RE: Nonionizing Radiation, Microwave Ovens

[a.zapantis@qut.edu.au (Alex Zapantis)]

>In looking at the issue of microwaves ....

Speaking of microwave ovens, I wouldn't waste my time running around looking
for recalcitrant microwave photons that have escaped. However I did receive
an interesting call from a technician in our School of Mechanical
Engineering. An undergrad student was doing a project on microwave hot water
systems. The tech had just finished cutting two holes (diameter about 4cm)
in the side of an old industrial microwave oven to allow the passage of a
glass tube through which water was to flow into and then out of the oven. He
thought he had better give me a call and make sure it was OK to turn the
beast on. I asked him not to and went over for a look.

When I arrived, the tech and the student were both standing next to the
invention, the oven was humming away quite happilly. I immediately turned it
off and asked the tech why he had turned it on. He said "Nothing is getting
out, we measured it". The student then produced a small microwave survey
instrument, placed it near one of the holes and turned on the oven, it read
(effectively) zero. I asked him if he had ever heard about the phenomenon of
polarization, rotated the survey instrument 90 degrees, turned the oven back
on and voila, 25mW per square cm.

Oh the joy......
 
    Alex Zapantis                                          Ph     : 61 7
3864 3566
    Radiation Safety Officer                            fax     : 61 7 3864
3993         
    Queensland University of Technology        Email  : a.zapantis@qut.edu.au
    Health & Safety Section                             
    Locked Bag No.2
    Red Hill Qld 4059
    AUSTRALIA

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          "If I could remember the names of all those particles
          I would have become a botanist."
                                                              Enrico Fermi

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