A detection device for detecting and characterizing biological energy fields emitted by biological specimens is configured to collect and analyze an electromagnetic signal that includes millimeter-length waves generated by the interaction of atmospheric plasma with torsion waves of the biological energy field. The device performs spectral analysis on the millimeter waves to determine characteristics of the corresponding torsion waves that generated them. An array of several hundred non-thermal plasma plumes are placed directly in front of a circular horn. A switchable circular polarizer is used to select left hand circular, linear or right hand circular polarization. A low noise frequency converter allows a noise temperature of less than 1150 K. A frequency scan and averaging algorithm is developed to characterize noise temperature versus frequency, comparing signal and noise levels between plasma on and plasma off, and switching polarization sense.