Penetration Of Electromagnetic Energy Into Biological Organisms As A Function Of Frequency

PHYSICS of ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE PROPAGATION

V=Forex exactly where “V” is the velocity of electromagnetic wave propagation as a result of air and is equivalent to 186,000 miles per second. “f” is the frequency of the wave and “X” is lamda, the wavelength of the waveform. So “X” can be calculated as 186,000 mi. divided by the frequency. For that reason, if the frequency is 60 KHz, the wavelength would be 3.1 miles. If the frequency is 2 gigahertz, a mobile cellular phone frequency assortment, the wavelength would be roughly 6 inches

Electromagnetic waves are blocked by conductors because conductors transform the electromagnetic vitality of alternating polarities into an electrical existing. This latest carries an electromagnetic ingredient with it, but this vitality is smaller in comparison to the wave that induced the current. Faraday cages are an case in point of this conversion from electromagnetic energy to electrical present-day electricity. They are in a position to block the propagation of an electromagnetic wave so that it are unable to pass as a result of the cage.

Insulators simply cannot change an electromagnetic wave to an electrical latest simply because they cannot conduct an electrical present-day and, as a result, can not block and electromagnetic wave. An example of this is window glass. It passes a large spectrum of electromagnetic electricity from kilohertz frequencies as a result of the noticeable gentle frequency ranges since of its outstanding insulating qualities.

Organic INTERACTIONS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Biological organisms this kind of as the human entire body are frequently not superior conductors, nor are they superior insulators. The electrical conductivity of the physique varies significantly with the tissue construction. The blood is a rather fantastic conductor, but bones are not. So, the system can be modeled as a semiconductor, getting homes of each a conductor and an insulator.

As a semiconductor, the human overall body will transform some electromagnetic vitality to an electrical recent and make it possible for some to pass by way of. We know from the studies of Dr. Henry Lai at the College of Washington that gigahertz mobile cell phone frequencies penetrate the mind when the cellphone is held against the head. He confirmed that the vitality level is very significant in the to start with inch of penetration and tapers off to in the vicinity of zero at about 3 inches. This is reliable with predicted actions making use of the semiconductor design of the human entire body.

With immediate current or frequencies under 100 Hz, it is incredibly quick to exhibit that these energies go through the overall entire body, remaining resisted only by the DC resistance inherent in the semiconductive houses of the human body. Presented that gigahertz frequencies do not penetrate a organic organism extremely far and extremely small frequencies conveniently penetrate the overall human body, it is straightforward to conclude that larger frequencies penetrate a lot less.

PENETRATION PHYSICS

Electronics tells us that frequencies go by a capacitance simpler at greater frequencies, but are blocked at larger frequencies by inductive reactance. Nevertheless, neither of these performs a purpose right until immediately after the electromagnetic wave is transformed into electrical present and, even then, neither of these are dominant in a biological organism simply because of the a few dimensional and semi-conductive nature of an organism. In this assessment, we are not fascinated in the electrical latest, anyway, for the reason that that is not what does the operate. It is the alternating positive and damaging polarities of the electromagnetic wave that moves make any difference and performs the features we are fascinated in.

What brings about penetration of an electromagnetic wave or blocks it? That is the problem. Pores and skin Influence physics tells us that in a fantastic conductor like a wire, higher frequencies are only carried on the exterior area of the material. This is brought about by recirculating currents in the conductor which are prompted by the shortness of the wavelength of the large frequencies staying carried out by the wire.

In a biological organism, the exact matter occurs. We don’t have all the existing carried on the floor of the pores and skin for the reason that the physique is not a good conductor, nor is it a wire. Not only that, but we’re intrigued in wave propagation prior to it truly is converted into an electrical recent, not soon after.

When an electromagnetic wave is prolonged as opposed to the object intercepting it, the total object is at the exact same polarity at the exact same time so there are no recirculating currents generated due to the fact there are no discrepancies in polarities within the object. Nonetheless, when electromagnetic frequencies are large adequate for the affiliated wavelengths to be small in comparison to the conduction route in the item intercepting the wave, then there will be recirculating currents inside of the item because of to the polarity variances in just the conductive pathways. This is what occurs inside of the human body with substantial frequency radio waves and cell cell phone radiation. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength and the greater the recirculating currents. These recirculating currents will, in convert, cause blocking of the electromagnetic wave due to their individual electromagnetic part. We see this in the success of the mobile mobile phone mind penetration tests mentioned earlier. The gigahertz mobile phone frequencies only penetrated about three inches. If we want to penetrate the human overall body further more, we want a lot reduce frequencies. Less than 100 KHz won’t interfere with AM radio and, as stated previously, a 60 KHz electromagnetic wave is 3.1 miles extensive so it will not crank out any recirculating currents in the human human body to block penetration of the wave.

A functional application of this principle is in the style and design of antennas. It is well known that the greatest polarity distinction in a conductor that intercepts an electromagnetic wave is 1/4th of the overall wave length. This can quickly be seen by wanting at a waveform to notice how a sine wave begins at zero, transitions to utmost at 1/4th wavelength and again to zero at ½ wavelength, then likely negative in the exact same manner during the 2nd 50 percent of the waveform. So, antenna designers make their antennas 1/4th of the whole wavelength since that generates the most probable voltage for the receiver it is related to.

In other terms, an electromagnetic wave is equipped to generate the most voltage and, hence, the most recirculating currents when the intercepting conductor is at the very least ¼ of the total wavelength. So, the human physique will be minimum receptive to frequencies (and higher) having a ¼ of their wavelength related in dimension to a human entire body. The similar logic applies to 1/8 of the wavelength, but to a lesser extent and so on down to 1/400th of the wavelength (1/4 periods 1/100). When the wavelengths are extensive more than enough and frequencies small more than enough (100 times the antenna design requirements) so that the voltage distinction from a single close of the wave to the other in the intercepting conductor is extremely smaller, then the recirculating currents are compact and the vitality is simply absorbed. Hence, frequencies whose wavelengths are over 400 moments the biggest dimension of the biologic specimen of interest are very best for delivering electromagnetic power into the tissue. For a basketball player sized human, this corresponds to close to 400 KHz or under.

SUMMARY

Recirculating currents brought on by wavelengths that are small as opposed to the dimension of the organic organism are demonstrated to be the cause of bad penetration of electromagnetic waves in the organism. A wavelength of around 100 situations the worst case shorter wavelength is assumed to lower the recirculating currents adequately to insure excellent penetration. This would be a 2,455 ft. wavelength for a basketball participant sized human and corresponds to a frequency of 400 KHz or down below.