Optimized design of gigahertz transverse electromagnetic cells for dosimetric experiments

This paper highlights the design criteria of a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cell to be used for the evaluation of potential biological effects induced by radio frequency electromagnetic waves on animal cell cultures. In particular, the estimation of the electromagnetic power absorbed by the cell culture allows us to evaluate the scalar specific absorption rate (SAR) of the sample under test. A uniform distribution of the electromagnetic field is assured in the region where the Petri dishes containing the samples under test are placed. The electromagnetic field is simulated by a homemade computer code based on the analytical transverse resonance diffraction method. Moreover, the characterization results of the first GTEM cell prototype are reported. Finally, the SAR of different biological samples placed in the test site of the GTEM cell is assessed by means of the method of moments.