From:	Charles S Remis cremis@******.net
Subject:	Electro-Magnetic Pulse Questions
Date:	Mon, 23 Oct 2000 20:06:56 -0500

Various others wrote:

> > >From what I've read, I know that an EMP is one of the side effects of
> > >a nuclear detonation. Thus, the easiest way to set up an EMP is to
> > >detonate a nuke above your target. I do wonder, though, if that's the
> > >ONLY way to get an EMP.
> >
> >Far from it. One can be generated with equipment that would fit in a van
> >(see Neal Stephenson's _Cryptonomicon_) with today's tech, likely with a
> >briefcase-sized unit by SR times. Of course, wear your lead-lined
> >undies...

I don't know about an EMP large enough to affect a city, but
police in the USA are currently using two varieties of EMP
devices to stop car chases. The first looks like a flat board
about 2'x4' which is placed on the road before the vehicle.
The second, and vastly more interesting, is called the "Rocket",
and is a rocket propelled miniature car mounted on the
front of a police vehicle and fired at the target vehicle.
It moves straight forward, at about 20 mph faster than the
pursuing car, and can catch a car up to 7 cars ahead. Both
of the devices fire an EMP powerful enough to fry the
electronics the target vehicle up into the vehicle over them
without affecting nearby vehicles.

Regards,

CSR