Measurement of radiofrequency fields

Conference · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:5143499

Leonowich, J A

We are literally surrounded by radiofrequency (RFR) and microwave radiation, from both natural and man-made sources. The identification and control of man-made sources of RFR has become a high priority of radiation safety professionals in recent years. For the purposes of this paper, we will consider RFR to cover the frequencies from 3 kHz to 300 MHz, and microwaves from 300 MHz to 300 GHz, and will use the term RFR interchangeably to describe both. Electromagnetic radiation and field below 3 kHz is considered Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and will not be discussed in this paper. Unlike x- and gamma radiation, RFR is non-ionizing. The energy of any RFR photon is insufficient to produce ionizations in matter. The measurement and control of RFR hazards is therefore fundamentally different from ionizing radiation. The purpose of this paper is to acquaint the reader with the fundamental issues involved in measuring and safely using RFR fields. 23 refs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5143499
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-20325; CONF-920501-21; ON: DE92015158
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) world congress, Vancouver (Canada), 10-22 May 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
BIOPHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
MEASURING METHODS
PHYSICS
SAFETY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MAGNETISM
RADIATIONS
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
661300 - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)