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出典(authority):フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』「2013/10/27 11:53:22」(JST)

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"RF" redirects here. For other uses, see RF (disambiguation).

Radio frequency (RF) is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals. RF usually refers to electrical rather than mechanical oscillations; however, mechanical RF systems do exist (see mechanical filter and RF MEMS).

Although radio frequency is a rate of oscillation, the term "radio frequency" or its abbreviation "RF" are also used as a synonym for radio – i.e. to describe the use of wireless communication, as opposed to communication via electric wires. Examples include:

Radio-frequency identification
ISO/IEC 14443-2 Radio frequency power and signal interface^[1]

Special properties of RF current[edit]

Electric currents that oscillate at radio frequencies have special properties not shared by direct current or alternating current of lower frequencies.

The energy in an RF current can radiate off a conductor into space as electromagnetic waves (radio waves); this is the basis of radio technology.
RF current does not penetrate deeply into electrical conductors but tends to flow along their surfaces; this is known as the skin effect. For this reason, when the human body comes in contact with high power RF currents it can cause superficial but serious burns called RF burns.
RF currents applied to the body often do not cause the painful sensation of electric shock as do lower frequency currents.^[2]^[3] This is because the current changes direction too quickly to trigger depolarization of nerve membranes.
RF current can easily ionize air, creating a conductive path through it. This property is exploited by "high frequency" units used in electric arc welding, which use currents at higher frequencies than power distribution uses.
Another property is the ability to appear to flow through paths that contain insulating material, like the dielectric insulator of a capacitor.
When conducted by an ordinary electric cable, RF current has a tendency to reflect from discontinuities in the cable such as connectors and travel back down the cable toward the source, causing a condition called standing waves, so RF current must be carried by specialized types of cable called transmission line.

Radio communication[edit]

To receive radio signals an antenna must be used. However, since the antenna will pick up thousands of radio signals at a time, a radio tuner is necessary to tune into a particular frequency (or frequency range).^[4] This is typically done via a resonator – in its simplest form, a circuit with a capacitor and an inductor form a tuned circuit. The resonator amplifies oscillations within a particular frequency band, while reducing oscillations at other frequencies outside the band.

Frequencies[edit]

Main article: Radio spectrum

Frequency	Wavelength	Designation	Abbreviation^[5]
3 – 30 Hz	10⁵ – 10⁴ km	Extremely low frequency	ELF
30 – 300 Hz	10⁴ – 10³ km	Super low frequency	SLF
300 – 3000 Hz	10³ – 100 km	Ultra low frequency	ULF
3 – 30 kHz	100 – 10 km	Very low frequency	VLF
30 – 300 kHz	10 – 1 km	Low frequency	LF
300 kHz – 3 MHz	1 km – 100 m	Medium frequency	MF
3 – 30 MHz	100 – 10 m	High frequency	HF
30 – 300 MHz	10 – 1 m	Very high frequency	VHF
300 MHz – 3 GHz	1 m – 10 cm	Ultra high frequency	UHF
3 – 30 GHz	10 – 1 cm	Super high frequency	SHF
30 – 300 GHz	1 cm – 1 mm	Extremely high frequency	EHF
300 GHz - 3000 GHz	1 mm - 0.1 mm	Tremendously high frequency	THF

The inverse relation between frequency and wavelength deduces that the higher the frequency of the RF Signal, the smaller its wavelength and vice versa. Thus, under similar conditions of propagation, the higher frequency signal attenuates faster than the lower frequency signal and becomes too weak to be detected at the end of the receiver, located at larger distances. An RF power amplifier is used to amplify the power level of such a transmitter RF Signal, so that it can travel larger distances with less attenuation.

In medicine[edit]

Radio frequency (RF) energy has been used in medical treatments for over 75 years,^[6] generally for minimally invasive surgeries, using radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, including the treatment of sleep apnea.^[7] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio frequency waves to generate images of the human body.

Radio frequencies at non-ablation energy levels are sometimes used as a form of cosmetic treatment that can tighten skin, reduce fat, or promote healing.^[8]

RF diathermy is a medical treatment that uses RF induced heat as a form of physical or occupational therapy and in surgical procedures. It is commonly used for muscle relaxation. It is also a method of heating tissue electromagnetically for therapeutic purposes in medicine. Diathermy is used in physical therapy and occupational therapy to deliver moderate heat directly to pathologic lesions in the deeper tissues of the body. Surgically, the extreme heat that can be produced by diathermy may be used to destroy neoplasms, warts, and infected tissues, and to cauterize blood vessels to prevent excessive bleeding. The technique is particularly valuable in neurosurgery and surgery of the eye. Diathermy equipment typically operates in the short-wave radio frequency (range 1–100 MHz) or microwave energy (range 434–915 MHz).

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) is a medical treatment that purportedly helps to heal bone tissue reported in a recent NASA study. This method usually employs electromagnetic radiation of different frequencies - ranging from static magnetic fields, through extremely low frequencies (ELF) to higher radio frequencies (RF) administered in pulses.

RF Effects on the human body[edit]

Extremely Low frequency RF with electric field levels in the low Kv/m range are known to induce perceivable currents within the human body that create an annoying tingling sensation. These currents will typically flow to ground through a body contact surface such as the feet, or arc to ground where the body is well insulated.^[9]^[10]

Canadian safety code 6, also, recommends electric field limits of 100 kV/m for pulsed EMF to prevent air breakdown and spark discharges. Additional rational for EMF restrictions is to avoid auditory effect and energy-induced unconsciousness in rats.^[11]

Also, see Microwave burn and Electromagnetic radiation and health

as a weapon[edit]

A heat ray is a RF harassment device that makes use of microwave radio frequencies to create an unpleasant heating effect in the upper layer of the skin. A publically known heat ray weapon called the Active Denial System was developed by the US millary as an experimental weapon to deny the enemy access to an area. Also, see death ray which is a heat ray weapon that delivers electromagnetic energy at levels that injure human tissue. The inventor of the death ray, Harry Grindell Matthews, claims to have lost sight in his left eye while developing his death ray weapon based on a primitive microwave magnetron from the 1920's. (Note that a typical microwave oven induces a tissue damaging cooking effect inside the oven at about 2 kV/m.)

Also, see, directed energy weapons

References[edit]

^ "ISO/IEC 14443-2:2001 Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards — Proximity cards — Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface". Iso.org. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^ Curtis, Thomas Stanley (1916). High Frequency Apparatus: Its Construction and Practical Application. USA: Everyday Mechanics Company. p. 6.
^ Mieny, C. J. (2003). Principles of Surgical Patient Care (2nd ed.). New Africa Books. p. 136. ISBN 9781869280055.
^ Brain, Marshall (2000-12-07). "How Radio Works". HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
^ Jeffrey S. Beasley; Gary M. Miller (2008). Modern Electronic Communication (9th ed.). pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-0132251136.
^ Ruey J. Sung and Michael R. Lauer (2000). Fundamental approaches to the management of cardiac arrhythmias. Springer. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-7923-6559-4.
^ Melvin A. Shiffman, Sid J. Mirrafati, Samuel M. Lam and Chelso G. Cueteaux (2007). Simplified Facial Rejuvenation. Springer. p. 157. ISBN 978-3-540-71096-7.
^ [http://www.skinandallergynews.com/fileadmin/content_pdf/san/scms_pdf/SCMS_Vol_32_No_1_Skin_Tightening.pdf Noninvasive Radio Frequency for Skin Tightening and Body Contouring, Frontline Medical Communications, 2013]
^ [http://www.euitt.upm.es/estaticos/catedra-coitt/web_salud_medioamb/Informes/informes_PDF/rf/HealthCanada/99ehd237.pdf Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz], Canada Safety Code 6, page 63
^ Extremely Low Frequency Fields Environmental Health Criteria Monograph No.238, chapter 5, page 121, WHO
^ [http://www.euitt.upm.es/estaticos/catedra-coitt/web_salud_medioamb/Informes/informes_PDF/rf/HealthCanada/99ehd237.pdf Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz], Canada Safety Code 6, page 62

External links[edit]

Definition of frequency bands (VLF, ELF … etc.) IK1QFK Home Page (vlf.it)
Radio, light, and sound waves, conversion between wavelength and frequency
RF Terms Glossary

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1. 肌の若返りを目的とした、非剥離法による皮膚の再生 nonablative skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation
2. 亜急性および慢性腰痛：非外科的介入治療 subacute and chronic low back pain nonsurgical interventional treatment
3. 肺腫瘍のラジオ波焼灼術 radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors
4. 頚部痛の治療 treatment of neck pain
5. 下肢の慢性静脈疾患の治療のためのラジオ波焼灼術 radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lower extremity chronic venous disease

English Journal

Percutaneous ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinomas: usefulness of image fusion with three-dimensional ultrasonography.

Park HJ1, Lee MW2, Rhim H1, Cha DI1, Kang TW1, Lim S1, Song KD1, Lim HK1.
Clinical radiology.Clin Radiol.2015 Apr;70(4):387-94. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2014.12.003. Epub 2015 Jan 9.
AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of fusion imaging with real-time ultrasonography (US) and three-dimensional (3D) US for the guidance of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) 2-5 cm in diameter.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort stud
PMID 25582889

GEP-NETS UPDATE: Interventional radiology: role in the treatment of liver metastases from GEP-NETs.

de Baere T1, Deschamps F2, Tselikas L2, Ducreux M3, Planchard D2, Pearson E2, Berdelou A2, Leboulleux S2, Elias D2, Baudin E2.
European journal of endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies.Eur J Endocrinol.2015 Apr;172(4):R151-R166. Epub 2014 Nov 10.
Neuroendocrine tumors from gastro-pancreatic origin (GEP-NET) can be responsible for liver metastases. Such metastases can be the dominant part of the disease as well due to the tumor burden itself or the symptoms related to such liver metastases. Intra-arterial therapies are commonly used in liver
PMID 25385817

Atrial flutter ablation and risk of right coronary artery injury.

Al Aloul B1, Sigurdsson G2, Adabag S3, Li JM3, Dykoski R4, Tholakanahalli VN3.
Journal of clinical medicine research.J Clin Med Res.2015 Apr;7(4):270-3. doi: 10.14740/jocmr1986w. Epub 2015 Feb 9.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial flutter (AFL) is a commonly performed procedure with low risk of complications. Several case reports and animal studies cautioned about the risk of right coronary artery (RCA) injury following AFL ablation. This risk is due to the anatomic proximity of the RCA
PMID 25699126