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Effect of metal-framed spectacles on microwave radiation hazards to the eyes of humans

  • Medical Physics and Imaging
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Abstract

A novel measurement technique using a monopole antenna probe has been applied to a full-size, image-plane type model of a human to determine the microwave fields near the eyes and to evaluate the effect of scattering structures, such as metal-framed spectacles, on those fields. The measurement technique relies on a ‘subtraction’ technique to determine the changes in fields when a scattering structure is introduced, and allows a large number of measurements to be performed in a relatively short space of time and with a high degree of accuracy. Investigations conducted in an anechoic chamber yield angles of incidence, test frequencies and wave polarisation values that give details of shielding, enhancement and depolar-isation effects due to this particular scattering structure that appeared not to have been previously studied. It has been found that the introduction of a pair of metalframed spectacles can, in certain cases, cause an increase in field levels by up to approximately 20 dB, a significant perturbation of the incident microwave field which should be accounted for in the setting of safety standards relating to acceptable levels of incident power.

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Davias, N., Griffin, D.W. Effect of metal-framed spectacles on microwave radiation hazards to the eyes of humans. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 27, 191–197 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446229

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446229

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