Electromagnetic pulse bombs are scary weapons that can fry computers and sensitive electronics
They are called “High Energy Radio Frequency” (HERF) and “Electromagnetic Pulse” (EMP) weapons – I know very “exotic” sounding names but don’t be fooled – they do pose a very serious threat to the entire world. Especially in terms of sheer lethality and total destructiveness.
Electromagnetic pulse bombs are even scarier weapons that can fry computers and sensitive electronics.
An electromagnetic pulse (sometimes abbreviated “EMP”) is a burst of electromagnetic radiation.
The abrupt pulse or burst of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field.
The resulting rapidly changing electric fields and magnetic fields may couple with electrical/electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges.
In military terminology, a nuclear bomb detonated hundreds of kilometers above the Earth’s surface is known as a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse weapon and could be classified as a type of (HEMP) device.
Effects of a HEMP device (or weapon) depend on a very large number of factors, including the altitude of the detonation, energy yield, gamma rays output, interactions with the Earth’s magnetic field, and electromagnetic shielding of targets.
Just one nuclear bomb, for example detonated at altitude could knock down electronics over a wide area, encompassing many states.
They are sometimes referred to as “Directed Energy Weapons” (DEW’s) which basically use electromagnetic radiation to deliver heat, mechanical or electrical energy to a target to cause various, sometimes very subtle and not so subtle effects – like, for example “cooking people alive from the inside out.”
These weapons are being designed specifically to be used against humans, electronics equipment and military targets generally dependent on technology like command and control centers.
EMP LASER WEAPONS
An electromagnetic pulse laser weapon can be used from up to 1.242 kilometers or over a mile away from a human and kill them with precise accuracy. Others are taser like weapons that effect motor effect in a human being.
PULSED ENERGY PROJECTILE (PEP) ROUNDS – THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES!
The purpose of PEP (Pulsed Energy Projectile), the LIP (Laser Individual Plasma) weapon and last but not least the Active Denial System (ADS) to induce pain although the PEP and has obvious lethal capabilities. They represent the stuff of nightmares!
When used as directed electromagnetic energy (DE) weapons can operate similar to omni-directional electromagnetic pulse weapons.
Potential military uses of such weapons are scary and include 1) the capability of influencing an enemy force (or population) to flee rather the to stand and fight 2) instill dread and deny the enemy of sound and sleep – essentially driving people crazy.
Such weapons have redefined the word “terror”, especially when you think of what could happen if such weapons ever fall into the hands of terrorists or terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda.
On-line you can read of amateurish attempts to created portable weapons, other more viable attempts seem to point to a new trend in terms of terrorism in the near future.
One site in particular gives all the information you need to make a HERF gun off the shelf, using an old 800 watt Microwave oven that had a range of 50 ft that was demonstrated in a field tests and photographs to take out video cameras at 20 feet. (Source: “How to make a HERF weapon” www.topsight.net/article.php/20021115142933894) .
The author explains and photographs all his experiments and shows that even an idiot can make their own HERF gun by simply taking apart a microwave and fitting a wave-guide and cone around the magnetron.
HERF guns could be made and aimed at anything electronic and would permanently destroy it.
PROTECTING AGAINST EMP
The only way to protect your computer from such radio weaponry or HERF is by using the Faraday cage method.
This can be done by wrapping metallic shielding on and around the entire system. To completely protect it you need to cover the keyboard, mouse, all wires going in and out of the system and even the case of the computer (which alone cannot because of the gaps in the steal, a problem we have identified as a security problem).
The only other security measure often overlooked, in protecting computers from EMP (even by the military in some cases) is simply “unplugging the machine when not in use.
HOW REAL IS THE THREAT – THERE ARE 30 MILLION LIVING AND BREATHING REASON WHY!
“In a blink of an eye, electromagnetic bombs could be thrown civilization back 200 years and terrorist can build them for less $400.00. (And kill an estimated 30 million inside of one year).” National Security Agency employee – speaking off the record for this exclusive allvoices report.
WHAT IS EMP?
According to the Institute for Telecommunications Sciences, Electromagnetic Pulse is 1) “The electromagnetic radiation from a nuclear explosion caused by Comton recoil electrons and photo electrons from photons scattered in the materials of the nuclear device or in a surrounding medium. The resulting electrical magnetic fields may couple with electrical/electronic system to provide damaging current and voltage surges. MAY ALSO BE CAUSE BY NON-NUCLEAR MEANS? 2) A broadband high intensity short duration burst of eltro magnetic energy. Note: In the case of a nuclear bomb, the EMP consists of a continuous frequency spectrum – most of the energy is distributed throughout the lower frequencies between 3 Hz and 30kHz.”
In plain language, it is Electro-Magnetic shockwave that is released nuclear and non-nuclear means that can seriously damage only electrical components in its wake or path. China and Russia posses the ability to launch EMP attacks, which are classed in some reports as a “weapon of mass destruction” because of how dependent our society is one electronics and computers.
EMP can travel either through air or through conductive pathways such as electrical phone lines. It can sometimes affect electric equipment regardless of if the equipment is switched on or off, especially if thy are plugged into an electrical socket…
E-BOMBS for under $400 dollars
The more serious threat is from EMP bombs, which can be built off the shelf using around $400 dollars in supplies. Physicist Arthur H. Compton first proposed the theory behind the E-bomb in 1925. Since then they have been like a Frankenstein monster on the loose threatening everyone.
“E-Bombs use a bank of capacitors. Some copper wire and explosives to create an EMP which would wipe out all integrated circuits and other such things”, according to Popular Mechanical magazine, which said “only diesel engines will work after a blast”.
E-bombs are sometimes called “flux compression generator”. They sound nicer that way.
The U.S. has the most EMP bombs – according to the “Tarzan yell” (underground) newsletter publication in Phoenix, Arizona.
The US military has such E bomb and is thinking about using them against anti ship missiles and similar weapons, which could render sophisticated computer electronics and render them totally useless. E-Bombs have a “blast range”…and pose a serious threat to unsecured electronics (source: http://popularmechanics.com/science/military/2001/9/e-bomb/).
Now circumstantial evidence suggests terrorists are also expressing interests in such weapons. Moreover, we can just imagine how they can adapt them for use in indiscriminate attacks against people in crowded cities.
“Funding for EMP defense should be a national priority – it isn’t for some reason?”, says Tom Newan of Charlotte, N.C
See useful information on EMP weapons @ www.huachuca-usaic.army,mil/contleaming/infrastructure/medical/Mipb/janm…