Absorption Characteristics and SAR of a Lossy Sphere inside a Reverberation Chamber

Published

September 1, 2014

Author(s)

Christopher L. Holloway, Damir Senic, John M. Ladbury, Galen H. Koepke

Abstract

This study presents an experimental approach to the analysis of absorption characteristics of a lossy dielectric object in a reverberant environment. The study used a canonically shaped water-filled sphere, convenient for ACS calculations (analytical or by simulations), and measured the internal temperature rise when exposed to RF radiation. All measurements were conducted in a reverberation chamber. The internal temperature rise due to EM absorption was used to calculate actual SAR, using the bio-heat equation. This was done at two discrete frequencies: 1 GHz and 1.8 GHz Absorption cross-section (ACS) was derived experimentally from scattering parameters measured for a loaded and unloaded chamber. Measured ACS results were compared to the ones calculated analytically using Mie scattering theory, and to the ones calculated from SAR simulations using SEMCAD X, in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 8 GHz. The results show a good agreement, forming a basis for an experimental procedure that can then be used for other less canonical shapes. The results obtained for actual SAR in the reverberation chamber are indicative and can serve as reference for further exposure studies.

Proceedings Title

2014 EMC Europe

Conference Dates

September 1-5, 2014

Conference Location

Gothenburg

Pub Type

Conferences

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DOI Link

Keywords

absorption cross section, specific absorption rate SAR, lossy dielectric sphere, reverberation chamber

Citation

Holloway, C. , Senic, D. , Ladbury, J. and Koepke, G. (2014), Absorption Characteristics and SAR of a Lossy Sphere inside a Reverberation Chamber, 2014 EMC Europe, Gothenburg, -1, [online], https://doi.org/10.1109/EMCEurope.2014.6931042 (Accessed October 7, 2025)