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From: optilink!cramer@uunet.UU.NET (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Question on magnetic pulse.
Message-ID: <1991Jan19.040140.4095@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 19 Jan 91 04:01:40 GMT
References: <1991Jan16.012543.8861@cbnews.att.com>
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Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA
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From: optilink!cramer@uunet.UU.NET (Clayton Cramer)

In article <1991Jan16.012543.8861@cbnews.att.com>, reed@cs.washington.edu (Renee Reed) writes:
> 	I would like to ask what will happen to the electrical, ie. computer
> 	controlled communication systems in the event that some nation
> 	does detonate a nuclear device?   I remember some time ago,
> 	hearing that all one had to do to put the military, industry,
> 	business, and government out of commission, was detonate a
> 	nuclear bomb over the atmosphere and that the resulting electrical
> 	magnetic pulse would destroy all the computer communications.
> 	Is this a possibility?  If it is, and if some nation does go
> 	nuclear, then what will the effect be on local military?  Isn't
> 	just about everything chip driven now? I know much of the 
> 	equipment is in beefed up containers, but think that is for
> 	temp and vibration protection.  Any ideas?   I'm thinking
> 	of the scenario where Israel goes nuclear to defend in the
> 	event of an attack by Iraq. 
> 
> 	--Renee

You have it a little exaggerated.  EMP can cause either permanent
or temporary disability in many electronic devices, depending how
well they are protected.  For example, it is possible to shield
some electronics from EMP by putting a solid copper sheet around the
electronics, and providing grounding.  Disconnecting antennas &
unplugging equipment from anything that provides a large receiving
array for EMP can be protective.  This is also an argument for
using fiber optics in telephone systems (in particular, DSC/Optilink
fiber optics digital loop carriers :-)) since fiber optics doesn't
turn into a giant EMP antenna like copper wire does.

I understand that MOS/FET technology is especially prone to permanent
damage, however.

But remember that you have to be line of sight for EMP damage.
A 100 megaton bomb 100 miles above Kansas City would supposedly
destroy of disable electronics throughout the Midwest -- but 
a nuclear explosion in the Mideast isn't going to wipe out
electronics here.

For those of us who keep significant quantities of small arms
ammunition at home: EMP can set off large quantities of ammunition
if there are no insulators between the cases -- part of why I
no longer keep rifle ammunition stored in stripper clips.
-- 
Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
Motto for San Francisco's "peace" activists: Think globally, fight locally.
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You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!