Can Specific Oscillating Electric Fields Heat Dipolar Molecules Selectively?

[maayan_aloni]

Hi all!
I was wondering,
Is it possible, given a specific dipolar molecule, to create the perfect oscillating electric field so as to heat it and not, i.e. the water around it?
What I'm basically asking is could there exist a specific microwave just for X and not all dipolar molecules without differentiation? Does every dipolar molecule have its own ideal frequency? And if so- how specific could it be? (asking mainly in the interest of heating everything BUT water).
Thank u all in advance!
Maayan.

 

[f95toli]

If you have a certain molecule in a vacuum (in say a dilute gas) you should -at least in theory- be able to "heat" specific molecules/atoms it (give them more kinetic energy); essentially it is just the inverse of laser/Dopler cooling (although you would probably use lasers, not MW)

If you are asking if you can "selectively" heat a certain species of molecules that are part of a solution, the answer if no. All molecules in a liquid (or solid) constantly interact meaning the whole liquid will have the same temperature.

 

[DrClaude]

Note also that microwave ovens work by dielectric heating, and not through a resonance with the water molecules.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric_heating

 

[maayan_aloni]

If you have a certain molecule in a vacuum (in say a dilute gas) you should -at least in theory- be able to "heat" specific molecules/atoms it (give them more kinetic energy); essentially it is just the inverse of laser/Dopler cooling (although you would probably use lasers, not MW)

If you are asking if you can "selectively" heat a certain species of molecules that are part of a solution, the answer if no. All molecules in a liquid (or solid) constantly interact meaning the whole liquid will have the same temperature.

hi! Thanks for the answer!
And if we are talking about human tissue i.e. liver tissue and a certain polarized sugar within it? Liver tissue isn't exactly a solution, more like a semi-solid mixture I would say?
I'm basically looking for new ways to heat specific cells within an organ, more than others.
Maayan

 

[f95toli]

hi! Thanks for the answer!
And if we are talking about human tissue i.e. liver tissue and a certain polarized sugar within it? Liver tissue isn't exactly a solution, more like a semi-solid mixture I would say?
I'm basically looking for new ways to heat specific cells within an organ, more than others.
Maayan

No, you still need something that is more selective.
If you are talking about targeting specific cell types (as opposed to specific regions of the body) one possible method is to use functionalised magnetic nanoparticles. These are coated with biomarkers that bind to certain cells. An external magnetic field can then activate the nanoparticles and cause them to e.g. deliver a drug. This is AFAIK still only at the R&D stage
Years ago I did see suggestions that magnetic nanoparticles could be also used to create very local heating by simple inductive heating; I don't know if that is still something that is being pursued.