Implications for SAR when using a symmetric phantom exposed to RF radiation using the FDTD method

This paper investigates the implications of SAR when using a symmetric head compared to a whole head. The excitation is a vertically polarised plane wave traveling from the front of the face to the back of the head. The frequency range considered is 1.5 to 3.0GHz. In general actual human heads are not symmetric. For example one eye may be slightly higher than the other and a nose maybe somewhat bent. Recently researchers also have evidence of brain torque (i.e. rightward frontal and leftward occipital asymmetry) in humans. In this FDTD model the head is modeled as two identical mirrored halves. By this method the field values need not be calculated twice thereby reducing computation time and memory requirements. Our results show whole head versus mirrored head comparisons for the maximum 1 and 10g SAR in the head and gives particular attention to the SAR in the eyes.