Electromagnetic Properties of Tissue in the Optical Region
Abstract
To properly assess skin damage caused by photonic exposure, the mechanisms of photon attenuation and subsequent heat production are investigated. Currently, voids exist in frequency specific electromagnetic properties such as the complex dielectric permittivity and conductivity necessary to define refractive index and attenuation values. We investigate these properties in several tissues such as blood, bone, skin, vitreous humor, cornea, retina and many others. Inside these tissues, exponential decrease in photon energy occurs due to attenuation. Because photon energy absorbed in tissue is expressed as heat in many instances, it follows that the dielectric properties of the material will also change as a function of the heating patterns as well as with frequency or wavelength. Conversely, changes in tissue thermal properties should change photon behavior as dispersion properties change. In our case we are concerned with existing data and theoretically determining dispersion properties over a large range of frequencies or wavelengths.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADP023689
Entities
People
- Dustin G. Mixon
- K. M. Yaws
- W. P. Roach
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory