A system for the exposure of small laboratory animals to a 25-mT 60-Hz alternating or traveling magnetic field

A versatile exposure system which can be used to investigate the effects of a 60-Hz alternating magnetic field or traveling magnetic field on small laboratory animals is described. Special attention was given to the design of the electric circuit to simplify the supply requirements and to keep the overall current to a minimum. A magnetic field having a flux density up to 30 mT (300 G) can be generated, and a traveling magnetic field is obtained by reconnecting the coils to a three-phase supply. The total magnetic field due to the currents in the three coils used in the exposure system is analyzed. A computer program was written to evaluate the magnetic field in the region where the animals are located. The difference observed between measured and computed values is attributed to the representation of the multiturn, multilayer coils by equivalent single-turn coils.