The electromagnetic pulse environment and its influence on tactical electronic and communications equipment.

104 Pages·1.5 MB·en_US

by  McGrath, Steven J.;Boger, Dan C.

DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
MONTEREY CA 93943-5101

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
The Electromagnetic Pulse Environment and its Influence
on Tactical Electronic and Communications Equipment
by
Steven J. jXIcGrath
Captain, United States Marine Corps
BBA, University of Oklahoma
Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
March 1992
11
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ELEME .' \ NO ACCESS-ON NO
ITLE (Include Security Classification) TJJE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS
NFLUENCE ON TACTICAL ELECTRONIC AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
: PERSONA. A :~DR(S)
CGRATH, Steven J.
3a ~-r'E OF REPOD" 3b 1 .': i 3VERED DATE OF REPOR" (Year Month Day) 15 PAGE CO JN1
aster's Thesis FRO\ 1992 March 95
ementary notation The views expressed in this thesis are those of the
uthor and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Depart-
lent of Defense or the US. Government
cos- 8 SUBJECT TERMS 'Continue on retfse it necessary and identify by block number)
Electromagnetic Pulse; EMP
FIElD GPOJP S B-GRQ I
3 AbST"ACT 'Continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number) The purpose of this thesis is to aid
he military communicator in understanding the phenomenon that is known as the electro-
agnetic pulse (EMP) This thesis includes a brief history and definition of the EMP
.
nd a description of the various EMP environments. It also discusses the effects that
n EMP can have on exposed electronic components and communications equipment. It
rovides a description of the major approaches that are used to reduce the harmful
ffects of an EMP. A discussion of the factors considered in a cost/benefit analysis
s included for the purpose of establishing cost and benefit considerations relevant
o a system's evaluation. The thesis concludes that the decision of whether or not
o protect electronic and communications equipment from an EMP depends on many factors,
ncluding the criticality of the equipment's mission and the cost of EMP hardening
ompared to the benefits received. It also concludes that the nation should maintain
ts EMP hardening effort for critical systems.
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OGER Dan C_ 408-646-2067 AS/Bo
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,
THESIS
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ENVIRONMENT
AND ITS INFLUENCE ON TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
by
Steven J. McGrath
March 1992
Thesis Advisor Dan C. Boger
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this thesis is to aid the military
communicator in understanding the phenomenon that is known as
the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) This thesis includes a brief
.
history and definition of the EMP and a description of the
various EMP environments. It also discusses the effects that
an EMP can have on exposed electronic components and
communications equipment. It provides a description of the
major approaches that are used to reduce the harmful effects
of an EMP. A discussion of the factors considered in a
cost/benefit analysis is included for the purpose of
establishing cost and benefit considerations relevant to a
system's evaluation. The thesis concludes that the decision
of whether or not to protect electronic and communications
equipment from an EMP depends on many factors, including the
criticality of the equipment's mission and the cost of EMP
hardening compared to the benefits received. It also
concludes that the nation should maintain its EMP hardening
effort for critical systems.
111
Or/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 1
A. BACKGROUND 1
B. PURPOSE 2
C. THESIS OUTLINE 3
II. THE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE 5
A. INTRODUCTION 5
B. EMP GENERATION 5
C. EMP ENVIRONMENTS 8
1. Subsurface Burst EMP 10
2. Surface Burst EMP 10
3. Air Burst EMP 12
4. High Altitude Burst EMP 14
5. Magnetohydrodynamic EMP 16
6. Transient Radiation Effects In
Electronics 18
7. System Generated EMP 18
D. SUMMARY 2
III. ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE EFFECTS 21
A. INTRODUCTION 21
B. COUPLING 22
IV