Methodology

Now we take a closer look on how a basic Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) bomb works. Even though there are many theories on how an EMP bomb works, the basic idea is still the same which involving the force of electromagnetic to disrupt the intended target.

Popular Mechanics in late September 2001 published an article that outlines the possibility of EMP bomb to be constructed using inexpensive materials and also a basic engineering knowledge.

The idea focused on Flux Compression Generator Bombs (FCGs), which date back to the 1950s and this conceptual bomb design come from Carlo Kopp, an Australian freelance defense analyst.

Figure 1: Basic FCGs configuration

As can see from the figure above, FCGs consist of a metal cylinder (called the armature), which is surrounded by a coil of wire (the stator winding). The armature cylinder is filled with high explosive, and a sturdy jacket surrounds the entire device. The stator winding and the armature cylinder are separated by empty space. The bomb also has a power source, such as a bank of capacitors, which can be connected to the stator.

Figure 2: The Sequence when the bomb goes off

1. When a switch connected the capacitor to the stator is turned on, an electrical current will be passes along the wires which in turns will generates an intense magnetic field.

2. Meanwhile, a fuse mechanism ignites the explosive material and the explosion will travels as a wave through the middle of the armature cylinder.

3. As the explosion makes its way through the cylinder, the top of the cylinder will come in contact with the stator winding and creates a short circuit that cutting the stator off from its power supply.

4. The moving short circuit compresses the magnetic field and generating an intense electromagnetic burst at the end of the bomb.

Another way to view this phenomenon is imagines that the explosion as a force that pushing a piston rod that helps to deliver the intense electromagnetic burst along the cylinder.

The explosion is needed to move the intense electromagnetic fast enough without giving the electromagnetic burst enough time to be dissipate and also in the process, will destroy the device from reproduce by another person.

Figure 3: Revise version of EMP bomb

The figure above shows that the basic idea of FCGs been put into a more completed form. As you can see, it has an addition of components to deliver the intense magnetic burst in wider radius compared if the single unit of FCGs had been detonated. This unit works as drop off bomb so that the intense electromagnetic burst can be delivered vertical and covered a wider radius. It also can be delivered horizontal and it will need to use a propulsion system to drive the system such as a rocket.