Rhesus Monkey Aversion to 94-GHz Facial Exposure
Abstract
Millimeter wave (MMW) source technology has advanced significantly allowing the use of 94-GHz MMWs as a non-lethal weapon. The Air Force Research Laboratory has developed such a non-lethal weapon known as the Active Denial System (ADS). The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold for behavioral aversion to 94-GHz MMW exposure in rhesus monkeys. Aversion was defined simply as an eye blink, head turn, or raising the hand to block the 94-GHz MMW beam. Six rhesus monkeys were occasionally exposed to a 94-GHz beam that was turned on for brief periods to deliver energy densities (fluence) that ranged from 0.2 J/sq cm to 2.2 J/sq cm. An infrared camera produced a series of thermographs during the exposure so that facial skin and eye temperature could be correlated with behavioral aversion. The energy density thresholds that produced these behavioral responses on 50% of the exposures and the maximum facial (and ocular) temperature changes were determined to be in the range of 0.4 J/sq cm to 1.0 J/sq cm and produce maximum temperature changes of 1 deg C to 3.2 deg C on the face or cornea of the eye. Eye blink was most sensitive to the MMW exposures. Head turn or hand raising required higher energy densities than that required to produce eye blinks. Aversion to 94-GHz MMWs begins at 0.4 J/sq cm and is a robust response at 1.0 J/sq cm. These effects occur well below the temperature rise in the skin needed to produce pain (10 deg C). These data along with human exposure data will be used to specify safe exposure levels for the ADS system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487589
Entities
People
- D. Cox
- D. J. Hatcher
- J. A. D'andrea
- J. M. Ziriax
- P. J. Henry
- W. D. Hurt
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center