| This thesis describes a systematic process undertaken to design, optimize, and characterize a novel waveguide-based exposure system for studying non-thermal Radio Frequency/Microwave (RF/MW) effects on skeletal muscle contraction in the frequency range 0.75-1.12 GHz. The procedure followed involved examining several logistical aspects of running RF/MW exposure experiments inside a waveguide, and deciding the optimum method for accomplishing each task involved for experimentation. These included the design of an organ bath to house and keep viable a muscle sample inside the waveguide, while also providing the ability to electrically stimulate it during RF/MW exposure. Detailed geometric modeling of the complete exposure system and simulation of the electromagnetic (EM) fields present inside the waveguide has been performed using state-of-the-art commercially available software, specifically based on the Finite Difference Time Domain numerical method for solving Maxwell's equations. In addition, a device was designed for holding the exposure system rigidly so that accurate measurements of muscle contractions could be made. Lastly, after the exposure system was optimized, finer numerical modeling was implemented to carefully examine the EM fields within a muscle sample exposed to RF/MW radiation. The analyses performed showed that the EM fields in the region containing the muscle exhibited the homogeneity required for performing well-controlled experiments. |
