Low-Power Microwave Testing Carried out by NASA

LOW-POWER MICROWAVE TESTING CARRIED OUT BY NASA The report below was retrieved from NASA's on-line technical document archive. The information itself dates from the 1980s and details testing which was carried out using low-power microwave pulses on rats. The testing was intended to lead to a form of psychological warfare. Note: I have removed non-relevant headers from the report. TITLE: Effects of low power microwaves on the local cerebral blood flow of conscious rats Document ID: 19810004209 N (81N12720) File Series: NASA Technical Reports Report Number: AD-A090426 Authors: Oscar, K. J. (Army Mobility Equipment Command) Published: Jun 01, 1980 Corporate Source: Army Mobility Equipment Command (Fort Belvoir, VA, United States) Pages: 10 Contract Number: None NASA Subject Category: LIFE SCIENCES (GENERAL) Abstract: A decoy and deception concept presently being considered is to remotely create the perception of noise in the heads of personnel by exposing them to low power, pulsed microwaves. When people are illuminated with properly modulated low power microwaves the sensation is reported as a buzzing, clicking, or hissing which seems to originate (regardless of the person's position in the field) within or just behind the head. The phenomena occurs at average power densities as low as microwatts per square centimeter with carrier frequencies from 0.4 to 3.0 GHz. By proper choice of pulse characteristics, intelligible speech may be created. Before this technique may be extended and used for military applications, an understanding of the basic principles must be developed. Such an understanding is not only required to optimize the use of the concept for camouflage, decoy and deception operations but is required to properly assess safety factors of such microwave exposure. Major Subject Terms: AUDITORY PERCEPTION - BRAIN CIRCULATION - DECEPTION - MICROWAVES - PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS - RADIATION EFFECTS Minor Subject Terms: BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS - HEMODYNAMICS - MILITARY TECHNOLOGY - RADIATION DOSAGE - SOUND LOCALIZATION Language Note: English