EMP terrorist weapons, and the ease of creation thereof

From: Andrew Clough (aclough@mit.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 25 2003 - 16:56:30 MST

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    Earlier on this question (though not on this thread) I mentioned that I
    believe that EMP devices based on flux compressors were easy to make. Here
    is some more detailed information. To summarize, you can make a device
    capable of taking out a few blocks of civilian electronics with only a
    small piece of explosive and some stuff from a hardware sore, and you can
    fit it into a briefcase. The military is also considering the use of flux
    compressors to power weapons like railguns or lasers.

    New Scientist's article on the dangers of EMP weapons:

    http://archive.newscientist.com/archive.jsp?id=22453900

    An in depth explanation on flux compressors at Los Alamos Labs:

    http://lansce.lanl.gov/research/accelerators/fortgang.htm

    Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity. Don't assign
    to stupidity what might be due to ignorance. And try not to assume you
    opponent is the ignorant one-until you can show it isn't you.
    -M.N. Plano



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