EMP
Protection

What is an EMP?

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) may refer to any a broadband release of electromagnetic energy. This can be from such things as lightning, electrostatic discharge, or a nuclear explosion. When people discuss EMP protections, however, they are almost always referring to EMPs that result from detonations of nuclear bombs high in the atmosphere. Sometimes, people also refer to solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) as EMPs, a phenomenon in which a plasma is ejected from the sun, washing over the earth.

Phases of an EMP

The electromagnetic radiation from an EMP consists of time-varying electric and magnetic fields and is often described in terms of its time components, E1, E2, and E3. The intense E1 pulse lasts only nanoseconds but can couple damaging energy into nearly any solid-state electronic device (e.g., computers, cell phones). The E2 pulse lasts microseconds and is similar to the effects of a nearby lightning strike. Finally, the E3 pulse is a long-duration (i.e., seconds) disturbance that couples energy into very long conductors, such as our power grid.

What threat does it pose?

An EMP can damage many types of electronic devices, from cars, to cell phones, to computers, the power grid. Learn more about damage from nuclear EMPs and solar CMEs by watching this video.

How do you protect from an EMP?

Protecting from an EMP requires special equipment, including ferrites, surge protection devices, and shielding materials. It’s important to get professional advice since few people have a true in-depth understanding of these topics.

Questions?