SAR and Temperature Evaluations of a 900 Mhz TEM Chamber for Cell Exposure

Abstract

A dosimetry study is made for experiments on cultured cells exposed to 900 MHz microwave in the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) chamber. The exposure is characterized by the intensity and homogeneity of the specific absorption rate (SAR), as well as the exposure-induced temperature rise. The SAR distribution is calculated by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm of the Maxwell equations. The finite-difference formulation of the bioheat conduction equation is used to calculate the temperature rise of the in vitro environment. Evaluations of the SAR and temperature are performed systematically for scenarios including two formations of cultured cells, two maximum fields, and four polarizations of the Petri dish holding the cell culture. The exposure is optimized by selecting scenarios with the highest SAR intensity, the best SAR homogeneity, and the effective temperature control.