3D visualization of temperature distributions induced by a cellular telephone in a model of the human head

This paper is concerned with the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the temperature distribution and the temperature rise in a refined model of the human head of a cellular telephone user. The human head model has a resolution of 1.86/spl times/1.11/spl times/1.11 mm and is composed of twelve different tissues. The cellular telephone is modelled as a dipole antenna, operating at 1.8 GHz and radiating powers of 120 and 600 mW. The SAR distribution and the temperature rise were calculated using the FDTD method. Differently from previous researches, a program was developed to visualize the temperature distribution and temperature rise in 3D, in different layers or in different materials of the model. 3D visualization allows a better and more natural understanding of the possible thermal effects. The device operating at 1.8 GHz, 120 and 600 mW resulted in maximum temperature rise values of 0.4/spl deg/C and 2/spl deg/C, respectively; and maximum SAR of 3.9 W/kg. These values do not exceed the safety standards.