Accession Number:

ADA280551

Title:

Behavioral Performance in Monkeys Exposed to Tempo High-Peak-Power Microwave Pulses at 3 GHz.

Descriptive Note:

Interim rept. 1992-1993,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL AEROSPACE MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB PENSACOLA FL

Personal Author(s):

• D'Andrea, J. A.
• Cobb, B. L.
• Knepton, J.
• Bates, F.

Report Date:

1993-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

22.0

Abstract:

The development of adequate safety standards for exposure to microwave radiation requires an extensive database which provides information on frequency, power, and modulation characteristics. This study was conducted to provide information on the behavioral effects of high-peak-power microwave pulses produced by an axially extracted virtual cathode oscillator. This pulsed microwave source, TEMPO, was located at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and for this study was configured to produce high-peak-power 3.0 GHz microwave pulses, 20-60 ns pulse duration with a 7.5 s interpulse interval. To investigate the behavioral effects of the high peak power pulses, four male rhesus monkeys Macaca mulatto were trained on a operant color discrimination task for food pellet reward. The task was twofold requiring monkeys to pull one plastic lever on a variable interval schedule VI-25 s and then respond to color signals and pull a second lever to obtain food. During the behavioral task, the monkeys were exposed to microwave pulses produced by TEMPO. Peak field power densities averaged 45.63 kWcm2, which produced a peak whole-body specific absorption rate SAR of approximately 2.21 MWkg specific absorption SA per pulse was 1.3 Jkg. Average whole-body SAR, however, was low due to the short pulse duration and long interpulse interval. Behavioral performance on either component of the task was not altered significantly by the high-peak-power pulses. Transformer Energized Megavolt Pulsed OutputTEMPO

Descriptors:

• *HIGH POWER
• *REACTION TIME
• *MICROWAVES
• *PEAK POWER
• *RADIATION EFFECTS
• DATA BASES
• FREQUENCY
• OSCILLATORS
• OUTPUT
• DENSITY
• RADIATION
• EXPOSURE(GENERAL)
• RATES
• VARIABLES
• CATHODES
• PULSES
• SIGNALS
• COLORS
• SAFETY
• STANDARDS
• PELLETS
• MALES
• POWER
• BEHAVIOR
• ABSORPTION
• DISCRIMINATION
• ARMY
• MODULATION
• FOOD
• PLASTICS
• BODIES
• SHORT PULSES
• RHESUS MONKEYS
• TRANSFORMERS
• MONKEYS
• INTERVALS

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Radiobiology
• Radiofrequency Wave Propagation

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE