The mechanism for a 400 km high-altitude burst EMP: gamma rays hit the
atmosphere between 20–40 km altitude, ejecting electrons which are then
deflected sideways by the Earth's magnetic field. This makes the
electrons radiate EMP over a massive area. Because of the curvature and
downward tilt of Earth's magnetic field over the USA, the maximum EMP
occurs south of the detonation and the minimum occurs to the north.
[19]
E1 is produced when
gamma radiation from the nuclear detonation
ionizes (strips electrons from) atoms in the upper atmosphere. This is known as the
Compton effect and the resulting current is called the "Compton current". The electrons travel in a generally downward direction at
relativistic speeds (more than 90 percent of the speed of light). In the absence of a magnetic field, this would produce a large, radial pulse of
electric current
propagating outward from the burst location confined to the source
region (the region over which the gamma photons are attenuated). The
Earth's magnetic field deflects the electron flow at a right angle to
the field, leading to
synchrotron radiation
emitted by the electrons. Because the outward traveling gamma pulse is
propagating at the speed of light, the synchrotron radiation of the
Compton electrons adds coherently, leading to a radiated electromagnetic
signal. This interaction produces a very large, but very brief,
electromagnetic pulse over the affected area.
[20]
end partial quote from:
Nuclear electromagnetic pulse
I studied about all this in college and after, (of course I'm the generation from the 1950s in school that was told to crawl under our desks to face a nuclear blast, so because of that the more I knewabout what nuclear weapons do the safer I felt as a child and young adult then and now.
So, the graph shows the radiation because of the nature of our magnetic fields here on earth spreads south from the detonation point which would be 20 to 100 miles in space. I was told in the 1960s and 1970s that any people within 12 feet of anything metal would die from a lightning bolt like effect. so it is possible only people away from any metal would be burn free. However, as I thought about it more I also realized that cars and trucks and planes are natural Faraday Cages that protect the occupants from lightning strikes often. So, I think you must consider this too as a possibility so I'm not really sure what would happen because this situation has never occurred on Earth (at least in this time line).
When I wrote
I tried to make this as realistic as possible from everything I had studied. Also, at age 14 I read "Alas, Babylon"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alas,_Babylon
Alas, Babylon
is a 1959 novel by American writer Pat Frank (the pen name of Harry
Hart Frank) It was one of the first apocalyptic novels of the nuclear
age and has ...
Alas, Babylon
[Pat Frank, Will Patton] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying
offers. This true modern masterpiece is built around the two fateful
words that ...
Which also put the fear of God into me from reading that too realistic book then.
The other thing about all weapons invented by mankind. Sooner or later almost all weapons are used. And unfortunately, most people have forgotten just how horrific they really are and are not really in any way going to be able to cope with any of this if these things actually go off on populated areas of earth. Just like people were struck dumb after the Great Depression and World War II to end it with the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after all that.
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