ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE AND COUNTERMEASURES

Steve Vandiver

AF5YM

Paraphrased Quotes

• It is fatal to enter into any war without the will to keep creating PowerPoint presentations. (MacArthur)

• War is merely a continuation of politics through PowerPoint.” (von Clausewitz)

• It is well that PowerPoint is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it. (Lee)

Cognitive Bias

Normalcy Bias Based upon belief that normal conditions will always exist

Causes people to underestimate the probability of a

BLACK SWAN EVENT

Results in failure to prepare for disaster

Black Swan event The event is a surprise

The event has a major effect

After the first event, it is rationalized by hindsight

SOURCES OF EMP

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

High Altitude Nuclear Explosion

Explosively Pumped Vircator

EFFECTS OF EMP

High voltages and currents induced in long wires Kills most long wire connected devices Kills or wounds disconnected devices using microprocessors and discrete semiconductors Power induction too sudden for surge devices to

function Short pulse width nuclear EMP may kill surge

devices that would protect from later arriving longer duration transients

CORONAL MASS EJECTION (CME)

Carrington Event of 1859

2012 potentially damaging CME just missed earth

Space Weather Prognostications:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/alerts-watches-and-warnings

Product: 3-Day Forecast Issued: 2017 Jan 19 0030 UTC Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast B. The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 4 (below NOAA Scale levels) .The greatest

expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 19-Jan 21 2017 is 5 (NOAA ScaleG1).NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 19-Jan 21 2017

C. 00-03UT 03-06UT 06-09UT 09-12UT 12-15UT 15-18UT 18-21UT 21-00UT Jan 19 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 5(G1) Jan 20 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 4 Jan 21 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 4 Rationale: G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on day one (19 Jan) due to CH HSS effects . B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-13 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Jan 19-Jan 21 2017. Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 S1 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected. No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm production is forecast . C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Jan 19-Jan 21 2017 Jan 19 - 1% Jan 20 - 1% Jan 21 R1-R2 - 1% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No R1 (Minor) or greater radio blackouts are expected. No significant active region flare activity is forecast. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/alerts-watches-and-warnings

EFFECT OF CME

Hemisphere wide and rotational exposure Extending the area of exposure

Largest power transformers destroyed Many devices connected to long lines destroyed Devices using and microprocessors destroyed or wounded

HIGH ALTITUDE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

Effective radius of destruction dependent

upon height and magnitude of explosion

Damage based upon distance from

explosion and semiconductor junction size

EMP may cover a surface radius

of several thousands of miles

STARFISH PRIME (1962)

High Altitude Nuclear Explosion of 1.4 mT W49 Warhead Resultant EMP destroyed test instrumentation 1000 miles from explosion in Hawaii, EMP set off alarm systems, killed streetlights, and microwave transmission systems EMP immediately killed three satellites in low earth orbit Seven other satellites failed due to solar cell damage EMP eventually killed one-third of all satellites in low earth

orbit

(from E bomb presentation WDC by Carlo Koop)

PULSE SHAPES

EXPLOSIVELY PUMPED VIRCATOR

FCG - Flux Compression Generator

EXPLOSIVELY PUMPED VIRCATOR

Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project

Produced by Boeing in 2012 Device can produce multiple focused EMPs Weapon of Mass Destruction

Boeing CHAMP

Mechanism of Destruction Front door coupling: EMP is introduced directly into device by antennas connected to radios and/or radars

Back door coupling: EMP produces large transient currents or electrical standing waves coupled into device by interconnecting wires, AC mains, and telephone lines. Punches through isolation transformers

Mechanism of Destruction

Short pulse width and circular polarization increases EMP lethality by minimizing vulnerable aperture size while maximizing vulnerable aperture orientations

Induced power transient destroys semiconductor junctions Smaller junction size is associated with greater vulnerability

MACROEFFECTS OF EMP

Economic and military damage without direct loss of life Nature of EMP strike precludes media coverage

Death or wounding of many microprocessor controlled devices Death of many SCADA devices controlling natural gas and petroleum distribution and refining Death of AC mains power transformers and switching networks Death or wounding of solar cells and solar charge controllers Death or wounding of computers and printers Death of cellular telephone system and land line microwave transmission systems and central office routing Death or wounding of radios and radar

MACROEFFECTS OF EMP

Death of 90% of US population within one year

Due to critical infrastructure destruction

EMP ATTACK STRATEGY

LOCAL COUNTERMEASURES TO EMP

Monitor NASA Space Weather Prognostications for advance notice of CME and protect equipment during periods of high vulnerability

Disconnect unused equipment from long conductors (AC Mains, telephone lines, antennas, etc.)

Use Faraday containers to protect electronic devices

Little or no advance warning of EMP attack from VIRCATOR or high altitude nuclear burst

PROTECT FROM EMP

Mobile and portable transceivers, especially HTs Power supplies, amplifiers, and electronic test equipment, solar charge controllers, computers, printers, LED lights, Laser range finders, terrestrial survey equipment, solar powered calculators, fuel control relays, small gasoline motor ignition systems (if not magneto), alternators for normally aspirated non-computerized ignition automobiles, automotive breaker point ignition coils and condensers, medical equipment, pulse oximeters, defibrillators, GPS rx

TECHNOLOGICAL FORCE MULTIPLIERS

FARADAY CHAMBER COUNTERMEASURE TO EMP

Formed by enclosing a volume with a continuous surface of conducting material

Blocks electrostatic fields

External electrical field causes distribution of opposing electrical charges within the chamber thus canceling the effect inside the chamber

Induced charges by an EM pulse creates opposing EM fields on the walls of the chamber hence need to electrically isolate protected devices from chamber

FARADAY CHAMBER COUNTERMEASURE TO EMP

Formed by enclosing a volume with a continuous surface of conducting material

Blocks electrostatic fields

FARADAY CHAMBER COUNTERMEASURE TO EMP

External electrical field causes distribution of opposing electrical charges within the chamber thus canceling the effect inside the chamber

Induced charges by an EM pulse creates opposing EM fields on the walls of the chamber hence need to electrically isolate protected devices from chamber

Radio waves can be highly attenuated but may penetrate the chamber

Size of any aperture as a function of wavelength Thickness of shield material

FARADAY CHAMBER COUNTERMEASURE TO EMP

Containers constructed of solid conductors are more effective countermeasures to EMP (short duration, high energy) than those constructed from conductive wire mesh

Thicker shielding better attenuates lower frequency signals

Smaller chamber are not earth grounded (may be counterproductive)

100-ohm bleeder resister to earth ground may be used with CONEX sized Faraday chambers (reduces static charge on outer conductive surface)

FARADAY CHAMBERS IN US GOVERNMENT FACILITIES

Secure Compartmented Information Facilities TEMPEST enclosures

ENHANCED EMP PROTECTION Individually insulated, nested, multiple Faraday chambers increase EMP protection by multiples of magnitude

Nested and individually insulated US military ammunition containers with watertight rubber gaskets modified to increase conductivity are highly effective countermeasures to EMP

Paint is removed from hinges, top of ammunition container rim and portions of lid surrounding rubber gasket

Hinges, rim, and exposed surface of rubber gaskets are coated with copper Jet Lube

Useful Materials

Jet Lube SS-30 Kraftex copper tape Aluminum duct tape

YAESU FT-991 and COMPUTER CONTROLLER