Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)

The phenomena
An 'Electromagnetic pulse' is commonly abbreviated as E.M.P. is a akin to static and lightning.

An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. Nuclear explosions create a characteristic pulse of electromagnetic radiation called a Nuclear EMP or NEMP. In military terminology, a nuclear warhead detonated hundreds of kilometers above the Earth's surface is known as a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) device. Effects of a HEMP device depend on factors including the altitude of the detonation, energy yield, gamma ray output, interactions with the Earth's magnetic field and electromagnetic shielding of targets. The HEMP acronym is commonly pronounced as one syllable.

The Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test event
Several satellites inadvertently damaged or destroyed by the in the Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test of July 9, 1962, and subsequent long turn temporary radiation belt. 7 satellites failed over the months following the test as radiation damaged their solar arrays or electronics, including the first commercial relay communication satellite, Telstar. just under 1/3 of all low orbit satellites were inoperative after the test created a temporary artificial radiation belt. Detectors on Telstar, TRAAC, the Injun 1 and Ariel 1 were used to measure distribution of the radiation produced by the tests, of which only the Injun 1. Ariel 1, TRAAC, and Transit 4B were destroyed, while Kosmos 5, Injun I and Telstar 1 suffered minor damage by radiation on solar cells and alike. Telstar finally shorted out after 3 months.

The then only theoretical Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) hit Honolulu and New Zealand (approximately 1,300 kilometers away), fusing 300 street lights on Oahu (Hawaii), setting off about 100 burglar alarms and causing the failure of a microwave repeating station on Kauai, which cut off the island's sturdy local telephone system from the other Hawaiian islands.

Most weponolagists, scientists and politicians on both sides found this level of collateral damage frightening.

Weapons ideas
The damaging effects of high-energy EMP have been used to create EMP, weapons. These are typically divided into nuclear and non-nuclear devices. Such weapons, both real and fictional, are becoming known to the public by means of popular culture.

Links

 * 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_nuclear_explosion
 * 2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse
 * 3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_electromagnetic_pulse
 * 4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime