W band

The W band of the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum and ranges from 75 to 111 GHz. It sits above the U.S. IEEE designated V band (50–75 GHz) in frequency, yet overlaps the NATO designated M band (60–100 GHz). The W band is used for millimeter wave radar research, military radar targeting and tracking applications, and some non-military applications.

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A number of Passive MMW cameras are available for Concealed Weapons Detection operating at 94 GHz. A frequency around 77 GHz is used for automotive cruise control radar. The atmospheric radio window at 94 GHz is used for imaging mm-wave radar applications in astronomy, defense, and security applications.

Less-than-lethal weaponry exists that uses millimeter waves to heat a thin layer of human skin to an intolerable temperature so as to make the targeted person move away. A two-second burst of the 95 GHz focused beam heats the skin to a temperature of 130 F (54 C) at a depth of 1/64th of an inch (0.4 mm). The United States Air Force and Marines are currently using this type of Active Denial System.^[1]

The 71 - 76 GHz / 81 - 86 GHz segment of the W-band is allocated by the International Telecommunication Union to satellite services. Owing to increasing spectrum and orbit congestion at lower frequencies, the W-band satellite allocations are becoming of increasing interest to commercial satellite operators, although no commercial project has yet been implemented in these bands.

References

• 5th Framework Programme Information Societies Technologies (IST) - Multifunctional Automotive Radar Network (RadarNet) [1]
• The design of a real-time 94- GHz passive millimetre-wave imager for helicopter operations, R. Appleby, R. Anderton, N. Thomson, J. Jack, Proc. SPIE, 5619, pp. 38 (2004). doi:10.1117/12.581336

See also