Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel (HERP) due to microwave

and RF devices and their impact on human body.

HERP is the potential of electromagnetic radiation to produce harmful biological effects in

humans.
Microwave energy can be hazardous to personnel to cause:
1. Cataracts
2. Skin cancer
3. Headaches and dizziness
4. Blood disorders / leukemia
5. Birth defects in pregnant women
6. Central nervous system damage
7. Temporary sterility in men
8. Cardiovascular problems
9. Interference with some parameters
10. Increased stress
11. Decrease in immune system competency

There is a possibility that weak electric and magnetic fields from high power transmission lines
may affect biological cellular processes at the cell nucleus.
HERP is caused by the thermal effect of radiated energy Since biological substances such as
blood, brain, bone, muscle and fat behave as conductive or lossy dielectrics, the microwave
energy directed onto the body may be scattered, reflected and absorbed depending on the field
strength, the frequency, the dimension of the body and the electrical properties of the tissue.
The absorbed microwave energy produces molecular vibration and converts this energy into
heat. If the organism cannot dissipate, this heat energy as fast as heat is produced, the internal
temperature of the body will rise. This heat may damage these biological substances
permanently.

For example, if the lens of the eye is exposed to microwaves, its circulatory system would be
unable to provide sufficient flow of blood for cooling and may cause cataracts. Similarly, the
stomach, intestines, and bladder are especially sensitive to thermal damage from high power
microwaves.
Some biological effects cannot be explained by a temperature rise in the body. Persons working
in microwave fields have reported headaches, eyestrain, over-all fatigue and disturbance of a
sleep. These effects have been associated with the interaction of the microwave fields with the
central nervous system of the body. Such effects are called non-thermal interactions. These
may be responsible for some of the long term effects from prolonged exposure to low levels of
electromagnetic fields. These effects usually occur with pulsed or pulse modulated fields and
not with the continuous wave fields.
Principle of operation for a circulator and its
characteristics
A circulator is a passive non-reciprocal three- or four-port device, in which
a microwave or radio frequency signal entering any port is transmitted to the next port in
rotation (only).
A port in this context is a point where an external waveguide or transmission line (such as
a microstrip line or a coaxial cable), connects to the device.
For a three-port circulator, a signal applied to port 1 only comes out of port 2; a signal applied
to port 2 only comes out of port 3; a signal applied to port 3 only comes out of port 1.
A 3 port circulator is a symmetrical Y-type junction of three identical waveguides with an
axially magnetized ferrite post placed at the center.

The ferrite post is magnetized by static B• field along the axis.

It provides the necessary nonreciprocal property.

The junction can be matched by placing suitable tuning element in each arm.

It is an essential component used to isolate the input and output in negative resistance
amplifier. Three port circulators are also used to couple a transmitter to various receivers.

Working principle and the structure of a magnetron

The theory of magnetron operation is based on the motion of electrons under the combined influence of electric
and magnetic fields. For the tube to operate, electrons must flow from the cathode to the
anode. There are two fundamental laws that govern their trajectory:
1. The force exerted by an electric field on an electron is proportional to the strength of
the field. Electrons tend to move from a point of negative potential toward a positive
potential.
2. There is a uniform and direct movement of the electrons in an electric field with no
magnetic field present, from the negative cathode to the positive anode.
3. The force exerted on an electron in a magnetic field is at right angles to both the field
itself, and to the path of the electron. The direction of the force is such that the electron
proceeds to the anode in a curve rather than a direct path.
4. When an electron cloud sweeps past a cavity, it excites the latter to self-oscillation
which in turn causes the electrons to bunch up into a spoked wheel formation in the
interaction space
5. The continuous exchange of energy between the electrons and the cavities sustains
oscillations at microwave frequency
6. Electrons will eventually lose their energy and fall back into the cathode while new
ones are emitted