An
electromagnetic pulse (
EMP), also sometimes called a transient
electromagnetic disturbance, is a short burst of
electromagnetic energy. Such a pulse's origination may be a natural occurrence or man-made and can occur as a
radiated,
electric or
magnetic field or a conducted
electric current, depending on the source. The term "electromagnetic pulse" is commonly abbreviated
EMP (which is pronounced by saying the letters separately, "E-M-P").