Are electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons real or science fiction? What can they do?
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ANSWERS: 1
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Real, in the sense that any of the nuclear powers could build one quite easily if they want to; science fiction in that, so far as we know, no one has built one. An EMP weapon is just a small nuke that is detonated in the stratosphere above the area you want to attack. It is too high and too small to do any significant direct damage. However, the explosion created a very sharp pulse of electromagnetic energy. This pulse can be picked up by any unshielded wire, and will deliver the energy to any device that wire is connected to. If that device is a sensitive electronic component, it may damage the I/O drivers of that component, effectively stopping the whole system working. Thus the attacker can, in principle, destroy all (unshielded) computer controlled gadgets in the target area without harming people of less sensitive infrastructure such as roads and buidings.
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