Document Type

Restricted Campus Only

Publication Date

4-30-2002

Abstract

The goal of the project was to develop a radio frequency (RF) radiation detector using diazoluminomelanin (DALM). RF radiation is emitted from a variety of sources, including microwaves, cell phones, radio towers and high voltage power plants. When pulses of high magnitude RF radiation are emitted, the pulse can disable electronic devices and may harm humans. This detector would tell whether RF radiation was in the area it was placed or not.

The detector is a small box that can fit in a jacket pocket. RF radiation passes through the enclosure of the box and comes into contact with DALM, which is contained in plastic holders called cuvettes. This interaction causes a chemical reaction that emits light. The light emitted will expose the film. The enclosure is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The cuvettes are plastic and the film recommendation is BioMax MS, a Kodak X-ray film. The film is developed to determine whether RF radiation caused DALM to emit light on the film or not. Our experiments show a clear difference in exposure when exposed to RF radiation and not.

If necessary, a Kodak neutral density filter may be used to decrease the overall light

passing from the DALM to the film. The filters may be used individually to decrease the light seen by the film to 10% of the light emitted or double layered to decrease the light seen by the film to 1 % of the light emitted. If the radiation detector were later developed to determine magnitudes of radiation, filters might be used.

Other areas of future development should include a mechanical analysis of the prototype to see if it could withstand being stepped on or dropped. Temperature affects on the film and DALM need to be explored. Optimization of the DALM concentrations would also be a useful area to explore.

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