Notes 200714 010319 A25

Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic,
electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around 20 kHz to
around 300 GHz. This is roughly between the upper limit of audio frequencies and the lower limit of
infrared frequencies;[1][2] these are the frequencies at which energy from an oscillating current can radiate
off a conductor into space as radio waves. Different sources specify different upper and lower bounds for
the frequency range
Electric currents that oscillate at radio frequencies (RF currents) have special properties not shared by direct
current or alternating current of lower frequencies.
Energy from RF currents in conductors can radiate 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.
RF currents applied to the body often do not cause the painful sensation and muscular contraction of
electric shock that lower frequency currents produce.[3][4] This is because the current changes direction
too quickly to trigger depolarization of nerve membranes. However this does not mean RF currents are
harmless; they can cause internal injury as well as serious superficial burns called RF burns.
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. This is because capacitive reactance in a circuit decreases with
increasing frequency.
Radio frequencies are used in communication devices such as transmitters, receivers, computers,
televisions, and mobile phones, to name a few. Radio frequencies are also applied in carrier current systems
including telephony and control circuits. The MOS integrated circuit is the technology behind the current
proliferation of radio frequency wireless telecommunications devices such as cellphones.
Medicine Edit
Main article: Medical applications of radio frequency
Radio frequency (RF) energy, in the form of radiating waves or electrical currents, has been used in medical
treatments for over 75 years,[10] generally for minimally invasive surgeries using radiofrequency ablation
including the treatment of sleep
Radio frequency (RF) energy, in the form of radiating waves or electrical currents, has been used in medical
treatments for over 75 years,[10] generally for minimally invasive surgeries using radiofrequency ablation
including the treatment of sleep apnea
Test apparatus for radio frequencies can include standard instruments at the lower end of the range, but at
higher frequencies, the test equipment becomes more specialized
The radio spectrum of frequencies is divided into bands with conventional names designated by the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU):
Frequency range
Wavelength
range ITU designationIEEE bands[5]
Full name Abbreviation[6]
Below 3 Hz >105 km Tremendously low frequency[7] TLF N/A
3–30 Hz 105–104 kmExtremely low frequency ELF N/A 30–
300 Hz 104–103 kmSuper low frequency SLFN/A
300–3000 Hz 103–100 kmUltra low frequency ULF N/A
3–30 kHz 100–10 km Very low frequency VLF N/A
30–300 kHz 10–1 km Low frequency LFN/A
300 kHz – 3 MHz 1 km – 100 m Medium frequency MF N/A
3–30 MHz 100–10 m High frequency HF HF
30–300 MHz 10–1 m Very high frequency VHF VHF
300 MHz – 3 GHz 1 m – 10 cm Ultra high frequency UHF UHF, L, S
3–30 GHz 10–1 cm Super high frequencySHF S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka
30–300 GHz 1 cm – 1 mm Extremely high frequency EHF Ka, V, W, mm
300 GHz – 3 THz 1 mm – 0 1 mm Tremendously high frequency THF N/A
Frequencies of 1 GHz and above are conventionally called microwave,[8] while frequencies of 30 GHz
and above are designated millimeter wave. More detailed band designations are given by the standard
IEEE letter- band frequency designations[5] and the EU/NATO frequency designations.[9]
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Notes 200714 010319 A25

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Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic,

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