Sources of EMI and EMP
Electromagnetic interference (or EMI) is disturbance that affects an electrical circuit due to either electromagnetic induction or radiation emitted from an external source The disturbance may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of the circuit. These effects can range from a simple degradation of data to a total loss of data. The source may be any object, natural or artificial, that carries rapidly changing electrical currents.
EMI can be intentionally used for radio jamming, as in some forms of electronic warfare, or can occur unintentionally, as a result of spurious emissions for example through intermodulation products. Here are some of the more common sources of EMI and EMP:
- High frequency devices
- Electronics/computers
- Cell phones/radios
- Wireless/RF energy
- Microwave equipment
- Power lines
- Electric motors
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
- Lightning (LEMP)
- Nuclear event (HEMP)