Interaction of high power electromagnetic pulses with power cables and electronic systems

The high power electromagnetic pulses are generated and transmitted by conventional and non-conventional weapon systems. The progress in the short electromagnetic pulse technology has increased the destruction threat to the sensitive electronic systems. The post Zurich EMC symposium 1999 [1], era has seen the growth of intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) generation systems, which are having the potential capability to upset or permanently damage the electronic systems belonging to defense or civil industry sector. The electromagnetic field coupling takes place either by radiated mode or conducted mode to the respective systems. This topic is chosen because of its prime importance, as the power cables are universally part of the utility power distribution system. The understandings of induced currents due to various IEMI sources will explorer the better hardening of the electronic systems. In this paper the computational and experimental studies of high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP)[2] coupling to the power cables and failure analysis of a commercial 8085 microprocessor board has been presented.