The US War: Unveiling the Microwave Bomb

[FZ+]

The Microwave Bomb

Well, it's pretty hard to miss the fact that there is a war going on right now...
One rumor going around is that the US will test a new type of munition, a so-called microwave bomb.
Does anyone have an idea how this device works?

 

[FZ+]

It will use the energy from a conventional explosion to create a flash of microwave energy which travels in an arc in front of the missile.

Here's the question I am interested to know -> How?
It's probably classified and stuff, but any speculation is welcome...

 

[LURCH]

I just heard on CNN that these devices are not being used in the Gulf (yet). They would knock out comunications, and the U.S. is still wanting to use Iraqi radio and TV for propoganda and psychological warfare.

But the "how" can be found at http://popularmechanics.com/science/military/2001/9/e-bomb/print.phtml

It's pretty fascinating stuff, but a little over-dramatised.

 

[Bubonic Plague]

This takes out tanks, air defence radars, missile systems and communications networks but personnel operating these units are left untouched.

If the pulse is so massive, why won't the personnel get fried by the microwave?

Just curious too, what happens to a person if he is toasted by microwave?

 

[Njorl]

Originally posted by Bubonic Plague
If the pulse is so massive, why won't the Iraqi personnel get fried by the microwave?

Just curious too, what happens to a person if he is toasted by microwave?

The total energy of the pulse is actually small. It has a high peak-power. It doesn't really fry anything, it just causes a small amount of damage to the delicate junctions of transistors and other semiconductor circuits.

Njorl

 

[Bubonic Plague]

The total energy of the pulse is actually small. It has a high peak-power.

If it has a high peak-power, shouldn't the total energy also be high?

 

[FZ+]

Not if the pulse only goes on for a very short time.

 

[russ_watters]

One rumor going around is that the US will test a new type of munition, a so-called microwave bomb.

Hehe. This started when Dan Rather couldn't figure out what an "E-Bomb" was (ElectroMagnetic Pulse Bomb) when he mentioned it on the first day of the "shock and awe" campaign. He said "um, Energy, Microwave, uhh..." It is what the other users have described here (minus the microwaves).

 

[Dave_3of5]

So is the microwave pulse similar to an electromagnetic pulse caused by a nuclear explosion?