High Peak Power Microwave Pulses at 2.37 GHz: No Effects on Vigilance Performance in Monkeys.

Abstract

The current safety standards for occupational exposure radio frequency and microwave exposure do not limit the peak power of microwave pulses. To evaluate whether short-duration (93 ns) high-peak-power microwave pulses can alter behavioral performance, four rhesus monkeys were exposed to peak powers of 7.02-11.30 kW/cm2 while they performed a vigilance task. The behavior consisted of two components: responding on a variable interval schedule on one lever and to reaction time on a second lever. Correct responding on each lever was signaled by auditory stimuli. Trained monkeys performed the task during exposure to 2.37-GHz microwave pulses delivered concurrently with the auditory signals. The estimated peak whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) for each pulse was between 582.7 and 937.9 kW/kg (54-87 mJ/kg per pulse). Compared to sham irradiation, significant changes in behavioral performance were not observed. Keywords: Microwave; Behavior; High power pulse; Monkeys. (eg)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 02, 1989
Accession Number
ADA219570

Entities

People

  • B. J. Klauenberg
  • B. L. Cobb
  • J. A. D'andrea
  • J. H. Merritt
  • J. Knepton

Organizations

  • Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Absorption
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Anechoic Chambers
  • Biomedical Research
  • Dosimetry
  • Frequency
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Microwave Frequency
  • New Mexico
  • Radio Frequency
  • Reaction Time
  • Repetition Rate
  • Rhesus Monkeys
  • Standards
  • Training
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.