Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas Tech University have published a simulation study in Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express modelling whether incident electromagnetic pulses can generate thermoacoustic pressure waves inside a layered dielectric representation of the human head.
They report that pressure could be generated at the centre of the intracranial region. Continuous pulsing is predicted to build pressure close to where the stimulus arrives, while short-pulsed stimulation is predicted to produce greater effects at the centre. The modelled exposure is directed-energy and radar scale rather than consumer wireless: a 1 GHz field of 87 kV/m in pulses of 1 to 100 microseconds, about 2,000 times the ICNIRP public reference level for electric field at that frequency. The study is computational throughout.
Quotes
"The proliferation of wireless communications, high-power microwave (HPM) sources, radar, and other microwave technology has necessitated research into potential HPM bioeffects."
"Here we present a multi-physics simulation study to probe the possible generation of thermoacoustic pressure waves from incident electromagnetic pulses, in a layered dielectric representation of the human head."
"Our results suggest that pressure could be generated at the center of the intra-cranial region, qualitatively in keeping with some reports in the literature."
"Continuous pulsing is seen to lead to pressure build-up in the head close to the location of incident stimulus; while with short-pulsed stimulation, the effects are predicted to be greater at the center of the intra-cranial region."
Location
📍 United States
Modeling Electromagnetically Driven Thermoacoustic Pressure Wave Buildup in the Brain
Baker CD, Baker M, Idesman A, Joshi RP (2026) Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express Journal Level 1ⓘ
