-altitude nuclear detonations can produce EMP, simultaneously, over wide geographical areas
Unprecedented cascading failure of our electronics-dependent infrastructures could result
Power, energy transport, telecom, and financial systems are particularly vulnerable and interdependent
EMP disruption of these sectors could cause large scale infrastructure failures for all aspects of the Nation’s life
Both civilian and military capabilities depend on these infrastructures
Without adequate protection recovery could be prolonged – months to years
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

5. Five Components of a Credible HEMP Threat
For there to be a credible HEMP threat, you need five things:
A means to get to the required altitude, such as a missile,
A suitable target,
A motive for conducting an EMP attack
The absence of a deterrent,
A nuclear weapon for the missile to deliver.
A mobile ICBM launcher with a Russian Topol-M missile travels along the Red Square.
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

6. Physics of EMP What is a Pulse?
A pulse is a discrete disturbance typically characterized by rise time, peak and the decay time.
Usually a maximum excursion on one side of a voltage zero axis
Has “Amplitude” (highest intensity - voltage in our case)
Has “total duration” and “effective duration” of the disturbance
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

7. EMP Relationship Between Frequency (Spectrum) and Time
An EM Pulse contains many frequencies at once with the higher frequencies disappearing earliest
High Amplitude
Low Amplitude
Frequency (MHz)
Time (uSec)
Frequency content changes as a function of time (notional signal – Note resonances at 30 and 1000)
Sam Frazier Livefire Engr.

8. Basic Types of Nuclear Bombs
FUSION BOMB
Also known as “Hydrogen” or “H” bomb and “Thermonuclear” bomb.
Uses both fission and fusion reactions.
Fission reaction is used to generate heat and pressure necessary for fusion burn.
FISSION BOMB
Also known as “Atomic” Bomb or “A” bomb.
Uses fission type nuclear reaction as detonation.
Fission bombs used in Second World War over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Energy released by fusion is about 4x greater than fission!
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

9. How Does EMP Coupling Occur?
EM fields couple energy onto electrical conductors of all kinds
Induced currents (electron flow) may cause temporary upset, permanent damage or trigger undesirable effects (e.g., require manual intervention)
Energy Coupling into a system occurs via:
Intentional antennas (Radio receivers)
Unintentional antennas (beams, rebar, structures, pipes)
Electrical Conductors (penetrations) such as power and signal lines
Openings or seams in the EM Barrier
Transient and/or permanent effects are induced in electronic components and circuits
If enough energy reaches sensitive components they may be affected
Operational effects may include lost data, unintentional commands, failure, disruption, and even the initiation of explosives
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

10. Effects of EMP (Operational Effects)
Field Stregth
Impact
No Effect
Interference
Damage 1. 3. 2.
EMP impacts systems (planes, ships, ground facilities etc.) in three possible ways:
Nothing Happens – no effect
Interferes / upsets the systems
Destroys / Damages the systems
DRAFT EMC2 - Livefire Engr.

11. General Survivable Design Paradigm
External System
Expected to survive threat exposure
Hardened & tested to threat + margin
Minimal threat residual allowed into interior
Barriers (shielding)
Reduces threat that reaches interior
Apertures allow some threat leakage
Attenuates energy to acceptable levels
Internal System
Expected to survive residual threat exposure
May have little or no hardening
Tested to residual threat + margin
THREAT
External System
HEMP Shield
(RF Barrier)
Internal System
Equipment Cabinet
Consider EMP protection from the exterior into the interior

12. Course Summary EMP is real, and Surviving EMP is Critical
High Altitude EMP is a unique but well understood threat
We know how to Protect Systems Against EMP
There is a formal process for Acquiring and Fielding EMP survivable systems
Sam Frazier Livefire Engr.

13. How to enroll for the FULL EMP Course
This has been an introduction to our full EMP course.
For more information on how to enroll in the full course, go to:
(Forms page to sign up for the full course)
This half (1/2) day course provides an introduction to the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) phenomenon, why its an important E3 consideration in system acquisition and how to protect system against EMP.  The course is divided into four parts:
What is EMP? Provides an introduction to the EMP phenomenon, defines relevant terms and summarize the threat and importance of protecting systems against EMP
Physics of EMP:  Takes a look at RF energy basics, how an atomic bomb works, how the EM effects proliferate  and provides an introduction to RF Weapons
How to protect against EMP: This section examines how good EMC practices like grounding, bonding and shielding also provide protection against EMP.  We also look at EMP test methodologies.
How does DoD acquire EMP survivable systems? The last section provides an overview of the actions that must be taken during system acquisition by program and systems engineering personnel to successfully field EMP hardened systems.
To schedule a session at your location,
(Main Spectrum/E3 training page)