Power-dependent conductivity of electrolyte aqueous solutions under microwave irradiation at 915 MHz: An experimental study

The reflection coefficients from a gold-plated coaxial line probe submerged in different electrolyte aqueous solutions are measured under different microwave powers and constant temperature. Measurements were performed at 915 MHz. Furthermore, a GA-based inverse calculation technique was formulated and used to determine the effective conductivity of the solution from the measured reflection coefficients. A new phenomenon was observed: the effective conductivity of electrolyte aqueous solutions can be directly influenced by microwave power. Any thermal effect was excluded using multiphysics calculation and temperature measurement during the experiment for sodium chloride aqueous solution. Therefore, it was concluded that nonthermal effect of sodium chloride aqueous solution under microwave radiation exists. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:222–225, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26500