Electromagnetic Effects and Threats

Elektromagnetische Störeffekte können elektronische Systeme beeinträchtigen oder beschädigen. Dies ist besonders kritisch in sicherheitssensiblen Bereichen. Daher untersucht die Forschungsgruppe derartige Effekte mit besonderem Fokus auf Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI). Im Zentrum stehen die Analyse möglicher Bedrohungsszenarien sowie deren Auswirkungen auf Systeme, die für den Betrieb zentraler Infrastrukturen essenziell sind.

Die Arbeiten erweitern klassische Fragen der elektromagnetischen Verträglichkeit (EMV) um Szenarien außerhalb regulierter Grenzwerte, in denen leistungsstarke Sendequellen gezielt auf empfindliche Technik wirken. Untersucht werden unter anderem Rechenzentren, industrielle Steueranlagen und weitere sicherheitskritische Einrichtungen. Die Forscherinnen und Forscher bewerten Funktionsausfälle hinsichtlich Wahrscheinlichkeit, Symptombild und Konsequenzen systematisch.

Für die Experimente stehen kontrollierte Laborumgebungen mit Hochleistungssignalquellen, spezialisierter Testinfrastruktur und moderner Messtechnik zur Verfügung. Ergänzend kommen numerische Verfahren zur Feldberechnung zum Einsatz, um die zugrunde liegenden physikalischen Effekte präzise abzubilden.
Internationale Kooperationen mit Forschungseinrichtungen, Universitäten und Industriepartnern gewährleisten eine wissenschaftlich fundierte Analyse der Störmechanismen und eine belastbare Bewertung potenzieller Risiken für kritische Infrastrukturen.

Anechoic Chamber

Convertible in Semi-Anechoic Chamber (SAC), Fully Anechoic Chamber (FAC) and Antenna Measurement Chamber

• Frequency range: 10 kHz – 40 GHz
• Inside dimensions (l x w x h): 7.5 x 3.0 x 3.0 m³
• Test volume: 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 m³
• FAC-3, Full Compliant with  a measuring distance of 3.0 m
• SAC, Pre Compliant with reduced height scan, measuring distance of 3.0 m
• Antenna measurement chamber, measuring distance of min. 1.0 m, max. 3.0 m

Application area:

• Measurement of linear transfer functions
• EMC immunity tests: 80MHz to 18 GHz up to 100 V/m
• HPM- and HIRF immunity tests between 150 MHz and 18 GHz up to 2 kV/m
• HPM- and HIRF immunity tests between 18 MHz and 40 GHz up to 1 kV/m
• EMC emission tests up to 18 GHz

Large TEM Waveguide

• Test volume: with a length of approx. 9 m, increasing cross-sectional area (w x h) to  3 x 3 m²
• Frequency range: 0.01 – 8000 MHz

Application area:

• Measurement of linear transfer functions
• EMC immunity tests up to over 100 V/m
• HPM immunity tests between 150 – 6000 MHz up to over 2 kV/m
• HPM immunity tests between 6 – 8 GHz up to over 1 kV/m
• UWB immunity tests (120 ps/2) ns up to over 12 kV/m
• EMC emission tests

GTEM-Cell (Gigahertz-Transverse-Electromagnetic)

• Test volume: 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.375 m³
• Frequency range: DC – 18 GHz

Application area:

• Measurement of linear transfer functions
• EMC immunity tests up to over 100 V/m
• EMC emission tests

Reverberation chamber

• Test volume: 2 x 1 x 1.25 m³
• Frequency range: 0.4 – 40 GHz

Application area:

• EMC immunity tests up to 40 GHz up to max. 2 kV/m
• HPM immunity tests between 0.4 – 6 GHz up to over 20 kV/m
• HPM immunity tests between 6 – 18 GHz up to max. 10 kV/m
• HPM immunity tests between 18 – 40 GHz up to max. 1 kV/m

Mobile HPM radiation facility including mobile electromagnetic shielding tent

• Irradiation area: 0.9 x 1.2 m²
• Frequency range: 450 – 3400 MHz
• Dimensions of shielding tent: 6 x 4 x 2.5 m³³

Application area:

• HPM immunity tests up to 5 kV/m (at a distance of 1 m)

BCI-measurement setup (bulk current injection)

• Laboratory equipment for bulk current injection and emission tests between 10 kHz – 1 GHz up to over 3 A
• BCI measuring station for conducted emission measurements between  10 MHz – 3 GHz

NEMP-generator according to MIL-STD 461 E,F,G RS105

• Test volume: 0.7 * 1 * 1 m³
• NEMP E1 pulse
• Pulse rise time: ~2.3 ns
• Pulse duration: ~23 ns
• Polarity: Positive and negative
• 1.5 m turntable with 500 kg
• Max. test field strength (continuously adjustable): 2.5 kV/m – 125 kV/m

PCI-generator according to MIL-STD-188-125

• PCI test currents E1: 1.5 kA – 5 kA
• Coupling of PCI currents using capacitive and inductive couplers

Application area:

• Investigation of test specimens and protective elements against directly coupled NEMP interference signals of the E1 component on lines

Expertise in electromagnetic effects and threats is provided especially for the military and civilian security sectors, including authorities, industrial facilities, critical infrastructure and communication systems.

The services include, among other things:

• Immunity testing against high-power microwaves
• Special EMC investigations at high pulsed fields (>1 kV/m, up to 18 GHz)
• Analysis of vulnerability and protection of commercial off-the-shelf electronics, for example in control centers, aircraft or satellites
• Assessments and studies on the protection of critical infrastructure
• EMC and HPEM investigations, also possible on site
• Testing of objects up to 1 m³ at high field strengths (>10 kV/m, up to 18 GHz), as required, for example, in the aerospace industry
• Field calculations using numerical methods, e.g. finite difference or finite element methods
• Studies on the hazard potential of electromagnetic interference
• Research in the field of HPEM detection and development of HPEM detection methods
• Collaboration and research in the field of HPEM threats

MSCA Doctoral Network »iSense – In-Situ Monitoring of Electromagnetic Interference«

Client: European Research Executive Agency (REA)

M. Suhrke, M. Lanzrath, B. Jörres and C. Adami, (2025). Exploring Short Pulses in Reverberation Chambers. In: 2025 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe, Paris, France, 2025, pp. 1259-1264, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope61644.2025.11176341.

L. C. Lavau, M. Suhrke and P. Knott, (2024). Assessing IEMI Vulnerabilities in MEMS Barometers: A Comparative Approach. In: 2024 14th International Workshop on the Electromagnetic Compatibility of Integrated Circuits (EMC Compo), Torino, Italy, 2024, pp. 119-123, doi: 10.1109/EMCCompo61192.2024.10742028.

T. Pusch, C. Adami, S. Ruge and M. Suhrke, (2023). A forensic detection system for intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) attempts. In: 2023 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe, Krakow, Poland, 2023, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope57790.2023.10274318.

L. C. Lavau, M. Suhrke and P. Knott, (2023). Securing Temperature Measurements: An Assessment of Sensors' Vulnerability to IEMI. In: 2023 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe, Krakow, Poland, 2023, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope57790.2023.10274337.

L. C. Lavau, M. Suhrke and P. Knott, (2022). Impact of IEMI pulses on a barometric sensor. In: 2022 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2022, pp. 290-294, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope51680.2022.9900930.

F. Arduini, M. Suhrke, T. Pusch and H. Garbe, (2022). Vulnerability of Smart Grid-based Protection Systems to Ultra-Wide Band IEMI Sources. In: 2022 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2022, pp. 805-810, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope51680.2022.9901132.

F. R. Arduini, M. Lanzrath, T. Pusch, M. Suhrke and H. Garbe, (2021). A Methodology for Estimating the Criticality of Energy Infrastructures in the Context of IEMI. In: 2021 IEEE International Joint EMC/SI/PI and EMC Europe Symposium, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2021, pp. 743-748, doi: 10.1109/EMC/SI/PI/EMCEurope52599.2021.9559348.

L. C. Lavau, M. Suhrke and P. Knott, (2021). Susceptibility of Sensors to IEMI Attacks. In: 2021 IEEE International Joint EMC/SI/PI and EMC Europe Symposium, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2021, pp. 533-537, doi: 10.1109/EMC/SI/PI/EMCEurope52599.2021.9559197.

T. R. Pusch, M. Suhrke and B. Jörres, (2021). Characterization of a Reference Test Setup for the Development of HPEM Standards. In: IEEE Letters on Electromagnetic Compatibility Practice and Applications, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 3-6, March 2021, doi: 10.1109/LEMCPA.2020.3035893.

T. Hurtig, T. Pusch, M. Schaarschmidt, M. Elfsberg, N. Wellander and M. Suhrke, (2020). A reference test setup and comparison between different HPEM testing schemes. In: 2020 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE, Rome, Italy, 2020, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/EMCEUROPE48519.2020.9245826.

G. Lubkowski, M. Lanzrath, L. C. Lavau and M. Suhrke, (2020). Response of the UAV Sensor System to HPEM Attacks. In: 2020 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE, Rome, Italy, 2020, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/EMCEUROPE48519.2020.9245834.

M. Lanzrath, M. Suhrke and H. Hirsch, (2019). HPEM-Based Risk Assessment of Substations Enabled for the Smart Grid. In: IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 173-185, Feb. 2020, doi: 10.1109/TEMC.2019.2893937.

T. Pusch, M. Lanzrath and M. Suhrke (2019). IEMI Resilience Assessment of Critical Infrastructures. In: 2019 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE, Barcelona, Spain, 2019, pp. 1132-1137, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2019.8872057.

T. Pusch et al. (2019). A reference test setup to support research and development of HPEM testing schemes. In: 2019 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE, Barcelona, Spain, 2019, pp. 686-690, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2019.8872105.

G. Lubkowski and M. Suhrke (2018). Electromagnetic Immunity of Mobile Devices - Statistical Analysis. In: 2018 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC EUROPE), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2018, pp. 404-9, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2018.8484978.

M. Lanzrath, M. Suhrke and H. Hirsch (2018). HPEM Vulnerability of Smart Grid Substation Secondary Systems. In: 2018 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC EUROPE), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2018, pp. 799-804, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2018.8485138.

M. Lanzrath et al. (2017). HPEM vulnerability of smart grid substations coupling paths into typical SCADA devices. In: 2017 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE, Angers, France, 2017, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2017.8094632.

C. Adami, W. Berky, M. Jöster, T. Pusch and M. Suhrke (2015). HPEM vulnerability of radiation meters used in security relevant scenarios. In: 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Dresden, Germany, 2015, pp. 1068-1072, doi: 10.1109/ISEMC.2015.7256316.

D. Hamann, H. Garbe, T. Pusch and M. Suhrke (2015). A detailed study on TEM waveguides' field distribution and efficiency. In: 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Dresden, Germany, 2015, pp. 881-886, doi: 10.1109/ISEMC.2015.7256281.

C. Adami et al., (2014). HPM detector system with frequency identification. In: 2014 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014, pp. 140-145, doi: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2014.6930892.