Recording Microwave Hearing Effects: Literature Review and Case

Report of an Affiant to Recording Remote Harassment

John J. McMurtrey, M. S., Copyright 2006, 2008 Jul 20

Donations toward future research are gratefully appreciated at

http://www.slavery.org.uk/FutureResearch.htm

Abstract

Literature pertaining to the conditions by which microwaves produce sound via

the thermoelastic effect and recording the effect is reviewed with comparison to
microphone components. A case report of an affiant to recording remote harassment is
presented. Actual words understood as transmitted by the affiant could have been
recorded as distorted sound.

Introduction and Literature Review

The accepted microwave hearing mechanism is by thermoelastic expansion

resulting in acoustic perception. 1 2 The rapid heating of a surface sets up stress waves of
sound within a material, and this is more pronounced for constrained surfaces. 3 4 5 Glass
containers are considered a constraining surface, and the ability to record microwave
hearing sound is described utilizing hydrophones (a liquid immersible microphone) in
water or salt solutions. 6 Such effects are detected by implanted hydrophone within the
heads of rats, guinea pigs, or cats 7 8 as well as from model equivalents of muscle 9 and
brain. 10
In appropriate materials and situations the thermoacoustic vibrations are strong
enough to be air conducted with reports of such sound production. The ability to hear
microwave pulses impinging on tin foil held next to the ear is described. 11 Audible
sounds were observed during an interferrometric study in certain lossy dielectric
materials. 12 Two patents discuss the ability of the radio frequency (microwave) hearing
effect to produce sound in spheres of material with appropriate radio frequency
response,13 14 and mathematical prediction of such effects compared to experimental
results in dielectric spheres is available. 15 An article on recording simple microwave
hearing effects by microphone describes sound production in carbon impregnated
polyurethane. 16 This microwave absorber produced sound from pieces as small as 4 mm 2
by 2 mm thick. Tin foil was also tested as a microwave sound transducer with sound
induced by microwave pulses in crumpled foil, though whole sheets did not produce
sound.
One microphone design is known responsive to the thermoacoustic effect, and
several other microphone designs involve elements that are very similar to conditions
producing sound in thermoacoustic or microwave hearing literature. Since rapid transient
 2

heating of a very small surface depth is the thermoacoustic mechanism, the effect is more
related to the energy deposited, materials, and conditions than the electromagnetic energy
source. Sound is produced by lasers from thin metal films, particularly as deposited on a
constraining surface. 5 Thermoacoustic sound is produced by lasers in aluminum films,
17
and by radio frequency in gold, nickel, or titanium. 3 Condenser (or capacitor)
microphones have a diaphragm that is normally made of mylar with a metallic film
backing, which is usually of gold, though aluminum, nickel, or titanium have also been
used. 18 Thermoacoustic sound production from metal as simply constrained by Mylar
tape is mentioned in laser experiments. 5 Condenser microphones are shown directly
responsive to thermoacoustic sound production in laser experiments. 19 The electrolet
microphone is a recent design variety of the condenser microphone. 20 Ribbon
microphones utilize aluminum foil that is often corrugated, which is similar to the
crumpled tin foil microwave sound production above, and a recent ribbon design variant
has the aluminum on a polyester film, 21 which imposes a constraint known to enhance
thermoacoustic sound production. 3 Microphones based on piezoelectric films have
aluminum deposited upon the film as an electrode, 22 and piezoelectric materials from
which such films are composed are acoustically responsive to microwave excitation. 23
One report on recording microwave hearing sound within animal heads notes free air
response of a lead zirconate-titanate (a piezoelectric material) hydrophone to microwave
pulses that was considered an artifact to within head sound recording. 7
Sharp and Grove were co-authors in an above citation on recording microwave
hearing effects from microwave absorbing material, and also discovered a method of
voice transmission to humans. 11 This voice transmission technique can pass though
walls, and there is evidence of further development of such capability with references to
detrimental uses as well as the existence of weapons. 24 Substantiation for plausibility of
directly recording microwave hearing harassment is indicated by: the demonstration of
condenser microphone thermoacoustic response, the indications of piezoelectric
microwave effect implies piezoelectric microphone response, and the similarity in other
microphone designs of elements responsive to thermoacoustic conditions.
People who consider themselves harassed by what may be microwave hearing
technology have formed protest organizations around the world. 25 26 27 28 29 One of these
groups, Citizens Against Human Rights Abuse (now Mind Justice) had anecdotes of
recordings that captured harassing voice transmissions. On receiving one such recording,
this organization decided to commission a study to attempt to capture voice transmission
near victims who complain of such symptoms. The study was inconclusive and not fully
completed due to the terminal illness of the investigator, but the study did record
unidentified sounds and is Internet published. 30 Other victims have reported an ability to
record sounds and voices that harass them. 31 32

Case Report

Tape recordings made by one victim of the above phenomenon 31 were provided
to the author for consideration with a notarized affidavit in authentication. Affiant
believes a key component for recording such effects is the Sonic Super Ear personal
sound amplifier microphone (or microphones with similar characteristics). 33 A tripod
suspended this microphone about 6 inches behind the top of the affiant’s head while he

2
 3

attempted to sleep. The sound system also included a RCA model SA155 Mini Stereo
Amplifier. The microphone’s pickup gain was set about ¾ maximum and the RCA
amplifier gain set at about ¼ maximum. A videocassette was also supplied, which was
taken by a Cannon ES75 Camcorder mounded on a tripod, and recorded by a SONY
model TC WE305 Stereo Cassette Deck on an 8-hour cassette. Since components
should be compatible with the microphone, the affiant has supplied the operating
specifications of the components, which is appended.
The audio recordings were compiled on two tapes with a short preamble by the
affiant as to the content of each segment, particularly about words understood by the
affiant. The affiant perceived this apparent sound and voice as harassment (particularly
to disturb his sleep), and was uncertain as to precise origination. Though sounds
comparable to the words indicated by the affiant could be attributed to the recordings by
listening, there was also considerable distortion, and the vocabulary indicated in the
examples was limited. Other sounds that the affiant affirms not to be made by him and
intended to harass him at night, resembled snoring or nasal and oropharyngeal sounds.
The provided videocassette contained compiled recordings of similar sound episodes (as
well as sounds that may be distorted voice, as so affirmed by the affiant). The affiant had
his eyes closed during these videos, but affirmed he was awake, however his alertness
was indeterminate except on voice response. His mouth appeared closed during most
sound episodes, but complete closure could not be determined. The affiant reports that he
has unconsidered videotapes of sound meter readings responsive to local ambient sound,
but which he believes do not correlate with those sounds recorded that are understood as
transmitted.
Unfortunately, the vendor of the Sonic Super Ear was unresponsive to repeated
inquiry as to specific design, however the condenser microphone design is widely
utilized. 20

Discussion

Such recordings merit further investigation by more definitive methods, and/or

independent experimental replication. The report for Mind Justice 18 also noted sounds
indistinct as to volume or distortion that could be voice, but was inconclusive. Some
radio frequency speech transmission patents 13 14 require pre-distortion of speech
signals compatible with sound conditions within the head for intelligibility, and suggest a
sphere of similar mass having radio frequency characteristics equivalent to the head
intelligibly demodulates such signals, so distortion could be expected from a non-ideal
transducer like a microphone. Of relevance is that the Sonic Super Ear diaphragm cannot
be more that ½” in diameter, and the study showing condenser microphone
thermoacoustic response 19 appeared to indicate a better response for 1” than ½”
diaphragms at high laser pulsation.
More sophisticated evaluation of the affiant’s recordings than by ear and viewing
may be more definitive. Thermoacoustic experiments have produced waves at the
pulsation rate of the electromagnetic source in ultrasound frequencies 34 even into such
high rates that can be termed microwave sound a with gold films being particularly
efficient transducers. 35 36 Besides these early studies, similar thermoacoustic methods are
a
Not to be confused with electromagnetic microwaves which transmit without fluid or solid media.

3
 4

presently considered for generating ultrasound of sufficient frequency to improve

biomedical image resolution. 37 Such results raise the interesting possibility that voice
transmission devices based on microwave pulse bursts could have a detectable ultrasonic
component. Voice transmission microwave hearing patents based on pulse bursts have
such high rates for pulses within bursts that along with normal sound, ultrasonic
frequencies from 100 kHz to 40 mHz could be expected from the patent specifications. 38
39
Condenser microphones are responsive to the lowest range of such frequencies to
capture ultrasound from moths 40 and bats, 41 yet such microphone responsiveness is not
clear for preferred patent burst parameters that would indicate ultrasound within bursts of
5 mHz, though responsive transducers do exist for the highest expected ultrasound
frequencies as 50 papers are evident on Pubmed search terms of ultrasound and “40
mHz.” Such ultrasound component would be unlikely to be usual from normal sound.
Studies on microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography, which induces
thermoacoustic responses internally within tissues at ultrasound frequencies, 42 43 44 also
encourage the prospect that such ultrasound frequencies could be detected from tissues as
well, on voice transmission. However, it is unclear from the specifications that such
frequencies would be expected from more recent voice transmission patents, 13 14 as
pulsation parameters are omitted with only a Freedom of Information Act release, being
briefly informative. 45

APPENDIX

RECORDING COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS

Sonic Super Ear: Personal Sound Amplifier by Sonic Product, Inc.

Audio Gain: .... +50 dB

Max. Signal Output: .... 107 dB

Frequency Response: .... 100 Hz to 14 kHz

Power Requirement: .... 1.5 volt AAA batter, for normal operation upt ot 30 hours

--------------------------------
RCA SA155 Mini Stereo Amplifier

Power Requirement .... 120 Voltes AC, 60 Hz. 25 Watts

Output Power (1% Distortion, 1 kHz, Both Channels Driven) .... 1.8 Watts/Channel
(RMS)
Frequency Response .... 20 Hz to 25 kHz
Input Sensitivity:
A. Phono .... 2.5 mV (Magnetic); 200 mV (Ceramic)
B. Tuner .... 160 mV
C. CD/Tape .... 160 mV
Tape Output .... 150 mV

4
 5

Speaker Impedance .... 8 to 16 Ohms

Tone Control Response .... -18.0 dB
Crosstalk at CD/Tape Input (@ 2 Watts Power) .... 50 dB @ 1 kHz

---------------------------------------------------------
SONY TC WE305 Stereo Cassette Deck

Recording System: ... 4-track 2-channel stereo

Fast-winding time (approx.) .... 120 seconds
Bias .... AC bias
S/N Ratio (at peak level and weighted with Dolby NR off)
A. Type 1 Tape, Sony Type 1 (Normal): .... 55 dB
B. Type 2 Tape, Sony Type 2 (High): .... 57 dB
C. Type 4 Tape, Sony Type 4 (Metal) .... 58 dB

S/N Ratio improvement (approx.)

A. With Dolby NR on: 5 dB @ 1 kHz, 10 dB @ 5 kHz

Harmonic Distortion
0.4% (with Type 1 tape, Sony Type 1 (Normal)
160 nWb/m 315 Hz, 3rd. H.D., 1.8% (with Type 4 Tape, Sony Type 4 (Metal), 250
nWb/m
315 Hz, 3rd. H.D.

Frequency Response (Dolby off)

Type 1 Tape, Sony Type 1 (Normal), 30 Hz to 14 kHz, +/- 3 dB, IEC; 20 to 15 kHz
+/- 6 dB
Type 2 Tape, Sony Type 2 (High), 30 Hz to 15 kHz, +/- 3 dB, IEC; 20 to 16 kHz +/- 6
dB
Type 4 Tape, Sony Type 4 (Metal), 30 Hz to 15 kHz +/- 3 dB, IEC; 20 to 16 kHz +/-6
dB,
30 to 13 kHz +/- 3 dB, -4 dB Recording.

Wow and Flutter

A. +/- 0.21% W. Peak, IEC; 015 % W. RMS, NAB; +/- 0.3 % W. Peak, DIN

Inputs
Line Input (phono jack)
A. Sensitivity .... 0.16 V
B. Input impedance: 47 kohms

Outputs
Line Output (phono jack)
A. Rated Output Level: 0.5 V @ load of 47 kohms
B. Load Impedance: over 10 kohms

5
 6

Power Requirements: 120 V AC, 60 Hz.

--------------------------------------------------------------

SYLVANIA KVS600 Video Cassette Recorder

Television System: .... NTSC, TV standard .... Video Output Level: .... 1 Vp-p
.... Video Input Level .... 0.5 to 2.0 Vp-p
Video Heads: .... Rotary 4-head .... Video Output Impedance .... 75 ohms
Tape Cassette: .... VHS video cassette .... Audio Output Level .... -6 dBv (1 kHz)
Tape Speed:
A. Recording .... SP, SLP .... Audio Input Level .... -10 dBv
B. Playback: .... SP, LP, SLP .... Power requirements 120 VAC, at 60 Hz

Acknowledgements: Thanks are given to God for inspiration and guidance, as well as
Bob Dunlap for collaboration and Christians Against Mental Slavery for web space at
http://www.slavery.org.uk

REFERENCES

6
1
Elder JA, Chou CK: Auditory responses to pulsed radiofrequency energy. Bioelectromagnetics 2003; Suppl 8:S162-S173
PubMed abstract.
2
Lin JC: Auditory perception of pulsed microwave radiation, Chapter 12, in Biological Effects and Medical Applications of
Electromagnetic Energy. Edited by Gandhi OP. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1990, p 278-318
3
White RM. “Generation of Elastic Waves by Transient Surface Heating” J Applied Physics 34(11): 3559-67, 1963.
4
Gournay LS. “Conversion of Electromagnetic to Acoustic Energy by Surface Heating” J Acoust Soc Am 40(6): 1322-30,
1966.
5
von Gutfeld RJ and Melcher RL. “20-MHz acoustic waves from pulsed themoelastic expansion of constrained surfaces”
Applied Physics Letters 30(6): 257-9, 1977.
6
Foster KR and Finch ED. “Microwave Hearing: Evidence for Thermoacoustic Auditory Stimulation by Pulsed
Microwaves” Science 185: 256-58, 1974.
7
Olsen RG and Lin JC. “Microwave-Induced Pressure Waves in Mammalian Brains” IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 30(5): 1983.
8
Lin JC, Su J-L, and Wang Y. “Microwave-Induced Thermoelastic Pressure Wave Propagation in the Cat Brain”
Bioelectromagnetics 9: 141-7, 1988.
9
Olsen RG and Hammer WC. “Microwave-Induced Pressure Waves in a Model of Muscle Tissue” Bioelectromagnetics 1:
45-54, 1980.
10
Olsen RG and Hammer WC. “Evidence for Microwave-Induced Acoustical Resonances in Biological Materials” J
Microw Power 16(3 & 4): 263-9, 1981.
11
Justesen DR. “Microwaves and Behavior” Am Psychologist, 392(Mar): 391-401, 1975.
12
Guy AW, Chou CK, Lin JC, and Christensen D. “Microwave-induced Acoustic Effects in Mammalian Auditory Systems
and Physical Materials” Ann N Y Acad Sci 247: 194-218, 1975.
13
O’Loughlin JP, Loree DL. Patent #6470214 “Method and device for implementing the radio frequency hearing effect”
USPTO granted 10/22/02.
14
O’Loughlin JP, Loree DL. Patent #6587729 “Apparatus for audibly communicating speech using the radio frequency
hearing effect” USPTO granted 7/1/03.
15
Uzungolu N and Polychronopoulos SI. “Microwave-Induced Auditory Effect in a Dielectric Sphere” IEEE Transactions
in Microwave Theory and Technique 36(10): 1418-25, 1988. Full article accessed 1/12/05 from IEEE Xplore.
16
Sharp JC, Grove HM, and Gandhi OP. “Generation of Acoustic Signals by Pulsed Microwave Energy” IEEE Transactions
on Microwave Theory and Techniques 22: 583-4, 1974.
17
Kubota K and Nakatani Y. “Optical Excitation of Acoustic Pulse in Solids” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 12(6):
888-94, 1973.
18
Eargle J. The Microphone Book Focal Press, Boston, Oxford, p 30, 2001.
19
Dioszegny T. “Photoacoustic response of condenser microphones” Journal of Applied Physics 61(1): 449-50, 1987. Full
text available from Inspec.
20
Eargle J. The Microphone Handbook Elar Publishing, Plainview, New York, p 8-10, 1981.
21
Huber DM and Runstein RE. Modern Recording Techniques Fourth Edition, SAMS Publishing, Indianapolis, p 96-7,
1995.
22
Tamura M, Yamaguchi T, Oyaba T, and Yoshimi Y. “Electroacoustic Transducers with Piezoelectric High Polymer
Films” In: Audio Engineering Society An anthology of articles on microphones from the pages of the Journal of the Audio
Engineering Society Vol. 1 – Vol. 27 (1953-1979) Audio Engineering Society, New York, p 152-7, 1979.
23
Henni ARH, Bacon C, and Hostan B. “Acoustic generation in piezoelectric materials by microwave excitation” J Acoust
Soc Am 118(4): 2281-8, 2005.
24
McMurtrey JJ. “Inner Voice, Target Tracking, and Behavioral Influence Technologies” in press 2004. Accessed 8/11/04
at http://www.slavery.org.uk/InnerVoiceTargTrackBehavInflu.doc
25
Mind Justice (Formerly Citizens Against Human Rights Abuse), Director, Cheryl Welsh, 915 Zaragoza Street, Davis, CA
95616, USA. Website at http://www.mindjustice.org/ Email is welsh@mindjustice.org
26
Freedom from Covert Harassment and Surveillance. President, Derrick Robinson, P. O. Box 9022. Cincinnati, Ohio
45209. Website at http://www.freedomfchs.com/ Email is info@freedomfchs.com
27
Christians Against Mental Slavery, Secretary, John Allman, 98 High Street, Knaresbourough, N. Yorks HG5 0HN, United
Kingdom. Website at http://www.slavery.org.uk/ Email is info@slavery.org.uk
28
Moscow Committee for the Ecology of Dwellings, Chairman, Emile Sergeevne Chirkovoi, Korpus 1006, Kvrtira 363,
Moscow Zelenograd, Russia 103575. . Website at http://www.moskomekologia.narod.ru Email is
moskomekologia@narod.ru
29
International Movement for the Ban of Manipulation of the Human Nervous System by Technologic Means, Founder,
Mojmir Babacek, P. O. Box 52, 51101 Turnov, Czech Republic, Europe. Website at
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Campus/2289/webpage.htm Email is mbabacek@iol.cz
30
Byrd E. “Report for CAHRA [now Mind Justice]: A Scientific Experiment to Replicate the Recording of Voices that
Targeted Individuals Hear” Accessed 8/13/04 at http://www.mindjustice.org/byrdexp.htm
31
Dunlap, Bob. Personal communication authenticated by notarized affidavit. Mr Dunlap has extensive audio and video
recordings. He has been willing to provide affidavit thereto as well. Email-- dunl254@aol.com Mr. Dunlap has also had
contact with 3 additional victims reporting an ability to record harassing sounds, but they were not willing to have their
email published.
32
Tilton, Margo. Personal Communication. Email- mtilton@cableone.net
33
Sonic Super Ear personal sound amplifier microphone. Accessed 10/9/04 and available at
http://store.preparedness.com/sonicsuperear.html This microphone requires an AA battery that according to Mr. Dunlap
will last 36 hours before response characteristics deteriorate.
34
Kubota K. “Optically-Excited Elastic Waves in Solids” Solid State Communications 9: 2045-47, 1971.
35
Cachier G. “Laser Excitation of Microwave Sound in Solids” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 49(3): 974-78,
1971.
36
Brienza MJ and Demaria AJ. “Laser-Induced Microwave Sound by Surface Heating” Applied Physics Letters 11(8): 44-6,
1967.
37
Acqafresca A, Baigi E, Masotti L, and Menichelli D. “Toward Virtual Biopsy Through an All Fiber Optic Ultrasonic
Miniaturized Transducer: A Proposal “ IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control 50(10):
1325-35, 2003. IEEE Xplore accessible.
38
Brunkan WB. Patent # 4877027 “Hearing system” USPTO granted 10/31/89.
39
Leyser R: [Microwave hearing device uses modulated microwave pulses for providing induced sound warning directly
within head of deaf person.] Federal Republic of Germany patent # DE10222439, 2003 Dec 11 Abstract available from:
URL:http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=DE10222439&F=0 Original German Document available
from: URL:http://v3.espacenet.com/pdfdocnav?DB=EPODOC&IDX=DE10222439&F=128&QPN=DE10222439 English
translation available from: URL:http://www.sysos.co.uk/GermanV2K.doc English translation is also available from the
author, and Walter Madlinger at wmadliger@yahoo.de
40
Jang YW and Greenfield MD. “Ultrasonic communication and sexual selection in wax moths: female choice based on
energy and asynchrony of male signals” Animal Behavior 51: 1095-1106, 1996. Full text at
http://www.ku.edu/~eeb/greenfield/jang%20&%20greenfield%201996.pdf
41
Helversen Dv, Holderied MW, and Helversen Ov. “Echoes of bat-pollinated bell-shaped flowers: conspicuous for nectar-
feeding bats?” Journal of Experimental Biology 206: 1025-34, 2003. See figure 1 legend for microphone specifications.
Full text available at http://www.google.com/url?
sa=U&start=1&q=http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/206/6/1025&e=10053
42
Ku G and Wang LV. “Scanning microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography: Signal, resolution, and contrast”
Medical Physics 28(1): 4-10, 2001.
43
Ku G and Wang LV. “Scanning thermoacoustic tomography in biological tissue” Medical Physics 27(5): 1195-1202,
2000.
44
Xu Y and Wang LV. “Signal processing in scanning thermoacoustic tomography in biological tissues” Medical Physics
28(7): 1519-24, 2001.
45
O’Loughlin J. Letter to Ken Callahan, JA. 2001 Aug 30. [Online] [Cited 2007 Mar 13] Available from URL:
http://cryptome.org/rf-speech/rf-speech-03.pdf