pierson@cimnet.enet.dec.com (LAY ON GROUND. LIGHT FUZE. 21-Jan-1991 1229) (01/22/91)
From: "LAY ON GROUND. LIGHT FUZE. 21-Jan-1991 1229" <pierson@cimnet.enet.dec.com> 1) Re EMP from conventional explosives. Digging thru "Effects of Nuclear Weapons", A US Governement book, 1962 or later (may come with weapons effects calculator in the back..) I was surprised to come on the statement the EMP "... had been observed from conventional explosives....", as well as the nuclear kind. NO discussion of mechanisms for EMP from conventional explosives, however they do create a plasma, and it collapses which is ONE of the mechanisms for EMP from nukes. 2) There was a query as to how FAE fuel was dispersed without setting it off. No problem. It will only burn/explode if there is an oxidizer present. A small "burster" placed in the center of a liquid (or even gas) fuel container spreads the fuel. If the burster flame front is cool enought to not cause ignition as the air mixes (and that is just a matter of design...), then the cloud won't go off. A seperate, delayed, initiator then provides a seconds flame front to initiate the explosive. The initial cloud is simply too fuel-rich to burn, or explode. thanks dave pierson Digital Equipment Corporation