Help me make this screenplay less head-slappingly inaccurate!
October 28, 2010 6:57 PM Subscribe
Are there small-scale EMP devices that are at least moderately plausible?
I'm crunching on revisions for a screenplay, and have run up against a problem that my usual internet research isn't quite sufficient for.
Basically, there are two scenarios in which the characters of the film need to create electromagnetic pulses for purposes of disabling robotic baddies.
Instance #1 would take place in a laboratory, and would only need to be large enough to affect objects within a 5 inch radius or so.
Instance #2 would involve semi-portable devices that affect several city blocks.
What would be the nature of these devices, and what would one theoretically need to construct them? I've turned up some very basic information, but most pertains to weapons of a much larger scale. I don't want these scenes to be entirely implausible, but I don't really have the time to become an expert on electromagnetism before my deadline. Any any all help would be very much appreciated!
I'm crunching on revisions for a screenplay, and have run up against a problem that my usual internet research isn't quite sufficient for.
Basically, there are two scenarios in which the characters of the film need to create electromagnetic pulses for purposes of disabling robotic baddies.
Instance #1 would take place in a laboratory, and would only need to be large enough to affect objects within a 5 inch radius or so.
Instance #2 would involve semi-portable devices that affect several city blocks.
What would be the nature of these devices, and what would one theoretically need to construct them? I've turned up some very basic information, but most pertains to weapons of a much larger scale. I don't want these scenes to be entirely implausible, but I don't really have the time to become an expert on electromagnetism before my deadline. Any any all help would be very much appreciated!
Best answer: I take it you've read the Wikipedia article?
The implausibility of it didn't stop Steven Soderbergh from using it in his Ocean's 11 movie.
Within 5" or so, it's doable but would take something the size of a microwave or larger.
To effect several city blocks would either take a device the size of several city blocks or would require a detonation that would (probably) destroy several city blocks.
Since it's for a screenplay I'd punt. Make it as expensive/large/complex or otherwise limited as I possibly can within the limits of the story, mumble something about a Marx Generator or a Explosively pumped flux compression generator and call it a day.
posted by Ookseer at 7:18 PM on October 28, 2010
The implausibility of it didn't stop Steven Soderbergh from using it in his Ocean's 11 movie.
Within 5" or so, it's doable but would take something the size of a microwave or larger.
To effect several city blocks would either take a device the size of several city blocks or would require a detonation that would (probably) destroy several city blocks.
Since it's for a screenplay I'd punt. Make it as expensive/large/complex or otherwise limited as I possibly can within the limits of the story, mumble something about a Marx Generator or a Explosively pumped flux compression generator and call it a day.
posted by Ookseer at 7:18 PM on October 28, 2010
Would this do the trick?
HOWTO turn a disposable camera into an RFID-killer
posted by tiamat at 9:51 PM on October 28, 2010
HOWTO turn a disposable camera into an RFID-killer
posted by tiamat at 9:51 PM on October 28, 2010
Don't think about EMP. Think about portable frequency jamming equipment, which is fairly common. A big power source and the right antenna, and you can knock anything out. You don't have to knock everything in the robot to kablooey -- just a key part that disables them.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:31 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:31 PM on October 28, 2010
The AESA radars installed in the F-22 and F-35 fighters seem to have a secondary use:
Mild, narrowly focused EMP, sufficient for scrambling electronic systems within enemy aircraft.
posted by darth_tedious at 10:34 PM on October 28, 2010
Mild, narrowly focused EMP, sufficient for scrambling electronic systems within enemy aircraft.
posted by darth_tedious at 10:34 PM on October 28, 2010
>EMP
Not actually EMP, but similar in effect.
posted by darth_tedious at 10:36 PM on October 28, 2010
Not actually EMP, but similar in effect.
posted by darth_tedious at 10:36 PM on October 28, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks so much for all the excellent suggestions! Draft completed and turned in; sanity, preserved for the time being.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 5:33 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by Narrative Priorities at 5:33 PM on November 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I believe Survival Research Labs did manage to make an electromagnetic pulse that was good for a few meters, once, enough to affect a laptop — I do not recall their method.
Instance #2 is really, really hard. Most of the plans for such things involve rapidly collapsing a magnetic field ("magnetic flux compression") via a Explosively Pumped Flux Compression Generator.
posted by adipocere at 7:10 PM on October 28, 2010