Source:
Scientific American, February 18, 2003
Do
Microwave Weapons Kill?
Although high-powered microwave weapons are designed to destroy the electronic
equipment used by enemy command centers, their effect on humans in the
vicinity is less clear. The U.S. military says HPM weapons are non-lethal,
but that doesn't mean free from harm. The U.S Marines Corp. is currently
developing a microwave-based weapon that inflicts a brief, intense burning
sensation on the target's skin similar to touching a hot light bulb. Mounted
on Humvee, the weapon is designed for crowd dispersal. The temperature
settings are variable, however, and can be set as high as 130 degrees
F. Given that temperature variability, it's possible that someone in the
path of a HPM burst might be cooked like a meal readied by a microwave
oven. Meanwhile, scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee
have proposed building an electromagnetic pulse weapon that would disrupt
a person's short term memory and cause him to lose control of involuntary
body functions. So whereas a HPM weapon's lethality is uncertain, it's
definitely going to hurt, leaving the victim incapacitated for a short
period of time. --Frank Vizard
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