One of the most common and almost universally accepted myths and one that I consistently hear is that a large solar event (in this case an earth facing Coronal Mass Ejection or CME) would fry all the electronics on our planet: cell phones, computers, radios, TVs, the computer that runs your car, everything not inside a faraday cage. This suggests that a lot of confusion exists between the effects of a solar CME based Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and a nuclear based EMP. Using the power of AI, I explore the facts about EMP, both solar and nuclear based, in order to better understand this phenomenon.
Chat history
Please prepare a podcast interview based on the attached document that I created in 2024 but with your updates to reflect current understanding and for accuracy and with a tech savvy audience in mind.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a podcast interview script based on your EMP document, tailored for a tech-savvy audience.
The style assumes an informed listener — people who already understand basic electronics, networking, and perhaps some security/defense concepts — so it uses plain but precise language and avoids over-explaining fundamentals.
🎙 Podcast Script: “EMP – The Invisible Threat”
Host (H):
Welcome back to Signal & Noise, the show where we break down the tech stories that actually matter.
Today, we’re talking about something that sits right at the intersection of physics, geopolitics, and cybersecurity — electromagnetic pulse, or EMP.
Joining us is Brad Tuttle, who recently put together a deep dive into nuclear and solar EMP effects, including some myths and realities that a lot of people get wrong. Brad, welcome.
Guest (G):
Thanks, great to be here.
1. Defining the Threat
H:
Let’s start with the basics. A lot of listeners have heard “EMP” in movies — it’s the magic zap that takes down every gadget in the city. In reality, what are we talking about?
G:
Right — in real life, EMP is an intense burst of electromagnetic energy. For a high-altitude nuclear detonation, it’s actually three separate pulses:
- E1 — ultra-fast, nanosecond rise time, hits microelectronics hard.
- E2 — think lightning-like pulse, microseconds to a second.
- E3 — slow, tens to hundreds of seconds, more like a geomagnetic storm from the Sun.
A solar coronal mass ejection — a CME — is basically an E3-only event. That means your phone on a shelf is fine, but the grid could take a hit.
2. Typical vs. “Super-EMP”
H:
So the numbers — how strong can these pulses actually get?
G:
For a “normal” nuclear EMP, you’re talking tens of kilovolts per meter — maybe up to 50 kV/m over a very large footprint.
But there’s a class of designs called “Super-EMP” weapons that are optimized for prompt gamma output, which boosts the E1 pulse dramatically. Open-source estimates are in the 200–250 kV/m range. You’ll see some speculative claims of a million volts per meter, but that’s never been confirmed in public data.
H:
And that’s important because…?
G:
Because modern electronics — especially anything with fine-geometry silicon — can be upset or destroyed by much smaller fields if there’s a coupling path into it. So 200+ kV/m, if it gets into your system, is catastrophic.
3. Who’s Working on This?
H:
The natural next question: who’s building these things?
G:
We have open-source reporting that Russia and China have researched enhanced EMP designs. Russia’s EMP work goes back to the 1960s, and their military journals still talk about EMP scenarios. There are speculative ideas about detonating an EMP device from orbit, which raises all sorts of Outer Space Treaty issues.
China’s been linked to EMP discussions in the context of Taiwan. Whether those reports are based on direct military statements or analysts’ interpretations — that’s not always clear.
As for the U.S., the government hasn’t confirmed any current Super-EMP program, but it would be naive to think the design knowledge isn’t there.
4. Military vs. Civilian Impact
H:
I imagine the military isn’t just sitting on their hands here.
G:
Right. Certain strategic systems — nuclear command and control, missile defense — are hardened against EMP. But the civilian grid, telecom backbone, most transportation control systems? Not so much. And 99% of U.S. military bases depend on the civilian grid for primary power. That’s a vulnerability.
5. Solar vs. Nuclear EMP
H:
You mentioned solar storms earlier. For engineers listening, how should they think about the difference?
G:
Solar storms — CMEs — don’t have the fast E1 and E2 pulses, so they won’t fry your phone directly. But the E3-like effects can induce huge DC-like currents in long conductors. That’s a transformer killer. A big enough CME could black out regions for weeks or months.
The difference is speed — nuclear EMP is over in a fraction of a second for E1/E2, but both can cripple large-scale infrastructure.
6. Real-World Scenarios
H:
So if someone popped a high-altitude nuclear device over, say, Kansas…?
G:
Depending on yield and altitude, you could blanket most of the continental U.S. in tens of kilovolts per meter of E1 field. That’s why the “one bomb can take down a continent” line gets repeated — not as guaranteed truth, but because the physics makes it plausible.
The kicker is that a balloon at the right altitude could deliver it — no need for an ICBM.
7. Final Thoughts
H:
Alright, so what’s the takeaway for a tech-savvy audience?
G:
Two things:
First, recognize the risk isn’t science fiction — it’s been tested, and it’s part of real military planning.
Second, if you design or manage critical systems, EMP hardening isn’t just a military problem. Shielding, filtering, surge suppression, redundancy — the same principles apply whether you’re running a missile silo or a data center.
H:
Brad, thanks for walking us through the facts without the Hollywood hype.
G:
My pleasure.
If you want, I can now produce this as an actual audio demo with professional narration so you can hear how it flows for a real podcast episode — complete with pacing, tone, and emphasis. That would make it sound like a polished tech briefing instead of a straight reading.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
Blogger’s note: And, here’s a second conversation just to be clear.
Chat history
You said:
I’m told you don’t need a faraday cage to protect electronics from solar EMP but just from EMP caused by nuclear explosions. What is the answer.
ChatGPT said:
That’s a great question, and it touches on a common point of confusion. Here’s the clear answer:
Yes, you do need protection for electronics from a solar EMP—just not the same kind of protection as you would for a nuclear EMP.
Let’s break it down:
🌞 Solar EMP (Geomagnetic Storm or GMD)
Source: Coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun
Type of EMP: Long-duration, low-frequency (E3-type)
Main threat:
- Induces large currents in long conductors like power lines, pipelines, and railways
- Destroys large infrastructure components like transformers in power grids
- Not a direct threat to small consumer electronics unless they are connected to the grid
Do you need a Faraday cage?
👉 No, typically not for solar EMP alone.
- Devices that are off-grid or battery-powered are unlikely to be affected.
- The danger comes from grid-based surges, not the radiated pulse itself.
What helps?
- Surge protectors and grid isolation
- Unplugging sensitive devices during a solar storm
- Hardening infrastructure, not so much shielding individual devices
💣 Nuclear EMP (High-Altitude EMP or HEMP)
Source: Nuclear detonation in the upper atmosphere
Type of EMP: Short, fast, high-intensity bursts (E1, E2, E3)
Main threat:
- E1: Induces high voltages directly into electronics, damaging small circuits
- E3: Like solar EMP, affects power grids
- E2: Intermediate; similar to lightning
Do you need a Faraday cage?
👉 Yes, for E1 protection — especially to safeguard:
- Radios
- Laptops
- Microcontrollers
- Other sensitive electronics
A proper Faraday cage blocks the radiated part of the EMP and can protect small electronics inside it.
✅ Final Summary
| Feature | Solar EMP (CME) | Nuclear EMP (HEMP) |
|---|---|---|
| Affects small electronics | ❌ Not directly | ✅ Yes – E1 burst damages electronics |
| Destroys grid components | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes – E3 component |
| Needs Faraday cage | ❌ Not required | ✅ Required for E1 protection |
| Best protection | Grid hardening, unplugging | Faraday cage, surge protection |
Let me know if you want to build a DIY Faraday cage or understand grid-hardening strategies.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
Blogger’s note: Below is the document that I provided to ChatGPT, updated for timeliness and accuracy by the AI. It provides more detail than the podcast script for those interested.
High-Altitude Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse
Compiled by Brad Tuttle
Revised August 2025
Summary
- Typical high-altitude nuclear-generated EMP produces E1, E2, and E3 components, with peak electric fields often in the tens of kilovolts per meter (commonly cited up to ~50 kV/m), depending on weapon design, yield, and burst altitude.
- Enhanced or “Super-EMP” designs are optimized to increase the E1 component, potentially producing hundreds of kilovolts per meter (open-source estimates range up to ~200–250 kV/m; speculative claims exceed this). These are intended to maximize disruption of electronics. Open-source reports indicate China and Russia have researched such devices; U.S. capabilities are not public.
- Solar-generated geomagnetic disturbances produce effects analogous to the nuclear E3 component only. Damage is primarily to systems connected to long conductors, such as power grids, rather than stand-alone electronics.
E1, E2, and E3 Pulses
E1 (Fast Component) –
A very rapid pulse (nanoseconds) caused by gamma rays knocking electrons free in the upper atmosphere. The resulting high-energy electrons spiral along Earth’s magnetic field, generating intense electric fields. E1 can induce very high voltages in wiring and damage unprotected microelectronics. Conventional surge protectors are too slow to respond; effective protection requires specialized, fast-acting components (e.g., TVS diodes) combined with shielding and proper grounding.
E2 (Intermediate Component) –
Lasts from about 1 microsecond to 1 second. Similar to lightning in waveform and energy, and generally mitigated by standard lightning protection systems. However, if E1 damages those systems first, E2 protection can be compromised.
E3 (Slow Component) –
Lasts tens to hundreds of seconds, caused by distortion of Earth’s magnetic field. Analogous to the effect of a geomagnetic storm from the Sun, E3 induces large currents in long conductors, potentially damaging high-voltage transformers and grid infrastructure. Unlike a nuclear EMP, a solar storm produces only this slow component, though its geographic reach can be much larger.
EMP from Standard Nuclear Weapons
For high-altitude bursts (tens to hundreds of kilometers above Earth), much of the EMP is generated where gamma radiation interacts with the upper atmosphere. The resulting field can be relatively uniform over millions of square kilometers.
The U.S. Department of Defense Nuclear Weapons Effects manual notes:
“The peak electric field at the Earth’s surface from a high-altitude burst will depend on yield, burst height, observer location, and orientation to the geomagnetic field. As a general rule, field strength may be expected to be tens of kilovolts per metre over most of the area receiving the EMP radiation.”
Super-EMP Weapons
“Super-EMP” or enhanced-EMP devices are designed to produce a far stronger E1 pulse by maximizing prompt gamma-ray output. Public estimates suggest these devices can generate 200–250 kV/m; some unverified reports claim much higher. Unlike standard nuclear designs, their purpose is primarily to disable electronics over a wide area rather than cause blast damage.
- China – U.S. congressional testimony and think-tank analyses indicate Chinese research into super-EMP devices, sometimes linked to Taiwan-strike scenarios. Open-source confirmation from the Taiwanese military is lacking; most claims come from defense analysts.
- Russia – Historical Soviet research into EMP effects is well documented, including tests in the 1960s. Modern Russian military writings discuss both missile- and satellite-based EMP concepts. Reports of “satellite EMP” proposals are speculative and may conflict with the Outer Space Treaty, though not all states comply with treaty norms.
While U.S. public policy documents focus on hardening critical systems, they do not confirm or deny current U.S. development of super-EMP weapons.
Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) and Related Concepts
The Soviet Union developed and tested the FOBS in the 1960s, designed to place a nuclear warhead into low-Earth orbit and de-orbit it toward a target from any direction. Modern discussions sometimes extend this concept to EMP payloads detonated in space (above ~100 km). While technically feasible, such deployment would be a violation of the Outer Space Treaty, though it remains a concern among U.S. defense planners.
Recent Relevant Reports
- CNN (Feb. 17, 2024) – Citing U.S. intelligence sources, reports that Russia is developing a nuclear space weapon intended to produce a massive energy wave to disable satellites.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/16/politics/russia-nuclear-space-weapon-intelligence/index.html - U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings – Gunnery Sgt. Joshua E. Owen, “An EMP or Solar Incident Could Result in Blackout Warfare” (Feb. 2023).
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/february/emp-or-solar-incident-could-result-blackout-warfare
The USNI article notes:
- A high-altitude nuclear detonation ~25 miles above North America could disable much of the electrical grid and many unprotected systems.
- A severe solar storm could have similar grid-level consequences.
- 99% of U.S. military bases rely on the civilian power grid, creating vulnerability.
- Recent foreign surveillance balloon overflights occurred at altitudes sufficient for an EMP detonation, though there is no evidence they carried such payloads.
Key Points of Clarification
- Peak EMP field strengths above ~250 kV/m are speculative in open sources.
- The U.S. may have super-EMP design knowledge from Cold War research; public denial of current capability is not confirmation of absence.
- Many strategic military systems have at least partial EMP hardening; most civilian infrastructure does not.
- Solar storms produce only the slow “E3-like” component, but their effects on power grids can rival or exceed nuclear E3 in scale.
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