Computational Interpretation of the Relation Between Electric Field and the Applied Current for Cathodic Protection Under Different Conductivity Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Yong-Sang; Ko, Sang-Jin; Lee, Sangkyu; Kim, Jung-Gu

2018-03-01

An interpretation of the relation between the electric field and the applied current for cathodic protection is investigated using a boundary element method simulation. Also, a conductivity-difference environment is set for the interface influence. The variation of the potential distribution is increased with the increase of the applied current and the conductivity difference due to the rejection of the current at the interface. In the case of the electric field, the tendencies of the increasing rate and the applied currents are similar, but the interface influence is different according to the directional component and field type (decrease of E z and increases of E x and E y) due to the directional difference between the electric fields. Also, the change tendencies of the electric fields versus the applied current plots are affected by the polarization curve tendency regarding the polarization type (activation and concentration polarizations in the oxygen-reduction and hydrogen-reduction reactions). This study shows that the underwater electric signature is determined by the polarization behavior of the materials.

Method and apparatus for atomization and spraying of molten metals

DOEpatents

Hobson, David O.; Alexeff, Igor; Sikka, Vinod K.

1990-01-01

A method and device for dispersing molten metal into fine particulate spray, the method comprises applying an electric current through the molten metal and simultaneously applying a magnetic field to the molten metal in a plane perpendicular to the electric current, whereby the molten metal is caused to form into droplets at an angle perpendicular to both the electric current and the magnetic field. The device comprises a structure for providing a molten metal, appropriately arranged electrodes for applying an electric current through the molten metal, and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in a plane perpendicular to the electric current.

Method and apparatus for atomization and spraying of molten metals

DOEpatents

Hobson, D.O.; Alexeff, I.; Sikka, V.K.

1988-07-19

A method and device for dispersing molten metal into fine particulate spray, the method comprises applying an electric current through the molten metal and simultaneously applying a magnetic field to the molten metal in a plane perpendicular to the electric current, whereby the molten metal is caused to form into droplets at an angle perpendicular to both the electric current and the magnetic field. The device comprises a structure for providing a molten metal, appropriately arranged electrodes for applying an electric current through the molten metal, and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in a plane perpendicular to the electric current. 11 figs.

Solar-terrestrial coupling through atmospheric electricity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roble, R. G.; Hays, P. B.

1979-01-01

There are a number of measurements of electrical variations that suggest a solar-terrestrial influence on the global atmospheric electrical circuit. The measurements show variations associated with solar flares, solar magnetic sector boundary crossings, geomagnetic activity, aurorae, differences between ground current and potential gradients at high and low latitudes, and solar cycle variations. The evidence for each variation is examined. Both the experimental evidence and the calculations made with a global model of atmospheric electricity indicate that there is solar-terrestrial coupling through atmospheric electricity which operates by altering the global electric current and field distribution. A global redistribution of currents and fields can be caused by large-scale changes in electrical conductivity, by alteration of the columnar resistance between thunderstorm cloud tops and the ionosphere, or by both. If the columnar resistance is altered above thunderstorms, more current will flow in the global circuit, changing the ionospheric potential and basic circuit variables such as current density and electric fields. The observed variations of currents and fields during solar-induced disturbances are generally less than 50% of mean values near the earth's surface.

Electric field mill network products to improve detection of the lightning hazard

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maier, Launa M.

1987-01-01

An electric field mill network has been used at Kennedy Space Center for over 10 years as part of the thunderstorm detection system. Several algorithms are currently available to improve the informational output of the electric field mill data. The charge distributions of roughly 50 percent of all lightning can be modeled as if they reduced the charged cloud by a point charge or a point dipole. Using these models, the spatial differences in the lightning induced electric field changes, and a least squares algorithm to obtain an optimum solution, the three-dimensional locations of the lightning charge centers can be located. During the lifetime of a thunderstorm, dynamically induced charging, modeled as a current source, can be located spatially with measurements of Maxwell current density. The electric field mills can be used to calculate the Maxwell current density at times when it is equal to the displacement current density. These improvements will produce more accurate assessments of the potential electrical activity, identify active cells, and forecast thunderstorm termination.

Electric field characteristics of electroconvulsive therapy with individualized current amplitude: a preclinical study.

PubMed

Lee, Won Hee; Lisanby, Sarah H; Laine, Andrew F; Peterchev, Angel V

2013-01-01

This study examines the characteristics of the electric field induced in the brain by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with individualized current amplitude. The electric field induced by bilateral (BL), bifrontal (BF), right unilateral (RUL), and frontomedial (FM) ECT electrode configurations was computed in anatomically realistic finite element models of four nonhuman primates (NHPs). We generated maps of the electric field strength relative to an empirical neural activation threshold, and determined the stimulation strength and focality at fixed current amplitude and at individualized current amplitudes corresponding to seizure threshold (ST) measured in the anesthetized NHPs. The results show less variation in brain volume stimulated above threshold with individualized current amplitudes (16-36%) compared to fixed current amplitude (30-62%). Further, the stimulated brain volume at amplitude-titrated ST is substantially lower than that for ECT with conventional fixed current amplitudes. Thus individualizing the ECT stimulus current could compensate for individual anatomical variability and result in more focal and uniform electric field exposure across different subjects compared to the standard clinical practice of using high, fixed current for all patients.

Electric currents and voltage drops along auroral field lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1983-01-01

An assessment is presented of the current state of knowledge concerning Birkeland currents and the parallel electric field, with discussions focusing on the Birkeland primary region 1 sheets, the region 2 sheets which parallel them and appear to close in the partial ring current, the cusp currents (which may be correlated with the interplanetary B(y) component), and the Harang filament. The energy required by the parallel electric field and the associated particle acceleration processes appears to be derived from the Birkeland currents, for which evidence is adduced from particles, inverted V spectra, rising ion beams and expanded loss cones. Conics may on the other hand signify acceleration by electrostatic ion cyclotron waves associated with beams accelerated by the parallel electric field.

Interplanetary magnetic field effects on high latitude ionospheric convection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heelis, R. A.

1985-01-01

Relations between the electric field and the electric current in the ionosphere can be established on the basis of a system of mathematical and physical equations provided by the equations of current continuity and Ohm's law. For this reason, much of the synthesis of electric field and plasma velocity data in the F-region is made with the aid of similar data sets derived from field-aligned current and horizontal current measurements. During the past decade, the development of a self-consistent picture of the distribution and behavior of these measurements has proceeded almost in parallel. The present paper is concerned with the picture as it applies to the electric field and plasma drift velocity and its dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field. Attention is given to the southward interplanetary magnetic field and the northward interplanetary magnetic field.

Field-aligned particle currents near an auroral arc.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choy, L. W.; Arnoldy, R. L.; Potter, W.; Kintner, P.; Cahill, L. J., Jr.

1971-01-01

A Nike-Tomahawk rocket equipped to measure electric and magnetic fields and charged particles from a few eV to several hundred keV energy was flown into an auroral band on April 11, 1970. The purpose of this flight was to obtain evidence of the low-energy electrons and protons that constitute a field-aligned sheet current, and also to obtain the magnetic signature of such a current and the electric field in and near the auroral-arc electric current system. Particular attention was given to a sudden increase in the field-aligned current associated with a prior sudden increase in the electric field and a sudden change in the magnetic field, all occurring near the edge of a visual auroral arc. Data obtained are discussed and analyzed; they present an important contribution to the problem of mapping of atmospheric auroral phenomena to the magnetospheric equatorial plane.

Electric field induced spin-polarized current

DOEpatents

Murakami, Shuichi; Nagaosa, Naoto; Zhang, Shoucheng

2006-05-02

A device and a method for generating an electric-field-induced spin current are disclosed. A highly spin-polarized electric current is generated using a semiconductor structure and an applied electric field across the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure can be a hole-doped semiconductor having finite or zero bandgap or an undoped semiconductor of zero bandgap. In one embodiment, a device for injecting spin-polarized current into a current output terminal includes a semiconductor structure including first and second electrodes, along a first axis, receiving an applied electric field and a third electrode, along a direction perpendicular to the first axis, providing the spin-polarized current. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor material whose spin orbit coupling energy is greater than room temperature (300 Kelvin) times the Boltzmann constant. In one embodiment, the semiconductor structure is a hole-doped semiconductor structure, such as a p-type GaAs semiconductor layer.

Electric control of emergent magnonic spin current and dynamic multiferroicity in magnetic insulators at finite temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xi-guang; Chotorlishvili, L.; Guo, Guang-hua; Berakdar, J.

2018-04-01

Conversion of thermal energy into magnonic spin currents and/or effective electric polarization promises new device functionalities. A versatile approach is presented here for generating and controlling open circuit magnonic spin currents and an effective multiferroicity at a uniform temperature with the aid of spatially inhomogeneous, external, static electric fields. This field applied to a ferromagnetic insulator with a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type coupling changes locally the magnon dispersion and modifies the density of thermally excited magnons in a region of the scale of the field inhomogeneity. The resulting gradient in the magnon density can be viewed as a gradient in the effective magnon temperature. This effective thermal gradient together with local magnon dispersion result in an open-circuit, electric field controlled magnonic spin current. In fact, for a moderate variation in the external electric field the predicted magnonic spin current is on the scale of the spin (Seebeck) current generated by a comparable external temperature gradient. Analytical methods supported by full-fledge numerics confirm that both, a finite temperature and an inhomogeneous electric field are necessary for this emergent non-equilibrium phenomena. The proposal can be integrated in magnonic and multiferroic circuits, for instance to convert heat into electrically controlled pure spin current using for example nanopatterning, without the need to generate large thermal gradients on the nanoscale.

The development of the time dependence of the nuclear EMP electric field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eng, C

The nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) electric field calculated with the legacy code CHAP is compared with the field given by an integral solution of Maxwell's equations, also known as the Jefimenko equation, to aid our current understanding on the factors that affect the time dependence of the EMP. For a fair comparison the CHAP current density is used as a source in the Jefimenko equation. At first, the comparison is simplified by neglecting the conduction current and replacing the standard atmosphere with a constant density air slab. The simplicity of the resultant current density aids in determining the factors thatmore » affect the rise, peak and tail of the EMP electric field versus time. The three dimensional nature of the radiating source, i.e. sources off the line-of-sight, and the time dependence of the derivative of the current density with respect to time are found to play significant roles in shaping the EMP electric field time dependence. These results are found to hold even when the conduction current and the standard atmosphere are properly accounted for. Comparison of the CHAP electric field with the Jefimenko electric field offers a direct validation of the high-frequency/outgoing wave approximation.« less

Generation of electric fields and currents by neutral flows in weakly ionized plasmas through collisional dynamos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimant, Y. S.; Oppenheim, M. M.; Fletcher, A. C.

2016-08-01

In weakly ionized plasmas neutral flows drag plasma across magnetic field lines generating intense electric fields and currents. An example occurs in the Earth's ionosphere near the geomagnetic equator. Similar processes take place in the Solar chromosphere and magnetohydrodynamic generators. This paper argues that not all convective neutral flows generate electric fields and currents and it introduces the corresponding universal criterion for their formation, ∇×(U ×B )≠∂B /∂t , where U is the neutral flow velocity, B is the magnetic field, and t is time. This criterion does not depend on the conductivity tensor, σ ̂ . For many systems, the displacement current, ∂B /∂t , is negligible making the criterion even simpler. This theory also shows that the neutral-dynamo driver that generates E-fields and currents plays the same role as the DC electric current plays for the generation of the magnetic field in the Biot-Savart law.

Fourier analysis of polar cap electric field and current distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barbosa, D. D.

1984-01-01

A theoretical study of high-latitude electric fields and currents, using analytic Fourier analysis methods, is conducted. A two-dimensional planar model of the ionosphere with an enhanced conductivity auroral belt and field-aligned currents at the edges is employed. Two separate topics are treated. A field-aligned current element near the cusp region of the polar cap is included to investigate the modifications to the convection pattern by the east-west component of the interplanetary magnetic field. It is shown that a sizable one-cell structure is induced near the cusp which diverts equipotential contours to the dawnside or duskside, depending on the sign of the cusp current. This produces characteristic dawn-dusk asymmetries to the electric field that have been previously observed over the polar cap. The second topic is concerned with the electric field configuration obtained in the limit of perfect shielding, where the field is totally excluded equatorward of the auroral oval. When realistic field-aligned current distributions are used, the result is to produce severely distorted, crescent-shaped equipotential contours over the cap. Exact, analytic formulae applicable to this case are also provided.

Theoretical evaluation of maximum electric field approximation of direct band-to-band tunneling Kane model for low bandgap semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang Chien, Nguyen; Shih, Chun-Hsing; Hoa, Phu Chi; Minh, Nguyen Hong; Thi Thanh Hien, Duong; Nhung, Le Hong

2016-06-01

The two-band Kane model has been popularly used to calculate the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) current in tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) which is currently considered as a promising candidate for low power applications. This study theoretically clarifies the maximum electric field approximation (MEFA) of direct BTBT Kane model and evaluates its appropriateness for low bandgap semiconductors. By analysing the physical origin of each electric field term in the Kane model, it has been elucidated in the MEFA that the local electric field term must be remained while the nonlocal electric field terms are assigned by the maximum value of electric field at the tunnel junction. Mathematical investigations have showed that the MEFA is more appropriate for low bandgap semiconductors compared to high bandgap materials because of enhanced tunneling probability in low field regions. The appropriateness of the MEFA is very useful for practical uses in quickly estimating the direct BTBT current in low bandgap TFET devices.

Current density imaging sequence for monitoring current distribution during delivery of electric pulses in irreversible electroporation.

PubMed

Serša, Igor; Kranjc, Matej; Miklavčič, Damijan

2015-01-01

Electroporation is gaining its importance in everyday clinical practice of cancer treatment. For its success it is extremely important that coverage of the target tissue, i.e. treated tumor, with electric field is within the specified range. Therefore, an efficient tool for the electric field monitoring in the tumor during delivery of electroporation pulses is needed. The electric field can be reconstructed by the magnetic resonance electric impedance tomography method from current density distribution data. In this study, the use of current density imaging with MRI for monitoring current density distribution during delivery of irreversible electroporation pulses was demonstrated. Using a modified single-shot RARE sequence, where four 3000 V and 100 μs long pulses were included at the start, current distribution between a pair of electrodes inserted in a liver tissue sample was imaged. Two repetitions of the sequence with phases of refocusing radiofrequency pulses 90° apart were needed to acquire one current density image. For each sample in total 45 current density images were acquired to follow a standard protocol for irreversible electroporation where 90 electric pulses are delivered at 1 Hz. Acquired current density images showed that the current density in the middle of the sample increased from first to last electric pulses by 60%, i.e. from 8 kA/m2 to 13 kA/m2 and that direction of the current path did not change with repeated electric pulses significantly. The presented single-shot RARE-based current density imaging sequence was used successfully to image current distribution during delivery of short high-voltage electric pulses. The method has a potential to enable monitoring of tumor coverage by electric field during irreversible electroporation tissue ablation.

Influence of direct and alternating current electric fields on efficiency promotion and leaching risk alleviation of chelator assisted phytoremediation.

PubMed

Luo, Jie; Cai, Limei; Qi, Shihua; Wu, Jian; Sophie Gu, Xiaowen

2018-03-01

Direct and alternating current electric fields with various voltages were used to improve the decontamination efficiency of chelator assisted phytoremediation for multi-metal polluted soil. The alleviation effect of electric field on leaching risk caused by chelator application during phytoremediation process was also evaluated. Biomass yield, pollutant uptake and metal leaching retardation under alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electric fields were compared. The biomass yield of Eucalyptus globulus under AC fields with various voltages (2, 4 and 10 V) were 3.91, 4.16 and 3.67kg, respectively, significantly higher than the chelator treatment without electric field (2.71kg). Besides growth stimulation, AC fields increased the metal concentrations of plant tissues especially in aerial parts manifested by the raised translocation factor of different metals. Direct current electric fields with low and moderate voltages increased the biomass production of the species to 3.45 and 3.12kg, respectively, while high voltage on the contrary suppressed the growth of the plants (2.66kg). Under DC fields, metal concentrations elevated obviously with increasing voltages and the metal translocation factors were similar under all voltages. Metal extraction per plant achieved the maximum value under moderate voltage due to the greatest biomass production. DC field with high voltage (10V) decreased the volume of leachate from the chelator treatment without electric field from 1224 to 56mL, while the leachate gathered from AC field treatments raised from 512 to 670mL. DC field can retard the downward movement of metals caused by chelator application more effectively relative to AC field due to the constant water flow and electroosmosis direction. Alternating current field had more promotive effect on chelator assisted phytoremediation efficiency than DC field illustrated by more metal accumulation in the species. However, with the consideration of leaching risk, DC field with moderate voltage was the optimal supplementary technique for phytoremediation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Auroral zone electric fields from DE 1 and 2 at magnetic conjunctions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weimer, D. R.; Goertz, C. K.; Gurnett, D. A.; Maynard, N. C.; Burch, J. L.

1985-01-01

Nearly simultaneous measurements of auroral zone electric fields are obtained by the Dynamics Explorer spacecraft at altitudes below 900 km and above 4,500 km during magnetic conjunctions. The measured electric fields are usually perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. The north-south meridional electric fields are projected to a common altitude by a mapping function which accounts for the convergence of the magnetic field lines. When plotted as a function of invariant latitude, graphs of the projected electric fields measured by both DE-1 and DE-2 show that the large-scale electric field is the same at both altitudes, as expected. Superimposed on the large-scale fields, however, are small-scale features with wavelengths less than 100 km which are larger in magnitude at the higher altitude. Fourier transforms of the electric fields show that the magnitudes depend on wavelength. Outside of the auroral zone the electric field spectrums are nearly identical. But within the auroral zone the high and low altitude electric fields have a ratio which increases with the reciprocal of the wavelength. The small-scale electric field variations are associated with field-aligned currents. These currents are measured with both a plasma instrument and magnetometer on DE-1.

Geomagnetic responses to the solar wind and the solar activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Svalgaard, L.

1975-01-01

Following some historical notes, the formation of the magnetosphere and the magnetospheric tail is discussed. The importance of electric fields is stressed and the magnetospheric convection of plasma and magnetic field lines under the influence of large-scale magnetospheric electric fields is outlined. Ionospheric electric fields and currents are intimately related to electric fields and currents in the magnetosphere and the strong coupling between the two regions is discussed. The energy input of the solar wind to the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere is discussed in terms of the reconnection model where interplanetary magnetic field lines merge or connect with the terrestrial field on the sunward side of the magnetosphere. The merged field lines are then stretched behind earth to form the magnetotail so that kinetic energy from the solar wind is converted into magnetic energy in the field lines in the tail. Localized collapses of the crosstail current, which is driven by the large-scale dawn/dusk electric field in the magnetosphere, divert part of this current along geomagnetic field lines to the ionosphere, causing substorms with auroral activity and magnetic disturbances. The collapses also inject plasma into the radiation belts and build up a ring current. Frequent collapses in rapid succession constitute the geomagnetic storm.

Surface electric fields for North America during historical geomagnetic storms

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wei, Lisa H.; Homeier, Nichole; Gannon, Jennifer L.

2013-01-01

To better understand the impact of geomagnetic disturbances on the electric grid, we recreate surface electric fields from two historical geomagnetic storms—the 1989 “Quebec” storm and the 2003 “Halloween” storms. Using the Spherical Elementary Current Systems method, we interpolate sparsely distributed magnetometer data across North America. We find good agreement between the measured and interpolated data, with larger RMS deviations at higher latitudes corresponding to larger magnetic field variations. The interpolated magnetic field data are combined with surface impedances for 25 unique physiographic regions from the United States Geological Survey and literature to estimate the horizontal, orthogonal surface electric fields in 1 min time steps. The induced horizontal electric field strongly depends on the local surface impedance, resulting in surprisingly strong electric field amplitudes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast. The relative peak electric field amplitude of each physiographic region, normalized to the value in the Interior Plains region, varies by a factor of 2 for different input magnetic field time series. The order of peak electric field amplitudes (largest to smallest), however, does not depend much on the input. These results suggest that regions at lower magnetic latitudes with high ground resistivities are also at risk from the effect of geomagnetically induced currents. The historical electric field time series are useful for estimating the flow of the induced currents through long transmission lines to study power flow and grid stability during geomagnetic disturbances.

Optical Remote Sensing of Electric Fields Above Thunderstorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, B. M.; Carlson, B. E.; Lauben, D.; Cohen, M.; Smith, D.; Inan, U. S.

2010-12-01

Measurement of thunderstorm electric fields typically require balloon-borne measurements in the region of interest. Such measurements are cumbersome and provide limited information at a single point. Remote sensing of electric fields by Kerr-effect induced optical polarization changes of background skylight circumvents many of these difficulties and can in principle provide a high-speed movie of electric field behavior. Above-thundercloud 100 kV/m quasi-static electric fields are predicted to produce polarization changes at above the part in one million level that should be detectable at a ground instrument featuring 1 cm2sr geometric factor and 1 kHz bandwidth (though more sensitivity is nonetheless desired). Currently available optical and electronic components may meet these requirements. We review the principles of this measurement and discuss the current status of a field-ready prototype instrument currently in construction.

Effect of an alternating current electric field on Co(OH)2 periodic precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karam, Tony; Sultan, Rabih

2013-02-01

The present paper studies the effect of an alternating current (AC) electric field on Co(OH)2 Liesegang patterns. In the presence of an AC electric field, the band spacing increases with spacing number, but reaches a plateau at large spacing (or band) numbers. The band spacing increases with applied AC voltage, but to a much lesser extent than the effect of a DC electric field under the same applied voltage [see R. Sultan, R. Halabieh, Chem. Phys. Lett. 332 (2000) 331][1]. At low enough applied voltage, the band spacing increases with frequency. At higher voltages, the band spacing becomes independent of the field frequency. The effect of concentration of the inner electrolyte (Co2+), exactly opposes that observed under DC electric field; i.e., the band spacing decreases with increasing concentration. The dynamics were shown to be governed by a competitive scenario between the diffusion gradient and the alternating current electric field factor.

Electrostatic ion instabilities in the presence of parallel currents and transverse electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ganguli, G.; Palmadesso, P. J.

1988-01-01

The electrostatic ion instabilities are studied for oblique propagation in the presence of magnetic field-aligned currents and transverse localized electric fields in a weakly collisional plasma. The presence of transverse electric fields result in mode excitation for magnetic field aligned current values that are otherwise stable. The electron collisions enhance the growth while ion collisions have a damping effect. These results are discussed in the context of observations of low frequency ion modes in the auroral ionosphere by radar and rocket experiments.

Computational analysis of thresholds for magnetophosphenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa

2012-10-01

In international guidelines, basic restriction limits on the exposure of humans to low-frequency magnetic and electric fields are set with the objective of preventing the generation of phosphenes, visual sensations of flashing light not caused by light. Measured data on magnetophosphenes, i.e. phosphenes caused by a magnetically induced electric field on the retina, are available from volunteer studies. However, there is no simple way for determining the retinal threshold electric field or current density from the measured threshold magnetic flux density. In this study, the experimental field configuration of a previous study, in which phosphenes were generated in volunteers by exposing their heads to a magnetic field between the poles of an electromagnet, is computationally reproduced. The finite-element method is used for determining the induced electric field and current in five different MRI-based anatomical models of the head. The direction of the induced current density on the retina is dominantly radial to the eyeball, and the maximum induced current density is observed at the superior and inferior sides of the retina, which agrees with literature data on the location of magnetophosphenes at the periphery of the visual field. On the basis of computed data, the macroscopic retinal threshold current density for phosphenes at 20 Hz can be estimated as 10 mA m-2 (-20% to  + 30%, depending on the anatomical model); this current density corresponds to an induced eddy current of 14 μA (-20% to  + 10%), and about 20% of this eddy current flows through each eye. The ICNIRP basic restriction limit for the induced electric field in the case of occupational exposure is not exceeded until the magnetic flux density is about two to three times the measured threshold for magnetophosphenes, so the basic restriction limit does not seem to be conservative. However, the reasons for the non-conservativeness are purely technical: removal of the highest 1% of electric field values by taking the 99th percentile as recommended by the ICNIRP leads to the underestimation of the induced electric field, and there are difficulties in applying the basic restriction limit for the retinal electric field.

Electric fields in hippocampus due to transcranial focal electrical stimulation via concentric ring electrodes.

PubMed

Besio, Walter G; Hadidi, Ruba; Makeyev, Oleksandr; Luna-Munguía, Hiram; Rocha, Luisa

2011-01-01

As epilepsy affects approximately one percent of the world population, electrical stimulation of brain has recently shown potential as an additive seizure control therapy. In this study we applied focal transcranial electrical stimulation (TFS) on the surface of the skull of rats via concentric ring electrodes. We recorded electric potentials with a bipolar electrode consisting of two stainless steel wires implanted into the left ventral hippocampus. TFS current was gradually increased by 20% starting at 103 μA allowing us to assess the relationship between TFS current and both potentials recorded from the bipolar electrode and the resulting electric field. Generally, increases in TFS current resulted in increases in the electric field. This allows us to estimate what extra-cranial TFS current would be sufficient to cause the activation of neurons in the hippocampus.

Magnetic fields from electric toothbrushes promote corrosion in orthodontic stainless steel appliances but not in titanium appliances.

PubMed

Kameda, Takashi; Ohkuma, Kazuo; Oda, Hirotake; Sano, Natsuki; Batbayar, Nomintsetseg; Terashima, Yukari; Sato, Soh; Terada, Kazuto

2013-01-01

Electric toothbrushes are widely used, and their electric motors have been reported to produce low-frequency electromagnetic fields that induced electric currents in metallic objects worn by the users. In this study, we showed that electric toothbrushes generated low-frequency magnetic fields (MFs) and induced electric currents in orthodontic appliances in artificial saliva (AS), which accelerated corrosion in stainless steel (SUS) appliances, but not in titanium (Ti) appliances; the corrosion was evaluated by using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer and a three-dimensional laser confocal microscope. The pH of AS used for appliance immersion did not change during or after MF exposure. These results suggested that MF-induced currents from electric toothbrushes could erode SUS appliances, but not Ti appliances, because of their high corrosion potentials. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanisms of metallic corrosion by induced currents in dental fields, which may trigger metal allergies in patients.

Underwater electric field detection system based on weakly electric fish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Wei; Wang, Tianyu; Wang, Qi

2018-04-01

Weakly electric fish sense their surroundings in complete darkness by their active electric field detection system. However, due to the insufficient detection capacity of the electric field, the detection distance is not enough, and the detection accuracy is not high. In this paper, a method of underwater detection based on rotating current field theory is proposed to improve the performance of underwater electric field detection system. First of all, we built underwater detection system based on the theory of the spin current field mathematical model with the help of the results of previous researchers. Then we completed the principle prototype and finished the metal objects in the water environment detection experiments, laid the foundation for the further experiments.

A study on the influence of corona on currents and electromagnetic fields predicted by a nonlinear lightning return-stroke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Conti, Alberto; Silveira, Fernando H.; Visacro, Silvério

2014-05-01

This paper investigates the influence of corona on currents and electromagnetic fields predicted by a return-stroke model that represents the lightning channel as a nonuniform transmission line with time-varying (nonlinear) resistance. The corona model used in this paper allows the calculation of corona currents as a function of the radial electric field in the vicinity of the channel. A parametric study is presented to investigate the influence of corona parameters, such as the breakdown electric field and the critical electric field for the stable propagation of streamers, on predicted currents and electromagnetic fields. The results show that, regardless of the assumed corona parameters, the incorporation of corona into the nonuniform and nonlinear transmission line model under investigation modifies the model predictions so that they consistently reproduce most of the typical features of experimentally observed lightning electromagnetic fields and return-stroke speed profiles. In particular, it is shown that the proposed model leads to close vertical electric fields presenting waveforms, amplitudes, and decay with distance in good agreement with dart leader electric field changes measured in triggered lightning experiments. A comparison with popular engineering return-stroke models further confirms the model's ability to predict consistent electric field waveforms in the close vicinity of the channel. Some differences observed in the field amplitudes calculated with the different models can be related to the fact that current distortion, while present in the proposed model, is ultimately neglected in the considered engineering return-stroke models.

Controlling stimulation strength and focality in electroconvulsive therapy via current amplitude and electrode size and spacing: comparison with magnetic seizure therapy.

PubMed

Deng, Zhi-De; Lisanby, Sarah H; Peterchev, Angel V

2013-12-01

Understanding the relationship between the stimulus parameters of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the electric field characteristics could guide studies on improving risk/benefit ratio. We aimed to determine the effect of current amplitude and electrode size and spacing on the ECT electric field characteristics, compare ECT focality with magnetic seizure therapy (MST), and evaluate stimulus individualization by current amplitude adjustment. Electroconvulsive therapy and double-cone-coil MST electric field was simulated in a 5-shell spherical human head model. A range of ECT electrode diameters (2-5 cm), spacing (1-25 cm), and current amplitudes (0-900 mA) was explored. The head model parameters were varied to examine the stimulus current adjustment required to compensate for interindividual anatomical differences. By reducing the electrode size, spacing, and current, the ECT electric field can be more focal and superficial without increasing scalp current density. By appropriately adjusting the electrode configuration and current, the ECT electric field characteristics can be made to approximate those of MST within 15%. Most electric field characteristics in ECT are more sensitive to head anatomy variation than in MST, especially for close electrode spacing. Nevertheless, ECT current amplitude adjustment of less than 70% can compensate for interindividual anatomical variability. The strength and focality of ECT can be varied over a wide range by adjusting the electrode size, spacing, and current. If desirable, ECT can be made as focal as MST while using simpler stimulation equipment. Current amplitude individualization can compensate for interindividual anatomical variability.

Assessing human exposure to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields.

PubMed Central

Kaune, W T

1993-01-01

This paper reviews published literature and current problems relating to the assessment of occupational and residential human exposures to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields. Available occupational exposure data suggest that the class of job titles known as electrical workers may be an effective surrogate for time-weighted-average (TWA) magnetic-field (but not electric-field) exposure. Current research in occupational-exposure assessment is directed to the construction of job-exposure matrices based on electric- and magnetic-field measurements and estimates of worker exposures to chemicals and other factors of interest. Recent work has identified five principal sources of residential magnetic fields: electric power transmission lines, electric power distribution lines, ground currents, home wiring, and home appliances. Existing residential-exposure assessments have used one or more of the following techniques: questionnaires, wiring configuration coding, theoretical field calculations, spot electric- and magnetic-field measurements, fixed-site magnetic-field recordings, personal- exposure measurements, and geomagnetic-field measurements. Available normal-power magnetic-field data for residences differ substantially between studies. It is not known if these differences are due to geographical differences, differences in measurement protocols, or instrumentation differences. Wiring codes and measured magnetic fields (but not electric fields) are associated weakly. Available data suggest, but are far from proving, that spot measurements may be more effective than wire codes as predictors of long-term historical magnetic-field exposure. Two studies find that away-from-home TWA magnetic-field exposures are less variable than at-home exposures. The importance of home appliances as contributors to total residential magnetic-field exposure is not known at this time. It also is not known what characteristics (if any) of residential electric and magnetic fields are determinants of human health effects. PMID:8206021

Fundamentals of Physics, Part 3 (Chapters 22-33)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halliday, David; Resnick, Robert; Walker, Jearl

2004-03-01

Chapter 21. Electric Charge. Why do video monitors in surgical rooms increase the risk of bacterial contamination? 21-1 What Is Physics? 21-2 Electric Charge. 21-3 Conductors and Insulators. 21-4 Coulomb's Law. 21-5 Charge Is Quantized. 21-6 Charge Is Conserved. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 22. Electric Fields. What causes sprites, those brief .ashes of light high above lightning storms? 22-1 What Is Physics? 22-2 The Electric Field. 22-3 Electric Field Lines. 22-4 The Electric Field Due to a Point Charge. 22-5 The Electric Field Due to an Electric Dipole. 22-6 The Electric Field Due to a Line of Charge. 22-7 The Electric Field Due to a Charged Disk. 22-8 A Point Charge in an Electric Field. 22-9 A Dipole in an Electric Field. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 23. Gauss' Law. How can lightning harm you even if it do es not strike you? 23-1 What Is Physics? 23-2 Flux. 23-3 Flux of an Electric Field. 23-4 Gauss' Law. 23-5 Gauss' Law and Coulomb's Law. 23-6 A Charged Isolated Conductor. 23-7 Applying Gauss' Law: Cylindrical Symmetry. 23-8 Applying Gauss' Law: Planar Symmetry. 23-9 Applying Gauss' Law: Spherical Symmetry. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 24. Electric Potential. What danger does a sweater pose to a computer? 24-1 What Is Physics? 24-2 Electric Potential Energy. 24-3 Electric Potential. 24-4 Equipotential Surfaces. 24-5 Calculating the Potential from the Field. 24-6 Potential Due to a Point Charge. 24-7 Potential Due to a Group of Point Charges. 24-8 Potential Due to an Electric Dipole. 24-9 Potential Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution. 24-10 Calculating the Field from the Potential. 24-11 Electric Potential Energy of a System of Point Charges. 24-12 Potential of a Charged Isolated Conductor. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 25. Capacitance. How did a fire start in a stretcher being withdrawn from an oxygen chamber? 25-1 What Is Physics? 25-2 Capacitance. 25-3 Calculating the Capacitance. 25-4 Capacitors in Parallel and in Series. 25-5 Energy Stored in an Electric Field. 25-6 Capacitor with a Dielectric. 25-7 Dielectrics: An Atomic View. 25-8 Dielectrics and Gauss' Law. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 26. Current and Resistance. What precaution should you take if caught outdoors during a lightning storm? 26-1 What Is Physics? 26-2 Electric Current. 26-3 Current Density. 26-4 Resistance and Resistivity. 26-5 Ohm's Law. 26-6 A Microscopic View of Ohm's Law. 26-7 Power in Electric Circuits. 26-8 Semiconductors. 26-9 Superconductors. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 27. Circuits. How can a pit crew avoid a fire while fueling a charged race car? 27-1 What Is Physics? 27-2 "Pumping" Charges. 27-3 Work, Energy, and Emf. 27-4 Calculating the Current in a Single-Loop Circuit. 27-5 Other Single-Loop Circuits. 27-6 Potential Difference Between Two Points. 27-7 Multiloop Circuits. 27-8 The Ammeter and the Voltmeter. 27-9 RC Circuits. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 28. Magnetic Fields. How can a beam of fast neutrons, which are electrically neutral, be produced in a hospital to treat cancer patients? 28-1 What Is Physics? 28-2 What Produces a Magnetic Field? 28-3 The Definition of 736 :B. 28-4 Crossed Fields: Discovery of the Electron . 28-5 Crossed Fields: The Hall Effect. 28-6 A Circulating Charged Particle. 28-7 Cyclotrons and Synchrotrons. 28-8 Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire. 28-9 Torque on a Current Loop. 28-10 The Magnetic Dipole Moment. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 29. Magnetic Fields Due to Currents. How can the human brain produce a detectable magnetic field without any magnetic material? 29-1 What Is Physics? 29-2 Calculating the Magnetic Field Due to a Current. 29-3 Force Between Two Parallel Currents. 29-4 Ampere's Law. 29-5 Solenoids and Toroids. 29-6 A Current-Carrying Coil as a Magnetic Dipole. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 30. Induction and Inductance. How can the magnetic .eld used in an MRI scan cause a patient to be burned? 30-1 What Is Physics? 30-2 Two Experiments. 30-3 Faraday's Law of Induction. 30-4 Lenz's Law. 30-5 Induction and Energy Transfers. 30-6 Induced Electric Fields. 30-7 Inductors and Inductance. 30-8 Self-Induction. 30-9 RL Circuits. 30-10 Energy Stored in a Magnetic Field. 30-11 Energy Density of a Magnetic Field. 30-12 Mutual Induction. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 31. Electromagnetic Oscillations and Alternating Current. How did a solar eruption knock out the power-grid system of Quebec? 31-1 What Is Physics? 31-2 LC Oscillations, Qualitatively. 31-3 The Electrical-Mechanical Analogy. 31-4 LC Oscillations, Quantitatively. 31-5 Damped Oscillations in an RLC Circuit. 31-6 Alternating Current. 31-7 Forced Oscillations. 31-8 Three Simple Circuits. 31-9 The Series RLC Circuit. 31-10 Power in Alternating-Current Circuits. 31-11 Transformers. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Chapter 32. Maxwell's Equations; Magnetism of Matter. How can a mural painting record the direction of Earth's magnetic field? 32-1 What Is Physics? 32-2 Gauss' Law for Magnetic Fields. 32-3 Induced Magnetic Fields. 32-4 Displacement Current. 32-5 Maxwell's Equations. 32-6 Magnets. 32-7 Magnetism and Electrons. 32-8 Magnetic Materials. 32-9 Diamagnetism. 32-10 Paramagnetism. 32-11 Ferromagnetism. Review & Summary. Questions. Problems. Appendices. A. The International System of Units (SI). B. Some Fundamental Constants of Physics. C. Some Astronomical Data. D. Conversion Factors. E. Mathematical Formulas. F. Properties of the Elements. G. Periodic Table of the Elements. Answers to Checkpoints and Odd-Numbered Questions and Problems. Index.

Field-aligned currents and large scale magnetospheric electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dangelo, N.

1980-01-01

D'Angelo's model of polar cap electric fields (1977) was used to visualize how high-latitude field-aligned currents are driven by the solar wind generator. The region 1 and region 2 currents of Iijima and Potemra (1976) and the cusp field-aligned currents of Wilhjelm et al. (1978) and McDiarmid et al. (1978) are apparently driven by different generators, although in both cases the solar wind is their ultimate source.

Measurements and models of electric fields in the in vivo human brain during transcranial electric stimulation

PubMed Central

Huang, Yu; Liu, Anli A; Lafon, Belen; Friedman, Daniel; Dayan, Michael; Wang, Xiuyuan; Bikson, Marom; Doyle, Werner K; Devinsky, Orrin; Parra, Lucas C

2017-01-01

Transcranial electric stimulation aims to stimulate the brain by applying weak electrical currents at the scalp. However, the magnitude and spatial distribution of electric fields in the human brain are unknown. We measured electric potentials intracranially in ten epilepsy patients and estimated electric fields across the entire brain by leveraging calibrated current-flow models. When stimulating at 2 mA, cortical electric fields reach 0.8 V/m, the lower limit of effectiveness in animal studies. When individual whole-head anatomy is considered, the predicted electric field magnitudes correlate with the recorded values in cortical (r = 0.86) and depth (r = 0.88) electrodes. Accurate models require adjustment of tissue conductivity values reported in the literature, but accuracy is not improved when incorporating white matter anisotropy or different skull compartments. This is the first study to validate and calibrate current-flow models with in vivo intracranial recordings in humans, providing a solid foundation to target stimulation and interpret clinical trials. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18834.001 PMID:28169833

Basic Restriction and Reference Level in Anatomically-based Japanese Models for Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Field Exposures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takano, Yukinori; Hirata, Akimasa; Fujiwara, Osamu

Human exposed to electric and/or magnetic fields at low frequencies may cause direct effect such as nerve stimulation and excitation. Therefore, basic restriction is regulated in terms of induced current density in the ICNIRP guidelines and in-situ electric field in the IEEE standard. External electric or magnetic field which does not produce induced quantities exceeding the basic restriction is used as a reference level. The relationship between the basic restriction and reference level for low-frequency electric and magnetic fields has been investigated using European anatomic models, while limited for Japanese model, especially for electric field exposures. In addition, that relationship has not well been discussed. In the present study, we calculated the induced quantities in anatomic Japanese male and female models exposed to electric and magnetic fields at reference level. A quasi static finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was applied to analyze this problem. As a result, spatially averaged induced current density was found to be more sensitive to averaging algorithms than that of in-situ electric field. For electric and magnetic field exposure at the ICNIRP reference level, the maximum values of the induced current density for different averaging algorithm were smaller than the basic restriction for most cases. For exposures at the reference level in the IEEE standard, the maximum electric fields in the brain were larger than the basic restriction in the brain while smaller for the spinal cord and heart.

Inferring electric fields and currents from ground magnetometer data - A test with theoretically derived inputs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, R. A.; Kamide, Y.

1983-01-01

Advanced techniques considered by Kamide et al. (1981) seem to have the potential for providing observation-based high time resolution pictures of the global ionospheric current and electric field patterns for interesting events. However, a reliance on the proposed magnetogram-inversion schemes for the deduction of global ionospheric current and electric field patterns requires proof that reliable results are obtained. 'Theoretical' tests of the accuracy of the magnetogram inversion schemes have, therefore, been considered. The present investigation is concerned with a test, involving the developed KRM algorithm and the Rice Convection Model (RCM). The test was successful in the sense that there was overall agreement between electric fields and currents calculated by the RCM and KRM schemes.

Equatorial measurement of SAID electric fields and relation with the plasmapause location

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, Y.; Wygant, J.; Ono, T.; Iizima, M.; Kumamoto, A.; Brautigam, D.; Rich, F.

2007-12-01

In order to investigate the equatorial source of subauroral ion drifts (SAID) and its association with the plasmapause position, multi-spacecraft measurements of SAID are presented using the CRRES, Akebono, and DMSP. Direct measurement of the convection electric field and plasmapause density close to the equator is measured by the electric field instrument onboard the CRRES satellite, and the plasmasheet electrons and low energy part of the ring current ions are measured by the low energy plasma instrument. The CRRES satellite is on the dusk inner magnetosphere, and the DMSP-F8 and Akebono satellites are approximately on the same field line. Associated with a substorm onset at 16:40 UT on February 20, 1991, the DMSP-F8 satellite at 19 MLT measures SAID with a maximum westward velocity of 1,500 m/s. The CRRES satellite is on outbound in the inner magnetosphere at ~21 MLT and ~5 RE at the onset of the substorm. It measures increase of DC electric field with 0.4 mV/m in the plasmasphere just after the substorm onset. Thirty minutes later, injection of ring current ions are observed in the plasmasphere with Bz decrease. After the crossing of the plasmapause, the electric field increases to 0.8 mV/m. At the same time, the spacecraft enters the plasmasheet, and the DC electric field disappears. The same time sequence is also identified in other SAID events detected on the dusk inner magnetosphere. The above CRRES measurement indicates that DC electric field is intensified in a narrow region between the ring current and electron plasmasheet after the onset of the substorm. Although the E*B drift points sunward in this region, this region with enhanced electric field is filled with plasmaspheric plasma without abrupt density change. The position where the convection electric field is equal to the corotation electric field locates inside the plasmapause. The plasmapause coincides with inner edge of the plasmasheet. This association suggests that the plasmaspheric plasma is depleted by the plasmasheet electrons, possibly by the enhanced E*B drift earthward of the plasmasheet. During the SAID event on 16:40 UT on February 20, 1991, the Akebono satellite was approximately on the same field line of the CRRES satellite (21 MLT and 5 RE) 40 minutes later the substorm onset. It measures enhancement of electric field with 2 mV/m between L=5 and 6. The inner edge of the electric field corresponds to the inner edge of ring current ions, and the outer edge coincides with the plasmasheet electrons. This signature of the electric field intensification in the charge-separated region is in accordance with the CRRES measurement. This study has clarified that the equatorial source of SAID electric fields is charge separation of ring current ions and plasmasheet electrons by electric field associated with substorms. This is consistent with the theoretical study by Southwood and Wolf [1978] and low-altitude measurements by Anderson et al. [2001] by that the charge separation provides current and voltage sources and the electric field is increased by the low conductance of the subauroral ionosphere.

Soap-film flow induced by electric fields in asymmetric frames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mollaei, S.; Nasiri, M.; Soltanmohammadi, N.; Shirsavar, R.; Ramos, A.; Amjadi, A.

2018-04-01

Net fluid flow of soap films induced by (ac or dc) electric fields in asymmetric frames is presented. Previous experiments of controllable soap film flow required the simultaneous use of an electrical current passing through the film and an external electric field or the use of nonuniform ac electric fields. Here a single voltage difference generates both the electrical current going through the film and the electric field that actuates on the charge induced on the film. The film is set into global motion due to the broken symmetry that appears by the use of asymmetric frames. If symmetric frames are used, the film flow is not steady but time dependent and irregular. Finally, we study numerically these film flows by employing the model of charge induction in ohmic liquids.

Soap-film flow induced by electric fields in asymmetric frames.

PubMed

Mollaei, S; Nasiri, M; Soltanmohammadi, N; Shirsavar, R; Ramos, A; Amjadi, A

2018-04-01

Net fluid flow of soap films induced by (ac or dc) electric fields in asymmetric frames is presented. Previous experiments of controllable soap film flow required the simultaneous use of an electrical current passing through the film and an external electric field or the use of nonuniform ac electric fields. Here a single voltage difference generates both the electrical current going through the film and the electric field that actuates on the charge induced on the film. The film is set into global motion due to the broken symmetry that appears by the use of asymmetric frames. If symmetric frames are used, the film flow is not steady but time dependent and irregular. Finally, we study numerically these film flows by employing the model of charge induction in ohmic liquids.

Ephemeral Electric Potential and Electric Field Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Edward R. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for the minimization of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic leakage electrical currents enabling true measurements of electric potentials and electric fields. In an embodiment, an ephemeral electric potential and electric field sensor system may have at least one electric field sensor and a rotator coupled to the electric field sensor and be configured to rotate the electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency. In an embodiment, ephemeral electric potential and electric field measurements may be taken by rotating at least one electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency, receiving electrical potential measurements from the electric field sensor when the electric field sensor is rotating at the quasi-static frequency, and generating and outputting images based at least in part on the received electrical potential measurements.

Estimation of electric fields and current from ground-based magnetometer data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamide, Y.; Richmond, A. D.

1984-01-01

Recent advances in numerical algorithms for estimating ionospheric electric fields and currents from groundbased magnetometer data are reviewed and evaluated. Tests of the adequacy of one such algorithm in reproducing large-scale patterns of electrodynamic parameters in the high-latitude ionosphere have yielded generally positive results, at least for some simple cases. Some encouraging advances in producing realistic conductivity models, which are a critical input, are pointed out. When the algorithms are applied to extensive data sets, such as the ones from meridian chain magnetometer networks during the IMS, together with refined conductivity models, unique information on instantaneous electric field and current patterns can be obtained. Examples of electric potentials, ionospheric currents, field-aligned currents, and Joule heating distributions derived from ground magnetic data are presented. Possible directions for future improvements are also pointed out.

Experiments on Plasma Turbulence Created by Supersonic Plasma Flows with Shear

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

for producing a plasma column (in black). An insulated wire traverses the plasma and car - ries a pulsed current in x-direction. The unmagnetized ions... electric field which together with the B field around the wire causes an electron ExB drift. The ions are unmagnetized. A radial space charge electric field...by the self-consistent currents passing through the grid. These currents, consisting of electron and ion flows, are controlled by the electrical

Heavy metal multilayers for switching of magnetic unit via electrical current without magnetic field, method and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Qinli; Li, Yufan; Chien, Chia-ling

Provided is an electric-current-controllable magnetic unit, including: a substrate, an electric-current channel disposed on the substrate, the electric-current channel including a composite heavy-metal multilayer comprising at least one heavy-metal; a capping layer disposed over the electric-current channel; and at least one ferromagnetic layer disposed between the electric-current channel and the capping layer.

Computational dosimetry for grounded and ungrounded human models due to contact current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Kwok Hung; Hattori, Junya; Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa; Taki, Masao

2013-08-01

This study presents the computational dosimetry of contact currents for grounded and ungrounded human models. The uncertainty of the quasi-static (QS) approximation of the in situ electric field induced in a grounded/ungrounded human body due to the contact current is first estimated. Different scenarios of cylindrical and anatomical human body models are considered, and the results are compared with the full-wave analysis. In the QS analysis, the induced field in the grounded cylindrical model is calculated by the QS finite-difference time-domain (QS-FDTD) method, and compared with the analytical solution. Because no analytical solution is available for the grounded/ungrounded anatomical human body model, the results of the QS-FDTD method are then compared with those of the conventional FDTD method. The upper frequency limit for the QS approximation in the contact current dosimetry is found to be 3 MHz, with a relative local error of less than 10%. The error increases above this frequency, which can be attributed to the neglect of the displacement current. The QS or conventional FDTD method is used for the dosimetry of induced electric field and/or specific absorption rate (SAR) for a contact current injected into the index finger of a human body model in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 MHz. The in situ electric fields or SAR are compared with the basic restrictions in the international guidelines/standards. The maximum electric field or the 99th percentile value of the electric fields appear not only in the fat and muscle tissues of the finger, but also around the wrist, forearm, and the upper arm. Some discrepancies are observed between the basic restrictions for the electric field and SAR and the reference levels for the contact current, especially in the extremities. These discrepancies are shown by an equation that relates the current density, tissue conductivity, and induced electric field in the finger with a cross-sectional area of 1 cm2.

Temporal evolution of the electric field accelerating electrons away from the auroral ionosphere.

PubMed

Marklund, G T; Ivchenko, N; Karlsson, T; Fazakerley, A; Dunlop, M; Lindqvist, P A; Buchert, S; Owen, C; Taylor, M; Vaivalds, A; Carter, P; André, M; Balogh, A

2001-12-13

The bright night-time aurorae that are visible to the unaided eye are caused by electrons accelerated towards Earth by an upward-pointing electric field. On adjacent geomagnetic field lines the reverse process occurs: a downward-pointing electric field accelerates electrons away from Earth. Such magnetic-field-aligned electric fields in the collisionless plasma above the auroral ionosphere have been predicted, but how they could be maintained is still a matter for debate. The spatial and temporal behaviour of the electric fields-a knowledge of which is crucial to an understanding of their nature-cannot be resolved uniquely by single satellite measurements. Here we report on the first observations by a formation of identically instrumented satellites crossing a beam of upward-accelerated electrons. The structure of the electric potential accelerating the beam grew in magnitude and width for about 200 s, accompanied by a widening of the downward-current sheet, with the total current remaining constant. The 200-s timescale suggests that the evacuation of the electrons from the ionosphere contributes to the formation of the downward-pointing magnetic-field-aligned electric fields. This evolution implies a growing load in the downward leg of the current circuit, which may affect the visible discrete aurorae.

Electric-field-driven phase transition in vanadium dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, B.; Zimmers, A.; Aubin, H.; Ghosh, R.; Liu, Y.; Lopez, R.

2011-12-01

We report on local probe measurements of current-voltage and electrostatic force-voltage characteristics of electric-field-induced insulator to metal transition in VO2 thin film. In conducting AFM mode, switching from the insulating to metallic state occurs for electric-field threshold E˜6.5×107Vm-1 at 300K. Upon lifting the tip above the sample surface, we find that the transition can also be observed through a change in electrostatic force and in tunneling current. In this noncontact regime, the transition is characterized by random telegraphic noise. These results show that electric field alone is sufficient to induce the transition; however, the electronic current provides a positive feedback effect that amplifies the phenomena.

The neutral wind 'flywheel' as a source of quiet-time, polar-cap currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lyons, L. R.; Walterscheid, R. L.; Killeen, T. L.

1985-01-01

The neutral wind pattern over the summer polar cap can be driven by plasma convection to resemble the convection pattern. For a north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field Bz directed southward, the wind speeds in the conducting E-region can become approximately 25 percent of the electric field drift speeds. If convection ceases, this neutral wind distribution can drive a significant polar cap current system for approximately 6 hours. The currents are reversed from those driven by the electric fields for southward Bz, and the Hall and field-aligned components of the current system resemble those observed during periods of northward Bz. The current magnitudes are similar to those observed during periods of small, northward Bz; however, observations indicate that electric fields often contribute to the currents as much as, or more than, the neutral winds.

The induced electric field due to a current transient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Y.; Braunstein, A.; Frankental, S.

2007-05-01

Calculations and measurements of the electric fields, induced by a lightning strike, are important for understanding the phenomenon and developing effective protection systems. In this paper, a novel approach to the calculation of the electric fields due to lightning strikes, using a relativistic approach, is presented. This approach is based on a known current wave-pair model, representing the lightning current wave. The model presented is one that describes the lightning current wave, either at the first stage of the descending charge wave from the cloud or at the later stage of the return stroke. The electric fields computed are cylindrically symmetric. A simplified method for the calculation of the electric field is achieved by using special relativity theory and relativistic considerations. The proposed approach, described in this paper, is based on simple expressions (by applying Coulomb's law) compared with much more complicated partial differential equations based on Maxwell's equations. A straight forward method of calculating the electric field due to a lightning strike, modelled as a negative-positive (NP) wave-pair, is determined by using the special relativity theory in order to calculate the 'velocity field' and relativistic concepts for calculating the 'acceleration field'. These fields are the basic elements required for calculating the total field resulting from the current wave-pair model. Moreover, a modified simpler method using sub models is represented. The sub-models are filaments of either static charges or charges at constant velocity only. Combining these simple sub-models yields the total wave-pair model. The results fully agree with that obtained by solving Maxwell's equations for the discussed problem.

Effects on Freshwater Organisms of Magnetic Fields Associated with Hydrokinetic Turbines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cada, Glenn F; Bevelhimer, Mark S; Riemer, Kristina P

2011-07-01

Underwater cables will be used to transmit electricity between turbines in an array (interturbine cables), between the array and a submerged step-up transformer (if part of the design), and from the transformer or array to shore. All types of electrical transmitting cables (as well as the generator itself) will emit EMF into the surrounding water. The electric current will induce magnetic fields in the immediate vicinity, which may affect the behavior or viability of animals. Because direct electrical field emissions can be prevented by shielding and armoring, we focused our studies on the magnetic fields that are unavoidably induced bymore » electric current moving through a generator or transmission cable. These initial experiments were carried out to evaluate whether a static magnetic field, such as would be produced by a direct current (DC) transmitting cable, would affect the behavior of common freshwater fish and invertebrates.« less

On high-latitude convection field inhomogeneities, parallel electric fields and inverted-V precipitation events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lennartsson, W.

1977-01-01

A simple model of a static electric field with a component parallel to the magnetic field is proposed for calculating the electric field and current distributions at various altitudes when the horizontal distribution of the convection electric field is given at a certain altitude above the auroral ionosphere. The model is shown to be compatible with satellite observations of inverted-V electron precipitation structures and associated irregularities in the convection electric field.

Electrical measurements in the atmosphere and the Ionosphere over an active thunderstorm. II - Direct current electric fields and conductivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holzworth, R. H.; Kelley, M. C.; Siefring, C. L.; Hale, L. C.; Mitchell, J. D.

1985-01-01

On August 9, 1981, a series of three rockets was launched over an air mass thunderstorm off the eastern seaboard of Virginia while simultaneous stratospheric and ground-based electric field measurements were made. The conductivity was substantially lower at most altitudes than the conductivity profiles used by theoretical models. Direct current electric fields over 80 mV/m were measured as far away as 96 km from the storm in the stratosphere at 23 km altitude. No dc electric fields above 75 km altitude could be identified with the thunderstorm, in agreement with theory. However, vertical current densities over 120 pA/sq m were seen well above the classical 'electrosphere' (at 50 or 60 km). Frequent dc shifts in the electric field following lightning transients were seen by both balloon and rocket payloads. These dc shifts are clearly identifiable with either cloud-to-ground (increases) or intercloud (decreases) lightning flashes.

Power supply

DOEpatents

Hart, Edward J.; Leeman, James E.; MacDougall, Hugh R.; Marron, John J.; Smith, Calvin C.

1976-01-01

An electric power supply employs a striking means to initiate ferroelectric elements which provide electrical energy output which subsequently initiates an explosive charge which initiates a second ferroelectric current generator to deliver current to the coil of a magnetic field current generator, creating a magnetic field around the coil. Continued detonation effects compression of the magnetic field and subsequent generation and delivery of a large output current to appropriate output loads.

Magneto-acousto-electrical tomography: a potential method for imaging current density and electrical impedance.

PubMed

Haider, S; Hrbek, A; Xu, Y

2008-06-01

Primarily this report outlines our investigation on utilizing magneto-acousto-electrical-tomography (MAET) to image the lead field current density in volume conductors. A lead field current density distribution is obtained when a current/voltage source is applied to a sample via a pair of electrodes. This is the first time a high-spatial-resolution image of current density is presented using MAET. We also compare an experimental image of current density in a sample with its corresponding numerical simulation. To image the lead field current density, rather than applying a current/voltage source directly to the sample, we place the sample in a static magnetic field and focus an ultrasonic pulse on the sample to simulate a point-like current dipole source at the focal point. Then by using electrodes we measure the voltage/current signal which, based on the reciprocity theorem, is proportional to a component of the lead field current density. In the theory section, we derive the equation relating the measured voltage to the lead field current density and the displacement velocity caused by ultrasound. The experimental data include the MAET signal and an image of the lead field current density for a thin sample. In addition, we discuss the potential improvements for MAET especially to overcome the limitation created by the observation that no signal was detected from the interior of a region having a uniform conductivity. As an auxiliary we offer a mathematical formula whereby the lead field current density may be utilized to reconstruct the distribution of the electrical impedance in a piecewise smooth object.

Partial independence of bioelectric and biomagnetic fields and its implications for encephalography and cardiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irimia, Andrei; Swinney, Kenneth R.; Wikswo, John P.

2009-05-01

In this paper, we clearly demonstrate that the electric potential and the magnetic field can contain different information about current sources in three-dimensional conducting media. Expressions for the magnetic fields of electric dipole and quadrupole current sources immersed in an infinite conducting medium are derived, and it is shown that two different point dipole distributions that are electrically equivalent have different magnetic fields. Although measurements of the electric potential are not sufficient to determine uniquely the characteristics of a quadrupolar source, the radial component of the magnetic field can supply the additional information needed to resolve these ambiguities and to determine uniquely the configuration of dipoles required to specify the electric quadrupoles. We demonstrate how the process can be extended to even higher-order terms in an electrically silent series of magnetic multipoles. In the context of a spherical brain source model, it has been mathematically demonstrated that the part of the neuronal current generating the electric potential lives in the orthogonal complement of the part of the current generating the magnetic potential. This implies a mathematical relationship of complementarity between electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography, although the theoretical result in question does not apply to the nonspherical case [G. Dassios, Math. Med. Biol. 25, 133 (2008)]. Our results have important practical applications in cases where electrically silent sources that generate measurable magnetic fields are of interest. Moreover, electrically silent, magnetically active moments of higher order can be useful when cancellation due to superposition of fields can occur, since this situation leads to a substantial reduction in the measurable amplitude of the signal. In this context, information derived from magnetic recordings of electrically silent, magnetically active multipoles can supplement electrical recordings for the purpose of studying the physiology of the brain. Magnetic fields of the electric multipole sources in a conducting medium surrounded by an insulating spherical shell are also presented and the relevance of this calculation to cardiographic and encephalographic experimentation is discussed.

Correlation between magnetic and electric field perturbations in the field-aligned current regions deduced from DE 2 observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ishii, M.; Sugiura, M.; Iyemori, T.; Slavin, J. A.

1992-01-01

The satellite-observed high correlations between magnetic and electric field perturbations in the high-latitude field-aligned current regions are investigated by examining the dependence of the relationship between Delta-B and E on spatial scale, using the electric and magnetic field data obtained by DE 2 in the polar regions. The results are compared with the Pedersen conductivity inferred from the international reference ionosphere model and the Alfven wave velocity calculated from the in situ ion density and magnetic field measurements.

Swarm observation of field-aligned current and electric field in multiple arc systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, J.; Knudsen, D. J.; Gillies, M.; Donovan, E.; Burchill, J. K.

2017-12-01

It is often thought that auroral arcs are a direct consequence of upward field-aligned currents. In fact, the relation between currents and brightness is more complicated. Multiple auroral arc systems provide and opportunity to study this relation in detail. In this study, we have identified two types of FAC configurations in multiple parallel arc systems using ground-based optical data from the THEMIS all-sky imagers (ASIs), magnetometers and electric field instruments onboard the Swarm satellites during the period from December 2013 to March 2015. In type 1 events, each arc is an intensification within a broad, unipolar current sheet and downward currents only exist outside the upward current sheet. These types of events are termed "unipolar FAC" events. In type 2 events, multiple arc systems represent a collection of multiple up/down current pairs, which are termed as "multipolar FAC" events. Comparisons of these two types of FAC events are presented with 17 "unipolar FAC" events and 12 "multipolar FAC" events. The results show that "unipolar FAC" and "multipolar FAC" events have systematic differences in terms of MLT, arc width and separation, and dependence on substorm onset time. For "unipolar FAC" events, significant electric field enhancements are shown on the edges of the broad upward current sheet. Electric field fluctuations inside the multiple arc system can be large or small. For "multipolar FAC" events, a strong correlation between magnetic and electric field indicate uniform conductance within each upward current sheet. The electrodynamical structures of multiple arc systems presented in this paper represents a step toward understanding arc generation.

Field-aligned currents and the auroral electrojet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cahill, L. J.; Potter, W. E.; Kintner, P. M.; Arnoldy, R. L.; Choy, L. W.

1974-01-01

A Nike Tomahawk with fields and particles payload was launched on Nov. 18, 1970, over a strong westward electrojet current and auroral forms moving rapidly to the east. Electron fluxes moving up and down the magnetic field lines were measured. Upward-moving electrons below 1-keV energy were dominant and were equivalent to a net downward electric current that fluctuated between .2 and .6 microamp/sq m during the flight above 130 km. As the rocket traversed this broad region of downward electric current over and to the north of the auroral forms, the horizontal electric field slowly rotated from east to west. The magnetic measurements indicate that the westward electrojet was a horizontal sheet of current several hundred kilometers in north-south extent.

Effects of direct current electric-field using ITO plate on breast cancer cell migration.

PubMed

Kim, Min Sung; Lee, Mi Hee; Kwon, Byeong-Ju; Seo, Hyok Jin; Koo, Min-Ah; You, Kyung Eun; Kim, Dohyun; Park, Jong-Chul

2014-01-01

Cell migration is an essential activity of the cells in various biological phenomena. The evidence that electrotaxis plays important roles in many physiological phenomena is accumulating. In electrotaxis, cells move with a directional tendency toward the anode or cathode under direct-current electric fields. Indium tin oxide, commonly referred to as ITO has high luminous transmittance, high infrared reflectance, good electrical conductivity, excellent substrate adherence, hardness and chemical inertness and hence, have been widely and intensively studied for many years. Because of these properties of ITO films, the electrotaxis using ITO plate was evaluated. Under the 0 V/cm condition, MDA-MB-231 migrated randomly in all directions. When 1 V/cm of dc EF was applied, cells moved toward anode. The y forward migration index was -0.046 ± 0.357 under the 0 V/cm and was 0.273 ± 0.231 under direct-current electric field of 1 V/cm. However, the migration speed of breast cancer cell was not affected by direct-current electric field using ITO plate. In this study, we designed a new electrotaxis system using an ITO coated glass and observed the migration of MDA-MB-231 on direct current electric-field of the ITO glass.

Synthesis of zirconium oxynitride in air under DC electric fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morisaki, Nobuhiro; Tokunaga, Tomoharu; Sasaki, Katsuhiro

We synthesized zirconium oxynitride from yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) in air by applying DC electric fields that produced a controlled electric current in the specimen. When YSZ was heated under an applied DC electric field, the electric current of the specimen steeply increased at a critical temperature, called a flash event, during flash sintering. By keeping the electric current of the specimen constant during the flash event and then holding the specimen at the critical temperature, YSZ was transformed into zirconium oxynitride under the optimal conditions of 50 V/cm, 500 mA, and 1000 °C. We confirmed that zirconium oxynitride formed using high-resolution transmission electronmore » microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. To convert oxides to nitrides, reducing conditions are necessary to form excess oxygen vacancies. Our technique produced the strong reducing conditions necessary to form nitrides from the oxides by delivering a controlled electric current to the specimen.« less

Method for evaluating human exposure to 60 HZ electric fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deno, D.W.; Silva, M.

1984-07-01

This paper describes a method that has been successfully used to evaluate human exposure to 60 Hz electric fields. An exposure measuring system that uses an electric field sensor vest and data collection instrumentation is presented. Exposure concepts and activity factors are discussed and experimental data collected with the exposure system are provided. This method can be used to measure exposure to a wide range of electric field with intensities from less than 1 V/m to more than 10 kV/m. Results may be translated to characterize various exposure criteria (time histogram of unperturbed field, surface fields, internal current density, totalmore » body current, etc).« less

Possibilities for Estimating Horizontal Electrical Currents in Active Regions on the Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fursyak, Yu. A.; Abramenko, V. I.

2017-12-01

Part of the "free" magnetic energy associated with electrical current systems in the active region (AR) is released during solar flares. This proposition is widely accepted and it has stimulated interest in detecting electrical currents in active regions. The vertical component of an electric current in the photosphere can be found by observing the transverse magnetic field. At present, however, there are no direct methods for calculating transverse electric currents based on these observations. These calculations require information on the field vector measured simultaneously at several levels in the photosphere, which has not yet been done with solar instrumentation. In this paper we examine an approach to calculating the structure of the square of the density of a transverse electrical current based on a magnetogram of the vertical component of the magnetic field in the AR. Data obtained with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) for the AR of NOAA AR 11283 are used. It is shown that (1) the observed variations in the magnetic field of a sunspot and the proposed estimate of the density of an annular horizontal current around the spot are consistent with Faraday's law and (2) the resulting estimates of the magnitude of the square of the density of the horizontal current {j}_{\\perp}^2 = (0.002- 0.004) A2/m4 are consistent with previously obtained values of the density of a vertical current in the photosphere. Thus, the proposed estimate is physically significant and this method can be used to estimate the density and structure of transverse electrical currents in the photosphere.

Fermionic Schwinger effect and induced current in de Sitter space

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayashinaka, Takahiro; Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo,Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033; Fujita, Tomohiro

We explore Schwinger effect of spin 1/2 charged particles with static electric field in 1+3 dimensional de Sitter spacetime. We analytically calculate the vacuum expectation value of the spinor current which is induced by the produced particles in the electric field. The renormalization is performed with the adiabatic subtraction scheme. We find that the current becomes negative, namely it flows in the direction opposite to the electric field, if the electric field is weaker than a certain threshold value depending on the fermion mass, which is also known to happen in the case of scalar charged particles in 1+3 demore » Sitter spacetime. Contrary to the scalar case, however, the IR hyperconductivity is absent in the spinor case.« less

Ground-based instrumentation for measurements of atmospheric conduction current and electric field at the South Pole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byrne, G. J.; Benbrook, J. R.; Bering, E. A.; Few, A. A.; Morris, G. A.; Trabucco, W. J.; Paschal, E. W.

1993-01-01

Attention is given to instruments constructed to measure the atmospheric conduction current and the atmospheric electric field - two fundamental parameters of the global-electric circuit. The instruments were deployed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in January 1991 and are designed to operate continuously for up to one year without operator intervention. The atmospheric current flows into one hemisphere, through the electronics where it is measured, and out the other hemisphere. The electric field is measured by a field mill of the rotating dipole type. Sample data from the first days of operation at the South Pole indicate variations in the global circuit over time scales from minutes to hours to days.

Transmission of the convection electric field to the inner magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, T.

2003-12-01

Low latitude magnetometer observations revealed that the partial ring current started to develop within several minutes after the onset of growth of the polar cap potential (PCP), and decayed simultaneously with the decrease in the PCP (Hashimoto, Kikuchi and Ebihara., JGR 2002). The magnetometer observations also indicated that the DP2 ionospheric currents were driven by the convection electric field at mid latitudes as well as at high latitudes. These observational facts suggest that the ionospheric electric field plays a crucial role in driving the convection in the inner magnetosphere. A probable model for the electric field transmission should explain both the convection in the inner magnetosphere and the ionospheric currents at mid latitudes. The instantaneous transmission of the ionospheric electric field and currents from the polar ionosphere to the equator was explained by Kikuchi and Araki (JATP 1979) based on the TM0 mode in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. In this paper, we attempt to explain the transmission of the convection electric field to the inner magnetosphere by applying the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. However, two issues remained unresolved in the paper by Kikuchi and Araki (1979). One is the excitation of the TM0 mode in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide, and the other is the attenuation under the nighttime ionospheric condition. To examine the excitation of the TM0 mode, we couple the Earth-ionosphere waveguide (transmission line) with a magnetospheric transmission line composed of a pair of field-aligned currents (e.g., R1 FACs). A fraction of the electromagnetic energy carried from the magnetosphere is transmitted into the Earth-ionosphere waveguide, although substantial energy is dissipated in the polar ionosphere intervening between the two transmission lines. The transmitted electromagnetic energy excites the TM0 mode in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. We then evaluate the attenuation of the TM0 mode by calculating upward flow of energy from the waveguide into the conducting ionosphere and the magnetosphere. It is shown that the attenuation of the TM0 mode is not significant even for the nighttime condition, when compared to the geometrical attenuation due to the finite size of the polar electric field. Furthermore, it is shown that the ionospheric electric field carried by the TM0 mode is transmitted by Alfven waves upward into the inner magnetosphere along the magnetic field lines, supplying energy for the convection in the inner magnetosphere. It should be stressed that the ionosphere never creates electromagnetic energy but acts as a transmission line for the convection electric field. We conclude that the Earth-ionosphere waveguide connected with the magnetospheric transmission line explains both the instantaneous propagation of the electric field and currents in the ionosphere and of the convection electric field into the inner magnetosphere.

Global electric field determination in the Earth's outer magnetosphere using energetic charged particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eastman, Timothy E.; Sheldon, R.; Hamilton, D.

1995-01-01

Although many properties of the Earth's magnetosphere have been measured and quantified in the past 30 years since it was discovered, one fundamental measurement (for zeroth order MHD equilibrium) has been made infrequently and with poor spatial coverage - the global electric field. This oversight is due in part to the neglect of theorists. However, there is renewed interest in the convection electric field because it is now realized to be central to many magnetospheric processes, including the global MHD equilibrium, reconnection rates, Region 2 Birkeland currents, magnetosphere ionosphere coupling, ring current and radiation belt transport, substorm injections, and several acceleration mechanisms. Unfortunately the standard experimental methods have not been able to synthesize a global field (excepting the pioneering work of McIlwain's geostationary models) and we are left with an overly simplistic theoretical field, the Volland-Stern electric field model. Single point measurements of the plasmapause were used to infer the appropriate amplitudes of this model, parameterized by K(sub p). Although this result was never intended to be the definitive electric field model, it has gone nearly unchanged for 20 years. The analysis of current data sets requires a great deal more accuracy than can be provided by the Volland-Stern model. The variability of electric field shielding has not been properly addressed although effects of penetrating magnetospheric electric fields has been seen in mid-and low-latitude ionospheric data sets. The growing interest in substorm dynamics also requires a much better assessment of the electric fields responsible for particle injections. Thus we proposed and developed algorithms for extracting electric fields from particle data taken in the Earth's magnetosphere. As a test of the effectiveness of these new techniques, we analyzed data taken by the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft in equatorial orbit from 1984 to 1989.

Ballistic transport in graphene Y-junctions in transverse electric field.

PubMed

Nemnes, G A; Mitran, T L; Dragoman, Daniela

2018-06-05

We investigate the prospects for current modulation in single layer graphene Y-junctions in the ballistic regime, under an external electric field. Overcoming the inability of inducing field effect in graphene nanoribbons by a stacked gate, the proposed in-plane electric field setup enables a controlled current transfer between the branches of the Y-junction. This behavior is further confirmed by changing the angular incidence of the electric field. The ballistic transmission functions are calculated for the three terminal system using the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism, in the framework of density functional theory, under finite bias conditions. The edge currents dominating the transport in zigzag nanoribbons are strongly influenced by the induced dipole charge, facilitating the current modulation even for the metallic-like character of the Y-junctions. Spin polarization effects indicate the possibility of achieving spin filtering even in the absence of the external field provided the antiferromagnetic couplings between the edges are asymptotically set. Overall, our results indicate a robust behavior regarding the tunability of the charge current in the two outlet ports, showing the possibility of inducing field effect control in a single layer graphene system.

Dispersive FDTD analysis of induced electric field in human models due to electrostatic discharge.

PubMed

Hirata, Akimasa; Nagai, Toshihiro; Koyama, Teruyoshi; Hattori, Junya; Chan, Kwok Hung; Kavet, Robert

2012-07-07

Contact currents flow from/into a charged human body when touching a grounded conductive object. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) or spark may occur just before contact or upon release. The current may stimulate muscles and peripheral nerves. In order to clarify the difference in the induced electric field between different sized human models, the in-situ electric fields were computed in anatomically based models of adults and a child for a contact current in a human body following ESD. A dispersive finite-difference time-domain method was used, in which biological tissue is assumed to obey a four-pole Debye model. From our computational results, the first peak of the discharge current was almost identical across adult and child models. The decay of the induced current in the child was also faster due mainly to its smaller body capacitance compared to the adult models. The induced electric fields in the forefingers were comparable across different models. However, the electric field induced in the arm of the child model was found to be greater than that in the adult models primarily because of its smaller cross-sectional area. The tendency for greater doses in the child has also been reported for power frequency sinusoidal contact current exposures as reported by other investigators.

Schwinger mechanism in electromagnetic field in de Sitter spacetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bavarsad, Ehsan; Pyo Kim, Sang; Stahl, Clément; Xue, She-Sheng

2018-01-01

We investigate Schwinger scalar pair production in a constant electromagnetic field in de Sitter (dS) spacetime. We obtain the pair production rate, which agrees with the Hawking radiation in the limit of zero electric field in dS. The result describes how a cosmic magnetic field affects the pair production rate. In addition, using a numerical method we study the effect of the magnetic field on the induced current. We find that in the strong electromagnetic field the current has a linear response to the electric and magnetic fields, while in the infrared regime, is inversely proportional to the electric field and leads to infrared hyperconductivity.

Distribution of E/N and N/e/ in a cross-flow electric discharge laser. [electric field to neutral gas density and electron number density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunning, J. W., Jr.; Lancashire, R. B.; Manista, E. J.

1976-01-01

Measurements have been conducted of the effect of the convection of ions and electrons on the discharge characteristics in a large scale laser. The results are presented for one particular distribution of ballast resistance. Values of electric field, current density, input power density, ratio of electric field to neutral gas density (E/N), and electron number density were calculated on the basis of measurements of the discharge properties. In a number of graphs, the E/N ratio, current density, power density, and electron density are plotted as a function of row number (downstream position) with total discharge current and gas velocity as parameters. From the dependence of the current distribution on the total current, it appears that the electron production in the first two rows significantly affects the current flowing in the succeeding rows.

Electrodynamics of the Martian Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ledvina, S. A.; Brecht, S. H.

2017-12-01

The presence of the Martian crustal magnetic fields makes a significant modification to the interaction between the solar wind/IMF and the ionosphere of the planet. This paper presents the results of 3-D hybrid simulations of Martian solar wind interaction containing the Martian crustal fields., self-consistent ionospheric chemistry and planetary rotation. It has already been reported that the addition of the crustal fields and planetary rotation makes a significant modification of the ionospheric loss from Mars, Brecht et al., 2016. This paper focuses on two other aspects of the interaction, the electric fields and the current systems created by the solar wind interaction. The results of several simulations will be analyzed and compared. The electric fields around Mars due to its interaction with the solar wind will be examined. Special attention will be paid to the electric field constituents (∇ X B, ∇Pe, ηJ). Regions where the electric field is parallel to the magnetic field will be found and the implications of these regions will be discussed. Current systems for each ion species will be shown. Finally the effects on the electric fields and the current systems due to the rotation of Mars will be examined.

Correlation between dielectric property by dielectrophoretic levitation and growth activity of cells exposed to electric field.

PubMed

Hakoda, Masaru; Hirota, Yusuke

2013-09-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a system analyzing cell activity by the dielectrophoresis method. Our previous studies revealed a correlation between the growth activity and dielectric property (Re[K(ω)]) of mouse hybridoma 3-2H3 cells using dielectrophoretic levitation. Furthermore, it was clarified that the differentiation activity of many stem cells could be evaluated by the Re[K(ω)] without differentiation induction. In this paper, 3-2H3 cells exposed to an alternating current (AC) electric field or a direct current (DC) electric field were cultivated, and the influence of damage by the electric field on the growth activity of the cells was examined. To evaluate the activity of the cells by measuring the Re[K(ω)], the correlation between the growth activity and the Re[K(ω)] of the cells exposed to the electric field was examined. The relations between the cell viability, growth activity, and Re[K(ω)] in the cells exposed to the AC electric field were obtained. The growth activity of the cells exposed to the AC electric field could be evaluated by the Re[K(ω)]. Furthermore, it was found that the adverse effects of the electric field on the cell viability and the growth activity were smaller in the AC electric field than the DC electric field.

Note on the helicity decomposition of spin and orbital optical currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aiello, Andrea; Berry, M. V.

2015-06-01

In the helicity representation, the Poynting vector (current) for a monochromatic optical field, when calculated using either the electric or the magnetic field, separates into right-handed and left-handed contributions, with no cross-helicity contributions. Cross-helicity terms do appear in the orbital and spin contributions to the current. But when the electric and magnetic formulas are averaged (‘electric-magnetic democracy’), these terms cancel, restoring the separation into right-handed and left-handed currents for orbital and spin separately.

Dynamics of Ring Current and Electric Fields in the Inner Magnetosphere During Disturbed Periods: CRCM-BATS-R-US Coupled Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buzulukova, N.; Fok, M.-C.; Pulkkinen, A.; Kuznetsova, M.; Moore, T. E.; Glocer, A.; Brandt, P. C.; Toth, G.; Rastaetter, L.

2010-01-01

We present simulation results from a one-way coupled global MHD model (Block-Adaptive-Tree Solar-Wind Roe-Type Upwind Scheme, BATS-R-US) and kinetic ring current models (Comprehensive Ring Current Model, CRCM, and Fok Ring Current, FokRC). The BATS-R-US provides the CRCM/FokRC with magnetic field information and plasma density/temperature at the polar CRCM/FokRC boundary. The CRCM uses an electric potential from the BATS-R-US ionospheric solver at the polar CRCM boundary in order to calculate the electric field pattern consistent with the CRCM pressure distribution. The FokRC electric field potential is taken from BATS-R-US ionospheric solver everywhere in the modeled region, and the effect of Region II currents is neglected. We show that for an idealized case with southward-northward-southward Bz IMF turning, CRCM-BATS-R-US reproduces well known features of inner magnetosphere electrodynamics: strong/weak convection under the southward/northward Bz; electric field shielding/overshielding/penetration effects; an injection during the substorm development; Subauroral Ion Drift or Polarization Jet (SAID/PJ) signature in the dusk sector. Furthermore, we find for the idealized case that SAID/PJ forms during the substorm growth phase, and that substorm injection has its own structure of field-aligned currents which resembles a substorm current wedge. For an actual event (12 August 2000 storm), we calculate ENA emissions and compare with Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration/High Energy Neutral Atom data. The CRCM-BATS-R-US reproduces both the global morphology of ring current and the fine structure of ring current injection. The FokRC-BATS-R-US shows the effect of a realistic description of Region II currents in ring current-MHD coupled models.

Tripolar electric field Structure in guide field magnetic reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Song; Huang, Shiyong; Zhou, Meng; Ni, Binbin; Deng, Xiaohua

2018-03-01

It has been shown that the guide field substantially modifies the structure of the reconnection layer. For instance, the Hall magnetic and electric fields are distorted in guide field reconnection compared to reconnection without guide fields (i.e., anti-parallel reconnection). In this paper, we performed 2.5-D electromagnetic full particle simulation to study the electric field structures in magnetic reconnection under different initial guide fields (Bg). Once the amplitude of a guide field exceeds 0.3 times the asymptotic magnetic field B0, the traditional bipolar Hall electric field is clearly replaced by a tripolar electric field, which consists of a newly emerged electric field and the bipolar Hall electric field. The newly emerged electric field is a convective electric field about one ion inertial length away from the neutral sheet. It arises from the disappearance of the Hall electric field due to the substantial modification of the magnetic field and electric current by the imposed guide field. The peak magnitude of this new electric field increases linearly with the increment of guide field strength. Possible applications of these results to space observations are also discussed.

Generation of Alfvenic Double Layers, Formation of Auroral Arcs, and Their Impact on Energy and Momentum Transfer in M-I Coupling System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Y.; Lysak, R. L.

2017-12-01

Parallel electrostatic electric fields provide a powerful mechanism to accelerate auroral particles to high energy in the auroral acceleration region (AAR), creating both quasi-static and Alfvenic discrete aurorae. The total field-aligned current can be written as J||total=J||+J||D, where the displacement current is denoted as J||D=(1/4π)(∂E||/∂t), which describes the E||-generation (Song and Lysak, 2006). The generation of the total field-aligned current is related to spatial gradients of the parallel vorticity caused by the axial torque acting on field-aligned flux tubes in M-I coupling system. It should be noticed that parallel electric fields are not produced by the field-aligned current. In fact, the E||-generation is caused by Alfvenic interaction in the M-I coupling system, and is favored by a low plasma density and the enhanced localized azimuthal magnetic flux. We suggest that the nonlinear interaction of incident and reflected Alfven wave packets in the AAR can create reactive stress concentration, and therefore can generate the parallel electrostatic electric fields together with a seed low density cavity. The generated electric fields will quickly deepen the seed low density cavity, which can effectively create even stronger electrostatic electric fields. The electrostatic electric fields nested in a low density cavity and surrounded by enhanced azimuthal magnetic flux constitute Alfvenic electromagnetic plasma structures, such as Alfvenic Double Layers (DLs). The Poynting flux carried by Alfven waves can continuously supply energy from the generator region to the auroral acceleration region, supporting and sustaining Alfvenic DLs with long-lasting electrostatic electric fields which accelerate auroral particles to high energy. The generation of parallel electric fields and the formation of auroral arcs can redistribute perpendicular mechanical and magnetic stresses in auroral flux tubes, decoupling the magnetosphere from ionosphere drag locally. This may enhance the magnetotail earthward shear flows and rapidly buildup stronger parallel electric fields in the auroral acceleration region, leading to a sudden and violent tail energy release, if there is accumulated free magnetic energy in the tail.

Action potential propagation: ion current or intramembrane electric field?

PubMed

Martí, Albert; Pérez, Juan J; Madrenas, Jordi

2018-01-01

The established action potential propagation mechanisms do not satisfactorily explain propagation on myelinated axons given the current knowledge of biological channels and membranes. The flow across ion channels presents two possible effects: the electric potential variations across the lipid bilayers (action potential) and the propagation of an electric field through the membrane inner part. The proposed mechanism is based on intra-membrane electric field propagation, this propagation can explain the action potential saltatory propagation and its constant delay independent of distance between Ranvier nodes in myelinated axons.

Downhole data transmission system

DOEpatents

Hall, David R.; Hall, Jr., H. Tracy; Pixton, David S; Dahlgren, Scott; Fox, Joe

2006-06-20

A system for transmitting data through a string of downhole components. In one aspect, the system includes first and second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating elements at both ends of the component. Each element includes a first U-shaped trough with a bottom, first and second sides and an opening between the two sides. Electrically conducting coils are located in each trough. An electrical conductor connects the coils in each component. In operation, a varying current applied to a first coil in one component generates a varying magnetic field in the first magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element, which varying magnetic field is conducted to and thereby produces a varying magnetic field in the second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element of a connected component, which magnetic field thereby generates a varying electrical current in the second coil in the connected component.

Downhole Data Transmission System

DOEpatents

Hall, David R.; Hall, Jr., H. Tracy; Pixton, David; Dahlgren, Scott; Fox, Joe

2003-12-30

A system for transmitting data through a string of downhole components. In one aspect, the system includes first and second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating elements at both ends of the component. Each element includes a first U-shaped trough with a bottom, first and second sides and an opening between the two sides. Electrically conducting coils are located in each trough. An electrical conductor connects the coils in each component. In operation, a varying current applied to a first coil in one component generates a varying magnetic field in the first magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element, which varying magnetic field is conducted to and thereby produces a varying magnetic field in the second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element of a connected component, which magnetic field thereby generates a varying electrical current in the second coil in the connected component.

Field-aligned current sources in the high-latitude ionosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barbosa, D. D.

1979-01-01

The paper determines the electric potential in a plane which is fed current from a pair of field-aligned current sheets. The ionospheric conductivity is modelled as a constant with an enhanced conductivity annular ring. It is shown that field-aligned current distributions are arbitrary functions of azimuth angle (MLT) and thus allow for asymmetric potential configurations over the pole cap. In addition, ionospheric surface currents are computed by means of stream functions. Finally, the discussion relates these methods to the electrical characteristics of the magnetosphere.

Built-in electric field thickness design for betavoltaic batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haiyang, Chen; Darang, Li; Jianhua, Yin; Shengguo, Cai

2011-09-01

Isotope source energy deposition along the thickness direction of a semiconductor is calculated, based upon which an ideal short current is evaluated for betavoltaic batteries. Electron-hole pair recombination and drifting length in a PN junction built-in electric field are extracted by comparing the measured short currents with the ideal short currents. A built-in electric field thickness design principle is proposed for betavoltaic batteries: after measuring the energy deposition depth and the carrier drift length, the shorter one should then be chosen as the built-in electric field thickness. If the energy deposition depth is much larger than the carrier drift length, a multi-junction is preferred in betavoltaic batteries and the number of the junctions should be the value of the deposition depth divided by the drift length.

Modifications to the edge current profile with auxiliary edge current drive and improved confinement in a reversed-field pinch

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chapman, B.E.; Biewer, T.M.; Chattopadhyay, P.K.

2000-09-01

Auxiliary edge current drive is routinely applied in the Madison Symmetric Torus [R.N. Dexter, D. W. Kerst, T.W. Lovell et.al., Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)] with the goal of modifying the parallel current profile to reduce current- driven magnetic fluctuations and the associated particle and energy transport. Provided by an inductive electric field, the current drive successfully reduces energy transport. First-time measurements of the modified edge current profile reveal that, relative to discharges without auxiliary current drive, the edge current density decreases. This decrease is explicable in terms of newly measured reductions in the dynamo (fluctuation-based) electric field and themore » electrical conductivity. Induced by the current drive, these two changes to the edge plasma play as much of a role in determining the resultant edge current profile as does the current drive itself.« less

Neuron matters: electric activation of neuronal tissue is dependent on the interaction between the neuron and the electric field.

PubMed

Ye, Hui; Steiger, Amanda

2015-08-12

In laboratory research and clinical practice, externally-applied electric fields have been widely used to control neuronal activity. It is generally accepted that neuronal excitability is controlled by electric current that depolarizes or hyperpolarizes the excitable cell membrane. What determines the amount of polarization? Research on the mechanisms of electric stimulation focus on the optimal control of the field properties (frequency, amplitude, and direction of the electric currents) to improve stimulation outcomes. Emerging evidence from modeling and experimental studies support the existence of interactions between the targeted neurons and the externally-applied electric fields. With cell-field interaction, we suggest a two-way process. When a neuron is positioned inside an electric field, the electric field will induce a change in the resting membrane potential by superimposing an electrically-induced transmembrane potential (ITP). At the same time, the electric field can be perturbed and re-distributed by the cell. This cell-field interaction may play a significant role in the overall effects of stimulation. The redistributed field can cause secondary effects to neighboring cells by altering their geometrical pattern and amount of membrane polarization. Neurons excited by the externally-applied electric field can also affect neighboring cells by ephaptic interaction. Both aspects of the cell-field interaction depend on the biophysical properties of the neuronal tissue, including geometric (i.e., size, shape, orientation to the field) and electric (i.e., conductivity and dielectricity) attributes of the cells. The biophysical basis of the cell-field interaction can be explained by the electromagnetism theory. Further experimental and simulation studies on electric stimulation of neuronal tissue should consider the prospect of a cell-field interaction, and a better understanding of tissue inhomogeneity and anisotropy is needed to fully appreciate the neural basis of cell-field interaction as well as the biological effects of electric stimulation.

Changes in the superconducting properties of high-T(sub c) ceramics produced by applied electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smirnov, B. I.; Orlova, T. S.; Kaufmann, H.-J.

1995-01-01

Effect of an electrostatic field in the electrode-insulator-superconductor system on the current-voltage characteristics of high-T(sub c) ceramics with various composition and different preparation technology has been studied at 77 K. Ceramics of Y-Ba-Cu-O (123) and Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (2223) systems and also ones doped by Ag have been used. Electric field strength has been up to 140 MV/m. It has been shown that there are reversible changes in the critical current I(sub c) and in the conductivity in electric field at the currents somewhat more than I(sub c) at T is less than T(sub c), while at T is greater than T(sub c) the noticeable electric field effect has not been found. These effects are qualitatively similar in both ceramic systems. High negative and positive gate voltages result in an increase of the conductivity. The electric field effect is modified by magnetic field H. The field effect decreases with increasing magnetic field and disappears at H is greater than 30 Oe. In Y-Ba-Cu-O/Ag (10 wt. percent) ceramics the field effect is practically absent. It may be supposed that in the ceramics the field-induced effect is consistent with weak links at grain boundaries.

Characterization of the IMF By-dependent field-aligned currents in the cleft region based on DE 2 observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taguchi, S.; Sugiura, M.; Winningham, J. D.; Slavin, J. A.

1993-01-01

The magnetic field and plasma data from 47 passes of DE-2 are used to study the IMF By-dependent distribution of field-aligned currents in the cleft region. It is proposed that the low-latitude cleft current (LCC) region is not an extension of the region 1 or region 2 current system and that a pair of LCCs and high-latitude cleft currents (HCCs) constitutes the cleft field-aligned current regime. The proposed pair of cleft field-aligned currents is explained with a qualitative model in which this pair of currents is generated on open field lines that have just been reconnected on the dayside magnetopause. The electric fields are transmitted along the field lines to the ionosphere, creating a poleward electric field and a pair of field-aligned currents when By is positive; the pair of field-aligned currents consists of a downward current at lower latitudes and an upward current at higher latitudes. In the By negative case, the model explains the reversal of the field-aligned current direction in the LCC and HCC regions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Domengie, F., E-mail: florian.domengie@st.com; Morin, P.; Bauza, D.

We propose a model for dark current induced by metallic contamination in a CMOS image sensor. Based on Shockley-Read-Hall kinetics, the expression of dark current proposed accounts for the electric field enhanced emission factor due to the Poole-Frenkel barrier lowering and phonon-assisted tunneling mechanisms. To that aim, we considered the distribution of the electric field magnitude and metal atoms in the depth of the pixel. Poisson statistics were used to estimate the random distribution of metal atoms in each pixel for a given contamination dose. Then, we performed a Monte-Carlo-based simulation for each pixel to set the number of metalmore » atoms the pixel contained and the enhancement factor each atom underwent, and obtained a histogram of the number of pixels versus dark current for the full sensor. Excellent agreement with the dark current histogram measured on an ion-implanted gold-contaminated imager has been achieved, in particular, for the description of the distribution tails due to the pixel regions in which the contaminant atoms undergo a large electric field. The agreement remains very good when increasing the temperature by 15 °C. We demonstrated that the amplification of the dark current generated for the typical electric fields encountered in the CMOS image sensors, which depends on the nature of the metal contaminant, may become very large at high electric field. The electron and hole emissions and the resulting enhancement factor are described as a function of the trap characteristics, electric field, and temperature.« less

Optimization of return electrodes in neurostimulating arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores, Thomas; Goetz, Georges; Lei, Xin; Palanker, Daniel

2016-06-01

Objective. High resolution visual prostheses require dense stimulating arrays with localized inputs of individual electrodes. We study the electric field produced by multielectrode arrays in electrolyte to determine an optimal configuration of return electrodes and activation sequence. Approach. To determine the boundary conditions for computation of the electric field in electrolyte, we assessed current dynamics using an equivalent circuit of a multielectrode array with interleaved return electrodes. The electric field modeled with two different boundary conditions derived from the equivalent circuit was then compared to measurements of electric potential in electrolyte. To assess the effect of return electrode configuration on retinal stimulation, we transformed the computed electric fields into retinal response using a model of neural network-mediated stimulation. Main results. Electric currents at the capacitive electrode-electrolyte interface redistribute over time, so that boundary conditions transition from equipotential surfaces at the beginning of the pulse to uniform current density in steady state. Experimental measurements confirmed that, in steady state, the boundary condition corresponds to a uniform current density on electrode surfaces. Arrays with local return electrodes exhibit improved field confinement and can elicit stronger network-mediated retinal response compared to those with a common remote return. Connecting local return electrodes enhances the field penetration depth and allows reducing the return electrode area. Sequential activation of the pixels in large monopolar arrays reduces electrical cross-talk and improves the contrast in pattern stimulation. Significance. Accurate modeling of multielectrode arrays helps optimize the electrode configuration to maximize the spatial resolution, contrast and dynamic range of retinal prostheses.

Electric fields induced in the human body by time-varying magnetic field gradients in MRI: numerical calculations and correlation analysis.

PubMed

Bencsik, Martin; Bowtell, Richard; Bowley, Roger

2007-05-07

The spatial distributions of the electric fields induced in the human body by switched magnetic field gradients in MRI have been calculated numerically using the commercial software package, MAFIA, and the three-dimensional, HUGO body model that comprises 31 different tissue types. The variation of |J|, |E| and |B| resulting from exposure of the body model to magnetic fields generated by typical whole-body x-, y- and z-gradient coils has been analysed for three different body positions (head-, heart- and hips-centred). The magnetic field varied at 1 kHz, so as to produce a rate of change of gradient of 100 T m(-1) s(-1) at the centre of each coil. A highly heterogeneous pattern of induced electric field and current density was found to result from the smoothly varying magnetic field in all cases, with the largest induced electric fields resulting from application of the y-gradient, in agreement with previous studies. By applying simple statistical analysis to electromagnetic quantities within axial planes of the body model, it is shown that the induced electric field is strongly correlated to the local value of resistivity, and the induced current density exhibits even stronger correlation with the local conductivity. The local values of the switched magnetic field are however shown to bear little relation to the local values of the induced electric field or current density.

An explanation for parallel electric field pulses observed over thunderstorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, M. C.; Barnum, B. H.

2009-10-01

Every electric field instrument flown on sounding rockets over a thunderstorm has detected pulses of electric fields parallel to the Earth's magnetic field associated with every strike. This paper describes the ionospheric signatures found during a flight from Wallops Island, Virginia, on 2 September 1995. The electric field results in a drifting Maxwellian corresponding to energies up to 1 eV. The distribution function relaxes because of elastic and inelastic collisions, resulting in electron heating up to 4000-5000 K and potentially observable red line emissions and enhanced ISR electron temperatures. The field strength scales with the current in cloud-to-ground strikes and falls off as r -1 with distance. Pulses of both polarities are found, although most electric fields are downward, parallel to the magnetic field. The pulse may be the reaction of ambient plasma to a current pulse carried at the whistler packet's highest group velocity. The charge source required to produce the electric field is very likely electrons of a few keV traveling at the packet velocity. We conjecture that the current source is the divergence of the current flowing at mesospheric heights, the phenomenon called an elve. The whistler packet's effective radiated power is as high as 25 mW at ionospheric heights, comparable to some ionospheric heater transmissions. Comparing the Poynting flux at the base of the ionosphere with flux an equal distance away along the ground, some 30 db are lost in the mesosphere. Another 10 db are lost in the transition from free space to the whistler mode.

Discussion of Electrode Conditioning Mechanism Based on Pre-breakdown Current under Non-uniform Electric Field in Vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasuoka, Takanori; Kato, Tomohiro; Kato, Katsumi; Okubo, Hitoshi

Electrode conditioning is very important technique for improvement of the insulation performance of vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs). This paper discusses the spark conditioning mechanism under non-uniform electric field focused on the pre-breakdown current. We quantitatively evaluated the spark conditioning effect by analyzing the pre-breakdown current based on Fowler-Nordheim equation. As a result, field enhancement factor β decreased with the increasing in breakdown voltage in the beginning of conditioning process, and finally β was saturated with the saturation of breakdown voltage. In addition, in case of non-uniform field, we found that β on high voltage rod electrode after conditioning varied according to the electric field strength on the rod electrode.

Classical Hall Effect without Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schade, Nicholas; Tao, Chiao-Yu; Schuster, David; Nagel, Sidney

We show that the sign and density of charge carriers in a material can be obtained without the presence of a magnetic field. This effect, analogous to the classical Hall effect, is due solely to the geometry of the current-carrying wire. When current flows, surface charges along the wire create small electric fields that direct the current to follow the path of the conductor. In a curved wire, the charge carriers must experience a centripetal force, which arises from an electric field perpendicular to the drift velocity. This electric field produces a potential difference between the sides of the wire that depends on the sign and density of the charge carriers. We experimentally investigate circuits made from superconductors or graphene to find evidence for this effect.

Electric current generation in photorefractive bismuth silicon oxide without application of external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchhave, Preben; Kukhtarev, Nickolai; Kukhtareva, Tatiana; Edwards, Matthew E.; Reagan, Michael A.; Lyuksyutov, Sergei F.

2003-10-01

A holographic radial diffraction grating (HRDG) is an efficient optical element for splitting single laser beam on three 0, -1st, and +1st- diffraction order beams. The rotation of the grating at certain velocity allows a window for quality control over the frequency detuning between -1st, and +1st diffracted beams. The running interference fringes produced by the beams and projected on photorefractive crystal induce running holographic gratings in the crystal. This simple configuration is an effective tool for the study of such phenomena as space charge waves [1], domains motion [2], and electric current generation [3]. Specifics of photorefractive mechanism in cubic photorefractive crystals (BSO, BTO) normally require a use of external electric field to produce reasonable degree of refractive index modulation to observe associated with it phenomena. In this work we provide a direct experimental observation of the electric current generated in photorefractive BSO using running grating technique without an applied electric field. Moving interference fringes modulate a photoconductivity and an electric field in photorefractive crystal thus creating the photo electro-motive force (emf) and the current. The magnitude of the current varies between 1 and 10 nA depending on the rotation speed of HRDG. The peculiarities of the current behavior include a backward current flow, and current oscillations. The holographic current generated through this technique can find applications in non-destructive testing for ultra-sensitive vibrometry, materials characterization, and for motion sensors. References [1] S.F. Lyuksyutov, P. Buchhave, and M.V. Vasnetsov, Physical Review Letters, 79, No.1, 67-70 (1997) [2] P. Buchhave, S. Lyuksyutov, M. Vasnetsov, and C. Heyde, Journal Optical Society of America B, 13, No.11 2595-2602 (1996) [3] M. Vasnetsov, P. Buchhave, and S. Lyuksyutov Optics Communications, 137, 181-191 (1997)

Novel non-equilibrium modelling of a DC electric arc in argon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baeva, M.; Benilov, M. S.; Almeida, N. A.; Uhrlandt, D.

2016-06-01

A novel non-equilibrium model has been developed to describe the interplay of heat and mass transfer and electric and magnetic fields in a DC electric arc. A complete diffusion treatment of particle fluxes, a generalized form of Ohm’s law, and numerical matching of the arc plasma with the space-charge sheaths adjacent to the electrodes are applied to analyze in detail the plasma parameters and the phenomena occurring in the plasma column and the near-electrode regions of a DC arc generated in atmospheric pressure argon for current levels from 20 A up to 200 A. Results comprising electric field and potential, current density, heating of the electrodes, and effects of thermal and chemical non-equilibrium are presented and discussed. The current-voltage characteristic obtained is in fair agreement with known experimental data. It indicates a minimum for arc current of about 80 A. For all current levels, a field reversal in front of the anode accompanied by a voltage drop of (0.7-2.6) V is observed. Another field reversal is observed near the cathode for arc currents below 80 A.

Field-aligned electric currents and their measurement by the incoherent backscatter technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, P.; Cole, K. D.; Lejeume, G.

1975-01-01

Field aligned electric currents flow in the magnetosphere in many situations of fundamental geophysical interest. It is shown here that the incoherent backscatter technique can be used to measure these currents when the plasma line can be observed. The technique provides a ground based means of measuring these currents which complements the rocket and satellite ones.

Field-parallel Acceleration: Comment on the Paper “Electric Currents on the Flare Ribbons: Observations and Standard Model” by Janvier et al. (2014, ApJ, 788, 60)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haerendel, G.

It is proposed that the coincidence of higher brightness and upward electric current observed by Janvier et al. during a flare indicates electron acceleration by field-parallel potential drops sustained by extremely strong field-aligned currents of order 10{sup 4} A m{sup −2}. A few consequences are discussed here.

Method of determining interwell oil field fluid saturation distribution

DOEpatents

Donaldson, Erle C.; Sutterfield, F. Dexter

1981-01-01

A method of determining the oil and brine saturation distribution in an oil field by taking electrical current and potential measurements among a plurality of open-hole wells geometrically distributed throughout the oil field. Poisson's equation is utilized to develop fluid saturation distributions from the electrical current and potential measurement. Both signal generating equipment and chemical means are used to develop current flow among the several open-hole wells.

The source of the electric field in the nightside magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1975-01-01

In the open magnetosphere model magnetic field lines from the polar caps connect to the interplanetary magnetic field and conduct an electric field from interplanetary space to the polar ionosphere. By examining the magnetic flux involved it is concluded that only slightly more than half of the magnetic flux in the polar caps belongs to open field lines and that such field lines enter or leave the magnetosphere through narrow elongated windows stretching the tail. These window regions are identified with the tail's boundary region and shift their position with changes in the interplanetary magnetic field, in particular when a change of interplanetary magnetic sector occurs. The circuit providing electric current in the magnetopause and the plasma sheet is extended across those windows; thus energy is drained from the interplanetary electric field and an electric potential drop is produced across the plasma sheet. The polar cap receives its electric field from interplanetary space on the day side from open magnetic field lines and on the night side from closed field lines leading to the plasma sheet. The theory described provides improved understanding of magnetic flux bookkeeping, of the origin of Birkeland currents, and of the boundary layer of the geomagnetic tail.

Ionic components of electric current at rat corneal wounds.

PubMed

Vieira, Ana Carolina; Reid, Brian; Cao, Lin; Mannis, Mark J; Schwab, Ivan R; Zhao, Min

2011-02-25

Endogenous electric fields and currents occur naturally at wounds and are a strong signal guiding cell migration into the wound to promote healing. Many cells involved in wound healing respond to small physiological electric fields in vitro. It has long been assumed that wound electric fields are produced by passive ion leakage from damaged tissue. Could these fields be actively maintained and regulated as an active wound response? What are the molecular, ionic and cellular mechanisms underlying the wound electric currents? Using rat cornea wounds as a model, we measured the dynamic timecourses of individual ion fluxes with ion-selective probes. We also examined chloride channel expression before and after wounding. After wounding, Ca(2+) efflux increased steadily whereas K(+) showed an initial large efflux which rapidly decreased. Surprisingly, Na(+) flux at wounds was inward. A most significant observation was a persistent large influx of Cl(-), which had a time course similar to the net wound electric currents we have measured previously. Fixation of the tissues abolished ion fluxes. Pharmacological agents which stimulate ion transport significantly increased flux of Cl(-), Na(+) and K(+). Injury to the cornea caused significant changes in distribution and expression of Cl(-) channel CLC2. These data suggest that the outward electric currents occurring naturally at corneal wounds are carried mainly by a large influx of chloride ions, and in part by effluxes of calcium and potassium ions. Ca(2+) and Cl(-) fluxes appear to be mainly actively regulated, while K(+) flux appears to be largely due to leakage. The dynamic changes of electric currents and specific ion fluxes after wounding suggest that electrical signaling is an active response to injury and offers potential novel approaches to modulate wound healing, for example eye-drops targeting ion transport to aid in the challenging management of non-healing corneal ulcers.

Spin-dependent transport and current modulation in a current-in-plane spin-valve field-effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanaki, Toshiki; Koyama, Tomohiro; Chiba, Daichi; Ohya, Shinobu; Tanaka, Masaaki

2016-10-01

We propose a current-in-plane spin-valve field-effect transistor (CIP-SV-FET), which is composed of a ferromagnet/nonferromagnet/ferromagnet trilayer structure and a gate electrode. This is a promising device alternative to spin metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. Here, we fabricate a ferromagnetic-semiconductor GaMnAs-based CIP-SV-FET and demonstrate its basic operation of the resistance modulation both by the magnetization configuration and by the gate electric field. Furthermore, we present the electric-field-assisted magnetization reversal in this device.

One-step fabrication of nanostructure-covered microstructures using selective aluminum anodization based on non-uniform electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Yong Min; Kim, Byeong Hee; Seo, Young Ho

2016-06-01

This paper presents a selective aluminum anodization technique for the fabrication of microstructures covered by nanoscale dome structures. It is possible to fabricate bulging microstructures, utilizing the different growth rates of anodic aluminum oxide in non-uniform electric fields, because the growth rate of anodic aluminum oxide depends on the intensity of electric field, or current density. After anodizing under a non-uniform electric field, bulging microstructures covered by nanostructures were fabricated by removing the residual aluminum layer. The non-uniform electric field induced by insulative micropatterns was estimated by computational simulations and verified experimentally. Utilizing computational simulations, the intensity profile of the electric field was calculated according to the ratio of height and width of the insulative micropatterns. To compare computational simulation results and experimental results, insulative micropatterns were fabricated using SU-8 photoresist. The results verified that the shape of the bottom topology of anodic alumina was strongly dependent on the intensity profile of the applied electric field, or current density. The one-step fabrication of nanostructure-covered microstructures can be applied to various fields, such as nano-biochip and nano-optics, owing to its simplicity and cost effectiveness.

Computational dosimetry of induced electric fields during realistic movements in the vicinity of a 3 T MRI scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laakso, Ilkka; Kännälä, Sami; Jokela, Kari

2013-04-01

Medical staff working near magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are exposed both to the static magnetic field itself and also to electric currents that are induced in the body when the body moves in the magnetic field. However, there are currently limited data available on the induced electric field for realistic movements. This study computationally investigates the movement induced electric fields for realistic movements in the magnetic field of a 3 T MRI scanner. The path of movement near the MRI scanner is based on magnetic field measurements using a coil sensor attached to a human volunteer. Utilizing realistic models for both the motion of the head and the magnetic field of the MRI scanner, the induced fields are computationally determined using the finite-element method for five high-resolution numerical anatomical models. The results show that the time-derivative of the magnetic flux density (dB/dt) is approximately linearly proportional to the induced electric field in the head, independent of the position of the head with respect to the magnet. This supports the use of dB/dt measurements for occupational exposure assessment. For the path of movement considered herein, the spatial maximum of the induced electric field is close to the basic restriction for the peripheral nervous system and exceeds the basic restriction for the central nervous system in the international guidelines. The 99th percentile electric field is a considerably less restrictive metric for the exposure than the spatial maximum electric field; the former is typically 60-70% lower than the latter. However, the 99th percentile electric field may exceed the basic restriction for dB/dt values that can be encountered during tasks commonly performed by MRI workers. It is also shown that the movement-induced eddy currents may reach magnitudes that could electrically stimulate the vestibular system, which could play a significant role in the generation of vertigo-like sensations reported by people moving in a strong static magnetic field.

Biological and Agricultural Studies on Application of Discharge Plasma and Electromagnetic Fields 5. Effects of High Electric Fields on Animals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaka, Katsuo

The biological effects of extremely low frequency electric fields on animals are reviewed with emphasis on studies of the nervous system, behavior, endocrinology, and blood chemistry. First, this paper provides a histrical overview of studies on the electric field effects initiated in Russia and the United States mainly regarding electric utility workers in high voltage substations and transmission lines. Then, the possible mechanisms of electric field effects are explained using the functions of surface electric fields and induced currents in biological objects. The real mechanisms have not yet been identified. The thresholds of electric field perception levels for rats, baboons, and humans are introduced and compared. The experimental results concerning the depression of melatonin secretion in rats exposed to electric fields are described.

Electron Currents and Heating in the Ion Diffusion Region of Asymmetric Reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graham, D. B.; Khotyaintsev, Yu. V.; Norgren, C.; Vaivads, A.; Andre, M.; Lindqvist, P. A.; Marklund, G. T.; Ergun, R. E.; Paterson, W. R.; Gershman, D. J.;

Effects of 60-Heartz electric and magnetic fields on implanted cardiac pacemakers. Final report. [Hazards of power transmission line frequencies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bridges, J.E.; Frazier, M.J.

1979-09-01

The effects of 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields of exta-high voltage (EHV) transmission lines on the performance of implanted cardiac pacemakers were studied by: (1) in vitro bench tests of a total of thirteen cardiac pacemakers; (2) in vivo tests of six implanted cardiac pacemakers in baboons; and (3) non-hazardous skin measurement tests on four humans. Analytical methods were developed to predict the thresholds of body current and electric fields capable of affecting normal pacemaker operation in humans. The field strengths calculated to alter implanted pacemaker performance were compared with the range of maximum electric and magnetic field strengths amore » human would normally encounter under transmission lines of various voltages. Results indicate that the electric field or body current necessary to alter the normal operation of pacemakers is highly dependent on the type of pacemaker and the location of the implanted electrodes. However, cardiologists have not so far detected harmful effects of pacemaker reversion to the asynchronous mode in current types of pacemakers and with present methods of implantation. Such interferences can be eliminated by using advanced pacemakers less sensitive to 60-Hz voltages or by using implantation lead arrangements less sensitive to body current.« less

Beyond 2D: Parallel Electric Fields and Dissipation in Guide Field Reconnectio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilder, F. D.; Ergun, R.; Ahmadi, N.; Goodrich, K.; Eriksson, S.; Shimoda, E.; Burch, J. L.; Phan, T.; Torbert, R. B.; Strangeway, R. J.; Giles, B. L.; Lindqvist, P. A.; Khotyaintsev, Y. V.

2017-12-01

In 2015, NASA launched the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to study phenomenon of magnetic reconnection down to the electron scale. Advantages of MMS include a 20s spin period and long axial booms, which together allow for measurement of 3-D electric fields with accuracy down to 1 mV/m. During the two dayside phases of the prime mission, MMS has observed multiple electron and ion diffusion region events at the Earth's subsolar and flank magnetopause, as well as in the magnetosheath, providing an option to study both symmetric and asymmetric reconnection at a variety of guide field strengths. We present a review of parallel electric fields observed by MMS during diffusion region events, and discuss their implications for simulations and laboratory observations of reconnection. We find that as the guide field increases, the dissipation in the diffusion region transitions from being due to currents and fields perpendicular to the background magnetic field, to being associated with parallel electric fields and currents. Additionally, the observed parallel electric fields are significantly larger than those predicted by simulations of reconnection under strong guide field conditions.

Simulation of electrostatic ion instabilities in the presence of parallel currents and transverse electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nishikawa, K.-I.; Ganguli, G.; Lee, Y. C.; Palmadesso, P. J.

1989-01-01

A spatially two-dimensional electrostatic PIC simulation code was used to study the stability of a plasma equilibrium characterized by a localized transverse dc electric field and a field-aligned drift for L is much less than Lx, where Lx is the simulation length in the x direction and L is the scale length associated with the dc electric field. It is found that the dc electric field and the field-aligned current can together play a synergistic role to enable the excitation of electrostatic waves even when the threshold values of the field aligned drift and the E x B drift are individually subcritical. The simulation results show that the growing ion waves are associated with small vortices in the linear stage, which evolve to the nonlinear stage dominated by larger vortices with lower frequencies.

FAST OPENING SWITCH

DOEpatents

Bender, M.; Bennett, F.K.; Kuckes, A.F.

1963-09-17

A fast-acting electric switch is described for rapidly opening a circuit carrying large amounts of electrical power. A thin, conducting foil bridges a gap in this circuit and means are provided for producing a magnetic field and eddy currents in the foil, whereby the foil is rapidly broken to open the circuit across the gap. Advantageously the foil has a hole forming two narrow portions in the foil and the means producing the magnetic field and eddy currents comprises an annular coil having its annulus coaxial with the hole in the foil and turns adjacent the narrow portions of the foil. An electrical current flows through the coil to produce the magnetic field and eddy currents in the foil. (AEC)

Atmospheric electric field and current configurations in the vicinity of mountains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tzur, I.; Roble, R. G.; Adams, J. C.

1985-01-01

A number of investigations have been conducted regarding the electrical distortion produced by the earth's orography. Hays and Roble (1979) utilized their global model of atmospheric electricity to study the effect of large-scale orographic features on the currents and fields of the global circuit. The present paper is concerned with an extension of the previous work, taking into account an application of model calculations to orographic features with different configurations and an examination of the electric mapping of these features to ionospheric heights. A two-dimensional quasi-static numerical model of atmospheric electricity is employed. The model contains a detailed electrical conductivity profile. The model region extends from the surface to 100 km and includes the equalization layer located above approximately 70 km. The obtained results show that the electric field and current configurations above mountains depend upon the curvature of the mountain slopes, on the width of the mountain, and on the columnar resistance above the mountain (or mountain height).

Synchronization modulation of Na/K pumps on Xenopus oocytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Pengfei; Mast, Jason; Chen, Wei

We developed a new technique named synchronization modulation to electrically synchronize and modulate the Na/K pump molecules by a specially designed oscillating electric field. This technique is based on the theory of energy-trap in quantum physics as well as the concept of electronic synchrotron accelerator. As a result, the Na-transports are all entrapped into the positive half-cycle of the applied electric field and consequently, all of the K-transports are entrapped into the negative half cycle of the field. To demonstrate the process of the pump synchronization and modulation, we use Xenopus oocytes as a platform and introduce two-electrode whole-cell voltage clamp in measurement of pump current. Practically, we first synchronize the pump molecules running at the same pace (rate and phase) by a specially designed oscillation electric field. Then, we carefully maintain the pump synchronization status and gradually change the field frequency (decrease and increase) to modulate the pump molecules to newer pumping rate. The result shows a separation of the inward K current from the outward Na current, and about 10 time increase of the total (inward plus outward) pump current from the net outward current from the random paced pump molecules. Also, the ratio of the modulated total pump current with synchronized total pump current is consistent with the ratio of their field frequencies.

The effect of longitudinal conductance variations on the ionospheric prompt penetration electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sazykin, S.; Wolf, R.; Spiro, R.; Fejer, B.

Ionospheric prompt penetration electric fields of magnetospheric origin, together with the atmospheric disturbance dynamo, represent the most important parameters controlling the storm-time dynamics of the low and mid-latitude ionosphere. These prompt penetration fields result from the disruption of region-2 field-aligned shielding currents during geomagnetically disturbed conditions. Penetration electric fields con- trol, to a large extent, the generation and development of equatorial spread-F plasma instabilities as well as other dynamic space weather phenomena in the ionosphere equatorward of the auroral zone. While modeling studies typically agree with average patterns of prompt penetration fields, experimental results suggest that longitudinal variations of the ionospheric con- ductivities play a non-negligible role in controlling spread-F phenomena, an effect that has not previously been modeled. We present first results of modeling prompt pene- tration electric fields using a version of the Rice Convection Model (RCM) that allows for longitudinal variations in the ionospheric conductance tensor. The RCM is a first- principles numerical ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling model that solves for the electric fields, field-aligned currents, and particle distributions in the ionosphere and inner/middle magnetosphere. We compare these new theoretical results with electric field observations.

On the Modeling of Electrical Effects Experienced by Space Explorers During Extra Vehicular Activities: Intracorporal Currents, Resistances, and Electric Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cela, Carlos J.; Loizos, Kyle; Lazzi, Gianluca; Hamilton, Douglas; Lee, Raphael C.

2011-01-01

Recent research has shown that space explorers engaged in Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs) may be exposed, under certain conditions, to undesired electrical currents. This work focuses on determining whether these undesired induced electrical currents could be responsible for involuntary neuromuscular activity in the subjects, possibly caused by either large diameter peripheral nerve activation or reflex activity from cutaneous afferent stimulation. An efficient multiresolution variant of the admittance method along with a millimeter-resolution model of a male human body were used to calculate induced electric fields, resistance between contact electrodes used to simulate the potential exposure condition, and currents induced in the human body model. Results show that, under realistic exposure conditions using a 15V source, current density magnitudes and total current injected are well above previously reported startle reaction thresholds. This indicates that, under the considered conditions, the subjects could experience involuntary motor response.

Compact, Lightweight Electromagnetic Pump for Liquid Metal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Godfroy, Thomas; Palzin, Kurt

2010-01-01

A proposed direct-current electromagnetic pump for circulating a molten alkali metal alloy would be smaller and lighter and would demand less input power, relative to currently available pumps of this type. (Molten alkali metals are used as heat-transfer fluids in high-temperature stages of some nuclear reactors.) The principle of operation of this or any such pump involves exploitation of the electrical conductivity of the molten metal: An electric current is made to pass through the liquid metal along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flow channel, and a magnetic field perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the electric current is superimposed on the flowchannel region containing the electric current. The interaction between the electric current and the magnetic field produces the pumping force along the longitudinal axis. The advantages of the proposed pump over other such pumps would accrue from design features that address overlapping thermal and magnetic issues.

The contribution of inductive electric fields to particle energization in the inner magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilie, R.; Toth, G.; Liemohn, M. W.; Chan, A. A.

2017-12-01

Assessing the relative contribution of potential versus inductive electric fields at the energization of the hot ion population in the inner magnetosphere is only possible by thorough examination of the time varying magnetic field and current systems using global modeling of the entire system. We present here a method to calculate the inductive and potential components of electric field in the entire magnetosphere region. This method is based on the Helmholtz vector decomposition of the motional electric field as calculated by the BATS-R-US model, and is subject to boundary conditions. This approach removes the need to trace independent field lines and lifts the assumption that the magnetic field lines can be treated as frozen in a stationary ionosphere. In order to quantify the relative contributions of potential and inductive electric fields at driving plasma sheet ions into the inner magnetosphere, we apply this method for the March 17th, 2013 geomagnetic storm. We present here the consequences of slow continuous changes in the geomagnetic field as well as the strong tail dipolarizations on the distortion of the near-Earth magnetic field and current systems. Our findings indicate that the inductive component of the electric field is comparable, and even higher at times than the potential component, suggesting that the electric field induced by the time varying magnetic field plays a crucial role in the overall particle energization in the inner magnetosphere.

Determinants of the electric field during transcranial direct current stimulation.

PubMed

Opitz, Alexander; Paulus, Walter; Will, Susanne; Antunes, Andre; Thielscher, Axel

2015-04-01

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) causes a complex spatial distribution of the electric current flow in the head which hampers the accurate localization of the stimulated brain areas. In this study we show how various anatomical features systematically shape the electric field distribution in the brain during tDCS. We constructed anatomically realistic finite element (FEM) models of two individual heads including conductivity anisotropy and different skull layers. We simulated a widely employed electrode montage to induce motor cortex plasticity and moved the stimulating electrode over the motor cortex in small steps to examine the resulting changes of the electric field distribution in the underlying cortex. We examined the effect of skull thickness and composition on the passing currents showing that thinner skull regions lead to higher electric field strengths. This effect is counteracted by a larger proportion of higher conducting spongy bone in thicker regions leading to a more homogenous current over the skull. Using a multiple regression model we could identify key factors that determine the field distribution to a significant extent, namely the thicknesses of the cerebrospinal fluid and the skull, the gyral depth and the distance to the anode and cathode. These factors account for up to 50% of the spatial variation of the electric field strength. Further, we demonstrate that individual anatomical factors can lead to stimulation "hotspots" which are partly resistant to electrode positioning. Our results give valuable novel insights in the biophysical foundation of tDCS and highlight the importance to account for individual anatomical factors when choosing an electrode montage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Current polarity-dependent manipulation of antiferromagnetic domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wadley, Peter; Reimers, Sonka; Grzybowski, Michal J.; Andrews, Carl; Wang, Mu; Chauhan, Jasbinder S.; Gallagher, Bryan L.; Campion, Richard P.; Edmonds, Kevin W.; Dhesi, Sarnjeet S.; Maccherozzi, Francesco; Novak, Vit; Wunderlich, Joerg; Jungwirth, Tomas

2018-05-01

Antiferromagnets have several favourable properties as active elements in spintronic devices, including ultra-fast dynamics, zero stray fields and insensitivity to external magnetic fields1. Tetragonal CuMnAs is a testbed system in which the antiferromagnetic order parameter can be switched reversibly at ambient conditions using electrical currents2. In previous experiments, orthogonal in-plane current pulses were used to induce 90° rotations of antiferromagnetic domains and demonstrate the operation of all-electrical memory bits in a multi-terminal geometry3. Here, we demonstrate that antiferromagnetic domain walls can be manipulated to realize stable and reproducible domain changes using only two electrical contacts. This is achieved by using the polarity of the current to switch the sign of the current-induced effective field acting on the antiferromagnetic sublattices. The resulting reversible domain and domain wall reconfigurations are imaged using X-ray magnetic linear dichroism microscopy, and can also be detected electrically. Switching by domain-wall motion can occur at much lower current densities than those needed for coherent domain switching.

Nonlinear spin current generation in noncentrosymmetric spin-orbit coupled systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamamoto, Keita; Ezawa, Motohiko; Kim, Kun Woo; Morimoto, Takahiro; Nagaosa, Naoto

2017-06-01

Spin current plays a central role in spintronics. In particular, finding more efficient ways to generate spin current has been an important issue and has been studied actively. For example, representative methods of spin-current generation include spin-polarized current injections from ferromagnetic metals, the spin Hall effect, and the spin battery. Here, we theoretically propose a mechanism of spin-current generation based on nonlinear phenomena. By using Boltzmann transport theory, we show that a simple application of the electric field E induces spin current proportional to E2 in noncentrosymmetric spin-orbit coupled systems. We demonstrate that the nonlinear spin current of the proposed mechanism is supported in the surface state of three-dimensional topological insulators and two-dimensional semiconductors with the Rashba and/or Dresselhaus interaction. In the latter case, the angular dependence of the nonlinear spin current can be manipulated by the direction of the electric field and by the ratio of the Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions. We find that the magnitude of the spin current largely exceeds those in the previous methods for a reasonable magnitude of the electric field. Furthermore, we show that application of ac electric fields (e.g., terahertz light) leads to the rectifying effect of the spin current, where dc spin current is generated. These findings will pave a route to manipulate the spin current in noncentrosymmetric crystals.

Spontaneous formation of electric current sheets and the origin of solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Low, B. C.; Wolfson, R.

1988-01-01

It is demonstrated that the continuous boundary motion of a sheared magnetic field in a tenuous plasma with an infinite electrical conductivity can induce the formation of multiple electric current sheets in the interior plasma. In response to specific footpoint displacements, the quadrupolar magnetic field considered is shown to require the formation of multiple electric current sheets as it achieves a force-free state. Some of the current sheets are found to be of finite length, running along separatrix lines of force which separate lobes of magnetic flux. It is suggested that current sheets in the form of infinitely thin magnetic shear layers may be unstable to resistive tearing, a process which may have application to solar flares.

Consolidation of Partially Stabilized ZrO2 in the Presence of a Noncontacting Electric Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, Hasti; van Benthem, Klaus

2015-05-01

Electric field-assisted sintering techniques demonstrate accelerated densification at lower temperatures than the conventional sintering methods. However, it is still debated whether the applied field and/or resulting currents are responsible for the densification enhancement. To distinguish the effects of an applied field from current flow, in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments with soft agglomerates of partially stabilized yttria-doped zirconia particles are carried out. A new microelectromechanical system-based sample support is used to heat particle agglomerates while simultaneously exposing them to an externally applied noncontacting electric field. Under isothermal condition at 900 °C , an electric field strength of 500 V /cm shows a sudden threefold enhancement in the shrinkage of the agglomerates. The applied electrostatic potential lowers the activation energy for point defect formation within the space charge zone and therefore promotes consolidation. Obtaining similar magnitudes of shrinkage in the absence of any electric field requires a higher temperature and longer time.

Observed nonpotential magnetic fields and the inferred flow of electric currents at a location of repeated flaring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagyard, M. J.

1988-01-01

The vector magnetic field of an active region at a location of repeated flaring is studied in order to explore the nature of the currents flowing in the areas where the flares initiated. The observed transverse component of the magnetic field is used to obtain the component of electric current density crossing the photosphere along the line-of-sight. It is found that currents flow out of an area of positive magnetic polarity and across the magnetic inversion line into two areas of negative polarity. Characteristics of the calculated source field are discussed.

Comparison between electric dipole and magnetic loop antennas for emitting whistler modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stenzel, R.; Urrutia, J. M.

2016-12-01

In a large uniform and unbounded laboratory plasma low frequency whistler modes are excited from an electric dipole and a magnetic loop. The excited waves are measured with a magnetic probe which resolves the three field components in 3D space and time. This yields the group velocity and energy density, from which one obtains the emitted power. The same rf generator is used for both antennas and the radiated power is measured under identical plasma conditions. The magnetic loop radiates 8000 times more power than the electric dipole. The reason is that the loop antenna carries a large conduction current while the electric dipole current is a much smaller displacement current through the sheath. The current, hence magnetic field excites whistlers, not the dipole electric field. Incidentally, a dipole antenna does not launch plane waves but m = 1 helicon modes. The findings suggest that active wave injections into the magnetosphere should be done with magnetic antennas. Two parallel dipoles connected at the free end could serve as an elongated loop.

A Review of the Responses of Two- and Three-Dimensional Engineered Tissues to Electric Fields

PubMed Central

Hronik-Tupaj, Marie

2012-01-01

The application of external biophysical signals is one approach to tissue engineering that is explored less often than more traditional additions of exogenous biochemical and chemical factors to direct cell and tissue outcomes. The study of bioelectromagnetism and the field of electrotherapeutics have evolved over the years, and we review biocompatible electric stimulation devices and their successful application to tissue growth. Specifically, information on capacitively coupled alternating current, inductively coupled alternating current, and direct current devices is described. Cell and tissue responses from the application of these devices, including two- and three-dimensional in vitro studies and in vivo studies, are reviewed with regard to cell proliferation, adhesion, differentiation, morphology, and migration and tissue function. The current understanding of cellular mechanisms related to electric stimulation is detailed. The advantages of electric stimulation are compared with those pf other techniques, and areas in which electric fields are used as an adjuvant therapy for healing and regeneration are discussed. PMID:22046979

System and method for magnetic current density imaging at ultra low magnetic fields

DOEpatents

Espy, Michelle A.; George, John Stevens; Kraus, Robert Henry; Magnelind, Per; Matlashov, Andrei Nikolaevich; Tucker, Don; Turovets, Sergei; Volegov, Petr Lvovich

2016-02-09

Preferred systems can include an electrical impedance tomography apparatus electrically connectable to an object; an ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a plurality of field directions and disposable about the object; a controller connected to the ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and configured to implement a sequencing of one or more ultra low magnetic fields substantially along one or more of the plurality of field directions; and a display connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to reconstruct a displayable image of an electrical current density in the object. Preferred methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also disclosed.

Blocking and guiding adult sea lamprey with pulsed direct current from vertical electrodes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, Nicholas S.; Thompson, Henry T.; Holbrook, Christopher M.; Tix, John A.

2014-01-01

Controlling the invasion front of aquatic nuisance species is of high importance to resource managers. We tested the hypothesis that adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a destructive invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, would exhibit behavioral avoidance to dual-frequency pulsed direct current generated by vertical electrodes and that the electric field would not injure or kill sea lamprey or non-target fish. Laboratory and in-stream experiments demonstrated that the electric field blocked sea lamprey migration and directed sea lamprey into traps. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), species that migrate sympatrically with sea lamprey, avoided the electric field and had minimal injuries when subjected to it. Vertical electrodes are advantageous for fish guidance because (1) the electric field produced varies minimally with depth, (2) the electric field is not grounded, reducing power consumption to where portable and remote deployments powered by solar, wind, hydro, or a small generator are feasible, and (3) vertical electrodes can be quickly deployed without significant stream modification allowing rapid responses to new invasions. Similar dual-frequency pulsed direct current fields produced from vertical electrodes may be advantageous for blocking or trapping other invasive fish or for guiding valued fish around dams.

DC and AC Electric Field Measurements by Spin-Plane Double Probes Onboard MMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindqvist, P. A.; Marklund, G. T.; Khotyaintsev, Y. V.; Ergun, R. E.; Goodrich, K.; Torbert, R. B.; Argall, M. R.; Nakamura, R.

2015-12-01

The four spacecraft of the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) were launched on 12 March 2015 into a 1.2 x 12 Re equatorial orbit to study energy conversion processes in Earth's magnetosphere. After a 5-month commissioning period the first scientific phase starts on 1 September as the orbit enters the dusk magnetopause region. The Spin-plane Double Probe electric field instrument (SDP), part of the electric and magnetic fields instrument suite FIELDS, measures the electric field in the range 0.3 - 500 mV/m with a continuous time resolution up to 8192 samples/s. The instrument features adjustable bias currents and guard voltages to optimize the measurement performance. SDP also measures the spacecraft potential, which can be controlled by the Active Spacecraft Potential Control (ASPOC) ion emitter, and under certain conditions can be used to determine plasma density. We present observations of DC and AC electric fields in different plasma regions covered by MMS since launch including the night side flow braking region, reconnection regions at the dusk and dayside magnetopause, and in the magnetosheath. We compare the electric field measurements by SDP to other, independent determinations of the electric field, in particular by the Electron Drift Instrument (EDI), in order to assess the accuracy of the electric field measurement under different plasma conditions. We also study the influence of the currents emitted by ASPOC and EDI on the SDP measurements.

A quasi-static model of global atmospheric electricity. II - Electrical coupling between the upper and lower atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roble, R. G.; Hays, P. B.

1979-01-01

The paper presents a model of global atmospheric electricity used to examine the effect of upper atmospheric generators on the global electrical circuit. The model represents thunderstorms as dipole current generators randomly distributed in areas of known thunderstorm frequency; the electrical conductivity in the model increases with altitude, and electrical effects are coupled with a passive magnetosphere along geomagnetic field lines. The large horizontal-scale potential differences at ionospheric heights map downward into the lower atmosphere where the perturbations in the ground electric field are superimposed on the diurnal variation. Finally, changes in the upper atmospheric conductivity due to solar flares, polar cap absorptions, and Forbush decreases are shown to alter the downward mapping of the high-latitude potential pattern and the global distribution of fields and currents.

46 CFR 111.30-25 - Alternating-current ship's service switchboards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...-25 Section 111.30-25 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRIC SYSTEMS-GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Switchboards § 111.30-25 Alternating-current ship's service... regulator unit acting on the exciter field, each switchboard must have: (1) A generator field rheostat; (2...

46 CFR 111.30-25 - Alternating-current ship's service switchboards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...-25 Section 111.30-25 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRIC SYSTEMS-GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Switchboards § 111.30-25 Alternating-current ship's service... regulator unit acting on the exciter field, each switchboard must have: (1) A generator field rheostat; (2...

Formation of Electrostatic Potential Drops in the Auroral Zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schriver, D.; Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Richard, R. L.

2001-01-01

In order to examine the self-consistent formation of large-scale quasi-static parallel electric fields in the auroral zone on a micro/meso scale, a particle in cell simulation has been developed. The code resolves electron Debye length scales so that electron micro-processes are included and a variable grid scheme is used such that the overall length scale of the simulation is of the order of an Earth radii along the magnetic field. The simulation is electrostatic and includes the magnetic mirror force, as well as two types of plasmas, a cold dense ionospheric plasma and a warm tenuous magnetospheric plasma. In order to study the formation of parallel electric fields in the auroral zone, different magnetospheric ion and electron inflow boundary conditions are used to drive the system. It has been found that for conditions in the primary (upward) current region an upward directed quasi-static electric field can form across the system due to magnetic mirroring of the magnetospheric ions and electrons at different altitudes. For conditions in the return (downward) current region it is shown that a quasi-static parallel electric field in the opposite sense of that in the primary current region is formed, i.e., the parallel electric field is directed earthward. The conditions for how these different electric fields can be formed are discussed using satellite observations and numerical simulations.

ELECTRON ACCELERATION BY CASCADING RECONNECTION IN THE SOLAR CORONA. II. RESISTIVE ELECTRIC FIELD EFFECTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, X.; Gan, W.; Liu, S.

We investigate electron acceleration by electric fields induced by cascading reconnections in current sheets trailing coronal mass ejections via a test particle approach in the framework of the guiding-center approximation. Although the resistive electric field is much weaker than the inductive electric field, the electron acceleration is still dominated by the former. Anomalous resistivity η is switched on only in regions where the current carrier’s drift velocity is large enough. As a consequence, electron acceleration is very sensitive to the spatial distribution of the resistive electric fields, and electrons accelerated in different segments of the current sheet have different characteristics.more » Due to the geometry of the 2.5-dimensional electromagnetic fields and strong resistive electric field accelerations, accelerated high-energy electrons can be trapped in the corona, precipitating into the chromosphere or escaping into interplanetary space. The trapped and precipitating electrons can reach a few MeV within 1 s and have a very hard energy distribution. Spatial structure of the acceleration sites may also introduce breaks in the electron energy distribution. Most of the interplanetary electrons reach hundreds of keV with a softer distribution. To compare with observations of solar flares and electrons in solar energetic particle events, we derive hard X-ray spectra produced by the trapped and precipitating electrons, fluxes of the precipitating and interplanetary electrons, and electron spatial distributions.« less

On the structures and mapping of auroral electrostatic potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiu, Y. T.; Newman, A. L.; Cornwall, J. M.

1981-01-01

The mapping of magnetospheric and ionospheric electric fields in a kinetic model of magnetospheric-ionospheric electrodynamic coupling proposed for the aurora is examined. One feature is the generalization of the kinetic current-potential relationship to the return current region (identified as a region where the parallel drop from magnetosphere to ionosphere is positive); such a return current always exists unless the ionosphere is electrically charged to grossly unphysical values. A coherent phenomenological picture of both the low energy return current and the high energy precipitation of an inverted-V is given. The mapping between magnetospheric and ionospheric electric fields is phrased in terms of a Green's function which acts as a filter, emphasizing magnetospheric latitudinal spatial scales of order (when mapped to the ionosphere) 50 to 150 km. This same length, when multiplied by electric fields just above the ionosphere, sets the scale for potential drops between the ionosphere and equatorial magnetosphere.

Contributions of poroelastic-wave potentials to seismoelectromagnetic wavefields and validity of the quasi-static calculation: a view from a borehole model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Wei; Shi, Peng; Hu, Hengshan

2018-01-01

In this study, we theoretically analyse the contributions of the four poroelastic-wave potentials to seismoelectromagnetic (SEM) wavefields, verify the validity of the quasi-static calculation of the electric field and provide a method to calculate the magnetic field by using the curl-free electric field. Calculations show that both the fast and slow P waves and the SH and SV waves have non-negligible contributions to the SEM fields. The S waves have indirect contribution to the electric field through the EM conversion from the magnetic field, although the direct contribution due to streaming current is negligible if EM wavenumbers are much smaller than those of the S waves. The P waves have indirect contribution to the magnetic field through EM conversion from the electric field, although the direct contribution is absent. The quasi-static calculation of the electric field is practicable since it is normally satisfied in reality that the EM wavenumbers are much smaller than those of poroelastic waves. While the direct contribution of the S waves and the higher-order EM conversions are ignored, the first-order EM conversion from the S-wave-induced magnetic field is reserved through the continuity of the electric-current density. To calculate the magnetic field on this basis, we separate the quasi-static electric field into a rotational and an irrotational part. The magnetic-field solutions are derived through Hertz vectors in which the coefficients of the magnetic Hertz vector are determined from the magnetic-field continuities and those of the electric Hertz vector originate from the irrotational part of the quasi-static electric field.

High-latitude dayside electric fields and currents during strong northward interplanetary magnetic field - Observations and model simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clauer, C. Robert; Friis-Christensen, Eigil

1988-01-01

On July 23, 1983 the IMF turned strongly northward, becoming about 22 nT for several hours. Using a combined data set of ionospheric convection measurements made by the Sondre Stromfjord incoherent scatter radar and convection inferred from Greenland magnetometer measurements, the onset of the reconfiguration of the high-latitude ionospheric currents is found to occur about 3 min after the northward IMF encounters the magnetopause. The large-scale reconfiguration of currents, however, appears to evolve over a period of about 22 min. These observations and the results of numerical simulations indicate that the dayside polar-cap electric field observed during strong northward IMF is produced by a direct electrical current coupling with the solar wind.

Peculiarities of Spacecraft Photoelectron Shield Formation in Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veselov, Mikhail; Chugunin, Dmitriy

Traditionally, the current balance equations for a spacecraft in space plasma rely on the electric field of positively charged spacecraft. Equilibrium potential V is derived from currents outward and toward the spacecraft body. The currents are in turn functions of V. However, in reality photoelectrons move in both the electric field of the spacecraft and the Earth or the interplanetary magnetic field. This causes an anisotropic distribution of photoelectrons along a magnetic field line with the characteristic size of the order of several photoelectron gyro-radii. As a result, confinement of photoelectrons in the spacecraft-related electric field is much longer. Thus, a fraction of returned photoelectrons in the electron current toward the spacecraft can be rather great and may even dominate several times over the ambient electrons’ fraction. Modeled ph-electron trajectories as well as general photoelectron shield distribution around spacecraft are represented, and comparison of experimental data on the electron density with the magnetic flux tube model is discussed.

Measurement of surface charges on the dielectric film based on field mills under the HVDC corona wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donglai, WANG; Tiebing, LU; Yuan, WANG; Bo, CHEN; Xuebao, LI

2018-05-01

The ion flow field on the ground is one of the significant parameters used to evaluate the electromagnetic environment of high voltage direct current (HVDC) power lines. HVDC lines may cross the greenhouses due to the restricted transmission corridors. Under the condition of ion flow field, the dielectric films on the greenhouses will be charged, and the electric fields in the greenhouses may exceed the limit value. Field mills are widely used to measure the ground-level direct current electric fields under the HVDC power lines. In this paper, the charge inversion method is applied to calculate the surface charges on the dielectric film according to the measured ground-level electric fields. The advantages of hiding the field mill probes in the ground are studied. The charge inversion algorithm is optimized in order to decrease the impact of measurement errors. Based on the experimental results, the surface charge distribution on a piece of quadrate dielectric film under a HVDC corona wire is studied. The enhanced effect of dielectric film on ground-level electric field is obviously weakened with the increase of film height. Compared with the total electric field strengths, the normal components of film-free electric fields at the corresponding film-placed positions have a higher effect on surface charge accumulation.

Development of a numerical model for the electric current in burner-stabilised methane-air flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speelman, N.; de Goey, L. P. H.; van Oijen, J. A.

2015-03-01

This study presents a new model to simulate the electric behaviour of one-dimensional ionised flames and to predict the electric currents in these flames. The model utilises Poisson's equation to compute the electric potential. A multi-component diffusion model, including the influence of an electric field, is used to model the diffusion of neutral and charged species. The model is incorporated into the existing CHEM1D flame simulation software. A comparison between the computed electric currents and experimental values from the literature shows good qualitative agreement for the voltage-current characteristic. Physical phenomena, such as saturation and the diodic effect, are captured by the model. The dependence of the saturation current on the equivalence ratio is also captured well for equivalence ratios between 0.6 and 1.2. Simulations show a clear relation between the saturation current and the total number of charged particles created. The model shows that the potential at which the electric field saturates is strongly dependent on the recombination rate and the diffusivity of the charged particles. The onset of saturation occurs because most created charged particles are withdrawn from the flame and because the electric field effects start dominating over mass based diffusion. It is shown that this knowledge can be used to optimise ionisation chemistry mechanisms. It is shown numerically that the so-called diodic effect is caused primarily by the distance the heavier cations have to travel to the cathode.

[Electrical response of inner membrane structures of corynebacteria during electrotransformation].

PubMed

Tiurin, M V; Voroshilova, E B; Rostova, Iu G; Oparina, N Iu; Gusiatiner, M M

1998-01-01

The efficiency of the electrotransformation of intact cells of corynebacteria by a solitary impulse with a complex shape amounted to 10(6) transformants/microgram of plasmid pNV1 DNA at an electric field strength of 14.2 kW/cm; the voltage-current curve of the cell samples was nonlinear. Under these conditions, the structure of the electric current impulse passing intact cells or protoplasts included oscillations characterized by increasing amplitude and a duration of 170 microseconds, which were not detected in the structure of the electric current impulses at field strengths insufficient for obtaining transformants. These changes in the impulse shape suggest the involvement of internal closed membrane structures in the electrical response of cells to the exogenous electric impulse. Most probably, under conditions of electrical treatment optimal for transformation, electropores are formed in the intracellular membranes of corynebacteria.

Occupational exposure to electric fields and induced currents associated with 400 kV substation tasks from different service platforms.

PubMed

Korpinen, Leena H; Elovaara, Jarmo A; Kuisti, Harri A

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the occupational exposure to electric fields, average current densities, and average total contact currents at 400 kV substation tasks from different service platforms (main transformer inspection, maintenance of operating device of disconnector, maintenance of operating device of circuit breaker). The average values are calculated over measured periods (about 2.5 min). In many work tasks, the maximum electric field strengths exceeded the action values proposed in the EU Directive 2004/40/EC, but the average electric fields (0.2-24.5 kV/m) were at least 40% lower than the maximum values. The average current densities were 0.1-2.3 mA/m² and the average total contact currents 2.0-143.2 µA, that is, clearly less than the limit values of the EU Directive. The average values of the currents in head and contact currents were 16-68% lower than the maximum values when we compared the average value from all cases in the same substation. In the future it is important to pay attention to the fact that the action and limit values of the EU Directive differ significantly. It is also important to take into account that generally, the workers' exposure to the electric fields, current densities, and total contact currents are obviously lower if we use the average values from a certain measured time period (e.g., 2.5 min) than in the case where exposure is defined with only the help of the maximum values. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Equatorial electrojet responses to intense solar flares under geomagnetic disturbance time electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdu, M. A.; Nogueira, P. A. B.; Souza, J. R.; Batista, I. S.; Dutra, S. L. G.; Sobral, J. H. A.

2017-03-01

Large enhancement in the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current can occur due to sudden increase in the E layer density arising from solar flare associated ionizing radiations, as also from background electric fields modified by magnetospheric disturbances when present before or during a solar flare. We investigate the EEJ responses at widely separated longitudes during two X-class flares that occurred at different activity phases surrounding the magnetic super storm sequences of 28-29 October 2003. During the 28 October flare we observed intense reverse electrojet under strong westward electric field in the sunrise sector over Jicamarca. Sources of westward disturbance electric fields driving large EEJ current are identified for the first time. Model calculations on the E layer density, with and without flare, and comparison of the results between Jicamarca and Sao Luis suggested enhanced westward electric field due to the flare occurring close to sunrise (over Jicamarca). During the flare on 29 October, which occurred during a rapid AE recovery, a strong overshielding electric field of westward polarity over Jicamarca delayed an expected EEJ eastward growth due to flare-induced ionization enhancement in the afternoon. This EEJ response yielded a measure of the overshielding decay time determined by the storm time Region 2 field-aligned current. This paper will present a detailed analysis of the EEJ responses during the two flares, including a quantitative evaluation of the flare-induced electron density enhancements and identification of electric field sources that played dominant roles in the large westward EEJ at the sunrise sector over Jicamarca.

Blood Stage Plasmodium falciparum Exhibits Biological Responses to Direct Current Electric Fields

PubMed Central

Coronado, Lorena M.; Montealegre, Stephania; Chaverra, Zumara; Mojica, Luis; Espinosa, Carlos; Almanza, Alejandro; Correa, Ricardo; Stoute, José A.; Gittens, Rolando A.

2016-01-01

The development of resistance to insecticides by the vector of malaria and the increasingly faster appearance of resistance to antimalarial drugs by the parasite can dangerously hamper efforts to control and eradicate the disease. Alternative ways to treat this disease are urgently needed. Here we evaluate the in vitro effect of direct current (DC) capacitive coupling electrical stimulation on the biology and viability of Plasmodium falciparum. We designed a system that exposes infected erythrocytes to different capacitively coupled electric fields in order to evaluate their effect on P. falciparum. The effect on growth of the parasite, replication of DNA, mitochondrial membrane potential and level of reactive oxygen species after exposure to electric fields demonstrate that the parasite is biologically able to respond to stimuli from DC electric fields involving calcium signaling pathways. PMID:27537497

Blood Stage Plasmodium falciparum Exhibits Biological Responses to Direct Current Electric Fields.

PubMed

Coronado, Lorena M; Montealegre, Stephania; Chaverra, Zumara; Mojica, Luis; Espinosa, Carlos; Almanza, Alejandro; Correa, Ricardo; Stoute, José A; Gittens, Rolando A; Spadafora, Carmenza

2016-01-01

The development of resistance to insecticides by the vector of malaria and the increasingly faster appearance of resistance to antimalarial drugs by the parasite can dangerously hamper efforts to control and eradicate the disease. Alternative ways to treat this disease are urgently needed. Here we evaluate the in vitro effect of direct current (DC) capacitive coupling electrical stimulation on the biology and viability of Plasmodium falciparum. We designed a system that exposes infected erythrocytes to different capacitively coupled electric fields in order to evaluate their effect on P. falciparum. The effect on growth of the parasite, replication of DNA, mitochondrial membrane potential and level of reactive oxygen species after exposure to electric fields demonstrate that the parasite is biologically able to respond to stimuli from DC electric fields involving calcium signaling pathways.

Cellular defibrillation: interaction of micro-scale electric fields with voltage-gated ion channels.

PubMed

Kargol, Armin; Malkinski, Leszek; Eskandari, Rahmatollah; Carter, Maya; Livingston, Daniel

2015-09-01

We study the effect of micro-scale electric fields on voltage-gated ion channels in mammalian cell membranes. Such micro- and nano-scale electric fields mimic the effects of multiferroic nanoparticles that were recently proposed [1] as a novel way of controlling the function of voltage-sensing biomolecules such as ion channels. This article describes experimental procedures and initial results that reveal the effect of the electric field, in close proximity of cells, on the ion transport through voltage-gated ion channels. We present two configurations of the whole-cell patch-clamping apparatus that were used to detect the effect of external stimulation on ionic currents and discuss preliminary results that indicate modulation of the ionic currents consistent with the applied stimulus.

Signal Cloaking by Electric Fish

PubMed Central

STODDARD, PHILIP K.; MARKHAM, MICHAEL R.

2010-01-01

Electric fish produce weak electric fields to image their world in darkness and to communicate with potential mates and rivals. Eavesdropping by electroreceptive predators exerts selective pressure on electric fish to shift their signals into less-detectable high-frequency spectral ranges. Hypopomid electric fish evolved a signal-cloaking strategy that reduces their detectability by predators in the lab (and thus presumably their risk of predation in the field). These fish produce broad-frequency electric fields close to the body, but the heterogeneous local fields merge over space to cancel the low-frequency spectrum at a distance. Mature males dynamically regulate this cloaking mechanism to enhance or suppress low-frequency energy. The mechanism underlying electric-field cloaking involves electrogenic cells that produce two independent action potentials. In a unique twist, these cells orient sodium and potassium currents in the same direction, potentially boosting their capabilities for current generation. Exploration of such evolutionary inventions could aid the design of biogenerators to power implantable medical devices, an ambition that would benefit from the complete genome sequence of a gymnotiform fish. PMID:20209064

Lightning criteria relative to space shuttles: Currents and electric field intensity in Florida lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Uman, M. A.; Mclain, D. K.

1972-01-01

The measured electric field intensities of 161 lightning strokes in 39 flashes which occurred between 1 and 35 km from an observation point at Kennedy Space Center, Florida during June and July of 1971 have been analyzed to determine the lightning channel currents which produced the fields. In addition, typical channel currents are derived and from these typical electric fields at distances between 0.5 and 100 km are computed and presented. On the basis of the results recommendations are made for changes in the specification of lightning properties relative to space vehicle design as given in NASA TMX-64589 (Daniels, 1971). The small sample of lightning analyzed yielded several peak currents in the 100 kA range. Several current rise-times from zero to peak of 0.5 microsec or faster were found; and the fastest observed current rate-of-rise was near 200 kA/microsec. The various sources of error are discussed.

Bead-on-string structure printed by electrohydrodynamic jet under alternating current electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Juan; Lin, Yihuang; Jiang, Jiaxin; Liu, Haiyan; Zhao, Yang; Zheng, Gaofeng

2016-09-01

Electrohydrodynamic printing (EHDP) under alternating current (AC) electric field provides a novel way for the precise micro-/nano-droplet printing. The AC electric field induces the free charge to reciprocate along the EHDP jet and changes the electric field force on the jet periodically. The stability of jet can be enhanced by increasing the voltage frequency, and the regular bead-on-string structure is direct-written along the trajectory of collector. The deposition frequency of bead structure increases with the increasing of voltage frequency, due to the short period of AC electric field. As the voltage frequency is increased from 10 to 60 Hz, the diameter of bead structure decreases from 200 to 110 µm. As the duty ration increased from 10 to 60 %, the diameter of bead structure increased from 100 to 140 µm. This work would accelerate the development and the application of micro-/nano-printing technology in the fields of flexible electronic and micro-/nano-system.

Return Stroke Current Reflections in Rocket-Triggered Lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caicedo, J.; Uman, M. A.; Jordan, D.; Biagi, C. J.; Hare, B.

2015-12-01

In the six years from 2009 to 2014, there have been eight triggered flashes at the ICLRT, from a total of 125, in which a total of ten return stroke channel-base currents exhibited a dip 3.0 to 16.6 μs after the initial current peak. Close range electric field measurements show a related dip following the initial electric field peak, and electric field derivative measurements show an associated bipolar pulse, confirming that this phenomenon is not an instrumentation effect in the current measurement. For six of the eight flashes, high-speed video frames show what appears to be suspended sections of unexploded triggering wire at heights of about 150 to 300 m that are illuminated when the upward current wave reaches them. The suspended wire can act as an impedance discontinuity, perhaps as it explodes, and cause a downward reflection of some portion of the upward-propagating current wave. This reflected wave travels down the channel and causes the dip in the measured channel-base current when it reaches ground and reflects upward. The modified transmission line model with exponential decay (MTLE) is used to model the close electric field and electric field derivatives of the postulated initial and reflected current waves, starting with the measured channel base current, and the results are compared favorably with measurements made at distances ranging from 92 to 444 m. From the measured time between current impulse initiation and the time the current reflection reaches the channel base and the current dip initiates, along with the reflection height from the video records, we find the average return stroke current speed for each of the ten strokes to be from 0.28 to 1.9×108 ms-1, with an error of ±0.01×108 ms-1 due to a ±0.1 μs uncertainty in the measurement. This represents the first direct measurement of return stroke current speed, all previous return stroke speed measurements being derived from the luminosity of the process.

Influence of the initial parameters of the magnetic field and plasma on the spatial structure of the electric current and electron density in current sheets formed in helium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ostrovskaya, G. V., E-mail: galya-ostr@mail.ru; Markov, V. S.; Frank, A. G., E-mail: annfrank@fpl.gpi.ru

The influence of the initial parameters of the magnetic field and plasma on the spatial structure of the electric current and electron density in current sheets formed in helium plasma in 2D and 3D magnetic configurations with X-type singular lines is studied by the methods of holographic interferometry and magnetic measurements. Significant differences in the structures of plasma and current sheets formed at close parameters of the initial plasma and similar configurations of the initial magnetic fields are revealed.

The interplanetary electric field, cleft currents and plasma convection in the polar caps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, P. M.; Clauer, C. R.; Araki, T.; St. Maurice, J. P.; Foster, J. C.

1984-01-01

The relationship between the pattern of plasma convection in the polar cleft and the dynamics of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) is examined theoretically. It is shown that owing to the geometrical properties of the magnetosphere, the East-West component of the IEF will drive field-aligned currents which connect to the ionosphere at points lying on either side of noon, while currents associated with the North-South component of the IEF will connect the two polar caps as sheet currents, also centered at 12 MLT. In order to describe the consequences of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) effects upon high-latitude electric fields and convection patterns, a series of numerical simulations was carried out. The simulations were based on a solution to the steady-state equation of current continuity in a height-integrated ionospheric current. The simulations demonstrate that a simple hydrodynamical model can account for the narrow 'throats' of strong dayside antisunward convection observed during periods of southward interplanetary IMF drift, as well as the sunward convection observed during periods of strongly northward IMF drift.

In vitro effects of direct current electric fields on adipose-derived stromal cells.

PubMed

Hammerick, Kyle E; Longaker, Michael T; Prinz, Fritz B

2010-06-18

Endogenous electric fields play an important role in embryogenesis, regeneration, and wound repair and previous studies have shown that many populations of cells, leukocytes, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells, exhibit directed migration in response to electric fields. As regenerative therapies continue to explore ways to control mesenchymal progenitor cells to recreate desirable tissues, it is increasingly necessary to characterize the vast nature of biological responses imposed by physical phenomena. Murine adipose-derived stromal cells (mASCs) migrated toward the cathode in direct current (DC) fields of physiologic strength and show a dose dependence of migration rate to stronger fields. Electric fields also caused mASCs to orient perpendicularly to the field vector and elicited a transient increase in cytosolic calcium. Additionally, their galvanotactic response appears to share classic chemotactic signaling pathways that are involved in the migration of other cell types. Galvanotaxis is one predominant result of electric fields on mASCs and it may be exploited to engineer adult stem cell concentrations and locations within implanted grafts or toward sites of wound repair. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CO2 Capture Using Electric Fields: Low-Cost Electrochromic Film on Plastic for Net-Zero Energy Building

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2010-01-01

Broad Funding Opportunity Announcement Project: Two faculty members at Lehigh University created a new technique called supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) that uses electrical charges to encourage materials to capture and release CO2. Current CO2 capture methods include expensive processes that involve changes in temperature or pressure. Lehigh University’s approach uses electric fields to improve the ability of inexpensive carbon sorbents to trap CO2. Because this process uses electric fields and not electric current, the overall energy consumption is projected to be much lower than conventional methods. Lehigh University is now optimizing the materials to maximize CO2 capture and minimize themore » energy needed for the process.« less

Generation of high-density biskyrmions by electric current

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peng, Licong; Zhang, Ying; He, Min

Much interest has been focused on the manipulation of magnetic skyrmions, including the generation, annihilation, and motion behaviors, for potential applications in spintronics. We experimentally demonstrate that a high-density Bloch-type biskyrmion lattice in MnNiGa can be generated by applying electric current. It is revealed that the density of biskyrmions can be remarkably increased by increasing the electric current, in contrast to the scattered biskyrmions induced by a magnetic field alone. Furthermore, the transition from the ferromagnetic state to the stripe domain structure can be terminated by the electric current, leading to the biskyrmions dominated residual domain pattern. These biskyrmions inmore » such residual domain structure are extremely stable at zero magnetic and electric fields and can further evolve into the high-density biskyrmion lattice over a temperature range from 100 to 330 K. Finally, our experimental findings open up a new pathway for the generation of skyrmion lattice by electric current manipulation.« less

Generation of high-density biskyrmions by electric current

DOE PAGES

Peng, Licong; Zhang, Ying; He, Min; ...

2017-06-16

Much interest has been focused on the manipulation of magnetic skyrmions, including the generation, annihilation, and motion behaviors, for potential applications in spintronics. We experimentally demonstrate that a high-density Bloch-type biskyrmion lattice in MnNiGa can be generated by applying electric current. It is revealed that the density of biskyrmions can be remarkably increased by increasing the electric current, in contrast to the scattered biskyrmions induced by a magnetic field alone. Furthermore, the transition from the ferromagnetic state to the stripe domain structure can be terminated by the electric current, leading to the biskyrmions dominated residual domain pattern. These biskyrmions inmore » such residual domain structure are extremely stable at zero magnetic and electric fields and can further evolve into the high-density biskyrmion lattice over a temperature range from 100 to 330 K. Finally, our experimental findings open up a new pathway for the generation of skyrmion lattice by electric current manipulation.« less

Visualization of Electrical Field of Electrode Using Voltage-Controlled Fluorescence Release

PubMed Central

Jia, Wenyan; Wu, Jiamin; Gao, Di; Wang, Hao; Sun, Mingui

2016-01-01

In this study we propose an approach to directly visualize electrical current distribution at the electrode-electrolyte interface of a biopotential electrode. High-speed fluorescent microscopic images are acquired when an electric potential is applied across the interface to trigger the release of fluorescent material from the surface of the electrode. These images are analyzed computationally to obtain the distribution of the electric field from the fluorescent intensity of each pixel. Our approach allows direct observation of microscopic electrical current distribution around the electrode. Experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility of the fluorescent imaging method. PMID:27253615

AC induction field heating of graphite foam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klett, James W.; Rios, Orlando; Kisner, Roger

A magneto-energy apparatus includes an electromagnetic field source for generating a time-varying electromagnetic field. A graphite foam conductor is disposed within the electromagnetic field. The graphite foam when exposed to the time-varying electromagnetic field conducts an induced electric current, the electric current heating the graphite foam. An energy conversion device utilizes heat energy from the heated graphite foam to perform a heat energy consuming function. A device for heating a fluid and a method of converting energy are also disclosed.

High voltage design structure for high temperature superconducting device

DOEpatents

Tekletsadik, Kasegn D [Rexford, NY

2008-05-20

In accordance with the present invention, modular corona shields are employed in a HTS device to reduce the electric field surrounding the HTS device. In a exemplary embodiment a fault current limiter module in the insulation region of a cryogenic cooling system has at least one fault current limiter set which employs a first corona shield disposed along the top portion of the fault current limiter set and is electrically coupled to the fault current limiter set. A second corona shield is disposed along the bottom portion of the fault current limiter set and is electrically coupled to the fault current limiter set. An insulation barrier is disposed within the insulation region along at least one side of the fault current limiter set. The first corona shield and the second corona shield act together to reduce the electric field surrounding the fault limiter set when voltage is applied to the fault limiter set.

Effect of partially ionized impurities and radiation on the effective critical electric field for runaway generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hesslow, L.; Embréus, O.; Wilkie, G. J.; Papp, G.; Fülöp, T.

2018-07-01

We derive a formula for the effective critical electric field for runaway generation and decay that accounts for the presence of partially ionized impurities in combination with synchrotron and bremsstrahlung radiation losses. We show that the effective critical field is drastically larger than the classical Connor–Hastie field, and even exceeds the value obtained by replacing the free electron density by the total electron density (including both free and bound electrons). Using a kinetic equation solver with an inductive electric field, we show that the runaway current decay after an impurity injection is expected to be linear in time and proportional to the effective critical electric field in highly inductive tokamak devices. This is relevant for the efficacy of mitigation strategies for runaway electrons since it reduces the required amount of injected impurities to achieve a certain current decay rate.

Sound diffraction at wall impedance discontinuities in a circular cylinder - Investigated using Wiener-Hopf technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cho, Y.-C.

1983-01-01

The results of ground observations as well as high resolution rocket electric field and particle observations during a breakup event of an intense magnetospheric substorm over northern Scandinavia are discussed. In particular, the characteristics of the substorm-associated electric field, ionospheric currents, and power dissipation during a time period about 15 minutes after substorm onset are addressed. A comparison of the observations with those of a pre-breakup event earlier in the day (Marklund et al., 1982) showed that the ionospheric substorm-related electric field could be split up into two parts: (1) an ambient LT-dependent field, probably of magnetospheric origin; and (2) a small-scale electric field associated with the bright auroral structures, which is superimposed on the LT-dependent field. The consequences for the location of the ionospheric currents and the Joule energy dissipation relative to the auroral forms are discussed. Previously announced in STAR as N83-23117

Field-aligned currents and large-scale magnetospheric electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dangelo, N.

1979-01-01

The existence of field-aligned currents (FAC) at northern and southern high latitudes was confirmed by a number of observations, most clearly by experiments on the TRIAD and ISIS 2 satellites. The high-latitude FAC system is used to relate what is presently known about the large-scale pattern of high-latitude ionospheric electric fields and their relation to solar wind parameters. Recently a simplified model was presented for polar cap electric fields. The model is of considerable help in visualizing the large-scale features of FAC systems. A summary of the FAC observations is given. The simplified model is used to visualize how the FAC systems are driven by their generators.

Visualizing Simulated Electrical Fields from Electroencephalography and Transcranial Electric Brain Stimulation: A Comparative Evaluation

PubMed Central

Eichelbaum, Sebastian; Dannhauer, Moritz; Hlawitschka, Mario; Brooks, Dana; Knösche, Thomas R.; Scheuermann, Gerik

2014-01-01

Electrical activity of neuronal populations is a crucial aspect of brain activity. This activity is not measured directly but recorded as electrical potential changes using head surface electrodes (electroencephalogram - EEG). Head surface electrodes can also be deployed to inject electrical currents in order to modulate brain activity (transcranial electric stimulation techniques) for therapeutic and neuroscientific purposes. In electroencephalography and noninvasive electric brain stimulation, electrical fields mediate between electrical signal sources and regions of interest (ROI). These fields can be very complicated in structure, and are influenced in a complex way by the conductivity profile of the human head. Visualization techniques play a central role to grasp the nature of those fields because such techniques allow for an effective conveyance of complex data and enable quick qualitative and quantitative assessments. The examination of volume conduction effects of particular head model parameterizations (e.g., skull thickness and layering), of brain anomalies (e.g., holes in the skull, tumors), location and extent of active brain areas (e.g., high concentrations of current densities) and around current injecting electrodes can be investigated using visualization. Here, we evaluate a number of widely used visualization techniques, based on either the potential distribution or on the current-flow. In particular, we focus on the extractability of quantitative and qualitative information from the obtained images, their effective integration of anatomical context information, and their interaction. We present illustrative examples from clinically and neuroscientifically relevant cases and discuss the pros and cons of the various visualization techniques. PMID:24821532

Induced electric currents in the Alaska oil pipeline measured by gradient, fluxgate, and SQUID magnetometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, W. H.; Zimmerman, J. E.

1979-01-01

The field gradient method for observing the electric currents in the Alaska pipeline provided consistent values for both the fluxgate and SQUID method of observation. These currents were linearly related to the regularly measured electric and magnetic field changes. Determinations of pipeline current were consistent with values obtained by a direct connection, current shunt technique at a pipeline site about 9.6 km away. The gradient method has the distinct advantage of portability and buried- pipe capability. Field gradients due to the pipe magnetization, geological features, or ionospheric source currents do not seem to contribute a measurable error to such pipe current determination. The SQUID gradiometer is inherently sensitive enough to detect very small currents in a linear conductor at 10 meters, or conversely, to detect small currents of one amphere or more at relatively great distances. It is fairly straightforward to achieve imbalance less than one part in ten thousand, and with extreme care, one part in one million or better.

Reverse current in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, J. W.; Sturrock, P. A.

1977-01-01

We examine the proposal that impulsive X-ray bursts are produced by high-energy electrons streaming from the corona to the chromosphere. It is known that the currents associated with these streams are so high that either the streams do not exist or their current is neutralized by a reverse current. Analysis of a simple model in which the reverse current is stable indicates that the primary electron stream leads to the development of an electric field in the ambient corona which (a) decelerates the primary beam and (b) produces a neutralizing reverse current. It appears that, in some circumstances, this electric field could prevent the primary beam from reaching the chromosphere. In any case, the electric field acts as an energy exchange mechanism, extracting kinetic energy from the primary beam and using it to heat the ambient plasma. This heating is typically so rapid that it must be expected to have important dynamical consequences.

Reverse Current in Solar Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, J. W.; Sturrock, P. A.

1976-01-01

The theory that impulsive X ray bursts are produced by high energy electrons streaming from the corona to the chromosphere is investigated. Currents associated with these streams are so high that either the streams do not exist or their current is neutralized by a reverse current. Analysis of a simple model indicates that the primary electron stream leads to the development of an electric field in the ambient corona which decelerates the primary beam and produces a neutralizing reverse current. It appears that, in some circumstances, this electric field could prevent the primary beam from reaching the chromosphere. In any case, the electric field acts as an energy exchange mechanism, extracting kinetic energy from the primary beam and using it to heat the ambient plasma. This heating is typically so rapid that it must be expected to have important dynamical consequences.

The relationship between anatomically correct electric and magnetic field dosimetry and publishe delectric and magnetic field exposure limits.

PubMed

Kavet, Robert; Dovan, Thanh; Reilly, J Patrick

2012-12-01

Electric and magnetic field exposure limits published by International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are aimed at protection against adverse electrostimulation, which may occur by direct coupling to excitable tissue and, in the case of electric fields, through indirect means associated with surface charge effects (e.g. hair vibration, skin sensations), spark discharge and contact current. For direct coupling, the basic restriction (BR) specifies the not-to-be-exceeded induced electric field. The key results of anatomically based electric and magnetic field dosimetry studies and the relevant characteristics of excitable tissue were first identified. This permitted us to assess the electric and magnetic field exposure levels that induce dose in tissue equal to the basic restrictions, and the relationships of those exposure levels to the limits now in effect. We identify scenarios in which direct coupling of electric fields to peripheral nerve could be a determining factor for electric field limits.

Application of low-frequency alternating current electric fields via interdigitated electrodes: effects on cellular viability, cytoplasmic calcium, and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells.

PubMed

McCullen, Seth D; McQuilling, John P; Grossfeld, Robert M; Lubischer, Jane L; Clarke, Laura I; Loboa, Elizabeth G

2010-12-01

Electric stimulation is known to initiate signaling pathways and provides a technique to enhance osteogenic differentiation of stem and/or progenitor cells. There are a variety of in vitro stimulation devices to apply electric fields to such cells. Herein, we describe and highlight the use of interdigitated electrodes to characterize signaling pathways and the effect of electric fields on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). The advantage of the interdigitated electrode configuration is that cells can be easily imaged during short-term (acute) stimulation, and this identical configuration can be utilized for long-term (chronic) studies. Acute exposure of hASCs to alternating current (AC) sinusoidal electric fields of 1 Hz induced a dose-dependent increase in cytoplasmic calcium in response to electric field magnitude, as observed by fluorescence microscopy. hASCs that were chronically exposed to AC electric field treatment of 1 V/cm (4 h/day for 14 days, cultured in the osteogenic differentiation medium containing dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and β-glycerol phosphate) displayed a significant increase in mineral deposition relative to unstimulated controls. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of sinusoidal AC electric fields on hASCs and to demonstrate that acute and chronic electric field exposure can significantly increase intracellular calcium signaling and the deposition of accreted calcium under osteogenic stimulation, respectively.

Simulation of Space Charge Dynamic in Polyethylene Under DC Continuous Electrical Stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boukhari, Hamed; Rogti, Fatiha

2016-10-01

The space charge dynamic plays a very important role in the aging and breakdown of polymeric insulation materials under high voltage. This is due to the intensification of the local electric field and the attendant chemical-mechanical effects in the vicinity around the trapped charge. In this paper, we have investigated the space charge dynamic in low-density polyethylene under high direct-current voltage, which is evaluated by experimental conditions. The evaluation is on the basis of simulation using a bipolar charge transport model consisting of charge injection, transports, trapping, detrapping, and recombination phenomena. The theoretical formulation of the physical problem is based on the Poisson, the continuity, and the transport equations. Numerical results provide temporal and local distributions of the electric field, the space charge density for the different kinds of charges (net charge density, mobile and trapped of electron density, mobile hole density), conduction and displacement current densities, and the external current. The result shows the appearance of the negative packet-like space charge with a large amount of the bulk under the dc electric field of 100 kV/mm, and the induced distortion of the electric field is largely near to the anode, about 39% higher than the initial electric field applied.

Regional 3-D Modeling of Ground Geoelectric Field for the Northeast United States due to Realistic Geomagnetic Disturbances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivannikova, E.; Kruglyakov, M.; Kuvshinov, A. V.; Rastaetter, L.; Pulkkinen, A. A.; Ngwira, C. M.

2017-12-01

During extreme space weather events electric currents in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere experience large variations, which leads to dramatic intensification of the fluctuating magnetic field at the surface of the Earth. According to Faraday's law of induction, the fluctuating geomagnetic field in turn induces electric field that generates harmful currents (so-called "geomagnetically induced currents"; GICs) in grounded technological systems. Understanding (via modeling) of the spatio-temporal evolution of the geoelectric field during enhanced geomagnetic activity is a key consideration in estimating the hazard to technological systems from space weather. We present the results of ground geoelectric field modeling for the Northeast United States, which is performed with the use of our novel numerical tool based on integral equation approach. The tool exploits realistic regional three-dimensional (3-D) models of the Earth's electrical conductivity and realistic global models of the spatio-temporal evolution of the magnetospheric and ionospheric current systems responsible for geomagnetic disturbances. We also explore in detail the manifestation of the coastal effect (anomalous intensification of the geoelectric field near the coasts) in this region.

Global Electric Circuit Implications of Combined Aircraft Storm Electric Current Measurements and Satellite-Based Diurnal Lightning Statistics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mach, Douglas M.; Blakeslee, Richard J.; Bateman, Monte G.

2011-01-01

Using rotating vane electric field mills and Gerdien capacitors, we measured the electric field profile and conductivity during 850 overflights of thunderstorms and electrified shower clouds (ESCs) spanning regions including the Southeastern United States, the Western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and adjacent oceans, Central Brazil, and the South Pacific. The overflights include storms over land and ocean, and with positive and negative fields above the storms. Over three-quarters (78%) of the land storms had detectable lightning, while less than half (43%) of the oceanic storms had lightning. Integrating our electric field and conductivity data, we determined total conduction currents and flash rates for each overpass. With knowledge of the storm location (land or ocean) and type (with or without lightning), we determine the mean currents by location and type. The mean current for ocean thunderstorms is 1.7 A while the mean current for land thunderstorms is 1.0 A. The mean current for ocean ESCs 0.41 A and the mean current for land ESCs is 0.13 A. We did not find any significant regional or latitudinal based patterns in our total conduction currents. By combining the aircraft derived storm currents and flash rates with diurnal flash rate statistics derived from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and Optical Transient Detector (OTD) low Earth orbiting satellites, we reproduce the diurnal variation in the global electric circuit (i.e., the Carnegie curve) to within 4% for all but two short periods of time. The agreement with the Carnegie curve was obtained without any tuning or adjustment of the satellite or aircraft data. Given our data and assumptions, mean contributions to the global electric circuit are 1.1 kA (land) and 0.7 kA (ocean) from thunderstorms, and 0.22 kA (ocean) and 0.04 (land) from ESCs, resulting in a mean total conduction current estimate for the global electric circuit of 2.0 kA. Mean storm counts are 1100 for land thunderstorms, 530 for ocean ESCs, 390 for ocean thunderstorms, and 330 for land ESCs.

The physical foundation of the reconnection electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hesse, M.; Liu, Y.-H.; Chen, L.-J.; Bessho, N.; Wang, S.; Burch, J. L.; Moretto, T.; Norgren, C.; Genestreti, K. J.; Phan, T. D.; Tenfjord, P.

2018-03-01

Magnetic reconnection is a key charged particle transport and energy conversion process in environments ranging from astrophysical systems to laboratory plasmas [Yamada et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 603-664 (2010)]. Magnetic reconnection facilitates plasma transport by establishing new connections of magnetic flux tubes, and it converts, often explosively, energy stored in the magnetic field to kinetic energy of charged particles [J. L. Burch and J. F. Drake, Am. Sci. 97, 392-299 (2009)]. The intensity of the magnetic reconnection process is measured by the reconnection electric field, which regulates the rate of flux tube connectivity changes. The change of magnetic connectivity occurs in the current layer of the diffusion zone, where the plasma transport is decoupled from the transport of magnetic flux. Here we report on computer simulations and analytic theory to provide a self-consistent understanding of the role of the reconnection electric field, which extends substantially beyond the simple change of magnetic connections. Rather, we find that the reconnection electric field is essential to maintain the current density in the diffusion region, which would otherwise be dissipated by a set of processes. Natural candidates for current dissipation are the average convection of current carriers away from the reconnection region by the outflow of accelerated particles, or the average rotation of the current density by the magnetic field reversal in the vicinity. Instead, we show here that the current dissipation is the result of thermal effects, underlying the statistical interaction of current-carrying particles with the adjacent magnetic field. We find that this interaction serves to redirect the directed acceleration of the reconnection electric field to thermal motion. This thermalization manifests itself in form of quasi-viscous terms in the thermal energy balance of the current layer. This collisionless viscosity, found in the pressure evolution equation, dominates near the x-line. These quasi-viscous terms act to increase the average thermal energy. Our predictions regarding current and thermal energy balance are readily amenable to exploration in the laboratory or by satellite missions, in particular, by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission.

Tests of Convection Electric Field Models For The January 10, 1997, Geomagnetic Storm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jordanova, V.; Boonsiriseth, A.; Thorne, R.; Dotan, Y.

The January 10-11, 1997, geomagnetic storm was caused by the passage at Earth of a magnetic cloud with a negative to positive Bz variation extending for 1 day. The ge- omagnetic indices had values of minimum Dst=-83 nT and maximum Kp=6 during the period of southward IMF within the cloud. We simulate ring current development during this storm using our kinetic drift-loss model and compare the results inferred from Volland-Stern type, Weimer, and AMIE convection electric field models. A pen- etration electric field is added to the AMIE model [Boonsiriseth et al., 2001] in order to improve the agreement with measurements from the electric field instrument on Po- lar spacecraft. The ionospheric electric potentials are mapped to the equatorial plane using the Tsyganenko 1996 magnetic field model and the resulting equatorial poten- tial models are coupled with our ring current model. While the temporal evolution of the large-scale features is similar in all three convection models, detailed comparison indicates that AMIE model shows highly variable small-scale features not present in the Volland-Stern or Weimer convection models. Results from our kinetic ring current model are compared with energetic particle data from the HYDRA, TIMAS, IPS, and CAMMICE instruments on Polar to test the applicability of the convection electric field models for this storm period.

On the behavior of return stroke current and the remotely detected electric field change waveform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Xuan-Min; Lay, Erin; Jacobson, Abram R.

2012-04-01

After accumulating a large number of remotely recorded negative return stroke electric field change waveforms, a subtle but persistent kink was found following the main return stroke peak by several microseconds. To understand the corresponding return stroke current properties behind the kink and the general return stroke radiation waveform, we analyze strokes occurring in triggered lightning flashes for which have been measured both the channel base current and simultaneous remote electric radiation field. In this study, the channel base current is assumed to propagate along the return stroke channel in a dispersive and lossy manner. The measured channel base current is band-pass filtered, and the higher-frequency component is assumed to attenuate faster than the lower-frequency component. The radiation electric field is computed for such a current behavior and is then propagated to distant sensors. It is found that such a return stroke model is capable of very closely reproducing the measured electric waveforms at multiple stations for the triggered return strokes, and such a model is considered applicable to the common behavior of the natural return stroke as well. On the basis of the analysis, a number of other observables are derived. The time-evolving current dispersion and attenuation compare well with previously reported optical observations. The observable speed tends to agree with optical and VHF observations. Line charge density that is removed or deposited by the return stroke is derived, and the implication of the charge density distribution on leader channel decay is discussed.

Ionic Components of Electric Current at Rat Corneal Wounds

PubMed Central

Cao, Lin; Mannis, Mark J.; Schwab, Ivan R.; Zhao, Min

2011-01-01

Background Endogenous electric fields and currents occur naturally at wounds and are a strong signal guiding cell migration into the wound to promote healing. Many cells involved in wound healing respond to small physiological electric fields in vitro. It has long been assumed that wound electric fields are produced by passive ion leakage from damaged tissue. Could these fields be actively maintained and regulated as an active wound response? What are the molecular, ionic and cellular mechanisms underlying the wound electric currents? Methodology/Principal Findings Using rat cornea wounds as a model, we measured the dynamic timecourses of individual ion fluxes with ion-selective probes. We also examined chloride channel expression before and after wounding. After wounding, Ca2+ efflux increased steadily whereas K+ showed an initial large efflux which rapidly decreased. Surprisingly, Na+ flux at wounds was inward. A most significant observation was a persistent large influx of Cl−, which had a time course similar to the net wound electric currents we have measured previously. Fixation of the tissues abolished ion fluxes. Pharmacological agents which stimulate ion transport significantly increased flux of Cl−, Na+ and K+. Injury to the cornea caused significant changes in distribution and expression of Cl− channel CLC2. Conclusions/Significance These data suggest that the outward electric currents occurring naturally at corneal wounds are carried mainly by a large influx of chloride ions, and in part by effluxes of calcium and potassium ions. Ca2+ and Cl− fluxes appear to be mainly actively regulated, while K+ flux appears to be largely due to leakage. The dynamic changes of electric currents and specific ion fluxes after wounding suggest that electrical signaling is an active response to injury and offers potential novel approaches to modulate wound healing, for example eye-drops targeting ion transport to aid in the challenging management of non-healing corneal ulcers. PMID:21364900

Modeling of the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thayer, Jeff P.

1993-01-01

The solar wind interaction with the earth's magnetosphere generates electric fields and currents that flow from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere at high latitudes. Consequently, the neutral atmosphere is subject to the dissipation and conversion of this electrical energy to thermal and mechanical energy through Joule heating and Lorentz forcing. As a result of the mechanical energy stored within the neutral wind (caused in part by Lorentz--and pressure gradient--forces set up by the magnetospheric flux of electrical energy), electric currents and fields can be generated in the ionosphere through the neutral wind dynamo mechanism. At high latitudes this source of electrical energy has been largely ignored in past studies, owing to the assumed dominance of the solar wind/magnetospheric dynamo as an electrical energy source to the ionosphere. However, other researchers have demonstrated that the available electrical energy provided by the neutral wind is significant at high latitudes, particularly in the midnight sector of the polar cap and in the region of the magnetospheric convection reversal. As a result, the conclusions of a number of broad ranging high-latitude investigations may be modified if the neutral-wind contribution to high-latitude electrodynamics is properly accounted for. These include the following: studies assessing solar wind-magnetospheric coupling by comparing the cross polar cap potential with solar wind parameters; research based on the alignment of particle precipitation with convection or field aligned current boundaries; and synoptic investigations attributing seasonal variations in the observed electric field and current patterns to external sources. These research topics have been initiated by satellite and ground-based observations and have been attributed to magnetospheric causes. However, the contribution of the neutral wind to the high-latitude electric field and current systems and their seasonal and local time dependence has yet to be quantitatively evaluated. In this program, we are evaluating the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos at high latitudes under various conditions. In addition to examining the impact of seasonal variations, we are investigating the consequences of the separate dynamos having pure current-source or voltage-source behaviors.

Mode jumping of split-ring resonator metamaterials controlled by high-permittivity BST and incident electric fields

PubMed Central

Fu, Xiaojian; Zeng, Xinxi; Cui, Tie Jun; Lan, Chuwen; Guo, Yunsheng; Zhang, Hao Chi; Zhang, Qian

2016-01-01

We investigate the resonant modes of split-ring resonator (SRR) metamaterials that contain high-permittivity BST block numerically and experimentally. We observe interesting mode-jumping phenomena from the BST-included SRR absorber structure as the excitation wave is incident perpendicularly to the SRR plane. Specifically, when the electric field is parallel to the SRR gap, the BST block in the gap will induce a mode jumping from the LC resonance to plasmonic resonance (horizontal electric-dipole mode), because the displacement current excited by the Mie resonance in the dielectric block acts as a current channel in the gap. When the electric field is perpendicular to the gap side, the plasmonic resonance mode (vertical electric-dipole mode) in SRR changes to two joint modes contributed simultaneously by the back layer, SRR and BST block, as a result of connected back layer and SRR layer by the displacement current in the BST dielectric block. Based on the mode jumping effect as well as temperature and electric-field dependent dielectric constant, the BST-included SRR metamaterials may have great potentials for the applications in electromagnetic switches and widely tunable metamaterial devices. PMID:27502844

Experimental Identification of Electric Field Excitation Mechanisms in a Structural Transition of Tokamak Plasmas

PubMed Central

Kobayashi, T.; Itoh, K.; Ido, T.; Kamiya, K.; Itoh, S.-I.; Miura, Y.; Nagashima, Y.; Fujisawa, A.; Inagaki, S.; Ida, K.; Hoshino, K.

2016-01-01

Self-regulation between structure and turbulence, which is a fundamental process in the complex system, has been widely regarded as one of the central issues in modern physics. A typical example of that in magnetically confined plasmas is the Low confinement mode to High confinement mode (L-H) transition, which is intensely studied for more than thirty years since it provides a confinement improvement necessary for the realization of the fusion reactor. An essential issue in the L-H transition physics is the mechanism of the abrupt “radial” electric field generation in toroidal plasmas. To date, several models for the L-H transition have been proposed but the systematic experimental validation is still challenging. Here we report the systematic and quantitative model validations of the radial electric field excitation mechanism for the first time, using a data set of the turbulence and the radial electric field having a high spatiotemporal resolution. Examining time derivative of Poisson’s equation, the sum of the loss-cone loss current and the neoclassical bulk viscosity current is found to behave as the experimentally observed radial current that excites the radial electric field within a few factors of magnitude. PMID:27489128

Force balance near an X line along which E x J is less than 0. [plasma transfer from closed to open field lines in geomagnetic tail

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lyons, L. R.; Pridmore-Brown, D. C.

1992-01-01

Conditions for which particle motion within the current sheet in the vicinity of an X line can give a current in the direction appropriate for E x J is less than 0. The way in which the balance between gyroviscosity and the electric force along an X line is maintained for any E x J is shown. It is concluded that observational evidence for the occasional existence of E x J is less than 0 along an X line provides support for the suggestion that collisionless graviscosity, rather than resistivity, balances the electric force along an X line. It is found that there is a maximum electric field magnitude for particles to be able to carry a significant current. For parameters typical of the distant magnetotail, the critical electric field magnitude was found to be about 0.15 mV/m, which is of the order of, though somewhat less than, the potential electric field magnitudes expected in the magnetotail. This maximum allowable field magnitude is about the same for protons as it is for electrons in the magnetotail.

Electric fields and conductivity in the nighttime E-region - A new magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere coupling effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, P. M.; Yasuhara, F.

1978-01-01

Calculations have been made of the effects of intense poleward-directed electric fields upon the nighttime ionospheric E-region. The results show the Pedersen and Hall conductivities are substantially changed, thereby decreasing the ionospheric electrical load seen by magnetospheric sources. It appears that relatively large electric fields can exist in the absence of accompanying large field-aligned currents, as long as the underlying ionosphere remains in darkness and/or energetic particle precipitation is absent.

Induction signals from Callisto's ionosphere and their implications on a possible subsurface ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartkorn, Oliver; Saur, Joachim

2017-11-01

We investigate whether induction within Callisto's electrically conductive ionosphere can explain observed magnetic fields which have previously been interpreted as evidence of induction in a saline, electrically conductive subsurface ocean. Callisto's ionosphere is subject to the flow of time-periodic magnetized plasma of Jupiter's magnetosphere, which induces electric fields and electric currents in Callisto's electrically conductive ionosphere. We develop a simple analytic model for a first quantitative understanding of the effects of induction in Callisto's ionosphere caused by the interaction with a time-variable magnetic field environment. With this model, we also investigate how the associated ionospheric currents close in the ambient magnetospheric plasma. Based on our model, we find that the anisotropic nature of Callisto's ionospheric conductivity generates an enhancement effect on ionospheric loop currents which are driven by the time-variable magnetic field. This effect is similar to the Cowling channel effect known from Earth's ionosphere. Subsequently, we numerically calculate the expected induced magnetic fields due to Jupiter's time-variable magnetic field in an anisotropic conductive ionosphere and compare our results with the Galileo C-3 and C-9 flybys. We find that induction within Callisto's ionosphere is responsible for a significant part of the observed magnetic fields. Ionospheric induction creates induced magnetic fields to some extent similar as expected from a subsurface water ocean. Depending on currently unknown properties such as Callisto's nightside ionosphere, the existence of layers of "dirty ice" and the details of the plasma interaction, a water ocean might be located much deeper than previously thought or might not exist at all.

Electric-Field-Induced Degradation of Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Bae, Soohyun; Kim, Seongtak; Lee, Sang-Won; Cho, Kyung Jin; Park, Sungeun; Lee, Seunghun; Kang, Yoonmook; Lee, Hae-Seok; Kim, Donghwan

2016-08-18

Perovskite solar cells have great potential for high efficiency generation but are subject to the impact of external environmental conditions such as humidity, UV and sun light, temperature, and electric fields. The long-term stability of perovskite solar cells is an important issue for their commercialization. Various studies on the stability of perovskite solar cells are currently being performed; however, the stability related to electric fields is rarely discussed. Here the electrical stability of perovskite solar cells is studied. Ion migration is confirmed using the temperature-dependent dark current decay. Changes in the power conversion efficiency according to the amount of the external bias are measured in the dark, and a significant drop is observed only at an applied voltage greater than 0.8 V. We demonstrate that perovskite solar cells are stable under an electric field up to the operating voltage.

Middle atmosphere electrical energy coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hale, L. C.

1989-01-01

The middle atmosphere (MA) has long been known as an absorber of radio waves, and as a region of nonlinear interactions among waves. The region of highest transverse conductivity near the top of the MA provides a common return for global thunderstorm, auroral Birkeland, and ionospheric dynamo currents, with possibilities for coupling among them. Their associated fields and other transverse fields map to lower altitudes depending on scale size. Evidence now exists for motion-driven aerosol generators, and for charge trapped at the base of magnetic field lines, both capable of producing large MA electric fields. Ionospheric Maxwell currents (curl H) parallel to the magnetic field appear to map to lower altitudes, with rapidly time-varying components appearing as displacement currents in the stratosphere. Lightning couples a (primarily ELF and ULF) current transient to the ionosphere and magnetosphere whose wave shape is largely dependent on the MA conductivity profile. Electrical energy is of direct significance mainly in the upper MA, but electrodynamic transport of minor constituents such as smoke particles or CN may be important at other altitudes.

Observations of field-aligned currents, waves, and electric fields at substorm onset

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smits, D. P.; Hughes, W. J.; Cattell, C. A.; Russell, C. T.

1986-01-01

Substorm onsets, identified Pi 2 pulsations observed on the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Magnetometer Network, are studied using magnetometer and electric field data from ISEE 1 as well as magnetometer data from the geosynchronous satellites GOES 2 and 3. The mid-latitude magnetometer data provides the means of both timing and locating the substorm onset so that the spacecraft locations with respect to the substorm current systems are known. During two intervals, each containing several onsets or intensifications, ISEE 1 observed field-aligned current signatures beginning simultaneously with the mid-latitude Pi 2 pulsation. Close to the earth broadband bursts of wave noise were observed in the electric field data whenever field-aligned currents were detected. One onset occurred when ISEE 1 and GOES 2 were on the same field line but in opposite hemispheres. During this onset ISEE 1 and GOES 2 saw magnetic signatures which appear to be due to conjugate field-aligned currents flowing out of the western end of the westward auroral electrojets. The ISEE 1 signature is of a line current moving westward past the spacecraft. During the other interval, ISEE 1 was in the near-tail region near the midnight meridian. Plasma data confirms that the plasma sheet thinned and subsequently expanded at onset. Electric field data shows that the plasma moved in the opposite direction to the plasma sheet boundary as the boundary expanded which implies that there must have been an abundant source of hot plasma present. The plasma motion was towards the center of the plasma sheet and earthwards and consisted of a series of pulses rather than a steady flow.

Hall effect in the presence of rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubkov, M. A.

2018-02-01

A rotating relativistic fermion system is considered. The consideration is based on the Dirac equation written in the laboratory (non-rotating) reference frame. Rotation in this approach gives rise to the effective magnetic and electric fields that act in the same way both on positive and negative electric charges. In the presence of external electric field in the given system the electric current appears orthogonal to both the electric field and the axis of rotation. The possible applications to the physics of quark-gluon plasma are discussed.

Thermal to electricity conversion using thermal magnetic properties

DOEpatents

West, Phillip B [Idaho Falls, ID; Svoboda, John [Idaho Falls, ID

2010-04-27

A system for the generation of Electricity from Thermal Energy using the thermal magnetic properties of a Ferromagnetic, Electrically Conductive Material (FECM) in one or more Magnetic Fields. A FECM is exposed to one or more Magnetic Fields. Thermal Energy is applied to a portion of the FECM heating the FECM above its Curie Point. The FECM, now partially paramagnetic, moves under the force of the one or more Magnetic Fields. The movement of the FECM induces an electrical current through the FECM, generating Electricity.

Penetration of Nonstationary Ionospheric Electric Fields into Lower Atmospheric Layers in the Global Electric Circuit Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, V. N.

2018-01-01

The problem of the penetration of nonstationary ionospheric electric fields into the lower atmospheric layers is considered based on the model of the global electric circuit in the Earth's atmosphere. For the equation of the electric field potential, a solution that takes into account exponential variation in the electrical conductivity with height has been obtained. Analysis of the solution made it possible to reveal three cases of the dependence of the solution on height. The first case (the case of high frequencies) corresponds to the Coulomb approximation, when the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere can be neglected. In the case of low frequencies (when the frequency of changes in the ionosphere potential is less than the quantity reciprocal to the time of electric relaxation of the atmosphere), a quasi-stationary regime, in which the variation in the electric potential of the atmosphere is determined by the electric conduction currents, occurs. In the third case, due to the increase in the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere, two spherical regions appear: with the Coulomb approximation in the lower region and conduction currents in the upper one. For these three cases, formulas for estimating the electric field strength near the Earth's surface have been obtained.

Current flow instability and nonlinear structures in dissipative two-fluid plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koshkarov, O.; Smolyakov, A. I.; Romadanov, I. V.; Chapurin, O.; Umansky, M. V.; Raitses, Y.; Kaganovich, I. D.

2018-01-01

The current flow in two-fluid plasma is inherently unstable if plasma components (e.g., electrons and ions) are in different collisionality regimes. A typical example is a partially magnetized E ×B plasma discharge supported by the energy released from the dissipation of the current in the direction of the applied electric field (perpendicular to the magnetic field). Ions are not magnetized so they respond to the fluctuations of the electric field ballistically on the inertial time scale. In contrast, the electron current in the direction of the applied electric field is dissipatively supported either by classical collisions or anomalous processes. The instability occurs due to a positive feedback between the electron and ion current coupled by the quasi-neutrality condition. The theory of this instability is further developed taking into account the electron inertia, finite Larmor radius and nonlinear effects. It is shown that this instability results in highly nonlinear quasi-coherent structures resembling breathing mode oscillations in Hall thrusters.

An analysis of the gradient-induced electric fields and current densities in human models when situated in a hybrid MRI-LINAC system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Limei; Trakic, Adnan; Sanchez-Lopez, Hector; Liu, Feng; Crozier, Stuart

2014-01-01

MRI-LINAC is a new image-guided radiotherapy treatment system that combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a linear accelerator (LINAC) in a single unit. One drawback is that the pulsing of the split gradient coils of the system induces an electric field and currents in the patient which need to be predicted and evaluated for patient safety. In this novel numerical study the in situ electric fields and associated current densities were evaluated inside tissue-accurate male and female human voxel models when a number of different split-geometry gradient coils were operated. The body models were located in the MRI-LINAC system along the axial and radial directions in three different body positions. Each model had a region of interest (ROI) suitable for image-guided radiotherapy. The simulation results show that the amplitudes and distributions of the field and current density induced by different split x-gradient coils were similar with one another in the ROI of the body model, but varied outside of the region. The fields and current densities induced by a split classic coil with the surface unconnected showed the largest deviation from those given by the conventional non-split coils. Another finding indicated that the distributions of the peak current densities varied when the body position, orientation or gender changed, while the peak electric fields mainly occurred in the skin and fat tissues.

Electron Cooling and Isotropization during Magnetotail Current Sheet Thinning: Implications for Parallel Electric Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, San; Artemyev, A. V.; Angelopoulos, V.

2017-11-01

Magnetotail current sheet thinning is a distinctive feature of substorm growth phase, during which magnetic energy is stored in the magnetospheric lobes. Investigation of charged particle dynamics in such thinning current sheets is believed to be important for understanding the substorm energy storage and the current sheet destabilization responsible for substorm expansion phase onset. We use Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) B and C observations in 2008 and 2009 at 18 - 25 RE to show that during magnetotail current sheet thinning, the electron temperature decreases (cooling), and the parallel temperature decreases faster than the perpendicular temperature, leading to a decrease of the initially strong electron temperature anisotropy (isotropization). This isotropization cannot be explained by pure adiabatic cooling or by pitch angle scattering. We use test particle simulations to explore the mechanism responsible for the cooling and isotropization. We find that during the thinning, a fast decrease of a parallel electric field (directed toward the Earth) can speed up the electron parallel cooling, causing it to exceed the rate of perpendicular cooling, and thus lead to isotropization, consistent with observation. If the parallel electric field is too small or does not change fast enough, the electron parallel cooling is slower than the perpendicular cooling, so the parallel electron anisotropy grows, contrary to observation. The same isotropization can also be accomplished by an increasing parallel electric field directed toward the equatorial plane. Our study reveals the existence of a large-scale parallel electric field, which plays an important role in magnetotail particle dynamics during the current sheet thinning process.

Bifunctional metamaterials with simultaneous and independent manipulation of thermal and electric fields.

PubMed

Lan, Chuwen; Bi, Ke; Fu, Xiaojian; Li, Bo; Zhou, Ji

2016-10-03

Metamaterials offer a powerful way to manipulate a variety of physical fields ranging from wave fields (electromagnetic field, acoustic field, elastic wave, etc.), static fields (static magnetic field, static electric field) to diffusive fields (thermal field, diffusive mass). However, the relevant reports and studies are usually limited to a single physical field or functionality. In this study, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a bifunctional metamaterial which could manipulate thermal and electric fields simultaneously and independently. Specifically, a composite with independently controllable thermal and electric conductivity was introduced, on the basis of which a bifunctional device capable of shielding thermal flux and concentrating electric current simultaneously was designed, fabricated and characterized. This work provides an encouraging example of metamaterials transcending their natural limitations, which offers a promising future in building a broad platform for the manipulation of multi-physics fields.

Electrical field distribution within the injured cat spinal cord: injury potentials and field distribution.

PubMed

Khan, T; Myklebust, J; Swiontek, T; Sayers, S; Dauzvardis, M

1994-12-01

This study investigated the spontaneous injury potentials measured after contusion or transection injury to the cat spinal cord. In addition, the distribution of electrical field potentials on the surface and within the spinal cord were measured following applied electrical fields after transection and contusion injuries. After transection of the spinal cord, the injury potentials were -19.8 +/- 2.6 mV; after contusion of the spinal cord, the injury potentials were -9.5 +/- 2.2 mV. These potentials returned to control values within 2.5-4h after injury. The electrical field distribution measured on the dorsal surface, as well as within the spinal cord, after the application of a 10 microA current, showed little difference between contusion and transection injuries. Scalar potential fields were measured using two configurations of stimulating electrodes: dorsal to dorsal (D-D), in which both electrodes were placed epidurally on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord, and ventral to dorsal (V-D), in which one electrode was placed dorsally and one ventrally. As reported in normal uninjured cats, the total current in the midsagittal plane for the D-D configuration was largely confined to the dorsal portion of the spinal cord; with the V-D configuration, the current distribution was uniform throughout the spinal cord. In the injured spinal cord, the equipotential lines midway between the stimulating electrodes have a wider separation than in the uninjured spinal cord. Because the magnitude of the electrical field E is equal to the current density J multiplied by the resistivity r, this suggests that either the current density is reduced or that the resistivity is reduced.

Electric ants: A cross-disciplinary approach to understanding insect behavior

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Slowik, T.J.; Thorvilson, H.G.; Green, B.L.

1996-12-31

The response and attraction of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, to electrical equipment was examined using an interdisciplinary approach. Entomologists specializing in fire ant behavior combined expertise with electrical engineers to investigate the economically damaging interaction of fire ants with electrical circuitry. Knowledge from the realms of physics, engineering, and biology were integrated in experimentation to test for a fire ant response to electric fields and magnetic fields associated with electrical equipment. It was determined that fire ants react to electrified conductive material and the alternating-current magnetic fields associated with electricity.

Atmosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamic Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorokin, V. M.; Chmyrev, V. M.

Numerous phenomena that occur in the mesosphere, ionosphere, and the magnetosphere of the Earth are caused by the sources located in the lower atmosphere and on the ground. We describe the effects produced by lightning activity and by ground-based transmitters operated in high frequency (HF) and very low frequency (VLF) ranges. Among these phenomena are the ionosphere heating and the formation of plasma density inhomogeneities, the excitation of gamma ray bursts and atmospheric emissions in different spectral bands, the generation of ULF/ELF/VLF electromagnetic waves and plasma turbulence in the ionosphere, the stimulation of radiation belt electron precipitations and the acceleration of ions in the upper ionosphere. The most interesting results of experimental and theoretical studies of these phenomena are discussed below. The ionosphere is subject to the action of the conductive electric current flowing in the atmosphere-ionosphere circuit. We present a physical model of DC electric field and current formation in this circuit. The key element of this model is an external current, which is formed with the occurrence of convective upward transport of charged aerosols and their gravitational sedimentation in the atmosphere. An increase in the level of atmospheric radioactivity results in the appearance of additional ionization and change of electrical conductivity. Variation of conductivity and external current in the lower atmosphere leads to perturbation of the electric current flowing in the global atmosphere-ionosphere circuit and to the associated DC electric field perturbation both on the Earth's surface and in the ionosphere. Description of these processes and some results of the electric field and current calculations are presented below. The seismic-induced electric field perturbations produce noticeable effects in the ionosphere by generating the electromagnetic field and plasma disturbances. We describe the generation mechanisms of such experimentally observed effects as excitation of plasma density inhomogeneities, field-aligned currents, and ULF/ELF emissions and the modification of electron and ion altitude profiles in the upper ionosphere. The electrodynamic model of the ionosphere modification under the influence of some natural and man-made processes in the atmosphere is also discussed. The model is based on the satellite and ground measurements of electromagnetic field and plasma perturbations and on the data on atmospheric radioactivity and soil gas injection into the atmosphere.

CRIT II electric, magnetic, and density measurements within an ionizing neutral stream

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swenson, C. M.; Kelley, M. C.; Primdahl, F.; Baker, K. D.

1990-01-01

Measurements from rocket-borne sensors inside a high-velocity neutral barium beam show a-factor-of-six increase in plasma density in a moving ionizing front. This region was colocated with intense fluctuating electric fields at frequencies well under the lower hybrid frequency for a barium plasma. Large quasi-dc electric and magnetic field fluctuations were also detected with a large component of the current and the electric field parallel to B(0). An Alfven wave with a finite electric field component parallel to the geomagnetic field was observed to propagate along B(0), where it was detected by an instrumented subpayload.

On the Induced Flow of an Electrically Conducting Liquid in a Rectangular Duct by Electric and Magnetic Fields of Finite Extent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rossow, Vernon J.; Jones, William Prichard; Huerta, Robert H.

1961-01-01

Reported here are the results of a systematic study of a model of the direct-current electromagnetic pump. Of particular interest is the motion imparted to the electrically conducting fluid in the rectangular duct by the body forces that result from applied electric and magnetic fields. The purpose of the investigation is to associate the observed fluid motion with the characteristics of the electric and magnetic fields which cause them. The experiments were carried out with electromagnetic fields that moved a stream of copper sulphate solution through a clear plastic channel. Ink filaments injected into the stream ahead of the region where the fields were applied identify the motion of the fluid elements as they passed through the test channel. Several magnetic field configurations were employed with a two-dimensional electric current distribution in order to study and identify the magnitude of some of the effects on the fluid motion brought about by nonuniformities in the electromagnetic fields. A theoretical analysis was used to guide and evaluate the identification of the several fluid motions observed. The agreement of the experimental data with the theoretical predictions is satisfactory. It is found that sizable variations in the velocity profile and pressure head of the output stream are produced by the shape of the electric and magnetic fields.

Unavoidable electric current caused by inhomogeneities and its influence on measured material parameters of thermoelectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, K.; Song, H. P.; Gao, C. F.

2018-03-01

It is well known that the key factor determining the performance of thermoelectric materials is the figure of merit, which depends on the thermal conductivity (TC), electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient (SC). The electric current must be zero when measuring the TC and SC to avoid the occurrence of measurement errors. In this study, the complex-variable method is used to analyze the thermoelectric field near an elliptic inhomogeneity in an open circuit, and the field distributions are obtained in closed form. Our analysis shows that an electric current inevitably exists in both the matrix and the inhomogeneity even though the circuit is open. This unexpected electric current seriously affects the accuracy with which the TC and SC are measured. These measurement errors, both overall and local, are analyzed in detail. In addition, an error correction method is proposed based on the analytical results.

Ionization and current growth in N/sub 2/ at very high electric field to gas density ratios

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gylys, V.T.; Jelenkovic, B.M.; Phelps, A.V.

1989-05-01

Measurements and analyses have been made of electron impact ionization and of current growth in pulsed, low-current, prebreakdown discharges in parallel-plane geometry in N/sub 2/ at very high electric field to gas density ratios E/n and low products of the gas density n and electrode separation d. The E/n range and nd ranges were 1

Emission current formation in plasma electron emitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruzdev, V. A.; Zalesski, V. G.

2010-12-01

A model of the plasma electron emitter is considered, in which the current redistribution over electrodes of the emitter gas-discharge structure and weak electric field formation in plasma are taken into account as functions of the emission current. The calculated and experimental dependences of the switching parameters, extraction efficiency, and strength of the electric field in plasma on the accelerating voltage and geometrical sizes of the emission channel are presented.

Electric currents and fields induced in cells in the human brain by radiation from hand-held cellular telephones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, Ronold W. P.

2000-01-01

After a review of recent work on the interaction of electromagnetic fields from cellular telephones with the human head, the structural and radiating properties of two common types of transceivers are determined. These include the impedance and current amplitude distribution of the antennas. The tangential electric field maintained by the antennas on the adjacent surface of the head is next determined. From this, the electric field propagating through the skull into the brain is analyzed and, from it, the electric field in spherical and long cylindrical cells is determined. It ranges from 27 to 13.5 V/m in the first 3 cm inside the skull. Of interest is the fact that the induced field in the interior of all cells, regardless of their shape, is the same as the incident field in the brain. It is hoped that biomedical scientists will review these results and determine possible biological effects.

Human perception of electric fields and ion currents associated with high-voltage DC transmission lines.

PubMed

Blondin, J P; Nguyen, D H; Sbeghen, J; Goulet, D; Cardinal, C; Maruvada, P S; Plante, M; Bailey, W H

1996-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of humans to detect the presence of DC electric field and ion currents. An exposure chamber simulating conditions present in the vicinity of high-voltage DC (HVDC) lines was designed and built for this purpose. In these experiments, the facility was used to expose observers to DC electric fields up to 50 kV/m and ion current densities up to 120 nA/m2. Forty-eight volunteers (25 women and 23 men) between the ages of 18 and 57 years served as observers. Perception of DC fields was examined by using two psychophysical methods: an adaptive staircase procedure and a rating method derived from signal-detection theory. Subjects completed three different series of observations by using each of these methods; one was conducted without ion currents, and the other two involved various combinations of electric fields and ion currents. Overall, subjects were significantly more likely to detect DC fields as the intensity increased. Observers were able to detect the presence of DC fields alone, but only at high intensities; the average threshold was 45 kV/m. Except in the most sensitive individuals, ion current densities up to 60 nA/m2 did not significantly facilitate the detection of DC fields. However, higher ion current densities were associated with a substantial lowering of sensory thresholds in a large majority of observers. Data analysis also revealed large variations in perceptual thresholds among observers. Normative data indicating DC field and ion current intensities that can be detected by 50% of all observers are provided. In addition, for the most sensitive observers, several other detection proportions were derived from the distribution of individual detection capabilities. These data can form the basis for environmental guidelines relating to the design of HVDC lines.

Transport of Energetic Ions in the Ring Current During Geomagnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kistler, Lynn M.; Kaufmann, Richard

2001-01-01

In the final year (plus no-cost extentions) of this grant, we have: Used the particle tracing code to perform a systematic study of the expected energy spectra over the full range of local times in the ring current using a variety of electric and magnetic field models. Shown that the Weimer electric field is superior to the Volland-Stern electric field in reproducing the observed energy spectra on the AMPTE CCE spacecraft. Redone our analysis of the pitch angle spectra of energetic ions during storms in the magnetosphere, using a larger data set, and a more reliable classification technique.

Magnetic field controlled electronic state and electric field controlled magnetic state in α-Fe1.6Ga0.4O3 oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lone, Abdul Gaffar; Bhowmik, R. N.

2018-04-01

We have prepared α-Fe1.6Ga0.4O3 (Ga doped α-Fe2O3) system in rhombohedral phase. The material has shown room temperature ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties. The existence of magneto-electric coupling at room temperature has been confirmed by the experimental observation of magnetic field controlled electric properties and electric field controlled magnetization. The current-voltage characteristics were controlled by external magnetic field. The magnetic state switching and exchange bias effect are highly sensitive to the polarity and ON and OFF modes of external electric field. Such materials can find novel applications in magneto-electronic devices, especially in the field of electric field controlled spintronics devices and energy storage devices which need low power consumption.

Electric currents in cosmic plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alfven, H.

1977-01-01

It is suggested that dualism is essential for the physics of cosmic plasmas, that is, that some phenomena should be described by a magnetic field formalism, and others by an electric current formalism. While in earlier work the magnetic field aspect has dominated, at present there is a systematic exploration of the particle (or current) aspect. A number of phenomena which can be understood only from the particle aspect are surveyed. Topics include the formation of electric double layers, the origin of 'explosive' events like magnetic substorms and solar flares, and the transfer of energy from one region to another. A method for exploring many of these phenomena is to draw the electric circuit in which the current flows and then study its properties. A number of simple circuits are analyzed in this way.

Current density in a model of a human body with a conductive implant exposed to ELF electric and magnetic fields.

PubMed

Valic, Blaz; Gajsek, Peter; Miklavcic, Damijan

2009-10-01

A numerical model of a human body with an intramedullary nail in the femur was built to evaluate the effects of the implant on the current density distribution in extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields. The intramedullary nail was chosen because it is one of the longest high conductive implants used in the human body. As such it is expected to alter the electric and magnetic fields significantly. The exposure was a simultaneous combination of inferior to superior electric field and posterior to anterior magnetic field both alternating at 50 Hz with the values corresponding to the ICNIRP reference levels: 5000 V m(-1) for electric field and 100 microT for magnetic flux density. The calculated current density distribution inside the model was compared to the ICNIRP basic restrictions for general public (2 mA m(-2)). The results show that the implant significantly increases the current density up to 9.5 mA m(-2) in the region where it is in contact with soft tissue in the model with the implant in comparison to 0.9 mA m(-2) in the model without the implant. As demonstrated the ICNIRP basic restrictions are exceeded in a limited volume of the tissue in spite of the compliance with the ICNIRP reference levels for general public, meaning that the existing safety limits do not necessarily protect implanted persons to the same extent as they protect people without implants.

Electric Field Screening with Backflow at Pulsar Polar Cap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kisaka, Shota; Asano, Katsuaki; Terasawa, Toshio

2016-09-01

Recent γ-ray observations suggest that particle acceleration occurs at the outer region of the pulsar magnetosphere. The magnetic field lines in the outer acceleration region (OAR) are connected to the neutron star surface (NSS). If copious electron-positron pairs are produced near the NSS, such pairs flow into the OAR and screen the electric field there. To activate the OAR, the electromagnetic cascade due to the electric field near the NSS should be suppressed. However, since a return current is expected along the field lines through the OAR, the outflow extracted from the NSS alone cannot screen the electric field just above the NSS. In this paper, we analytically and numerically study the electric field screening at the NSS, taking into account the effects of the backflowing particles from the OAR. In certain limited cases, the electric field is screened without significant pair cascade if only ultra-relativistic particles (γ \\gg 1) flow back to the NSS. On the other hand, if electron-positron pairs with a significant number density and mildly relativistic temperature, expected to distribute in a wide region of the magnetosphere, flow back to the NSS, these particles adjust the current and charge densities so that the electric field can be screened without pair cascade. We obtain the condition needed for the number density of particles to screen the electric field at the NSS. We also find that in the ion-extracted case from the NSS, bunches of particles are ejected to the outer region quasi-periodically, which is a possible mechanism of observed radio emission.

Static Electric Fields and Lightning Over Land and Ocean in Florida Thunderstorms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. G.; Cummins, K. L.; Simpson, A. A.; Hinckley, A.

2017-01-01

Natural cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and the charge structure of the associated clouds behave differently over land and ocean. Existing literature has raised questions over the years on the behavior of thunderstorms and lightning over oceans, and there are still open scientific questions. We expand on the observational datasets by obtaining identical electric field observations over coastal land, near-shore, and deep ocean regions during both clear air and thunderstorm periods. Oceanic observations were obtained using two 3-meter NOAA buoys that were instrumented with Campbell Scientific electric field mills to measure the static electric fields. These data were compared to selected electric field records from the existing on-shore electric field mill suite of 31 sensors at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). CG lightning occurrence times, locations and peak current values for both on-shore and ocean were provided by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network. The buoy instruments were first evaluated on-shore at the Florida coast, to calibrate field enhancements and to confirm proper behavior of the system in elevated-field environments. The buoys were then moored 20NM and 120NM off the coast of KSC in February (20NM) and August (120NM) 2014. Statistically larger CG peak currents were reported over the deep ocean for first strokes and for subsequent strokes with new contacts points. Storm-related static fields were significantly larger at both oceanic sites, likely due to decreased screening by nearby space charge. Time-evolution of the static field during storm development and propagation indicated weak or missing lower positive charge regions in most storms that initiated over the deep ocean, supporting one mechanism for the observed high peak currents in negative first strokes over the deep ocean. This project also demonstrated the practicality of off-shore electric field measurements for safety-related decision making at KSC.

Electric Field and Current Transport Mechanisms in Schottky CdTe X-ray Detectors under Perturbing Optical Radiation

PubMed Central

Cola, Adriano; Farella, Isabella

2013-01-01

Schottky CdTe X-ray detectors exhibit excellent spectroscopic performance but suffer from instabilities. Hence it is of extreme relevance to investigate their electrical properties. A systematic study of the electric field distribution and the current flowing in such detectors under optical perturbations is presented here. The detector response is explored by varying experimental parameters, such as voltage, temperature, and radiation wavelength. The strongest perturbation is observed under 850 nm irradiation, bulk carrier recombination becoming effective there. Cathode and anode irradiations evidence the crucial role of the contacts, the cathode being Ohmic and the anode blocking. In particular, under irradiation of the cathode, charge injection occurs and peculiar kinks, typical of trap filling, are observed both in the current-voltage characteristic and during transients. The simultaneous access to the electric field and the current highlights the correlation between free and fixed charges, and unveils carrier transport/collection mechanisms otherwise hidden. PMID:23881140

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY: THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELING OF MULTI-SPECIES TRANSPORT IN SOILS UNDER ELECTRIC FIELDS

EPA Science Inventory

This project investigated an innovative approach for transport of inorganic species under the influence of electric fields. This process, commonly known as electrokinetics uses low-level direct current (dc) electrical potential difference across a soil mass applied through inert...

Efficiency of wave-driven rigid body rotation toroidal confinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rax, J. M.; Gueroult, R.; Fisch, N. J.

2017-03-01

The compensation of vertical drifts in toroidal magnetic fields through a wave-driven poloidal rotation is compared with compensation through the wave driven toroidal current generation to support the classical magnetic rotational transform. The advantages and drawbacks associated with the sustainment of a radial electric field are compared with those associated with the sustainment of a poloidal magnetic field both in terms of energy content and power dissipation. The energy content of a radial electric field is found to be smaller than the energy content of a poloidal magnetic field for a similar set of orbits. The wave driven radial electric field generation efficiency is similarly shown, at least in the limit of large aspect ratio, to be larger than the efficiency of wave-driven toroidal current generation.

On the He-McKellar-Wilkens phase of an electric dipole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rai, Yam P.; Rai, Dhurba

2017-08-01

The He-McKellar-Wilkens (HMW) phase of an electric dipole moving in a static magnetic field is derived by explicitly considering the interaction between the currents associated with the moving dipole and the magnetic vector potential. Conditions for the observation of the HMW phase in different field configurations are investigated. A practical setup is proposed that provides essentially a radial magnetic field with inverse radial dependence for the observation of the HMW phase with magnetic field alone. Possible magnetic field control of exciton current in an open ring setup is discussed.

Infrared signal generation from AC induction field heating of graphite foam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klett, James W.; Rios, Orlando

A magneto-energy apparatus includes an electromagnetic field source for generating a time-varying electromagnetic field. A graphite foam conductor is disposed within the electromagnetic field. The graphite foam when exposed to the time-varying electromagnetic field conducts an induced electric current, the electric current heating the graphite foam to produce light. An energy conversion device utilizes light energy from the heated graphite foam to perform a light energy consuming function. A device for producing light and a method of converting energy are also disclosed.

Schwinger pair production by electric field coupled to inflaton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Jia-Jia; Li, Bao-Fei; Soda, Jiro; Wang, Anzhong; Wu, Qiang; Zhu, Tao

2018-02-01

We analytically investigate the Schwinger pair production in the de Sitter background by using the uniform asymptotic approximation method, and show that the equation of motion in general has two turning points, and the nature of these points could be single, double, real or complex, depending on the choice of the free parameters involved in the theory. Different natures of these points lead to different electric currents. In particular, when β ≡ m2/H2‑9/4 is positive, both turning points are complex, and the electric current due to the Schwinger process is highly suppressed, where m and H denote, respectively, the mass of the particle and the Hubble parameter. For the turning points to be real, it is necessary to have β < 0, and the more negative of β, the easier to produce particles. In addition, when β < 0, we also study the particle production when the electric field E is very weak. We find that the electric current in this case is proportional to E1/2 ‑ √|β|, which is strongly enhanced in the weak electric field limit when m < √2 H.

Electric Field and Current Density Performance Analysis of Sf6, C4f8 and CO2 Gases As An Insulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazli, Ahmad Danial Ahmad; Jamail, Nor Akmal Mohd; Azlin Othman, Nordiana

2017-08-01

SF6 gases are not only widely used as an insulating component in electric power industry but also as an arc extinguishing performance in high voltage (HV) gas-insulated circuit breaker (GCB). SF6 gases is generally used in the production of semiconductor materials and devices. Though these gasses is widely used in many application, the presences of temperature hotspot in the insulations may affect the insulation characteristics particularly electric field and current density. Therefore, it is important to determine the relationship between electric field and current density of gasses used in the insulator in the presence of hotspot. In this paper, three types of gases in particular Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), Octafluorocylobutane (C4F8), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) was used in the insulator for gas insulation with the presence of two hotspots. These two hotspost were detected by referring the rising temperature in the insulator which are 1000 and 2000 Kelvin temperature for hotspot 1 and hotspot 2, respectively. From the simulation results, it can be concluded that Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) is the best choice for gas insulation since it had the lowest current density and electric field compared to Octafluorocylobutane (C4F8), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). It is observed that the maximum current density and electric field for SF6 during normal condition are 358.94 × 103 V/m and 0.643 × 109 A/m2, respectively. Meanwhile, during temperature rising at hotspot 1 and hotspot 2, SF6 also had lowest current density and electric field compared to the other gasses where the results for Emax and Jmax at hotspot 1 are 322.34 × 103 V/m and 1.934 × 109 A/m2, respectively; While, Emax and Jmax at hotspot 2 are 259.77× 103 V/m and 2.824 × 109 A/m2. The results of this analysis can be used to find the best choices of gas that can be used in the insulator.

Using EarthScope magnetotelluric data to improve the resilience of the US power grid: rapid predictions of geomagnetically induced currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schultz, A.; Bonner, L. R., IV

2016-12-01

Existing methods to predict Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) in power grids, such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation standard adopted by the power industry, require explicit knowledge of the electrical resistivity structure of the crust and mantle to solve for ground level electric fields along transmission lines. The current standard is to apply regional 1-D resistivity models to this problem, which facilitates rapid solution of the governing equations. The systematic mapping of continental resistivity structure from projects such as EarthScope reveals several orders of magnitude of lateral variations in resistivity on local, regional and continental scales, resulting in electric field intensifications relative to existing 1-D solutions that can impact GICs to first order. The computational burden on the ground resistivity/GIC problem of coupled 3-D solutions inhibits the prediction of GICs in a timeframe useful to protecting power grids. In this work we reduce the problem to applying a set of filters, recognizing that the magnetotelluric impedance tensors implicitly contain all known information about the resistivity structure beneath a given site, and thus provides the required relationship between electric and magnetic fields at each site. We project real-time magnetic field data from distant magnetic observatories through a robustly calculated multivariate transfer function to locations where magnetotelluric impedance tensors had previously been obtained. This provides a real-time prediction of the magnetic field at each of those points. We then project the predicted magnetic fields through the impedance tensors to obtain predictions of electric fields induced at ground level. Thus, electric field predictions can be generated in real-time for an entire array from real-time observatory data, then interpolated onto points representing a power transmission line contained within the array to produce a combined electric field prediction necessary for GIC prediction along that line. This method produces more accurate predictions of ground electric fields in conductively heterogeneous areas that are not limited by distance from the nearest observatory, while still retaining comparable computational speeds as existing methods.

Japanese Magsat Team. A: Crustal structure near Japan and its Antarctic Station. B: Electric currents and hydromagnetic waves in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fukushima, N.; Maeda, H.; Yukutake, T.; Tanaka, M.; Oshima, S.; Ogawa, K.; Kawamura, M.; Miyzaki, Y.; Uyeda, S.; Kobayashi, K. (Principal Investigator)

1981-01-01

Efforts continue in compiling tapes which contain vector and scalar data decimated at an interval of 0.5 sec, together with time and position data. A map of the total force field anomaly around Japan was developed which shows a negative magnetic anomaly in the Okhotsk Sea. Examination of vector residuals from the MGST model shows that the total force perturbation is almost ascribable to the perturbation parallel to the main geomagnetic field and that the contribution from the perturbation transverse to the main field to the total force perturbation is negligibly small. The influences of ionospheric current with equatorial electroject and of the magnetospheric field aligned current on the dawn-dusk asymmetry of daily geomagnetic variations are being considered. The total amount of electric current flowing through the plane of the Magsat orbit loop was calculated by direct application of Maxwell's equation. Results show that the total electric current is 1 to 5 ampheres, and the current direction is either sunward or antisunward.

Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vinegar, Harold J; Sandberg, Chester Ledlie

2009-07-14

A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. A conduit may be located in an opening in the formation. The conduit includes ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor is positioned inside the conduit, and is electrically coupled to the conduit at or near an end portion of the conduit so that the electrical conductor and the conduit are electrically coupled in series. Electrical current flows in the electrical conductor in a substantially opposite direction to electrical current flow in the conduit during application of electrical current to the system. The flow of electrons is substantially confined to the insidemore » of the conduit by the electromagnetic field generated from electrical current flow in the electrical conductor so that the outside surface of the conduit is at or near substantially zero potential at 25.degree. C. The conduit may generate heat and heat the formation during application of electrical current.« less

Electric potential and electric field imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Generazio, E. R.

2017-02-01

The technology and methods for remote quantitative imaging of electrostatic potentials and electrostatic fields in and around objects and in free space is presented. Electric field imaging (EFI) technology may be applied to characterize intrinsic or existing electric potentials and electric fields, or an externally generated electrostatic field made be used for "illuminating" volumes to be inspected with EFI. The baseline sensor technology (e-Sensor) and its construction, optional electric field generation (quasi-static generator), and current e-Sensor enhancements (ephemeral e-Sensor) are discussed. Demonstrations for structural, electronic, human, and memory applications are shown. This new EFI capability is demonstrated to reveal characterization of electric charge distribution creating a new field of study embracing areas of interest including electrostatic discharge (ESD) mitigation, crime scene forensics, design and materials selection for advanced sensors, dielectric morphology of structures, tether integrity, organic molecular memory, and medical diagnostic and treatment efficacy applications such as cardiac polarization wave propagation and electromyography imaging.

Electric Potential and Electric Field Imaging with Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Ed

2016-01-01

The technology and techniques for remote quantitative imaging of electrostatic potentials and electrostatic fields in and around objects and in free space is presented. Electric field imaging (EFI) technology may be applied to characterize intrinsic or existing electric potentials and electric fields, or an externally generated electrostatic field may be used for (illuminating) volumes to be inspected with EFI. The baseline sensor technology, electric field sensor (e-sensor), and its construction, optional electric field generation (quasistatic generator), and current e-sensor enhancements (ephemeral e-sensor) are discussed. Demonstrations for structural, electronic, human, and memory applications are shown. This new EFI capability is demonstrated to reveal characterization of electric charge distribution, creating a new field of study that embraces areas of interest including electrostatic discharge mitigation, crime scene forensics, design and materials selection for advanced sensors, dielectric morphology of structures, inspection of containers, inspection for hidden objects, tether integrity, organic molecular memory, and medical diagnostic and treatment efficacy applications such as cardiac polarization wave propagation and electromyography imaging.

COMETS2: An advanced MATLAB toolbox for the numerical analysis of electric fields generated by transcranial direct current stimulation.

PubMed

Lee, Chany; Jung, Young-Jin; Lee, Sang Jun; Im, Chang-Hwan

2017-02-01

Since there is no way to measure electric current generated by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) inside the human head through in vivo experiments, numerical analysis based on the finite element method has been widely used to estimate the electric field inside the head. In 2013, we released a MATLAB toolbox named COMETS, which has been used by a number of groups and has helped researchers to gain insight into the electric field distribution during stimulation. The aim of this study was to develop an advanced MATLAB toolbox, named COMETS2, for the numerical analysis of the electric field generated by tDCS. COMETS2 can generate any sizes of rectangular pad electrodes on any positions on the scalp surface. To reduce the large computational burden when repeatedly testing multiple electrode locations and sizes, a new technique to decompose the global stiffness matrix was proposed. As examples of potential applications, we observed the effects of sizes and displacements of electrodes on the results of electric field analysis. The proposed mesh decomposition method significantly enhanced the overall computational efficiency. We implemented an automatic electrode modeler for the first time, and proposed a new technique to enhance the computational efficiency. In this paper, an efficient toolbox for tDCS analysis is introduced (freely available at http://www.cometstool.com). It is expected that COMETS2 will be a useful toolbox for researchers who want to benefit from the numerical analysis of electric fields generated by tDCS. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Electric current locator

DOEpatents

King, Paul E [Corvallis, OR; Woodside, Charles Rigel [Corvallis, OR

2012-02-07

The disclosure herein provides an apparatus for location of a quantity of current vectors in an electrical device, where the current vector has a known direction and a known relative magnitude to an input current supplied to the electrical device. Mathematical constants used in Biot-Savart superposition equations are determined for the electrical device, the orientation of the apparatus, and relative magnitude of the current vector and the input current, and the apparatus utilizes magnetic field sensors oriented to a sensing plane to provide current vector location based on the solution of the Biot-Savart superposition equations. Description of required orientations between the apparatus and the electrical device are disclosed and various methods of determining the mathematical constants are presented.

Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor

DOEpatents

Vinegar,; Harold J. , Harris; Kelvin, Christopher [Houston, TX

2012-07-17

A heater is described. The heater includes a ferromagnetic conductor and an electrical conductor electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic conductor. The ferromagnetic conductor is positioned relative to the electrical conductor such that an electromagnetic field produced by time-varying current flow in the ferromagnetic conductor confines a majority of the flow of the electrical current to the electrical conductor at temperatures below or near a selected temperature.

Surface area generation and droplet size control in solvent extraction systems utilizing high intensity electric fields

DOEpatents

Scott, Timothy C.; Wham, Robert M.

1988-01-01

A method and system for solvent extraction where droplets are shattered by a high intensity electric field. These shattered droplets form a plurality of smaller droplets which have a greater combined surface area than the original droplet. Dispersion, coalescence and phase separation are accomplished in one vessel through the use of the single pulsing high intensity electric field. Electric field conditions are chosen so that simultaneous dispersion and coalescence are taking place in the emulsion formed in the electric field. The electric field creates a large amount of interfacial surface area for solvent extraction when the droplet is disintegrated and is capable of controlling droplet size and thus droplet stability. These operations take place in the presence of a counter current flow of the continuous phase.

Space Technology 5 Multipoint Observations of Temporal and Spatial Variability of Field-Aligned Currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, G.; Wang, Y.; Slavin, J. A.; Strangeway, R. L.

2009-01-01

Space Technology 5 (ST5) is a constellation mission consisting of three microsatellites. It provides the first multipoint magnetic field measurements in low Earth orbit, which enables us to separate spatial and temporal variations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using the ST5 data. We examine the field-aligned current observations during and after a geomagnetic storm and compare the magnetic field profiles at the three spacecraft. The multipoint data demonstrate that mesoscale current structures, commonly embedded within large-scale current sheets, are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in approx.10 min time scales. On the other hand, the data also show that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are approx.1 min for mesoscale currents and approx.10 min for large-scale currents. These temporal features are very likely associated with dynamic variations of their charge carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of mesoscale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.

MMS Multipoint Electric Field Observations of Small-Scale Magnetic Holes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodrich, Katherine A.; Ergun, Robert E.; Wilder, Frederick; Burch, James; Torbert, Roy; Khotyaintsev, Yuri; Lindqvist, Per-Arne; Russell, Christopher; Strangeway, Robert; Magnus, Werner

2016-01-01

Small-scale magnetic holes (MHs), local depletions in magnetic field strength, have been observed multiple times in the Earths magnetosphere in the bursty bulk flow (BBF) braking region. This particular subset of MHs has observed scale sizes perpendicular to the background magnetic field (B) less than the ambient ion Larmor radius (p(sib i)). Previous observations by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) indicate that this subset of MHs can be supported by a current driven by the E x B drift of electrons. Ions do not participate in the E x B drift due to the small-scale size of the electric field. While in the BBF braking region, during its commissioning phase, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft observed a small-scale MH. The electric field observations taken during this event suggest the presence of electron currents perpendicular to the magnetic field. These observations also suggest that these currents can evolve to smaller spatial scales.

Spherical Ethylene/Air Diffusion Flames Subject to Concentric DC Electric Field in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuan, Z. -G.; Hegde, U.; Faeth, G. M.

2001-01-01

It is well known that microgravity conditions, by eliminating buoyant flow, enable many combustion phenomena to be observed that are not possible to observe at normal gravity. One example is the spherical diffusion flame surrounding a porous spherical burner. The present paper demonstrates that by superimposing a spherical electrical field on such a flame, the flame remains spherical so that we can study the interaction between the electric field and flame in a one-dimensional fashion. Flames are susceptible to electric fields that are much weaker than the breakdown field of the flame gases owing to the presence of ions generated in the high temperature flame reaction zone. These ions and the electric current of the moving ions, in turn, significantly change the distribution of the electric field. Thus, to understand the interplay between the electric field and the flame is challenging. Numerous experimental studies of the effect of electric fields on flames have been reported. Unfortunately, they were all involved in complex geometries of both the flow field and the electric field, which hinders detailed study of the phenomena. In a one-dimensional domain, however, the electric field, the flow field, the thermal field and the chemical species field are all co-linear. Thus the problem is greatly simplified and becomes more tractable.

Effects of microstructural defects on the performance of base-metal multilayer ceramic capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samantaray, Malay M.

Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), owing to their processing conditions, can exhibit microstructure defects such as electrode porosity and roughness. The effect of such extrinsic defects on the electrical performance of these devices needs to be understood in order to achieve successful miniaturization into the submicron dielectric layer thickness regime. Specifically, the presence of non-planar and discontinuous electrodes can lead to local field enhancements while the relative morphologies of two adjacent electrodes determine variations in the local dielectric thickness. To study the effects of electrode morphologies, an analytical approach is taken to calculate the electric field enhancement and leakage current with respect to an ideal parallel-plate capacitor. Idealized electrode defects are used to simulate the electric field distribution. It is shown that the electrode roughness causes both the electric field and the leakage current to increase with respect to that of the ideal flat parallel-plate capacitor. Moreover, finite element methods are used to predict electric field enhancements by as high as 100% within capacitor structures containing rough interfaces and porosity. To understand the influence of microstructural defects on field distributions and leakage current, the real three-dimensional microstructure of local regions in MLCCs are reconstructed using a serial-sectioning technique in the focused ion beam. These microstructures are then converted into a finite element model in order to simulate the perturbations in electric field due to the presence of electrode defects. The electric field is three times the average value, and this leads to increase in current density of these devices. It is also shown that increasing sintering rates of MLCCs leads to improved electrode morphology with smoother more continuous electrodes, which in turn leads to a decrease in electric field enhancement and calculated leakage current density. To simulate scaling effects, the dielectric layer thickness is reduced from 2.0mum to 0.5mum in the three-dimensional microstructure keeping the same electrode morphology. It is seen that the effect of microstructure defects is more pronounced as one approaches thinner layers, leading to higher local electric field concentrations and a concomitant drop in insulation resistance. It is also seen that the electric field values are as high as 3.8 times the average field in termination regions due the disintegrated structure of the electrodes. In order to assess the effect of microstructure on MLCC performance, two sets of multilayer capacitors subjected to two vastly different sintering rates of 150ºC/hr and 3000ºC/hr are compared for their electrical properties. Capacitors with higher electrode continuity exhibit proportionally higher capacitance, provided the grain size distributions are similar. From the leakage current measurements, it is found that the Schottky barrier at the electrode-dielectric interface controls the conduction mechanism. This barrier height is calculated to be 1.06 eV for slow-fired MLCCs and was 1.15 for fast-fired MLCCs. This shows that high concentration of electrode defects cause field perturbations and subsequent drop in the net Schottky barrier height. These results are further supported by frequency-dependent impedance measurements. With temperature dependence behavior of current-voltage trends we note that below temperatures of 135°C, the conduction is controlled by interfacial effects, whereas at higher temperatures it is consistent with bulk-controlled space charge limited current for the samples that are highly reoxidized. The final part of this work studies the various aspects of the initial stages of degradation of MLCCs. MLCCs subjected to unipolar and bipolar degradation are studied for changes in microstructure and electrical properties. With bipolar degradation studies new insights into degradation are gained. First, the ionic accumulation with oxygen vacancies at cathodes is only partially reversible. This has implications on the controlling interface with electronic conduction. Also, it is shown that oxygen vacancy accumulation near the cathodes leads to a drop in insulation resistance. The capacitance also increases with progressive steps of degradation due to the effective thinning of dielectric layer. The reduction in interfacial resistance is also confirmed by impedance analysis. Finally, it is observed that on degradation, the dominant leakage current mechanism changes from being controlled by cathodic injection of electrons to being controlled by their anodic extraction. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Combined Aircraft and Satellite-Derived Storm Electric Current and Lightning Rates Measurements and Implications for the Global Electric Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mach, Douglas M.; Blakeslee, Richard J.; Bateman, Monte G.

2010-01-01

Using rotating vane electric field mills and Gerdien capacitors, we measured the electric field profile and conductivity during 850 overflights of electrified shower clouds and thunderstorms spanning regions including the Southeastern United States, the Western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and adjacent oceans, Central Brazil, and the South Pacific. The overflights include storms over land and ocean, with and without lightning, and with positive and negative fields above the storms. The measurements were made with the NASA ER-2 and the Altus-II high altitude aircrafts. Peak electric fields, with lightning transients removed, ranged from -1.0 kV/m to 16 kV/m, with a mean value of 0.9 kV/m. The median peak field was 0.29 kV/m. Integrating our electric field and conductivity data, we determined total conduction currents and flash rates for each overpass. With knowledge of the storm location (land or ocean) and type (with or without lightning), we determine the mean currents by location and type. The mean current for ocean storms with lightning is 1.6 A while the mean current for land storms with lightning is 1.0 A. The mean current for oceanic storms without lightning (i.e., electrified shower clouds) is 0.39 A and the mean current for land storms without lightning is 0.13 A. Thus, on average, land storms with or without lightning have about half the mean current as their corresponding oceanic storm counterparts. Over three-quarters (78%) of the land storms had detectable lightning, while less than half (43%) of the oceanic storms had lightning. We did not find any significant regional or latitudinal based patterns in our total conduction currents. By combining the aircraft derived storm currents and flash rates with diurnal lightning statistics derived from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and Optical Transient Detector (OTD) low Earth orbiting satellites, we reproduce the diurnal variation in the global electric circuit (i.e., the Carnegie curve) to within 4% for all but two short periods of time. This excellent agreement with the Carnegie curve was obtained without any tuning or adjustment of the satellite or aircraft data. Given our data and assumptions, mean contributions to the global electric circuit are 0.7 kA (ocean) and 1.1 kA (land) from lightning-producing storms, and 0.22 kA (ocean) and 0.04 (land) from electrified shower clouds, resulting in a mean total conduction current estimate for the global electric circuit of 2.0 kA. Breaking the results down into mean storm counts reveals 1100 for land storms with lightning, 530 for ocean storms without lightning, 390 for ocean storms with lightning, and 330 for land storms without lightning.

Modeling Geoelectric Fields and Geomagnetically Induced Currents Around New Zealand to Explore GIC in the South Island's Electrical Transmission Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divett, T.; Ingham, M.; Beggan, C. D.; Richardson, G. S.; Rodger, C. J.; Thomson, A. W. P.; Dalzell, M.

2017-10-01

Transformers in New Zealand's South Island electrical transmission network have been impacted by geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) during geomagnetic storms. We explore the impact of GIC on this network by developing a thin-sheet conductance (TSC) model for the region, a geoelectric field model, and a GIC network model. (The TSC is composed of a thin-sheet conductance map with underlying layered resistivity structure.) Using modeling approaches that have been successfully used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, we applied a thin-sheet model to calculate the electric field as a function of magnetic field and ground conductance. We developed a TSC model based on magnetotelluric surveys, geology, and bathymetry, modified to account for offshore sediments. Using this representation, the thin sheet model gave good agreement with measured impedance vectors. Driven by a spatially uniform magnetic field variation, the thin-sheet model results in electric fields dominated by the ocean-land boundary with effects due to the deep ocean and steep terrain. There is a strong tendency for the electric field to align northwest-southeast, irrespective of the direction of the magnetic field. Applying this electric field to a GIC network model, we show that modeled GIC are dominated by northwest-southeast transmission lines rather than east-west lines usually assumed to dominate.

Lorentz factor determination for local electric fields in semiconductor devices utilizing hyper-thin dielectrics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McPherson, J. W., E-mail: mcpherson.reliability@yahoo.com

The local electric field (the field that distorts, polarizes, and weakens polar molecular bonds in dielectrics) has been investigated for hyper-thin dielectrics. Hyper-thin dielectrics are currently required for advanced semiconductor devices. In the work presented, it is shown that the common practice of using a Lorentz factor of L = 1/3, to describe the local electric field in a dielectric layer, remains valid for hyper-thin dielectrics. However, at the very edge of device structures, a rise in the macroscopic/Maxwell electric field E{sub diel} occurs and this causes a sharp rise in the effective Lorentz factor L{sub eff}. At capacitor and transistor edges,more » L{sub eff} is found to increase to a value 2/3 < L{sub eff} < 1. The increase in L{sub eff} results in a local electric field, at device edge, that is 50%–100% greater than in the bulk of the dielectric. This increase in local electric field serves to weaken polar bonds thus making them more susceptible to breakage by standard Boltzmann and/or current-driven processes. This has important time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) implications for all electronic devices utilizing polar materials, including GaN devices that suffer from device-edge TDDB.« less

Line-of-sight magnetic flux imbalances caused by electric currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gary, G. Allen; Rabin, Douglas

1995-01-01

Several physical and observational effects contribute to the significant imbalances of magnetic flux that are often observed in active regions. We consider an effect not previously treated: the influence of electric currents in the photosphere. Electric currents can cause a line-of-sight flux imbalance because of the directionality of the magnetic field they produce. Currents associated with magnetic flux tubes produce larger imbalances than do smoothly-varying distributions of flux and current. We estimate the magnitude of this effect for current densities, total currents, and magnetic geometry consistent with observations. The expected imbalances lie approximately in the range 0-15%, depending on the character of the current-carying fields and the angle from which they are viewed. Observationally, current-induced flux imbalances could be indicated by a statistical dependence of the imbalance on angular distance from disk center. A general study of magnetic flux balance in active regions is needed to determine the relative importance of other- probably larger- effects such as dilute flux (too weak to measure or rendered invisible by radiative transfer effects), merging with weak background fields, and long-range connections between active regions.

Performance evaluation of parallel electric field tunnel field-effect transistor by a distributed-element circuit model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Yukinori; Mori, Takahiro; Migita, Shinji; Mizubayashi, Wataru; Tanabe, Akihito; Fukuda, Koichi; Matsukawa, Takashi; Endo, Kazuhiko; O'uchi, Shin-ichi; Liu, Yongxun; Masahara, Meishoku; Ota, Hiroyuki

2014-12-01

The performance of parallel electric field tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs), in which band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) was initiated in-line to the gate electric field was evaluated. The TFET was fabricated by inserting an epitaxially-grown parallel-plate tunnel capacitor between heavily doped source wells and gate insulators. Analysis using a distributed-element circuit model indicated there should be a limit of the drain current caused by the self-voltage-drop effect in the ultrathin channel layer.

Colloidal particle electrorotation in a nonuniform electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yi; Vlahovska, Petia M.; Miksis, Michael J.

2018-01-01

A model to study the dynamics of colloidal particles in nonuniform electric fields is proposed. For an isolated sphere, the conditions and threshold for sustained (Quincke) rotation in a linear direct current (dc) field are determined. Particle dynamics becomes more complex with increasing electric field strength, changing from steady spinning around the particle center to time-dependent orbiting motion around the minimum field location. Pairs of particles exhibit intricate trajectories, which are a combination of translation, due to dielectrophoresis, and rotation, due to the Quincke effect. Our model provides a basis to study the collective dynamics of many particles in a general electric field.

Colloidal particle electrorotation in a nonuniform electric field.

PubMed

Hu, Yi; Vlahovska, Petia M; Miksis, Michael J

2018-01-01

A model to study the dynamics of colloidal particles in nonuniform electric fields is proposed. For an isolated sphere, the conditions and threshold for sustained (Quincke) rotation in a linear direct current (dc) field are determined. Particle dynamics becomes more complex with increasing electric field strength, changing from steady spinning around the particle center to time-dependent orbiting motion around the minimum field location. Pairs of particles exhibit intricate trajectories, which are a combination of translation, due to dielectrophoresis, and rotation, due to the Quincke effect. Our model provides a basis to study the collective dynamics of many particles in a general electric field.

Formation of Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry in Earth's Magnetotail Thin Current Sheet: A Three-Dimensional Particle-In-Cell Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, San; Pritchett, P. L.; Angelopoulos, V.; Artemyev, A. V.

2018-04-01

Using a three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation, we investigate the formation of dawn-dusk asymmetry in Earth's magnetotail. The magnetotail current sheet is compressed by an external driving electric field down to a thickness on the order of ion kinetic scales. In the resultant thin current sheet (TCS) where the magnetic field line curvature radius is much smaller than ion gyroradius, a significant portion of the ions becomes unmagnetized and decoupled from the magnetized electrons, giving rise to a Hall electric field Ez and an additional cross-tail current jy caused by the unmagnetized ions being unable to comove with the electrons in the Hall electric field. The Hall electric field transports via E × B drift magnetic flux and magnetized plasma dawnward, causing a reduction of the current sheet thickness and the normal magnetic field Bz on the duskside. This leads to an even stronger Hall effect (stronger jy and Ez) in the duskside TCS. Thus, due to the internal kinetic effects in the TCS, namely, the Hall effect and the associated dawnward E × B drift, the magnetotail dawn-dusk asymmetry forms in a short time without any global, long-term effects. The duskside preference of reconnection and associated dynamic phenomena (such as substorm onsets, dipolarizing flux bundles, fast flows, energetic particle injections, and flux ropes), which has been pervasively observed by spacecraft in the past 20 years, can thus be explained as a consequence of this TCS asymmetry.

Linear response of field-aligned currents to the interplanetary electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weimer, D. R.; Edwards, T. R.; Olsen, Nils

2017-08-01

Many studies that have shown that the ionospheric, polar cap electric potentials (PCEPs) exhibit a "saturation" behavior in response to the level of the driving by the solar wind. As the magnitudes of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and electric field (IEF) increase, the PCEP response is linear at low driving levels, followed with a rollover to a more constant level. While there are several different theoretical explanations for this behavior, so far, no direct observational evidence has existed to confirm any particular model. In most models of this saturation, the interaction of the field-aligned currents (FACs) with the solar wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere system has a role. As the FACs are more difficult to measure, their behavior in response to the level of the IEF has not been investigated as thoroughly. In order to resolve the question of whether or not the FAC also exhibit saturation, we have processed the magnetic field measurements from the Ørsted, CHAMP, and Swarm missions, spanning more than a decade. As the amount of current in each region needs to be known, a new technique is used to separate and sum the current by region, widely known as R0, R1, and R2. These totals are found separately for the dawnside and duskside. Results indicate that the total FAC has a response to the IEF that is highly linear, continuing to increase well beyond the level at which the electric potentials saturate. The currents within each region have similar behavior.

Response of ionospheric electric fields at mid-low latitudes during geomagnetic sudden commencements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, N.; Kasaba, Y.; Shinbori, A.; Nishimura, Y.; Kikuchi, T.; Ebihara, Y.; Nagatsuma, T.

2014-12-01

Geomagnetic sudden commencements (SCs) are known as one of the distinct magnetospheric disturbance phenomena triggered by solar wind disturbances. Many previous studies have focused on the generation mechanism of SCs by using in-situ observations and simulations. However, the global evolution of ionospheric electric fields has primarily been estimated from the ionospheric current. Although a few studies utilized electric field data from radar observations, the coverage is limited in time, and limited component of the electric field is obtained. In this study, we investigated the response and local time dependence of the ionospheric electric field at mid-low latitudes associated with 203 SCs occurred from 1999 to 2004 by the in-situ observation of the ROCSAT-1 spacecraft. We found that the ionospheric electric field associated with SCs instantaneously responds to geomagnetic fields regardless of spacecraft local time. Our statistical analysis also showed the instantaneous response of the electric field, which indicates the global instant transmission of the electric field from polar region. In contrast, peak times in the preliminary impulse (PI) and main impulse (MI) phases were different between the ionospheric electric field and equatorial geomagnetic field (20 sec in the PI phase). Based on a comparison to the ground-ionosphere waveguide model by Kikuchi [2014], this time lag is suggested to be due to the latitudinal difference of the ionospheric conductivity. After constructing the local time distribution of the SC amplitude, we found that the dayside feature was seen at 18-22 h even the ionospheric conductivity is lower than that at dayside. We performed a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation for an ideal SC. The result of the simulation showed that the electric potential distribution is asymmetric with respect to the noon-midnight meridian, which is similar to our observational result. It appears to result from the divergence of the Hall current under the non-uniform ionospheric conductivity near the terminator as well as the auroral region.

The Role of Additional Pulses in Electropermeabilization Protocols

PubMed Central

Suárez, Cecilia; Soba, Alejandro; Maglietti, Felipe; Olaiz, Nahuel; Marshall, Guillermo

2014-01-01

Electropermeabilization (EP) based protocols such as those applied in medicine, food processing or environmental management, are well established and widely used. The applied voltage, as well as tissue electric conductivity, are of utmost importance for assessing final electropermeabilized area and thus EP effectiveness. Experimental results from literature report that, under certain EP protocols, consecutive pulses increase tissue electric conductivity and even the permeabilization amount. Here we introduce a theoretical model that takes into account this effect in the application of an EP-based protocol, and its validation with experimental measurements. The theoretical model describes the electric field distribution by a nonlinear Laplace equation with a variable conductivity coefficient depending on the electric field, the temperature and the quantity of pulses, and the Penne's Bioheat equation for temperature variations. In the experiments, a vegetable tissue model (potato slice) is used for measuring electric currents and tissue electropermeabilized area in different EP protocols. Experimental measurements show that, during sequential pulses and keeping constant the applied voltage, the electric current density and the blackened (electropermeabilized) area increase. This behavior can only be attributed to a rise in the electric conductivity due to a higher number of pulses. Accordingly, we present a theoretical modeling of an EP protocol that predicts correctly the increment in the electric current density observed experimentally during the addition of pulses. The model also demonstrates that the electric current increase is due to a rise in the electric conductivity, in turn induced by temperature and pulse number, with no significant changes in the electric field distribution. The EP model introduced, based on a novel formulation of the electric conductivity, leads to a more realistic description of the EP phenomenon, hopefully providing more accurate predictions of treatment outcomes. PMID:25437512

Influence of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields on the Circadian System: Current Stage of Knowledge

PubMed Central

Żak, Arkadiusz

2014-01-01

One of the side effects of each electrical device work is the electromagnetic field generated near its workplace. All organisms, including humans, are exposed daily to the influence of different types of this field, characterized by various physical parameters. Therefore, it is important to accurately determine the effects of an electromagnetic field on the physiological and pathological processes occurring in cells, tissues, and organs. Numerous epidemiological and experimental data suggest that the extremely low frequency magnetic field generated by electrical transmission lines and electrically powered devices and the high frequencies electromagnetic radiation emitted by electronic devices have a potentially negative impact on the circadian system. On the other hand, several studies have found no influence of these fields on chronobiological parameters. According to the current state of knowledge, some previously proposed hypotheses, including one concerning the key role of melatonin secretion disruption in pathogenesis of electromagnetic field induced diseases, need to be revised. This paper reviews the data on the effect of electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields on melatonin and cortisol rhythms—two major markers of the circadian system as well as on sleep. It also provides the basic information about the nature, classification, parameters, and sources of these fields. PMID:25136557

System and method for sub-sea cable termination

DOEpatents

Chen, Qin; Yin, Weijun; Zhang, Lili

2016-04-05

An electrical connector includes a first cable termination chamber configured to receive a first power cable having at least a first conductor sheathed at least in part by a first insulating layer and a first insulation screen layer. Also, the electrical connector includes a first non-linear resistive layer configured to be coupled to a portion of the first conductor unsheathed by at least the first insulation screen layer and configured to control a direct current electric field generated in the first cable termination chamber. In addition, the electrical connector includes a first deflector configured to be coupled to the first power cable and control an alternating current electric field generated in the first cable termination chamber.

Electric currents in F-like planetary ionospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, K. D.

1990-01-01

In this paper, electrical transport coefficients are found for charged particles in such lightly ionized gases as exist in planetary and stellar atmospheres, like the F-region of the earth's ionosphere. Electric fields and gradients of pressure in the ions and the electrons are taken as the drivers of electric current. Collisions of electrons with ions, and of ions and electrons with neutral particles, are taken into account, and new expressions are generated for electrical conductivity, heating rates, and diffusion of magnetic field. The paper extends and complements the results of an earlier paper by Cole (1990) which dealt with 'E-like' ionospheric regions. A comparison of the results with those of kinetic theory is made.

Particle Acceleration in Dissipative Pulsar Magnetospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kazanas, Z.; Kalapotharakos, C.; Harding, A.; Contopoulos, I.

2012-01-01

Pulsar magnetospheres represent unipolar inductor-type electrical circuits at which an EM potential across the polar cap (due to the rotation of their magnetic field) drives currents that run in and out of the polar cap and close at infinity. An estimate ofthe magnitude of this current can be obtained by dividing the potential induced across the polar cap V approx = B(sub O) R(sub O)(Omega R(sub O)/c)(exp 2) by the impedance of free space Z approx eq 4 pi/c; the resulting polar cap current density is close to $n {GJ} c$ where $n_{GJ}$ is the Goldreich-Julian (GJ) charge density. This argument suggests that even at current densities close to the GJ one, pulsar magnetospheres have a significant component of electric field $E_{parallel}$, parallel to the magnetic field, a condition necessary for particle acceleration and the production of radiation. We present the magnetic and electric field structures as well as the currents, charge densities, spin down rates and potential drops along the magnetic field lines of pulsar magnetospheres which do not obey the ideal MHD condition $E cdot B = 0$. By relating the current density along the poloidal field lines to the parallel electric field via a kind of Ohm's law $J = sigma E_{parallel}$ we study the structure of these magnetospheres as a function of the conductivity $sigma$. We find that for $sigma gg OmegaS the solution tends to the (ideal) Force-Free one and to the Vacuum one for $sigma 11 OmegaS. Finally, we present dissipative magnetospheric solutions with spatially variable $sigma$ that supports various microphysical properties and are compatible with the observations.

Rotationally Vibrating Electric-Field Mill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirkham, Harold

2008-01-01

A proposed instrument for measuring a static electric field would be based partly on a conventional rotating-split-cylinder or rotating-split-sphere electric-field mill. However, the design of the proposed instrument would overcome the difficulty, encountered in conventional rotational field mills, of transferring measurement signals and power via either electrical or fiber-optic rotary couplings that must be aligned and installed in conjunction with rotary bearings. Instead of being made to rotate in one direction at a steady speed as in a conventional rotational field mill, a split-cylinder or split-sphere electrode assembly in the proposed instrument would be set into rotational vibration like that of a metronome. The rotational vibration, synchronized with appropriate rapid electronic switching of electrical connections between electric-current-measuring circuitry and the split-cylinder or split-sphere electrodes, would result in an electrical measurement effect equivalent to that of a conventional rotational field mill. A version of the proposed instrument is described.

Stability of Alfvén eigenmodes in the vicinity of auroral arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiraki, Yasutaka

2013-08-01

The purpose of this study is to give a theoretical suggestion to the essential question why east-west elongated auroral arc can keep its anisotropic structure for a long time. It could be related to the stability of east-westward traveling modes in the vicinity of arc, which may develop into wavy or spiral structures, whereas north-southward modes are related to splitting of arcs. Taking into account the arc-inducing field-aligned current and magnetic shears, we examine changes in the stability of Alfvén eigenmodes that are coupled to perpendicular modes in the presence of convection electric field. It is demonstrated that the poleward current shear suppresses growth of the westward mode in case of the westward convection electric field. Only the poleward mode is still unstable because of the properties of feedback shear waves. It is suggested that this tends to promote (poleward) arc splitting as often observed during quiet times. We further draw a diagram of the westward mode growth rate as a function of convection electric field and current shear, evaluating critical fields for instabilities of lower Alfvén harmonics. It is discovered that a switching phenomenon of fast-growing mode from fundamental to the first harmonic occurs for a high electric field regime. Our stability criterion is applied to some observed situations of auroral arc current system during pre-breakup active times.

Enhancement of crystal homogeneity of protein crystals under application of an external alternating current electric field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Koizumi, H.; Uda, S.; Fujiwara, K.

X-ray diffraction rocking-curve measurements were performed on tetragonal hen egg white (HEW) lysozyme crystals grown with and without the application of an external alternating current (AC) electric field. The crystal quality was assessed by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) value for each rocking curve. For two-dimensional maps of the FWHMs measured on the 440 and the 12 12 0 reflection, the crystal homogeneity was improved under application of an external electric field at 1 MHz, compared with that without. In particular, the significant improvement of the crystal homogeneity was observed for the 12 12 0 reflection.

Anti-Le-Chatelet behavior driven by strong natural light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonyuk, B. P.

2007-01-01

We show that strong incoherent broad band light causes positive feedback in response to a static electric field in random media: electric current flows in opposite to a voltage drop direction; static polarization is induced in opposition to an applied electric field. This type of the electron motion amplifies the external action revealing anti-Le-Chatelet behavior. The applied static electric field is amplified up to the domain of optical damage of a silica glass ≈10 7 V/cm.

A quasi-static model of global atmospheric electricity. I - The lower atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hays, P. B.; Roble, R. G.

1979-01-01

A quasi-steady model of global lower atmospheric electricity is presented. The model considers thunderstorms as dipole electric generators that can be randomly distributed in various regions and that are the only source of atmospheric electricity and includes the effects of orography and electrical coupling along geomagnetic field lines in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The model is used to calculate the global distribution of electric potential and current for model conductivities and assumed spatial distributions of thunderstorms. Results indicate that large positive electric potentials are generated over thunderstorms and penetrate to ionospheric heights and into the conjugate hemisphere along magnetic field lines. The perturbation of the calculated electric potential and current distributions during solar flares and subsequent Forbush decreases is discussed, and future measurements of atmospheric electrical parameters and modifications of the model which would improve the agreement between calculations and measurements are suggested.

Field free, directly heated lanthanum boride cathode

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Moussa, D.; Wilde, S.B.

1987-02-02

A directly heated cylindrical lanthanum boride cathode assembly is disclosed which minimizes generation of magnetic field which would interfere with electron emission from the cathode. The cathode assembly comprises a lanthanum boride cylinder in electrical contact at one end with a central support shaft which functions as one electrode to carry current to the lanthanum boride cylinder and in electrical contact, at its opposite end with a second electrode which is coaxially position around the central support shaft so that magnetic fields generated by heater current flowing in one direction through the central support shaft are cancelled by an opposite magnetic field generated by current flowing through the lanthanum boride cylinder and the coaxial electrode in a direction opposite to the current flow in the central shaft.

Probing the plasma near high power wave launchers in fusion devices for static and dynamic electric fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klepper, C Christopher; Martin, Elijah H; Isler, Ralph C

2014-01-01

An exploratory study was carried out in the long-pulse tokamak Tore Supra, to determine if electric fields in the plasma around high-power, RF wave launchers could be measured with non-intrusive, passive, optical emission spectroscopy. The focus was in particular on the use of the external electric field Stark effect. The feasibility was found to be strongly dependent on the spatial extent of the electric fields and overlap between regions of strong (> 1 kV/cm) electric fields and regions of plasma particle recycling and plasma-induced, spectral line emission. Most amenable to the measurement was the RF electric field in edge plasma,more » in front of a lower hybrid heating and current drive launcher. Electric field strengths and direction, derived from fitting the acquired spectra to a model including time-dependent Stark effect and the tokamak-range magnetic field Zeeman-effect, were found to be in good agreement with full-wave modeling of the observed launcher.« less

Probing the plasma near high power wave launchers in fusion devices for static and dynamic electric fields (invited)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klepper, C. C., E-mail: kleppercc@ornl.gov; Isler, R. C.; Biewer, T. M.

2014-11-15

An exploratory study was carried out in the long-pulse tokamak Tore Supra, to determine if electric fields in the plasma around high-power, RF wave launchers could be measured with non-intrusive, passive, optical emission spectroscopy. The focus was in particular on the use of the external electric field Stark effect. The feasibility was found to be strongly dependent on the spatial extent of the electric fields and overlap between regions of strong (>∼1 kV/cm) electric fields and regions of plasma particle recycling and plasma-induced, spectral line emission. Most amenable to the measurement was the RF electric field in edge plasma, inmore » front of a lower hybrid heating and current drive launcher. Electric field strengths and direction, derived from fitting the acquired spectra to a model including time-dependent Stark effect and the tokamak-range magnetic field Zeeman-effect, were found to be in good agreement with full-wave modeling of the observed launcher.« less

Probing the plasma near high power wave launchers in fusion devices for static and dynamic electric fields (invited).

PubMed

Klepper, C C; Martin, E H; Isler, R C; Colas, L; Goniche, M; Hillairet, J; Panayotis, S; Pegourié, B; Jacquot, J; Lotte, Ph; Colledani, G; Biewer, T M; Caughman, J B; Ekedahl, A; Green, D L; Harris, J H; Hillis, D L; Shannon, S C; Litaudon, X

2014-11-01

An exploratory study was carried out in the long-pulse tokamak Tore Supra, to determine if electric fields in the plasma around high-power, RF wave launchers could be measured with non-intrusive, passive, optical emission spectroscopy. The focus was in particular on the use of the external electric field Stark effect. The feasibility was found to be strongly dependent on the spatial extent of the electric fields and overlap between regions of strong (>∼1 kV/cm) electric fields and regions of plasma particle recycling and plasma-induced, spectral line emission. Most amenable to the measurement was the RF electric field in edge plasma, in front of a lower hybrid heating and current drive launcher. Electric field strengths and direction, derived from fitting the acquired spectra to a model including time-dependent Stark effect and the tokamak-range magnetic field Zeeman-effect, were found to be in good agreement with full-wave modeling of the observed launcher.

New Method for Solving Inductive Electric Fields in the Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanhamäki, H.

2005-12-01

We present a new method for calculating inductive electric fields in the ionosphere. It is well established that on large scales the ionospheric electric field is a potential field. This is understandable, since the temporal variations of large scale current systems are generally quite slow, in the timescales of several minutes, so inductive effects should be small. However, studies of Alfven wave reflection have indicated that in some situations inductive phenomena could well play a significant role in the reflection process, and thus modify the nature of ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling. The input to our calculation method are the time series of the potential part of the ionospheric electric field together with the Hall and Pedersen conductances. The output is the time series of the induced rotational part of the ionospheric electric field. The calculation method works in the time-domain and can be used with non-uniform, time-dependent conductances. In addition no particular symmetry requirements are imposed on the input potential electric field. The presented method makes use of special non-local vector basis functions called Cartesian Elementary Current Systems (CECS). This vector basis offers a convenient way of representing curl-free and divergence-free parts of 2-dimensional vector fields and makes it possible to solve the induction problem using simple linear algebra. The new calculation method is validated by comparing it with previously published results for Alfven wave reflection from uniformly conducting ionosphere.

Coherent radar estimates of high latitude field-aligned currents: the importance of conductance gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosch, M.; Nielsen, E.

Two bi-static VHF radar systems STARE and SABRE have been employed to estimate ionospheric electric field distributions in the geomagnetic latitude range 61 1 - 69 3 degrees over Scandinavia corresponding to the global Region 2 current system 173 days of data from all four radars have been analysed during the period 1982 to 1986 The average magnetic field-aligned currents have been computed as a function of the Kp and Ae indices using an empirical model of ionospheric Pedersen and Hall conductance taking into account conductance gradients The divergence of horizontal Pedersen currents and Hall conductance gradients have approximately the same importance for generating the Region 2 field-aligned currents Pedersen conductance gradients have a significant modifying effect A case study of field-aligned currents has been performed using the STARE radar system to obtain the instantaneous ionospheric electric field distribution in the vicinity of an auroral arc The instantaneous Hall conductance was estimated from the Scandinavian Magnetometer Array This study clearly shows that even for quiet steady state geomagnetic conditions conductance gradients are important modifiers of magnetic field-aligned currents

Electron dynamics in a plasma focus. [electron acceleration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hohl, F.; Gary, S. P.; Winters, P. A.

1977-01-01

Results are presented of a numerical integration of the three-dimensional relativistic equations of motion of electrons subject to given electric and magnetic fields deduced from experiments. Fields due to two different models are investigated. For the first model, the fields are those due to a circular distribution of axial current filaments. As the current filaments collapse toward the axis, large azimuthal magnetic and axial electric fields are induced. These fields effectively heat the electrons to a temperature of approximately 8 keV and accelerate electrons within the radius of the filaments to high axial velocities. Similar results are obtained for the current-reduction phase of focus formation. For the second model, the fields are those due to a uniform current distribution. Both the current-reduction and the compression phases were studied. These is little heating or acceleration of electrons during the compression phase because the electrons are tied to the magnetic field. However, during the current-reduction phase, electrons near the axis are accelerated toward the center electrode and reach energies of 100 keV. A criterion is obtained which limits the runaway electron current to about 400 A.

Terahertz radiation-induced sub-cycle field electron emission across a split-gap dipole antenna

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Jingdi; Averitt, Richard D., E-mail: xinz@bu.edu, E-mail: raveritt@ucsd.edu; Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215

We use intense terahertz pulses to excite the resonant mode (0.6 THz) of a micro-fabricated dipole antenna with a vacuum gap. The dipole antenna structure enhances the peak amplitude of the in-gap THz electric field by a factor of ∼170. Above an in-gap E-field threshold amplitude of ∼10 MV/cm{sup −1}, THz-induced field electron emission is observed as indicated by the field-induced electric current across the dipole antenna gap. Field emission occurs within a fraction of the driving THz period. Our analysis of the current (I) and incident electric field (E) is in agreement with a Millikan-Lauritsen analysis where log (I) exhibits amore » linear dependence on 1/E. Numerical estimates indicate that the electrons are accelerated to a value of approximately one tenth of the speed of light.« less

Convection Electric Field Observations by THEMIS and the Van Allen Probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Califf, S.; Li, X.; Bonnell, J. W.; Wygant, J. R.; Malaspina, D.; Hartinger, M.; Thaller, S. A.

2013-12-01

We present direct electric field measurements made by THEMIS and the Van Allen Probes in the inner magnetosphere, focusing on the large-scale, near-DC convection electric field. The convection electric field drives plasma Earthward from the tail into the inner magnetosphere, playing a critical role in forming the ring current. Although it is normally shielded deep inside the magnetosphere, during storm times this large-scale electric field can penetrate to low L values (L < 3), eroding the plasmasphere and also providing a mechanism for ~100 keV electron injection into the slot region and inner radiation belt. The relationship of the convection electric field with the plasmasphere is also important for understanding the dynamic outer radiation belt, as the plasmapause boundary has been strongly correlated with the dynamic variation of the outer radiation belt electrons.

EM-ANIMATE: A Computer Program for Displaying and Animating Electromagnetic Near-Field and Surface-Current Solutions: Video Supplement to NASA Technical Memorandum 4539

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hom, Kam W.

1994-01-01

In this video, several examples of electromagnetic field and surface-current animation sequences are shown to demonstrate the visualization capabilities of the EM-ANIMATE computer program. These examples show the animation of total and scattered electric near fields from test bodies of a flat plate, a corner reflector, and a sphere. These test cases show the electric-field behavior caused by different scattering mechanisms through the animation of electromagnetic data from the EM-ANIMATE routine.

Control of bootstrap current in the pedestal region of tokamaks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shaing, K. C.; Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53796; Lai, A. L.

2013-12-15

The high confinement mode (H-mode) plasmas in the pedestal region of tokamaks are characterized by steep gradient of the radial electric field, and sonic poloidal U{sub p,m} flow that consists of poloidal components of the E×B flow and the plasma flow velocity that is parallel to the magnetic field B. Here, E is the electric field. The bootstrap current that is important for the equilibrium, and stability of the pedestal of H-mode plasmas is shown to have an expression different from that in the conventional theory. In the limit where ‖U{sub p,m}‖≫ 1, the bootstrap current is driven by themore » electron temperature gradient and inductive electric field fundamentally different from that in the conventional theory. The bootstrap current in the pedestal region can be controlled through manipulating U{sub p,m} and the gradient of the radial electric. This, in turn, can control plasma stability such as edge-localized modes. Quantitative evaluations of various coefficients are shown to illustrate that the bootstrap current remains finite when ‖U{sub p,m}‖ approaches infinite and to provide indications how to control the bootstrap current. Approximate analytic expressions for viscous coefficients that join results in the banana and plateau-Pfirsch-Schluter regimes are presented to facilitate bootstrap and neoclassical transport simulations in the pedestal region.« less

The Dynamics of Oblate Drop Between Heterogeneous Plates Under Alternating Electric Field. Non-uniform Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashina, M. A.; Alabuzhev, A. A.

2018-02-01

The dynamics of the incompressible fluid drop under the non-uniform electric field are considered. The drop is bounded axially by two parallel solid planes and the case of heterogeneous plates is investigated. The external electric field acts as an external force that causes motion of the contact line. We assume that the electric current is alternative current and the AC filed amplitude is a spatially non-uniform function. In equilibrium, the drop has the form of a circular cylinder. The equilibrium contact angle is 0.5 π. In order to describe this contact line motion the modified Hocking boundary condition is applied: the velocity of the contact line is proportional to the deviation of the contact angle and the speed of the fast relaxation processes, which frequency is proportional to twice the frequency of the electric field. The Hocking parameter depends on the polar angle, i.e. the coefficient of the interaction between the plate and the fluid (the contact line) is a function of the plane coordinates. This function is expanded in a series of the Laplace operator eigenfunctions.

Comparison of dayside current layers in Venus' ionosphere and earth's equatorial electrojet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, Keith D.

1993-01-01

The major physical aspects of the equatorial electrojet of Earth and the dayside ionospheric current layers of Venus are compared, viz., the electric current intensity and total current, roles of electric field, pressure and gravity, diffusion time scales, and the Bernouille effect. The largest potential differences, of the order of 10 volts, horizontally across the dayside ionosphere of Venus, have important implications for possible dynamo action in the Venus ionosphere and the application of an electric field from the lower atmosphere or from the solar wind. An upper limit to the horizontal scale of vertical magnetic fields in the Venus ionosphere is estimated thereby for the first time. New upper limits on the velocity in, and thickness of, a possible S layer at Venus are presented. If an S layer exists, it is only for extreme conditions of the solar wind. A mechanism for formation of magnetic ropes in the Venus ionosphere is also proposed.

Experimental results on current-driven turbulence in plasmas - a survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Kluiver, H.; Perepelkin, N. F.; Hirose, A.

1991-01-01

The experimental consequences of plasma turbulence driven by a current parallel to a magnetic field and concurrent anomalous plasma heating are reviewed, with an attempt to deduce universalities in key parameters such as the anomalous electrical conductivities observed in diverse devices. It has been found that the nature of plasma turbulence and turbulent heating depends on several parameters including the electric field, current and magnetic fields. A classification of turbulence regimes based on these parameters has been made. Experimental observations of the anomalous electrical conductivity, plasma heating, skin effect, runaway electron braking and turbulent fluctuations are surveyed, and current theoretical understanding is briefly reviewed. Experimental results recently obtained in stellarators (SIRIUS, URAGAN at Kharkov), and in tokamaks (TORTUR at Nieuwegein, STOR-1M at Saskatoon) are presented in some detail in the light of investigating the feasibility of using turbulent heating as a means of injecting a large power into toroidal devices.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erkaev, N. V.; Semenov, V. S.; Biernat, H. K.

Hall magnetohydrodynamic model is investigated for current sheet flapping oscillations, which implies a gradient of the normal magnetic field component. For the initial undisturbed current sheet structure, the normal magnetic field component is assumed to have a weak linear variation. The profile of the electric current velocity is described by hyperbolic functions with a maximum at the center of the current sheet. In the framework of this model, eigenfrequencies are calculated as functions of the wave number for the ''kink'' and ''sausage'' flapping wave modes. Because of the Hall effects, the flapping eigenfrequency is larger for the waves propagating alongmore » the electric current, and it is smaller for the opposite wave propagation with respect to the current. The asymmetry of the flapping wave propagation, caused by Hall effects, is pronounced stronger for thinner current sheets. This is due to the Doppler effect related to the electric current velocity.« less

Low Temperature Noise and Electrical Characterization of the Company Heterojunction Field-Effect Transistor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cunningham, Thomas J.; Gee, Russell C.; Fossum, Eric R.; Baier, Steven M.

1993-01-01

This paper discusses the electrical properties of the complementary heterojunction field-effect transistor (CHFET) at 4K, including the gate leakage current, the subthreshold transconductance, and the input-referred noise voltage.

A dawn to dusk electric field in the Jovian magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goertz, C. K.; Ip, W. I.

1983-01-01

It is shown that if Io-injected plasma is lost via a planetary wind-fixed Birkeland current system may result. This is due to the fact that the azimuthal centrifugal current flows across a density gradient produced by the loss of plasma through the planetary wind in the tail. The divergent centrifugal current is connected to field-aligned Birkeland currents which flow into the ionosphere at dawn and out of it at dusk. The closure currents in the ionosphere require a dawn to dusk electric field which at the orbit of Io is estimated to have a strength of 0.2 mV/m. However, the values of crucial parameters are not well known and the field at Io's orbit may well be significantly larger. Independent estimates derived from the local time asymmetry of the torus UV emission indicate a field of 1.5 mV/m.

A novel high-performance high-frequency SOI MESFET by the damped electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orouji, Ali A.; Khayatian, Ahmad; Keshavarzi, Parviz

2016-06-01

In this paper, we introduce a novel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) metal-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MESFET) using the damped electric field (DEF). The proposed structure is geometrically symmetric and compatible with common SOI CMOS fabrication processes. It has two additional oxide regions under the side gates in order to improve DC and RF characteristics of the DEF structure due to changes in the electrical potential, the electrical field distributions, and rearrangement of the charge carriers. Improvement of device performance is investigated by two-dimensional and two-carrier simulation of fundamental parameters such as breakdown voltage (VBR), drain current (ID), output power density (Pmax), transconductance (gm), gate-drain and gate-source capacitances, cut-off frequency (fT), unilateral power gain (U), current gain (h21), maximum available gain (MAG), and minimum noise figure (Fmin). The results show that proposed structure operates with higher performances in comparison with the similar conventional SOI structure.

The effect of inertia on the Dirac electron, the spin Hall current and the momentum space Berry curvature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chowdhury, Debashree, E-mail: debashreephys@gmail.com; Basu, B., E-mail: sribbasu@gmail.com

2013-02-15

We have studied the spin dependent force and the associated momentum space Berry curvature in an accelerating system. The results are derived by taking into consideration the non-relativistic limit of a generally covariant Dirac equation with an electromagnetic field present, where the methodology of the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation is applied to achieve the non-relativistic limit. Spin currents appear due to the combined action of the external electric field, the crystal field and the induced inertial electric field via the total effective spin-orbit interaction. In an accelerating frame, the crucial role of momentum space Berry curvature in the spin dynamics has alsomore » been addressed from the perspective of spin Hall conductivity. For time dependent acceleration, the expression for the spin polarization has been derived. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We study the effect of acceleration on the Dirac electron in the presence of an electromagnetic field, where the acceleration induces an electric field. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Spin currents appear due to the total effective electric field via the total spin-orbit interaction. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We derive the expression for the spin dependent force and the spin Hall current, which is zero for a particular acceleration. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The role of the momentum space Berry curvature in an accelerating system is discussed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer An expression for the spin polarization for time dependent acceleration is derived.« less

Substorm Electric And Magnetic Fields In The Earth's Magnetotail: Observations Compared To The WINDMI Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srinivas, P. G.; Spencer, E. A.; Vadepu, S. K.; Horton, W., Jr.

2017-12-01

We compare satellite observations of substorm electric fields and magnetic fields to the output of a low dimensional nonlinear physics model of the nightside magnetosphere called WINDMI. The electric and magnetic field satellite data are used to calculate the E X B drift, which is one of the intermediate variables of the WINDMI model. The model uses solar wind and IMF measurements from the ACE spacecraft as input into a system of 8 nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The state variables of the differential equations represent the energy stored in the geomagnetic tail, central plasma sheet, ring current and field aligned currents. The output from the model is the ground based geomagnetic westward auroral electrojet (AL) index, and the Dst index.Using ACE solar wind data, IMF data and SuperMAG identification of substorm onset times up to December 2015, we constrain the WINDMI model to trigger substorm events, and compare the model intermediate variables to THEMIS and GEOTAIL satellite data in the magnetotail. By forcing the model to be consistent with satellite electric and magnetic field observations, we are able to track the magnetotail energy dynamics, the field aligned current contributions, energy injections into the ring current, and ensure that they are within allowable limts. In addition we are able to constrain the physical parameters of the model, in particular the lobe inductance, the plasma sheet capacitance, and the resistive and conductive parameters in the plasma sheet and ionosphere.

Kinetic Electric Field Signatures Associated with Magnetic Turbulence and Their Impact on Space Plasma Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodrich, K. A.

Magnetic turbulence is a universal phenomenon that occurs in space plasma physics, the small-scale processes of which is not well understood. This thesis presents on observational analysis of kinetic electric field signatures associated with magnetic turbulence, in an attempt to examine its underlying microphysics. Such kinetic signatures include small-scale magnetic holes, double layers, and phase-space holes. The first and second parts of this thesis presents observations of small-scale magnetic holes, observed depressions in total magnetic field strength with spatial widths on the order of or less than the ion Larmor radius, in the near-Earth plasmasheet. Here I demonstrate electric field signatures associated small-scale magnetic holes are consistent with the presence of electron Hall currents, currents oriented perpendicularly to the magnetic field. Further investigation of these fields indicates that the Hall electron current is primarily responsible for the depletion of | B| associated with small-scale magnetic holes. I then present evidence that suggests these currents can descend to smaller spatial scales, indicating they participate in a turbulent cascade to smaller scales, a link that has not been observable suggested until now. The last part of this thesis investigates the presence of double layers and phase-space holes in a magnetically turbulent region of the terrestrial bow shock. In this part, I present evidence that these same signatures can be generated via field-aligned currents generated by strong magnetic fluctuations. I also show that double layers and phase-space holes, embedded within localized nonlinear ion acoustic waves, correlate with localized electron heating and possible ion deceleration, indicating they play a role in turbulent dissipation of kinetic to thermal energy. This thesis clearly demonstrates that energy dissipation in turbulent plasma is closely linked to the small-scale electric field environment.

Novel method for immunofluorescence staining of mammalian eggs using non-contact alternating-current electric-field mixing of microdroplets

PubMed Central

Hiromitsu, Shirasawa; Jin, Kumagai; Emiko, Sato; Katsuya, Kabashima; Yukiyo, Kumazawa; Wataru, Sato; Hiroshi, Miura; Ryuta, Nakamura; Hiroshi, Nanjo; Yoshihiro, Minamiya; Yoichi, Akagami; Yukihiro, Terada

2015-01-01

Recently, a new technique was developed for non-catalytically mixing microdroplets. In this method, an alternating-current (AC) electric field is used to promote the antigen–antibody reaction within the microdroplet. Previously, this technique has only been applied to histological examinations of flat structures, such as surgical specimens. In this study, we applied this technique for the first time to immunofluorescence staining of three-dimensional structures, specifically, mammalian eggs. We diluted an antibody against microtubules from 1:1,000 to 1:16,000, and compared the chromatic degree and extent of fading across dilutions. In addition, we varied the frequency of AC electric-field mixing from 5 Hz to 46 Hz and evaluated the effect on microtubule staining. Microtubules were more strongly stained after AC electric-field mixing for only 5 minutes, even when the concentration of primary antibody was 10 times lower than in conventional methods. AC electric-field mixing also alleviated microtubule fading. At all frequencies tested, AC electric-field mixing resulted in stronger microtubule staining than in controls. There was no clear difference in a microtubule staining between frequencies. These results suggest that the novel method could reduce antibody consumption and shorten immunofluorescence staining time. PMID:26477850

Ion heating and characteristics of ST plasma used by double-pulsing CHI on HIST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanao, Takafumi; Hirono, Hidetoshi; Hyobu, Takahiro; Ito, Kengo; Matsumoto, Keisuke; Nakayama, Takashi; Oki, Nobuharu; Kikuchi, Yusuke; Fukumoto, Naoyuki; Nagata, Masayoshi

2013-10-01

Multi-pulsing Coaxial Helicity Injection (M-CHI) is an efficient current drive and sustainment method used in spheromak and spherical torus (ST). We have observed plasma current/flux amplification by double pulsing CHI. Poloidal ion temperature measured by Ion Doppler Spectrometer (IDS) has a peak at plasma core region. In this region, radial electric field has a negative peak. At more inboard side that is called separatrix between closed flux region and inner open flux region, poloidal flow has a large shear and radial electric field changes the polarity. After the second CHI pulse, we observed sharp and rapid ion heating at plasma core region and separatrix. In this region, the poloidal ion temperature is selective heating because electron temperature is almost uniform. At this time, flow shear become larger and radial electric field is amplified at separatorix. These effects produce direct heating of ion through the viscous flow damping. Furthermore, we observed decrease of electron density at separatrix. Decreased density makes Hall dynamo electric field as two-fluid effect. When the ion temperature is increasing, dynamo electric field is observed at separatrix. It may have influence with the ion heating. We will discuss characteristic of double pulsing CHI driven ST plasmas and correlation of direct heating of ion with dynamo electric field and any other parameters.

Holographic Floquet states I: a strongly coupled Weyl semimetal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, Koji; Kinoshita, Shunichiro; Murata, Keiju; Oka, Takashi

2017-05-01

Floquet states can be realized in quantum systems driven by continuous time-periodic perturbations. It is known that a state known as the Floquet Weyl semimetal can be realized when free Dirac fermions are placed in a rotating electric field. What will happen if strong interaction is introduced to this system? Will the interaction wash out the characteristic features of Weyl semimetals such as the Hall response? Is there a steady state and what is its thermodynamic behavior? We answer these questions using AdS/CFT correspondence in the N = 2 supersymmetric massless QCD in a rotating electric field in the large N c limit realizing the first example of a "holographic Floquet state". In this limit, gluons not only mediate interaction, but also act as an energy reservoir and stabilize the nonequilibrium steady state (NESS). We obtain the electric current induced by a rotating electric field: in the high frequency region, the Ohm's law is satisfied, while we recover the DC nonlinear conductivity at low frequency, which was obtained holographically in a previous work. The thermodynamic properties of the NESS, e.g., fluctuation-dissipation relation, is characterized by the effective Hawking temperature that is defined from the effective horizon giving a holographic meaning to the "periodic thermodynamic" concept. In addition to the strong (pump) rotating electric field, we apply an additional weak (probe) electric field in the spirit of the pump-probe experiments done in condensed matter experiments. Weak DC and AC probe analysis in the background rotating electric field shows Hall currents as a linear response, therefore the Hall response of Floquet Weyl semimetals survives at the strong coupling limit. We also find frequency mixed response currents, i.e., a heterodyning effect, characteristic to periodically driven Floquet systems.

Comparison of electric field strength and spatial distribution of electroconvulsive therapy and magnetic seizure therapy in a realistic human head model

PubMed Central

Lee, Won Hee; Lisanby, Sarah H.; Laine, Andrew F.; Peterchev, Angel V.

2017-01-01

Background This study examines the strength and spatial distribution of the electric field induced in the brain by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST). Methods The electric field induced by standard (bilateral, right unilateral, and bifrontal) and experimental (focal electrically administered seizure therapy and frontomedial) ECT electrode configurations as well as a circular MST coil configuration was simulated in an anatomically realistic finite element model of the human head. Maps of the electric field strength relative to an estimated neural activation threshold were used to evaluate the stimulation strength and focality in specific brain regions of interest for these ECT and MST paradigms and various stimulus current amplitudes. Results The standard ECT configurations and current amplitude of 800–900 mA produced the strongest overall stimulation with median of 1.8–2.9 times neural activation threshold and more than 94% of the brain volume stimulated at suprathreshold level. All standard ECT electrode placements exposed the hippocampi to suprathreshold electric field, although there were differences across modalities with bilateral and right unilateral producing respectively the strongest and weakest hippocampal stimulation. MST stimulation is up to 9 times weaker compared to conventional ECT, resulting in direct activation of only 21% of the brain. Reducing the stimulus current amplitude can make ECT as focal as MST. Conclusions The relative differences in electric field strength may be a contributing factor for the cognitive sparing observed with right unilateral compared to bilateral ECT, and MST compared to right unilateral ECT. These simulations could help understand the mechanisms of seizure therapies and develop interventions with superior risk/benefit ratio. PMID:27318858

Broadband electromagnetic sensors for aircraft lightning research. [electromagnetic effects of lightning on aircraft digital equipment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trost, T. F.; Zaepfel, K. P.

1980-01-01

A set of electromagnetic sensors, or electrically-small antennas, is described. The sensors are designed for installation on an F-106 research aircraft for the measurement of electric and magnetic fields and currents during a lightning strike. The electric and magnetic field sensors mount on the aircraft skin. The current sensor mounts between the nose boom and the fuselage. The sensors are all on the order of 10 cm in size and should produce up to about 100 V for the estimated lightning fields. The basic designs are the same as those developed for nuclear electromagnetic pulse studies. The most important electrical parameters of the sensors are the sensitivity, or equivalent area, and the bandwidth (or rise time). Calibration of sensors with simple geometries is reliably accomplished by a geometric analysis; all the sensors discussed possess geometries for which the sensitivities have been calculated. For the calibration of sensors with more complex geometries and for general testing of all sensors, two transmission lines were constructed to transmit known pulsed fields and currents over the sensors.

Stopping electric field extension in a modified nanostructure based on SOI technology - A comprehensive numerical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anvarifard, Mohammad K.; Orouji, Ali A.

2017-11-01

This article has related a particular knowledge in order to reduce short channel effects (SCEs) in nano-devices based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFETs. The device under study has been designed in 22 nm node technology with embedding Si3N4 extra oxide as a stopping layer of electric field and a useful heatsink for transferring generated heat. Two important subjects (DC characteristics and RF characteristics) have been investigated, simultaneously. Stopping electric field extension and enhancement of channel thermal conduction are introduced as an entrance gateway for this work so that improve the electrical characteristics, eventually. The inserted extra oxide made by the Si3N4 material has a vital impact on the modification of the electrical and thermal features in the proposed device. An immense comparison between the proposed SOI and conventional SOI showed that the proposed structure has higher electrical and thermal proficiency than the conventional structure in terms of main parameters such as short channel effects (SCEs), leakage current, floating body effect (FBE), self-heating effect (SHE), voltage gain, ratio of On-current to Off- current, transconductance, output conductance, minimum noise figure and power gain.

Characteristics of Currents and Electric Fields Associated with the Initial Stage of Upward Lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, N.; Nag, A.; Diendorfer, G.; Pichler, H.; Schulz, W.

2017-12-01

There is increasing interest in understanding processes associated with the initiation of upward lightning from tall structures. Characterization of such processes is essential for the development of appropriate models. We examine current and electric field waveforms for 15 negative upward flashes occurring in 2007-2009 initiated from the Gaisberg Tower located in Salzburg, Austria. Current was measured at the top of the tower using a 0.25 mΩ shunt. Electric field was measured simultaneously at close (170 m from the tower) and far (79 km from the tower in 2007 and 109 km in 2008-2009) distances. The initial stage (IS) of these flashes comprised of relatively slowly varying "background" current (having durations ranging from 132 to 692 ms), with faster, more impulsive current variations (pulses having durations ranging from 4.7 µs to 22.9 ms) overlaid on this background current. In five of the 15 (33%) flashes, this IS background current was negative while in the other ten (67%) flashes, the current was bipolar (changing between negative and positive values). 150 current pulses occurred during the IS of these 15 flashes, of which 28 (19%) were positive bipolar (positive initial polarity with a negative opposite polarity overshoot), 5 (3.3%) were positive unipolar (positive initial polarity with no opposite polarity overshoot), and 117 (78%) were negative unipolar. No negative bipolar pulses were found. The median peak current and risetime for the 28 bipolar pulses were 0.74 kA and 2.8 µs, respectively, and those for the 122 unipolar pulses were 0.87 kA and 70 µs, respectively. Generally speaking, majority of the pulses occurring at the beginning of the initial stage were lower-amplitude positive bipolar, while higher-amplitude unipolar pulses were more likely to occur at later times. These 150 IS current pulses produced 133 detectable electric field change signatures at the near station and 59 at the far station (all recorded at 79 km in 12 flashes occurring in 2007). We will examine in detail the characteristics of these electric field pulses in order to gain insights into the mechanisms of the underlying processes.

Electric-field-induced magnetic domain writing in a Co wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Yuki; Hirai, Takamasa; Koyama, Tomohiro; Chiba, Daichi

2018-05-01

We have demonstrated that the local magnetization in a Co microwire can be switched by an application of a gate voltage without using any external magnetic fields. The electric-field-induced reversible ferromagnetic phase transition was used to realize this. An internal stray field from a ferromagnetic gate electrode assisted the local domain reversal in the Co wire. This new concept of electrical domain switching may be useful for dramatically reducing the power consumption of writing information in a magnetic racetrack memory, in which a shift of a magnetic domain by electric current is utilized.

Lymphocyte Electrotaxis in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

Lin, Francis; Baldessari, Fabio; Gyenge, Christina Crenguta; Sato, Tohru; Chambers, Robert D.; Santiago, Juan G.; Butcher, Eugene C.

2008-01-01

Electric fields are generated in vivo in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including penetrating injury to epithelial barriers. An applied electric field with strength within the physiologic range can induce directional cell migration (i.e. electrotaxis) of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and neutrophils suggesting a potential role in cell positioning during wound healing. In the present study, we investigated the ability of lymphocytes to respond to applied direct current (DC) electric fields. Using a modified transwell assay and a simple microfluidic device, we show that human peripheral blood lymphocytes migrate toward the cathode in physiologically relevant DC electric fields. Additionally, electrical stimulation activates intracellular kinase signaling pathways shared with chemotactic stimuli. Finally, video microscopic tracing of GFP-tagged immunocytes in the skin of mouse ears reveals that motile cutaneous T cells actively migrate toward the cathode of an applied DC electric field. Lymphocyte positioning within tissues can thus be manipulated by externally applied electric fields, and may be influenced by endogenous electrical potential gradients as well. PMID:18684937

Lymphocyte electrotaxis in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Lin, Francis; Baldessari, Fabio; Gyenge, Christina Crenguta; Sato, Tohru; Chambers, Robert D; Santiago, Juan G; Butcher, Eugene C

2008-08-15

Electric fields are generated in vivo in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including penetrating injury to epithelial barriers. An applied electric field with strength within the physiologic range can induce directional cell migration (i.e., electrotaxis) of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and neutrophils suggesting a potential role in cell positioning during wound healing. In the present study, we investigated the ability of lymphocytes to respond to applied direct current (DC) electric fields. Using a modified Transwell assay and a simple microfluidic device, we show that human PBLs migrate toward the cathode in physiologically relevant DC electric fields. Additionally, electrical stimulation activates intracellular kinase signaling pathways shared with chemotactic stimuli. Finally, video microscopic tracing of GFP-tagged immunocytes in the skin of mouse ears reveals that motile cutaneous T cells actively migrate toward the cathode of an applied DC electric field. Lymphocyte positioning within tissues can thus be manipulated by externally applied electric fields, and may be influenced by endogenous electrical potential gradients as well.

Osa Topical Meeting Proceedings (4th) on Picosecond Electronics and Optoelectronics Held in Salt Lake City, Utah on 13-15 March 1991. Volume 9

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-22

profile shoot effect critically depends on the field, therefore is modified by the presence of the pump beam, and we nonuniform fields smear out the...different electrical signal with a different rise and decay ing and intervalley scattering with a nonuniform electric time. The total displacement...current is approximately field and nonuniform carrier injection in one dimension. the sum of the individual current sources. The net result We take a

Unipolar induction in the magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1972-01-01

A theory is described for the production of electric currents in the magnetosphere and for the transfer of energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. Assuming that the magnetosheath has ohmic-type conduction properties, it is shown that unipolar induction can energize several current flows, explaining the correlation of the east-west component of the interplanetary magnetic field with polar electric fields and polar magnetic variations. In the tail region, unipolar induction can account for effects correlated with the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field.

Laboratory-Scale Evidence for Lightning-Mediated Gene Transfer in Soil

PubMed Central

Demanèche, Sandrine; Bertolla, Franck; Buret, François; Nalin, Renaud; Sailland, Alain; Auriol, Philippe; Vogel, Timothy M.; Simonet, Pascal

2001-01-01

Electrical fields and current can permeabilize bacterial membranes, allowing for the penetration of naked DNA. Given that the environment is subjected to regular thunderstorms and lightning discharges that induce enormous electrical perturbations, the possibility of natural electrotransformation of bacteria was investigated. We demonstrated with soil microcosm experiments that the transformation of added bacteria could be increased locally via lightning-mediated current injection. The incorporation of three genes coding for antibiotic resistance (plasmid pBR328) into the Escherichia coli strain DH10B recipient previously added to soil was observed only after the soil had been subjected to laboratory-scale lightning. Laboratory-scale lightning had an electrical field gradient (700 versus 600 kV m−1) and current density (2.5 versus 12.6 kA m−2) similar to those of full-scale lightning. Controls handled identically except for not being subjected to lightning produced no detectable antibiotic-resistant clones. In addition, simulated storm cloud electrical fields (in the absence of current) did not produce detectable clones (transformation detection limit, 10−9). Natural electrotransformation might be a mechanism involved in bacterial evolution. PMID:11472916

Magnetohydrodynamic drag reduction and its efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shatrov, V.; Gerbeth, G.

2007-03-01

We present results of direct numerical simulations of a turbulent channel flow influenced by electromagnetic forces. The magnetohydrodynamic Lorentz force is created by the interaction of a steady magnetic field and electric currents fed to the fluid via electrodes placed at the wall surface. Two different cases are considered. At first, a time-oscillating electric current and a steady magnetic field create a spanwise time-oscillating Lorentz force. In the second case, a stationary electric current and a steady magnetic field create a steady, mainly streamwise Lorentz force. Besides the viscous drag, the importance of the electromagnetic force acting on the wall is figured out. Regarding the energetic efficiency, it is demonstrated that in all cases a balance between applied and flow-induced electric currents improves the efficiency significantly. But even then, the case of a spanwise oscillating Lorentz force remains with a very low efficiency, whereas for the self-propelled regime in the case of a steady streamwise force, much higher efficiencies are found. Still, no set of parameters has yet been found for which an energetic breakthrough, i.e., a saved power exceeding the used power, is reached.

Electric field measurements during the Condor critical velocity experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelley, M. C.; Pfaff, R. F.; Haerendel, G.

1986-01-01

The instrumentation of the Condor critical velocity Ba experiment (Wescott et al., 1986) for the measurements of the energetic particles and the electric field associated with a Ba explosion is described. The Ba explosion created a complex electric field pulse detected in situ by a single-axis double electric-field probe on a separate spacecraft. The measurements provide evidence of several important links in the critical-velocity chain, and are consistent with two hypotheses. The first hypothesis involves the creation of large polarization electric field due to charge separation; the second hypothesis implies a polarization of the beam by currents flowing across it. The chain of physical processes inferred from the observations is in agreement with most theories for the Alfven process.

Shock wave compression and self-generated electric field repolarization in ferroelectric ceramics Pb0.99[(Zr0.90Sn0.10)0.96Ti0.04]0.98Nb0.02O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Dongdong; Du, Jinmei; Gu, Yan; Feng, Yujun

2012-03-01

The shock wave induced depoling current of Pb0.99[(Zr0.90Sn0.10)0.96Ti0.04]0.98Nb0.02O3 ceramics was investigated with a system composed of a resistive load and an unpoled ceramic. Disparity in the depoling current was explained by considering the drawing charge effect of unpoled ceramic. The drawing effect for poled ceramics was analysed by developing a model incorporating a time- and electric-field-dependent repolarization. This model predicts that the high-impedance current eventually becomes higher than the short-circuit current, which is consistent with the experimental results in the literature. This work indicates that both the repolarization of uncompressed ceramics caused by the self-generated electric field and depolarization of compressed ceramics caused by the shock wave govern the output current.

Interpretation of the electric fields measured in an ionospheric critical ionization velocity experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brenning, N.; Faelthammar, C.-G.; Marklund, G.; Haerendel, G.; Kelley, M. C.; Pfaff, R.

1991-01-01

The quasi-dc electric fields measured in the CRIT I ionospheric release experiment are studied. In the experiment, two identical barium shaped charges were fired toward a main payload, and three-dimensional measurements of the electric field inside the streams were made. The relevance of proposed mechanisms for electron heating in the critical ionization velocity (CIV) mechanism is addressed. It is concluded that both the 'homogeneous' and the 'ionizing front' models probably are valid, but in different parts of the streams. It is also possible that electrons are directly accelerated by a magnetic field-aligned component of the electric field. The coupling between the ambient ionosphere and the ionized barium stream is more complicated that is usually assumed in CIV theories, with strong magnetic-field-aligned electric fields and probably current limitation as important processes.

Electric Potential and Electric Field Imaging with Dynamic Applications: 2017 Research Award Innovation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Ed

2017-01-01

The technology and methods for remote quantitative imaging of electrostatic potentials and electrostatic fields in and around objects and in free space is presented. Electric field imaging (EFI) technology may be applied to characterize intrinsic or existing electric potentials and electric fields, or an externally generated electrostatic field may be used for illuminating volumes to be inspected with EFI. The baseline sensor technology (e-Sensor) and its construction, optional electric field generation (quasi-static generator), and current e- Sensor enhancements (ephemeral e-Sensor) are discussed. Critical design elements of current linear and real-time two-dimensional (2D) measurement systems are highlighted, and the development of a three dimensional (3D) EFI system is presented. Demonstrations for structural, electronic, human, and memory applications are shown. Recent work demonstrates that phonons may be used to create and annihilate electric dipoles within structures. Phonon induced dipoles are ephemeral and their polarization, strength, and location may be quantitatively characterized by EFI providing a new subsurface Phonon-EFI imaging technology. Initial results from real-time imaging of combustion and ion flow, and their measurement complications, will be discussed. These new EFI capabilities are demonstrated to characterize electric charge distribution creating a new field of study embracing areas of interest including electrostatic discharge (ESD) mitigation, crime scene forensics, design and materials selection for advanced sensors, combustion science, on-orbit space potential, container inspection, remote characterization of electronic circuits and level of activation, dielectric morphology of structures, tether integrity, organic molecular memory, atmospheric science, and medical diagnostic and treatment efficacy applications such as cardiac polarization wave propagation and electromyography imaging.

The effect of conductor permeability on electric current transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirzaei, M.; Ripka, P.; Chirtsov, A.; Kaspar, P.; Vyhnanek, J.

2018-04-01

In this paper, experimental works and theoretical analysis are presented to analyze the influence of the conductor permeability on the precision of yokeless current sensors. The results of finite-element method (FEM) fit well the measured field values around the conductor. Finally we evaluate the difference in magnetic fields distribution around non-magnetic and magnetic conductor. The calculated values show that the permeability of the ferromagnetic conductor significally affects the reading of the electric current sensors even at DC.

Boundary-value problem for a counterrotating electrical discharge in an axial magnetic field. [plasma centrifuge for isotope separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hong, S. H.; Wilhelm, H. E.

1978-01-01

An electrical discharge between two ring electrodes embedded in the mantle of a cylindrical chamber is considered, in which the plasma in the anode and cathode regions rotates in opposite directions under the influence of an external axial magnetic field. The associated boundary-value problem for the coupled partial differential equations describing the azimuthal velocity and radial current-density fields is solved in closed form. The velocity, current density, induced magnetic induction, and electric fields are presented for typical Hartmann numbers, magnetic Reynolds numbers, and geometry parameters. The discharge is shown to produce anodic and cathodic plasma sections rotating at speeds of the order 1,000,000 cm/sec for conventional magnetic field intensities. Possible application of the magnetoactive discharge as a plasma centrifuge for isotope separation is discussed.

Chiral magnetic effect in the presence of electroweak interactions as a quasiclassical phenomenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvornikov, Maxim; Semikoz, Victor B.

2018-03-01

We elaborate the quasiclassical approach to obtain the modified chiral magnetic effect (CME) in the case when the massless charged fermions interact with electromagnetic fields and the background matter by the electroweak forces. The derivation of the anomalous current along the external magnetic field involves the study of the energy density evolution of chiral particles in parallel electric and magnetic fields. We consider both the particle acceleration by the external electric field and the contribution of the Adler anomaly. The condition of the validity of this method for the derivation of the CME is formulated. We obtain the expression for the electric current along the external magnetic field, which appears to coincide with our previous results based on the purely quantum approach. Our results are compared with the findings of other authors.

Physiological and modeling evidence for focal transcranial electrical brain stimulation in humans: A basis for high-definition tDCS

PubMed Central

Edwards, Dylan; Cortes, Mar; Datta, Abhishek; Minhas, Preet; Wassermann, Eric M.; Bikson, Marom

2015-01-01

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, low-cost, well-tolerated technique producing lasting modulation of cortical excitability. Behavioral and therapeutic outcomes of tDCS are linked to the targeted brain regions, but there is little evidence that current reaches the brain as intended. We aimed to: (1) validate a computational model for estimating cortical electric fields in human transcranial stimulation, and (2) assess the magnitude and spread of cortical electric field with a novel High-Definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) scalp montage using a 4×1-Ring electrode configuration. In three healthy adults, Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) over primary motor cortex (M1) was delivered using the 4×1 montage (4× cathode, surrounding a single central anode; montage radius ~3 cm) with sufficient intensity to elicit a discrete muscle twitch in the hand. The estimated current distribution in M1 was calculated using the individualized MRI-based model, and compared with the observed motor response across subjects. The response magnitude was quantified with stimulation over motor cortex as well as anterior and posterior to motor cortex. In each case the model data were consistent with the motor response across subjects. The estimated cortical electric fields with the 4×1 montage were compared (area, magnitude, direction) for TES and tDCS in each subject. We provide direct evidence in humans that TES with a 4×1-Ring configuration can activate motor cortex and that current does not substantially spread outside the stimulation area. Computational models predict that both TES and tDCS waveforms using the 4×1-Ring configuration generate electric fields in cortex with comparable gross current distribution, and preferentially directed normal (inward) currents. The agreement of modeling and experimental data for both current delivery and focality support the use of the HD-tDCS 4×1-Ring montage for cortically targeted neuromodulation. PMID:23370061

Corrections for a constant radial magnetic field in the muon \\varvec{g}-2 and electric-dipole-moment experiments in storage rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silenko, Alexander J.

2017-10-01

We calculate the corrections for constant radial magnetic field in muon {g}-2 and electric-dipole-moment experiments in storage rings. While the correction is negligible for the current generation of {g}-2 experiments, it affects the upcoming muon electric-dipole-moment experiment at Fermilab.

Fetal exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cech, R.; Leitgeb, N.; Pediaditis, M.

2007-02-01

To investigate the interaction of low frequency electric and magnetic fields with pregnant women and in particular with the fetus, an anatomical voxel model of an 89 kg woman at week 30 of pregnancy was developed. Intracorporal electric current density distributions due to exposure to homogeneous 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields were calculated and results were compared with basic restrictions recommended by ICNIRP guidelines. It could be shown that the basic restriction is met within the central nervous system (CNS) of the mother at exposure to reference level of either electric or magnetic fields. However, within the fetus the basic restriction is considerably exceeded. Revision of reference levels might be necessary.

Deformation analysis of vesicles in an alternating-current electric field.

PubMed

Tang, Yu-Gang; Liu, Ying; Feng, Xi-Qiao

2014-08-01

In this paper the shape equation for axisymmetric vesicles subjected to an ac electric field is derived on the basis of the liquid-crystal model. The equilibrium morphology of a lipid vesicle is determined by the minimization of its free energy in coupled mechanical and ac electric fields. Besides elastic bending, the effects of the osmotic pressure difference, surface tension, Maxwell pressure, and flexoelectric and dielectric properties of phospholipid membrane as well are taken into account. The influences of elastic bending, osmotic pressure difference, and surface tension on the frequency-dependent behavior of a vesicle membrane in an ac electric field are examined. The singularity of the ac electric field is also investigated. Our theoretical results of vesicle deformation agree well with previous experimental and numerical results. The present study provides insights into the physical mechanisms underpinning the frequency-dependent morphological evolution of vesicles in the electric and mechanical fields.

On Multiple Hall-Like Electron Currents and Tripolar Guide Magnetic Field Perturbations During Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturner, Andrew P.; Eriksson, Stefan; Nakamura, Takuma; Gershman, Daniel J.; Plaschke, Ferdinand; Ergun, Robert E.; Wilder, Frederick D.; Giles, Barbara; Pollock, Craig; Paterson, William R.; Strangeway, Robert J.; Baumjohann, Wolfgang; Burch, James L.

2018-02-01

Two magnetopause current sheet crossings with tripolar guide magnetic field signatures were observed by multiple Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft during Kelvin-Helmholtz wave activity. The two out-of-plane magnetic field depressions of the tripolar guide magnetic field are largely supported by the observed in-plane electron currents, which are reminiscent of two clockwise Hall current loop systems. A comparison with a three-dimensional kinetic simulation of Kelvin-Helmholtz waves and vortex-induced reconnection suggests that MMS likely encountered the two Hall magnetic field depressions on either side of a magnetic reconnection X-line. Moreover, MMS observed an out-of-plane current reversal and a corresponding in-plane magnetic field rotation at the center of one of the current sheets, suggesting the presence of two adjacent flux ropes. The region inside one of the ion-scale flux ropes was characterized by an observed decrease of the total magnetic field, a strong axial current, and significant enhancements of electron density and parallel electron temperature. The flux rope boundary was characterized by currents opposite this axial current, strong in-plane and converging electric fields, parallel electric fields, and weak electron-frame Joule dissipation. These return current region observations may reflect a need to support the axial current rather than representing local reconnection signatures in the absence of any exhausts.

Radar Cross Section Prediction for Coated Perfect Conductors with Arbitrary Geometries.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-01

equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents as the desired unknowns. Triangular patch modelling is ap- plied to the boundary surfaces. The method of...matrix inversion for the unknown surface current coefficients. Huygens’ principle is again applied to calculate the scattered electric field produced...differential equations with the equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents as the desired unknowns. Triangular patch modelling is ap- plied to the

THEORETICAL METHODS FOR COMPUTING ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS IN WIRE-PLATE ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper describes a new semi-empirical, approximate theory for predicting electrical conditions. In the approximate theory, analytical expressions are derived for calculating voltage-current characteristics and electric potential, electric field, and space charge density distri...

Cyclotron resonance of the magnetic ratchet effect and second harmonic generation in bilayer graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kheirabadi, Narjes; McCann, Edward; Fal'ko, Vladimir I.

2018-02-01

We model the magnetic ratchet effect in bilayer graphene in which a dc electric current is produced by an ac electric field of frequency ω in the presence of a steady in-plane magnetic field and inversion-symmetry breaking. In bilayer graphene, the ratchet effect is tunable by an external metallic gate which breaks inversion symmetry. For zero in-plane magnetic field, we show that trigonal warping and inversion-symmetry breaking are able to produce a large dc valley current, but not a nonzero total dc charge current. For the magnetic ratchet in a tilted magnetic field, the perpendicular field component induces cyclotron motion with frequency ωc and we find that the dc current displays cyclotron resonance at ωc=ω , although this peak in the current is actually smaller than its value at ωc=0 . Second harmonic generation, however, is greatly enhanced by resonances at ωc=ω and ωc=2 ω for which the current is generally much larger than at ωc=0 .

Effects of Induced Electric Fields on Tissues and Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sequin, Emily Katherine

Cancer remains a substantial health burden in the United States. Traditional treatments for solid malignancies may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, or surgical resection. Improved surgical outcomes coincide with increased information regarding the tumor extent in the operating room. Furthermore, pathological examination and diagnosis is bettered when the pathologist has additional information about lesion locations on the large resected specimens from which they take a small sample for microscopic evaluation. Likewise, cancer metastasis is a leading cause of cancer death. Fully understanding why a particular tumor becomes metastatic as well as the mechanisms of cell migration are critical to both preventing metastasis and treating it. This dissertation utilizes the complex interactions of induced electric fields with tissues and cells to meet two complementary research goals. First, eddy currents are induced in tissues using a coaxial eddy current probe (8mm diameter) in order to distinguish tumor tissue from surrounding normal tissue to address the needs of surgeons performing curative cancer resections. Measurements on animal tissue phantoms characterize the eddy current measurement finding that the effective probing area corresponds to about twice the diameter of the probe and that the specimen temperature must be constant for reliable measurements. Measurements on ten fresh tissue specimens from human patients undergoing surgical resection for liver metastases from colorectal cancer showed that the eddy current measurement technique can be used to differentiate tumors from surrounding liver tissue in a non-destructive, non-invasive manner. Furthermore, the differentiation between the tumor and normal tissues required no use of contrast agents. Statistically significant differences between eddy current measurements in three tissue categories, tumor, normal, and interface, were found across patients using a Tukey's pairwise comparison. Moreover, the first eddy current image of the interface region between tumor and normal tissues is presented. Secondly, the effects of induced electric fields on cell motility are explored as cell motility plays an important role in both cancer metastasis and the healing of chronic wounds. Human keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay was reduced by about 50% under the influence of a 1 Hz induced electric field with a maximum field strength of approximately 34.3 microV/cm. A modified Transwell migration assay was developed to study to migration of metastatic breast cancer cells under the influence of an induced electric field at 100 kHz and maximum field strength of 11.2 microV/cm. It was shown that low frequency, low magnitude, noncontact electric fields can overcome the effects of the chemoattractants SDF1aalpha and EGF. This suggests a possible therapeutic benefit for the treatment of metastatic cancer with non-invasive, induced electric fields. In essence, this work has laid the foundation for exploring the use of non-contact, induced electric fields to study the properties of tissues and cells. These findings support the further development of eddy current technology into a tool useful in the operating room for surgeons seeking information on surgical margin quality. Furthermore, the modifications to standard migration assays offer new ways to study cell motility.

Pulsed plasmoid electric propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bourque, Robert F.; Parks, Paul B.; Tamano, Teruo

1990-01-01

A method of electric propulsion is explored where plasmoids such as spheromaks and field reversed configurations (FRC) are formed and then allowed to expand down a diverging conducting shell. The plasmoids contain a toroidal electric current that provides both heating and a confining magnetic field. They are free to translate because there are no externally supplied magnetic fields that would restrict motion. Image currents in the diverging conducting shell keep the plasmoids from contacting the wall. Because these currents translate relative to the wall, losses due to magnetic flux diffusion into the wall are minimized. During the expansion of the plasma in the diverging cone, both the inductive and thermal plasma energy are converted to directed kinetic energy producing thrust. Specific impulses can be in the 4000 to 20000 sec range with thrusts from 0.1 to 1000 Newtons, depending on available power.

A measurement of perpendicular current density in an aurora

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bering, E. A.; Mozer, F. S.

1975-01-01

A Nike Tomahawk sounding rocket was launched into a 400-gamma auroral substorm from Esrange, Kiruna, Sweden. The rocket instrumentation included a split Langmuir-probe plasma-velocity detector and a double-probe electric-field detector. Above 140-km altitude, the electric field deduced from the ion-flow velocity measurement and the electric field measured by the double probe agree to an accuracy within the uncertainties of the two measurements. The difference between the two measurements at altitudes below 140 km provides an in situ measurement of current density and conductivity. Alternatively, if values for the conductivity are assumed, the neutral-wind velocity can be deduced. The height-integrated current was 0.11 A/m flowing at an azimuth angle of 276 deg. The neutral winds were strong, exhibited substantial altitude variation in the east-west component, and were predominantly southward.

The magnetospheric electric field and convective processes as diagnostics of the IMF and solar wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaye, S. M.

1979-01-01

Indirect measurements of the convection field as well as direct of the ionospheric electric field provide a means to at least monitor quanitatively solar wind processes. For instance, asymmetries in the ionospheric electric field and ionospheric Hall currents over the polar cap reflect the solar wind sector polarity. A stronger electric field, and thus convective flow, is found on the side of the polar cap where the y component of the IMF is parallel to the y component of the geomagnetic field. Additionally, the magnitude of the electric field and convective southward B sub Z and/or solar wind velocity, and thus may indicate the arrival at Earth of an interaction region in the solar wind. It is apparent that processes associated with the convention electric field may be used to predict large scale features in the solar wind; however, with present empirical knowledge it is not possible to make quantitative predictions of individual solar wind or IMF parameters.

Electric Fields near RF Heating and Current Drive Antennas in Tore Supra Measured with Dynamic Stark Effect Spectroscopy*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klepper, C. C.; Martin, E. H.; Isler, R. C.; Colas, L.; Hillairet, J.; Marandet, Y.; Lotte, Ph.; Colledani, G.; Martin, V.; Hillis, D. L.; Harris, J. H.; Saoutic, B.

2011-10-01

Computational models of the interaction between RF waves and the scrape-off layer plasma near ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICRH) and lower hybrid current drive launch antennas are continuously improving. These models mainly predict the RF electric fields produced in the SOL and, therefore, the best measurement for verification of these models would be a direct measurement of these electric fields. Both types of launch antennas are used on Tore Supra and are designed for high power (up to 4MW/antenna) and long pulse (> > 25s) operation. Direct, non-intrusive measurement of the RF electric fields in the vicinity of these structures is achieved by fitting spectral profiles of deuterium Balmer-alpha and Balmer-beta to a model that includes the dynamic, external-field Stark effect, as well as Zeeman splitting and Doppler broadening mechanisms. The measurements are compared to the mentioned, near-field region, RF antenna models. *Work supported in part by the US DOE under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle, LLC.

One-dimensional models of quasi-neutral parallel electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1981-01-01

Parallel electric fields can exist in the magnetic mirror geometry of auroral field lines if they conform to the quasineutral equilibrium solutions. Results on quasi-neutral equilibria and on double layer discontinuities were reviewed and the effects on such equilibria due to non-unique solutions, potential barriers and field aligned current flows using as inputs monoenergetic isotropic distribution functions were examined.

Aerosols and seismo-ionosphere coupling: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Namgaladze, Aleksandr; Karpov, Mikhail; Knyazeva, Maria

2018-06-01

The role of atmosphere aerosols in the global electric circuit, particularly during earthquakes preparation periods, is discussed in this review paper. Aerosols participate in production and transport of electric charges as well as in clouds formation. Satellite imagery shows increased aerosol optical depth over the tectonic faults and formation of the anomalous clouds aligned with the faults shortly before the earthquake shocks. At the same time variations of the ionospheric electric field and total electron content (TEC) are observed. We assume that the vertical electric current is generated over the fault due to the separation and vertical transport of charges with different masses and polarities. This charges the ionosphere positively relative to the Earth in the same way as the thunderstorm currents do. The resulting electric field in the ionosphere drives F2-layer plasma via the electromagnetic [E→ ×B→ ] drift and decreases or increases electron density depending on the configuration of the electric field, thus, creating observed negative or positive TEC disturbances. The important role of the electric dynamo effect in these processes is underlined.

Reexamination of Induction Heating of Primitive Bodies in Protoplanetary Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menzel, Raymond L.; Roberge, Wayne G.

2013-10-01

We reexamine the unipolar induction mechanism for heating asteroids originally proposed in a classic series of papers by Sonett and collaborators. As originally conceived, induction heating is caused by the "motional electric field" that appears in the frame of an asteroid immersed in a fully ionized, magnetized solar wind and drives currents through its interior. However, we point out that classical induction heating contains a subtle conceptual error, in consequence of which the electric field inside the asteroid was calculated incorrectly. The problem is that the motional electric field used by Sonett et al. is the electric field in the freely streaming plasma far from the asteroid; in fact, the motional field vanishes at the asteroid surface for realistic assumptions about the plasma density. In this paper we revisit and improve the induction heating scenario by (1) correcting the conceptual error by self-consistently calculating the electric field in and around the boundary layer at the asteroid-plasma interface; (2) considering weakly ionized plasmas consistent with current ideas about protoplanetary disks; and (3) considering more realistic scenarios that do not require a fully ionized, powerful T Tauri wind in the disk midplane. We present exemplary solutions for two highly idealized flows that show that the interior electric field can either vanish or be comparable to the fields predicted by classical induction depending on the flow geometry. We term the heating driven by these flows "electrodynamic heating," calculate its upper limits, and compare them to heating produced by short-lived radionuclides.

The point spread function of the human head and its implications for transcranial current stimulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dmochowski, Jacek P.; Bikson, Marom; Parra, Lucas C.

2012-10-01

Rational development of transcranial current stimulation (tCS) requires solving the ‘forward problem’: the computation of the electric field distribution in the head resulting from the application of scalp currents. Derivation of forward models has represented a major effort in brain stimulation research, with model complexity ranging from spherical shells to individualized head models based on magnetic resonance imagery. Despite such effort, an easily accessible benchmark head model is greatly needed when individualized modeling is either undesired (to observe general population trends as opposed to individual differences) or unfeasible. Here, we derive a closed-form linear system which relates the applied current to the induced electric potential. It is shown that in the spherical harmonic (Fourier) domain, a simple scalar multiplication relates the current density on the scalp to the electric potential in the brain. Equivalently, the current density in the head follows as the spherical convolution between the scalp current distribution and the point spread function of the head, which we derive. Thus, if one knows the spherical harmonic representation of the scalp current (i.e. the electrode locations and current intensity to be employed), one can easily compute the resulting electric field at any point inside the head. Conversely, one may also readily determine the scalp current distribution required to generate an arbitrary electric field in the brain (the ‘backward problem’ in tCS). We demonstrate the simplicity and utility of the model with a series of characteristic curves which sweep across a variety of stimulation parameters: electrode size, depth of stimulation, head size and anode-cathode separation. Finally, theoretically optimal montages for targeting an infinitesimal point in the brain are shown.

Chiral current generation in QED by longitudinal photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acosta Avalo, J. L.; Pérez Rojas, H.

2016-08-01

We report the generation of a pseudovector electric current having imbalanced chirality in an electron-positron strongly magnetized gas in QED. It propagates along the external applied magnetic field B as a chiral magnetic effect in QED. It is triggered by a perturbative electric field parallel to B, associated to a pseudovector longitudinal mode propagating along B. An electromagnetic chemical potential was introduced, but our results remain valid even when it vanishes. A nonzero fermion mass was assumed, which is usually considered vanishing in the literature. In the quantum field theory formalism at finite temperature and density, an anomaly relation for the axial current was found for a medium of massive fermions. It bears some analogy to the Adler-Bell-Jackiw anomaly. From the expression for the chiral current in terms of the photon self-energy tensor in a medium, it is obtained that electrons and positrons scattered by longitudinal photons (inside the light cone) contribute to the chiral current, as well as the to pair creation due to longitudinal photons (out of light cone). In the static limit, an electric pseudovector current is obtained in the lowest Landau level.

Space Technology 5 Multi-Point Observations of Temporal Variability of Field-Aligned Currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, Guan; Wang, Yongli; Slavin, James A.; Strangeway, Robert J.

2008-01-01

Space Technology 5 (ST5) is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, sun-synchronous polar orbit from March 22 to June 21, 2006, for technology validations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using multi-point magnetic field measurements from ST5. The data demonstrate that meso-scale current structures are commonly embedded within large-scale field-aligned current sheets. The meso-scale current structures are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in time scales of approximately 10 min. They exhibit large temporal variations during both quiet and disturbed times in such time scales. On the other hand, the data also shown that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are approximately 1 min for meso-scale currents and approximately 10 min for large scale current sheets. These temporal features are obviously associated with dynamic variations of their particle carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of meso-scale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.

Space Technology 5 (ST-5) Observations of Field-Aligned Currents: Temporal Variability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, Guan

2010-01-01

Space Technology 5 (ST-5) is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, sun-synchronous polar orbit from March 22 to June 21, 2006, for technology validations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using multi-point magnetic field measurements from STS. The data demonstrate that masoscale current structures are commonly embedded within large-scale field-aligned current sheets. The meso-scale current structures are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in time scales of about 10 min. They exhibit large temporal variations during both quiet and disturbed times in such time scales. On the other hand, the data also shown that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are about I min for meso-scale currents and about 10 min for large scale current sheets. These temporal features are obviously associated with dynamic variations of their particle carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of meso-scale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.

Space Technology 5 Multi-point Observations of Field-aligned Currents: Temporal Variability of Meso-Scale Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, Guan; Wang, Yongli; Slavin, James A.; Strangeway, Robert J.

2007-01-01

Space Technology 5 (ST5) is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, sun-synchronous polar orbit from March 22 to June 21, 2006, for technology validations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using multi-point magnetic field measurements from ST5. The data demonstrate that meso-scale current structures are commonly embedded within large-scale field-aligned current sheets. The meso-scale current structures are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in time scales of - 10 min. They exhibit large temporal variations during both quiet and disturbed times in such time scales. On the other hand, the data also shown that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are approx. 1 min for meso-scale currents and approx. 10 min for large scale current sheets. These temporal features are obviously associated with dynamic variations of their particle carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of meso-scale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.

Space Technology 5 (ST-5) Multipoint Observations of Temporal and Spatial Variability of Field-Aligned Currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, Guan

2010-01-01

Space Technology 5 (ST-5) is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, sun-synchronous polar orbit from March 22 to June 21, 2006, for technology validations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using multi-point magnetic field measurements from ST5. The data demonstrate that mesoscale current structures are commonly embedded within large-scale field-aligned current sheets. The meso-scale current structures are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in time scales of about 10 min. They exhibit large temporal variations during both quiet and disturbed times in such time scales. On the other hand, the data also shown that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are about 1 min for meso-scale currents and about 10 min for large scale current sheets. These temporal features are obviously associated with dynamic variations of their particle carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of meso-scale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.

Field-induced inversion of resonant tunneling currents through single molecule junctions and the directional photo-electric effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuperman, Maayan; Peskin, Uri

2017-03-01

It has been known for several decades that the electric current through tunneling junctions is affected by irradiation. In particular, photon-assisted currents by asymmetric irradiation of the two leads was demonstrated and studied extensively in tunneling junctions of different compositions and for different radiation wavelengths. In this work, this phenomenon is revisited in the context of single molecule junctions. Restricting the theoretical discussion to adiabatic periodic driving of one lead with respect to the other within a non-interacting electron formulation, the main features of specific molecules are encoded in the discrete electronic energy levels. The detailed level structure of the molecule is shown to yield new effects in the presence of asymmetric driving of the leads. In particular, when the field-free tunneling process is dominated by a single electronic level, the electric current can be suppressed to zero or flow against the direction of an applied static bias. In the presence of a second electronic level, a directional photo-electric effect is predicted, where not only the magnitude but also the direction of the steady state electric current through the tunneling junction can be changed by a monotonous increase of the field intensity. These effects are analyzed and explained by outlying the relevant theory, using analytic expressions in the wide-band limit, as well as numerical simulations beyond this limit.

Neuronal responses to an asymmetrical alternating current field can mimic those produced by an imposed direct current field in vitro.

PubMed

Pan, Linjie; Cirillo, John; Borgens, Richard Ben

2012-08-01

The remarkable polarity-dependent growth and anatomical organization of neurons in vitro produced by imposed direct current (DC) voltage gradients (electrical fields; Ef) can be mimicked by another type of electrical cue. This is a properly structured asymmetrical alternating current (AC) electrical field (A-ACEf). Here we provide details on the construction of an AC signal generator in which all components of an AC waveform can be individually controlled. We show that 1) conventional symmetrical AC voltage gradients will not induce growth, guidance, or architectural changes in sympathetic neurons. We also provide the first qualitative and quantitative data showing that an asymmetric AC application can indeed mimic the DC response in chick sympathetic neurons and their growing neurites. This shift in orientation and neuronal anatomy requires dieback of some neurites and the extension of others to produce a preferred orientation perpendicular to the gradient of voltage. Our new results may lead to a noninvasive means to modify nerve growth and organization by magnetic inductive coupling at distance. These data also indicate the possibility of a means to mimic DC-dependent release of drugs or other biologically active molecules from electrically sensitive that can be loaded with these chemical cargos. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The feasibility of inflight measurement of lightning strike parameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouch, K. E.; Plumer, J. A.

1978-01-01

The appearance of nonmetallic structural materials and microelectronics in aircraft design has resulted in a need for better knowledge of hazardous environments such as lightning and the effects these environments have on the aircraft. This feasibility study was performed to determine the lightning parameters in the greatest need of clarification and the performance requirements of equipment necessary to sense and record these parameters on an instrumented flight research aircraft. It was found that electric field rate of change, lightning currents, and induced voltages in aircraft wiring are the parameters of greatest importance. Flat-plate electric field sensors and resistive current shunts are proposed for electric field and current sensors, to provide direct measurements of these parameters. Six bit analog-to-digital signal conversion at a 5 nanosecond sampling rate, short-term storage of 85000 bits and long term storage of 5 x 10 to the 7th power bits of electric field, current and induced voltage data on the airplane are proposed, with readout and further analysis to be accomplished on the ground. A NASA F-106B was found to be suitable for use as the research aircraft because it has a minimum number of possible lightning attachment points, space for the necessary instrumentation, and appears to meet operational requirements. Safety considerations are also presented.

Associating ground magnetometer observations with current or voltage generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartinger, M. D.; Xu, Z.; Clauer, C. R.; Yu, Y.; Weimer, D. R.; Kim, H.; Pilipenko, V.; Welling, D. T.; Behlke, R.; Willer, A. N.

2017-07-01

A circuit analogy for magnetosphere-ionosphere current systems has two extremes for drivers of ionospheric currents: ionospheric electric fields/voltages constant while current/conductivity vary—the "voltage generator"—and current constant while electric field/conductivity vary—the "current generator." Statistical studies of ground magnetometer observations associated with dayside Transient High Latitude Current Systems (THLCS) driven by similar mechanisms find contradictory results using this paradigm: some studies associate THLCS with voltage generators, others with current generators. We argue that most of this contradiction arises from two assumptions used to interpret ground magnetometer observations: (1) measurements made at fixed position relative to the THLCS field-aligned current and (2) negligible auroral precipitation contributions to ionospheric conductivity. We use observations and simulations to illustrate how these two assumptions substantially alter expectations for magnetic perturbations associated with either a current or a voltage generator. Our results demonstrate that before interpreting ground magnetometer observations of THLCS in the context of current/voltage generators, the location of a ground magnetometer station relative to the THLCS field-aligned current and the location of any auroral zone conductivity enhancements need to be taken into account.

Current balancing for battery strings

DOEpatents

Galloway, James H.

1985-01-01

A battery plant is described which features magnetic circuit means for balancing the electrical current flow through a pluraliircuitbattery strings which are connected electrically in parallel. The magnetic circuit means is associated with the battery strings such that the conductors carrying the electrical current flow through each of the battery strings pass through the magnetic circuit means in directions which cause the electromagnetic fields of at least one predetermined pair of the conductors to oppose each other. In an alternative embodiment, a low voltage converter is associated with each of the battery strings for balancing the electrical current flow through the battery strings.

Lightning current detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Livermore, S. F. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

An apparatus for measuring the intensity of current produced in an elongated electrical conductive member by a lightning strike for determining the intensity of the lightning strike is presented. The apparatus includes an elongated strip of magnetic material that is carried within an elongated tubular housing. A predetermined electrical signal is recorded along the length of said elongated strip of magnetic material. One end of the magnetic material is positioned closely adjacent to the electrically conductive member so that the magnetic field produced by current flowing through said electrically conductive member disturbs a portion of the recorded electrical signal directly proportional to the intensity of the lightning strike.

Regional United States electric field and GIC hazard impacts (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gannon, J. L.; Balch, C. C.; Trichtchenko, L.

2013-12-01

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) are primarily driven by impulsive geomagnetic disturbances created by the interaction between the Earth's magnetosphere and sharp velocity, density, and magnetic field enhancements in the solar wind. However, the magnitude of the induced electric field response at the ground level, and therefore the resulting hazard to the bulk power system, is determined not only by magnetic drivers, but also by the underlying geology. Convolution techniques are used to calculate surface electric fields beginning from the spectral characteristics of magnetic field drivers and the frequency response of the local geology. Using these techniques, we describe historical scenarios for regions across the United States, and the potential impact of large events on electric power infrastructure.

Thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator

DOEpatents

Wheatley, J.C.; Swift, G.W.; Migliori, A.

1984-11-16

A thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator includes an intrinsically irreversible thermoacoustic heat engine coupled to a magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator. The heat engine includes an electrically conductive liquid metal as the working fluid and includes two heat exchange and thermoacoustic structure assemblies which drive the liquid in a push-pull arrangement to cause the liquid metal to oscillate at a resonant acoustic frequency on the order of 1000 Hz. The engine is positioned in the field of a magnet and is oriented such that the liquid metal oscillates in a direction orthogonal to the field of the magnet, whereby an alternating electrical potential is generated in the liquid metal. Low-loss, low-inductance electrical conductors electrically connected to opposite sides of the liquid metal conduct an output signal to a transformer adapted to convert the low-voltage, high-current output signal to a more usable higher voltage, lower current signal.

Thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator

DOEpatents

Wheatley, John C.; Swift, Gregory W.; Migliori, Albert

1986-01-01

A thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator includes an intrinsically irreversible thermoacoustic heat engine coupled to a magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator. The heat engine includes an electrically conductive liquid metal as the working fluid and includes two heat exchange and thermoacoustic structure assemblies which drive the liquid in a push-pull arrangement to cause the liquid metal to oscillate at a resonant acoustic frequency on the order of 1,000 Hz. The engine is positioned in the field of a magnet and is oriented such that the liquid metal oscillates in a direction orthogonal to the field of the magnet, whereby an alternating electrical potential is generated in the liquid metal. Low-loss, low-inductance electrical conductors electrically connected to opposite sides of the liquid metal conduct an output signal to a transformer adapted to convert the low-voltage, high-current output signal to a more usable higher voltage, lower current signal.

Ion transport and loss in the Earth's quiet ring current. 2: Diffusion and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheldon, R. B.

1994-01-01

We have studied the transport and loss of H(+), He(+), and He(++) ions in the Earth's quiet time ring current (1 to 300 keV/e, 3 to 7 R(sub E), Kp less than 2+, absolute value of Dst less than 11, 70 to 110 degs pitchangles, all LT) comparing the standard radial diffusion model developed for the higher-energy radiation belt particles with measurements of the lower energy ring current ions in a previous paper. Large deviations of that model, which fit only 50% of the data to within a factor of 10, suggested that another transport mechanism is operating in the ring current. Here we derive a modified diffusion coefficient corrected for electric field effects on ring current energy ions that fit nearly 80% of the data to within a factor of 2. Thus we infer that electric field fluctuations from the low-latitude to midlatitude ionosphere (ionospheric dynamo) dominated the ring current transport, rather than high-latitude or solar wind fluctuations. Much of the remaining deviation may arise from convective electric field transport of the E less than 30 keV particles. Since convection effects cannot be correctly treated with this azimuthally symmetric model, we defer treatment of the lowest-energy ions to a another paper. We give chi(exp 2) contours for the best fit, showing the dependence of the fit upon the internal/external spectral power of the predicted electric and magnetic field fluctuations.

Magnetic loss and B(H) behaviour of non-oriented electrical sheets under a trapezoidal exciting field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kedous-Lebouc, A.; Errard, S.; Cornut, B.; Brissonneau, P.

1994-05-01

The excess loss and hysteresis response of electrical steel are measured and discussed in the case of trapezoidal field excitation similar to the current provided by a current commutation supply of a self-synchronous rotating machine. Three industrial non-oriented SiFe samples of different magnetic grades and thicknesses are tested using an automatic Epstein frame equipment. The losses and the unusual observed B( H) loops are analysed in terms of the rate of change of the field, the diffusion of the induction inside the sheet and by the calculation of the theoretical hysteresis cycles due to the eddy currents.

Electric breakdown during the pulsed current spreading in the sand

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vasilyak, L. M., E-mail: vasilyak@ihed.ras.ru; Vetchinin, S. P.; Panov, V. A.

2016-03-15

Processes of spreading of the pulsed current from spherical electrodes and an electric breakdown in the quartz sand are studied experimentally. When the current density on the electrode exceeds the critical value, a nonlinear reduction occurs in the grounding resistance as a result of sparking in the soil. The critical electric field strengths for ionization and breakdown are determined. The ionization-overheating instability is shown to develop on the electrode, which leads to the current contraction and formation of plasma channels.

A current disruption mechanism in the neutral sheet - A possible trigger for substorm expansions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lui, A. T. Y.; Mankofsky, A.; Chang, C.-L.; Papadopoulos, K.; Wu, C. S.

1990-01-01

A linear analysis is performed to investigate the kinetic cross-field streaming instability in the earth's magnetotail neutral sheet region. Numerical solution of the dispersion equation shows that the instability can occur under conditions expected for the neutral sheet just prior to the onset of substorm expansion. The excited waves are obliquely propagating whistlers with a mixed polarization in the lower hybrid frequency range. The ensuing turbulence of this instability can lead to a local reduction of the cross-tail current causing it to continue through the ionosphere to form a substorm current wedge. A substorm expansion onset scenario is proposed based on this instability in which the relative drift between ions and electrons is primarily due to unmagnetized ions undergoing current sheet acceleration in the presence of a cross-tail electric field. The required electric field strength is within the range of electric field values detected in the neutral sheet region during substorm intervals. The skew in local time of substorm onset location and the three conditions under which substorm onset is observed can be understood on the basis of the proposed scenario.

Generation of coronal electric currents due to convective motions on the photosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakurai, T.; Levine, R. H.

1981-09-01

Generation of electric currents in a magnetized plasma overlying a dense convective layer is studied, assuming that the magnetic field perturbation is small and satisfies the force-free equation. Currents are produced by rotational motions on the boundary in the case of a uniform equilibrium field. In a simple two-dimensional bipolar configuration, however, both irrotational and incompressible motions give rise to currents, and the current density has a peak at the magnetic neutral line. Scaling laws for the current density as well as for the stored magnetic energy are derived, and the possibility of heating the solar corona through the dissipation of coronal currents generated in this way is discussed.

Generation of coronal electric currents due to convective motions on the photosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakurai, T.; Levine, R. H.

1981-01-01

Generation of electric currents in a magnetized plasma overlying a dense convective layer is studied, assuming that the magnetic field perturbation is small and satisfies the force-free equation. Currents are produced by rotational motions on the boundary in the case of a uniform equilibrium field. In a simple two-dimensional bipolar configuration, however, both irrotational and incompressible motions give rise to currents, and the current density has a peak at the magnetic neutral line. Scaling laws for the current density as well as for the stored magnetic energy are derived, and the possibility of heating the solar corona through the dissipation of coronal currents generated in this way is discussed.

Rationale for a GRAVSAT-MAGSAT mission: A perspective on the problem of external/internal transient field effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hermance, J. F.

1985-01-01

The Earth's magnetic field at MAGSAT altitudes not only has contributions from the Earth's core and static magnetization in the lithosphere, but also from external electric current systems in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, along with induced electric currents flowing in the conducting earth. Hermance assessed these last two contributions; the external time-varying fields and their associated internal counter-parts which are electromagnetically induced. It is readily recognized that during periods of magnetic disturbance, external currents often contribute from 10's to 100's of nanoteslas (gammas) to observations of the Earth's field. Since static anomalies from lithospheric magnetization are of this same magnitude or less, these external source fields must be taken into account when attempting to delineate gross structural features in the crust.

Magnetic Field of Conductive Objects as Superposition of Elementary Eddy Currents and Eddy Current Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sukhanov, D. Ya.; Zav'yalova, K. V.

2018-03-01

The paper represents induced currents in an electrically conductive object as a totality of elementary eddy currents. The proposed scanning method includes measurements of only one component of the secondary magnetic field. Reconstruction of the current distribution is performed by deconvolution with regularization. Numerical modeling supported by the field experiments show that this approach is of direct practical relevance.

Analysis of the Diurnal Variation of the Global Electric Circuit Obtained From Different Numerical Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jánský, Jaroslav; Lucas, Greg M.; Kalb, Christina; Bayona, Victor; Peterson, Michael J.; Deierling, Wiebke; Flyer, Natasha; Pasko, Victor P.

2017-12-01

This work analyzes different current source and conductivity parameterizations and their influence on the diurnal variation of the global electric circuit (GEC). The diurnal variations of the current source parameterizations obtained using electric field and conductivity measurements from plane overflights combined with global Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite data give generally good agreement with measured diurnal variation of the electric field at Vostok, Antarctica, where reference experimental measurements are performed. An approach employing 85 GHz passive microwave observations to infer currents within the GEC is compared and shows the best agreement in amplitude and phase with experimental measurements. To study the conductivity influence, GEC models solving the continuity equation in 3-D are used to calculate atmospheric resistance using yearly averaged conductivity obtained from the global circulation model Community Earth System Model (CESM). Then, using current source parameterization combining mean currents and global counts of electrified clouds, if the exponential conductivity is substituted by the conductivity from CESM, the peak to peak diurnal variation of the ionospheric potential of the GEC decreases from 24% to 20%. The main reason for the change is the presence of clouds while effects of 222Rn ionization, aerosols, and topography are less pronounced. The simulated peak to peak diurnal variation of the electric field at Vostok is increased from 15% to 18% from the diurnal variation of the global current in the GEC if conductivity from CESM is used.

Effects of Energy Relaxation via Quantum Coupling Among Three-Dimensional Motion on the Tunneling Current of Graphene Field-Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Mao, Ling-Feng; Ning, Huansheng; Li, Xijun

2015-12-01

We report theoretical study of the effects of energy relaxation on the tunneling current through the oxide layer of a two-dimensional graphene field-effect transistor. In the channel, when three-dimensional electron thermal motion is considered in the Schrödinger equation, the gate leakage current at a given oxide field largely increases with the channel electric field, electron mobility, and energy relaxation time of electrons. Such an increase can be especially significant when the channel electric field is larger than 1 kV/cm. Numerical calculations show that the relative increment of the tunneling current through the gate oxide will decrease with increasing the thickness of oxide layer when the oxide is a few nanometers thick. This highlights that energy relaxation effect needs to be considered in modeling graphene transistors.

40 CFR 63.11454 - What are the monitoring requirements for new and existing sources?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... must monitor the secondary voltage and secondary electrical current to each field of the ESP according... this subpart and is controlled with an ESP, you must monitor the voltage and electrical current to each...

40 CFR 63.11454 - What are the monitoring requirements for new and existing sources?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... must monitor the secondary voltage and secondary electrical current to each field of the ESP according... this subpart and is controlled with an ESP, you must monitor the voltage and electrical current to each...

40 CFR 63.11454 - What are the monitoring requirements for new and existing sources?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... must monitor the secondary voltage and secondary electrical current to each field of the ESP according... this subpart and is controlled with an ESP, you must monitor the voltage and electrical current to each...

40 CFR 63.11454 - What are the monitoring requirements for new and existing sources?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... must monitor the secondary voltage and secondary electrical current to each field of the ESP according... this subpart and is controlled with an ESP, you must monitor the voltage and electrical current to each...

Electric Field Controlled Magnetism in BiFeO3/Ferromagnet Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holcomb, M. B.; Chu, Y. H.; Martin, L. W.; Gajek, M.; Seidel, J.; Ramesh, R.; Scholl, A.; Fraile-Rodriguez, A.

2008-03-01

Electric field control of magnetism is a hot technological topic at the moment due to its potential to revolutionize today's devices. Magnetoelectric materials, those having both electric and magnetic order and the potential for coupling between the two, are a promising avenue to approach electric control. BiFeO3, both a ferroelectric and an antiferromagnet, is the only single phase room temperature magnetoelectric that is currently known. In addition to other possibilities, its multiferroic nature has potential in the very active field of exchange bias, where an antiferromagnetic thin film pins the magnetic direction of an adjoining ferromagnetic layer. Since this antiferromagnet is electrically tunable, this coupling could allow electric-field control of the ferromagnetic magnetization. Direction determination of antiferromagnetic domains in BFO has recently been shown using linear and circular dichroism studies. Recently, this technique has been extended to look at the magnetic domains of a ferromagnetic grown on top of BFO. The clear magnetic changes induced by application of electric fields reveal the possibility of electric control.

Influence of electrical fields (AC and DC) on phytoremediation of metal polluted soils with rapeseed (Brassica napus) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

PubMed

Bi, Ran; Schlaak, Michael; Siefert, Eike; Lord, Richard; Connolly, Helen

2011-04-01

The combined use of electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation to decontaminate soil polluted with heavy metals has been demonstrated in a laboratory-scale experiment. The plants species selected were rapeseed and tobacco. Three kinds of soil were used: un-contaminated soil from forest area (S1), artificially contaminated soil with 15mgkg(-1) Cd (S2) and multi-contaminated soil with Cd, Zn and Pb from an industrial area (S3). Three treatment conditions were applied to the plants growing in the experimental vessels: control (no electrical field), alternating current electrical field (AC, 1Vcm(-1)) and direct current electrical field (DC, 1Vcm(-1)) with switching polarity every 3h. The electrical fields were applied for 30d for rapeseed and 90d for tobacco, each experiment had three replicates. After a total of 90d growth for rapeseed and of 180d for tobacco, the plants were harvested. The pH variation from anode to cathode was eliminated by switching the polarity of the DC field. The plants reacted differently under the applied electrical field. Rapeseed biomass was enhanced under the AC field and no negative effect was found under DC field. However, no enhancement of the tobacco biomass under the AC treatment was found. The DC field had a negative influence on biomass production on tobacco plants. In general, Cd content was higher in both species growing in S2 treated with AC field compared to the control. Metal uptake (Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb) per rapeseed plant shoot was enhanced by the application of AC field in all soils. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of Hurst exponent on cold field electron emission from conducting materials: from electric field distribution to Fowler-Nordheim plots

PubMed Central

de Assis, T. A.

2015-01-01

This work considers the effects of the Hurst exponent (H) on the local electric field distribution and the slope of the Fowler-Nordheim (FN) plot when considering the cold field electron emission properties of rough Large-Area Conducting Field Emitter Surfaces (LACFESs). A LACFES is represented by a self-affine Weierstrass-Mandelbrot function in a given spatial direction. For 0.1 ≤ H < 0.5, the local electric field distribution exhibits two clear exponential regimes. Moreover, a scaling between the macroscopic current density () and the characteristic kernel current density (), , with an H-dependent exponent , has been found. This feature, which is less pronounced (but not absent) in the range where more smooth surfaces have been found (), is a consequence of the dependency between the area efficiency of emission of a LACFES and the macroscopic electric field, which is often neglected in the interpretation of cold field electron emission experiments. Considering the recent developments in orthodox field emission theory, we show that the exponent must be considered when calculating the slope characterization parameter (SCP) and thus provides a relevant method of more precisely extracting the characteristic field enhancement factor from the slope of the FN plot. PMID:26035290

Non-conventional rule of making a periodically varying different-pole magnetic field in low-power alternating current electrical machines with using ring coils in multiphase armature winding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plastun, A. T.; Tikhonova, O. V.; Malygin, I. V.

2018-02-01

The paper presents methods of making a periodically varying different-pole magnetic field in low-power electrical machines. Authors consider classical designs of electrical machines and machines with ring windings in armature, structural features and calculated parameters of magnetic circuit for these machines.

A universal steady state I-V relationship for membrane current

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chernyak, Y. B.; Cohen, R. J. (Principal Investigator)

1995-01-01

A purely electrical mechanism for the gating of membrane ionic channel gives rise to a simple I-V relationship for membrane current. Our approach is based on the known presence of gating charge, which is an established property of the membrane channel gating. The gating charge is systematically treated as a polarization of the channel protein which varies with the external electric field and modifies the effective potential through which the ions migrate in the channel. Two polarization effects have been considered: 1) the up or down shift of the whole potential function, and 2) the change in the effective electric field inside the channel which is due to familiar effect of the effective reduction of the electric field inside a dielectric body because of the presence of surface charges on its surface. Both effects are linear in the channel polarization. The ionic current is described by a steady state solution of the Nernst-Planck equation with the potential directly controlled by the gating charge system. The solution describes reasonably well the steady state and peak-current I-V relationships for different channels, and when applied adiabatically, explains the time lag between the gating charge current and the rise of the ionic current. The approach developed can be useful as an effective way to model the ionic currents in axons, cardiac cells and other excitable tissues.

Phenomenological description of depoling current in Pb0.99Nb0.02(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.98O3 ferroelectric ceramics under shock wave compression: Relaxation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Dongdong; Du, Jinmei; Gu, Yan; Feng, Yujun

2012-05-01

By assuming a relaxation process for depolarization associated with the ferroelectric (FE) to antiferroelectric (AFE) phase transition in Pb0.99Nb0.02(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.98O3 ferroelectric ceramics under shock wave compression, we build a new model for the depoling current, which is different from both the traditional constant current source (CCS) model and the phase transition kinetics (PTK) model. The characteristic relaxation time and new-equilibrated polarization are dependent on both the shock pressure and electric field. After incorporating a Maxwell s equation, the relaxation model developed applies to all the depoling currents under short-circuit condition and high-impedance condition. Influences of shock pressure, load resistance, dielectric property, and electrical conductivity on the depoling current are also discussed. The relaxation model gives a good description about the suppressing effect of the self-generated electric field on the FE-to-AFE phase transition at low shock pressures, which cannot be described by the traditional models. After incorporating a time- and electric-field-dependent repolarization, this model predicts that the high-impedance current eventually becomes higher than the short-circuit current, which is consistent with the experimental results in the literature. Finally, we make the comparison between our relaxation model and the traditional CCS model and PTK model.

Near Earth Current Meander (Necm) Model of Substorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heikkila, W. J.; Chen, T.; Liu, Z. X.; Pu, Z. Y.; Pellinen, R. J.; Pulkkinen, T. I.

2001-01-01

We propose that the appropriate instability to trigger a substorm is a tailward meander (in the equatorial plane) of the strong current filament that develops during the growth phase. From this single assumption follows the entire sequence of events for a substorm. The main particle acceleration mechanism in the plasma sheet is curvature drift with a dawn-dusk electric field, leading to the production of auroral arcs. Eventually the curvature becomes so high that the ions cannot negotiate the sharp turn at the field-reversal region, locally, at a certain time. The particle motion becomes chaotic, causing a local outward meander of the cross-tail current. An induction electric field is produced by Lenz's law, E^ind=-∂A/∂t. An outward meander with B_z>0 will cause E×B flow everywhere out from the disturbance; this reaction is a macroscopic instability which we designate the electromotive instability. The response of the plasma is through charge separation and a scalar potential, E^es=-∇φ. Both types of electric fields have components parallel to B in a realistic magnetic field. For MHD theory to hold the net E_∥ must be small; this usually seems to happen (because MHD often does hold), but not always. Part of the response is the formation of field-aligned currents producing the well-known substorm current diversion. This is a direct result of a strong E_∥^ind (the cause) needed to overcome the mirror force of the current carriers; this enables charge separation to produce an opposing electrostatic field E_∥^es (the effect). Satellite data confirm the reality of a strong E_∥ in the plasma sheet by counter-streaming of electrons and ions, and by the inverse ion time dispersion, up to several 100 keV. The electron precipitation is associated with the westward traveling surge (WTS) and the ion with omega (Ω) bands, respectively. However, with zero curl, E^es cannot modify the emf ɛ=∮E.dl=-dΦ^M/dt of the inductive electric field E^ind (a property of vector fields); the charge separation that produces a reduction of E_∥ must enhance the transverse component E_⊥. The new plasma flow becomes a switch for access to the free energy of the stressed magnetotail. On the tailward side the dusk-dawn electric field with E.J<0 will cause tailward motion of the plasma and a plasmoid may be created; it will move in the direction of least magnetic pressure, tailward. On the earthward side the enhanced dawn-dusk induction electric field with E.J>0 will cause injection into the inner plasma sheet, repeatedly observed at moderate energies of 1-50 keV. This same electric field near the emerging X-line will accelerate particles non-adiabatically to moderate energies. With high magnetic moments in a weak magnetic field, electrons (ions) can benefit from gradient and curvature drift to attain high energies (by the ratio of the magnetic field magnitude) in seconds (minutes).

Electric field measurements in a near atmospheric pressure nanosecond pulse discharge with picosecond electric field induced second harmonic generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldberg, Benjamin M.; Chng, Tat Loon; Dogariu, Arthur; Miles, Richard B.

2018-02-01

We present an optical electric field measurement method for use in high pressure plasma discharges. The method is based upon the field induced second harmonic generation technique and can be used for localized electric field measurements with sub-nanosecond resolution in any gaseous species. When an external electric field is present, a dipole is induced in the typically centrosymmetric medium, allowing for second harmonic generation with signal intensities which scale by the square of the electric field. Calibrations have been carried out in 100 Torr room air, and a minimum sensitivity of 450 V/cm is demonstrated. Measurements were performed with nanosecond or faster temporal resolution in a 100 Torr room air environment both with and without a plasma present. It was shown that with no plasma present, the field follows the applied voltage to gap ratio, as measured using the back current shunt method. When the electric field is strong enough to exceed the breakdown threshold, the measured field was shown to exceed the anticipated voltage to gap ratio which is taken as an indication of the ionization wave front as it sweeps through the plasma volume.

Evaluation of local electric fields generated by transcranial direct current stimulation with an extracephalic reference electrode based on realistic 3D body modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Im, Chang-Hwan; Park, Ji-Hye; Shim, Miseon; Chang, Won Hyuk; Kim, Yun-Hee

2012-04-01

In this study, local electric field distributions generated by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with an extracephalic reference electrode were evaluated to address extracephalic tDCS safety issues. To this aim, we generated a numerical model of an adult male human upper body and applied the 3D finite element method to electric current conduction analysis. In our simulations, the active electrode was placed over the left primary motor cortex (M1) and the reference electrode was placed at six different locations: over the right temporal lobe, on the right supraorbital region, on the right deltoid, on the left deltoid, under the chin, and on the right buccinator muscle. The maximum current density and electric field intensity values in the brainstem generated by the extracephalic reference electrodes were comparable to, or even less than, those generated by the cephalic reference electrodes. These results suggest that extracephalic reference electrodes do not lead to unwanted modulation of the brainstem cardio-respiratory and autonomic centers, as indicated by recent experimental studies. The volume energy density was concentrated at the neck area by the use of deltoid reference electrodes, but was still smaller than that around the active electrode locations. In addition, the distributions of elicited cortical electric fields demonstrated that the use of extracephalic reference electrodes might allow for the robust prediction of cortical modulations with little dependence on the reference electrode locations.

Enhancing Food Processing by Pulsed and High Voltage Electric Fields: Principles and Applications.

PubMed

Wang, Qijun; Li, Yifei; Sun, Da-Wen; Zhu, Zhiwei

2018-02-02

Improvements in living standards result in a growing demand for food with high quality attributes including freshness, nutrition and safety. However, current industrial processing methods rely on traditional thermal and chemical methods, such as sterilization and solvent extraction, which could induce negative effects on food quality and safety. The electric fields (EFs) involving pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and high voltage electric fields (HVEFs) have been studied and developed for assisting and enhancing various food processes. In this review, the principles and applications of pulsed and high voltage electric fields are described in details for a range of food processes, including microbial inactivation, component extraction, and winemaking, thawing and drying, freezing and enzymatic inactivation. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of electric field related technologies are discussed to foresee future developments in the food industry. This review demonstrates that electric field technology has a great potential to enhance food processing by supplementing or replacing the conventional methods employed in different food manufacturing processes. Successful industrial applications of electric field treatments have been achieved in some areas such as microbial inactivation and extraction. However, investigations of HVEFs are still in an early stage and translating the technology into industrial applications need further research efforts.

Vertical electric field stimulation of neural cells on porous amorphous carbon electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Shilpee; Sharma, Ashutosh; Basu, Bikramjit

2014-03-01

We demonstrate the efficacy of amorphous macroporous carbon substrates as electrodes to stimulate neuronal cell proliferation in presence of external electric field. The electric field was applied perpendicular to carbon electrode, while growing mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells in vitro. The placement of the second electrode outside of the cell culture medium allows the investigation of cell response to electric field without the concurrent complexities of submerged electrodes such as potentially toxic electrode reactions, electro-kinetic flows and charge transfer (electrical current) in the cell medium. The macroporous carbon electrodes are uniquely characterized by a higher specific charge storage capacity (0.2 mC/cm2) and low impedance (3.3 k Ω at 1 kHz). When a uniform or a gradient electric field was applied perpendicular to the amorphous carbon substrate, it was found that the N2a cell viability and neurite length were higher at low electric field strengths (<= 2.5 V/cm) compared to that measured without an applied field (0 V/cm). Overall, the results of the present study unambiguously establish the uniform/gradient vertical electric field based culture protocol to stimulate neurite outgrowth and viability of nerve cells.

Electrical and Biological Effects of Transmission Lines: A Review.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Jack M.

1989-06-01

This review describes the electrical properties of a-c and d-c transmission lines and the resulting effects on plants, animals, and people. Methods used by BPA to mitigate undesirable effects are also discussed. Although much of the information in this review pertains to high-voltage transmission lines, information on distribution lines and electrical appliances is included. The electrical properties discussed are electric and magnetic fields and corona: first for alternating-current (a-c) lines, then for direct current (d-c).

FDTD modeling of thin impedance sheets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luebbers, Raymond; Kunz, Karl

1991-01-01

Thin sheets of resistive or dielectric material are commonly encountered in radar cross section calculations. Analysis of such sheets is simplified by using sheet impedances. It is shown that sheet impedances can be modeled easily and accurately using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) methods. These sheets are characterized by a discontinuity in the tangential magnetic field on either side of the sheet but no discontinuity in tangential electric field. This continuity, or single valued behavior of the electric field, allows the sheet current to be expressed in terms of an impedance multiplying this electric field.

Spatial buckling analysis of current-carrying nanowires in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field accounting for both surface and nonlocal effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foroutan, Shahin; Haghshenas, Amin; Hashemian, Mohammad; Eftekhari, S. Ali; Toghraie, Davood

2018-03-01

In this paper, three-dimensional buckling behavior of nanowires was investigated based on Eringen's Nonlocal Elasticity Theory. The electric current-carrying nanowires were affected by a longitudinal magnetic field based upon the Lorentz force. The nanowires (NWs) were modeled based on Timoshenko beam theory and the Gurtin-Murdoch's surface elasticity theory. Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) method was used to solve the governing equations of the NWs. Two sets of boundary conditions namely simple-simple and clamped-clamped were applied and the obtained results were discussed. Results demonstrated the effect of electric current, magnetic field, small-scale parameter, slenderness ratio, and nanowires diameter on the critical compressive buckling load of nanowires. As a key result, increasing the small-scale parameter decreased the critical load. By the same token, increasing the electric current, magnetic field, and slenderness ratio resulted in a decrease in the critical load. As the slenderness ratio increased, the effect of nonlocal theory decreased. In contrast, by expanding the NWs diameter, the nonlocal effect increased. Moreover, in the present article, the critical values of the magnetic field of strength and slenderness ratio were revealed, and the roles of the magnetic field, slenderness ratio, and NWs diameter on higher buckling loads were discussed.

Limiting electric fields of HVDC overhead power lines.

PubMed

Leitgeb, N

2014-05-01

As a consequence of the increased use of renewable energy and the now long distances between energy generation and consumption, in Europe, electric power transfer by high-voltage (HV) direct current (DC) overhead power lines gains increasing importance. Thousands of kilometers of them are going to be built within the next years. However, existing guidelines and regulations do not yet contain recommendations to limit static electric fields, which are one of the most important criteria for HVDC overhead power lines in terms of tower design, span width and ground clearance. Based on theoretical and experimental data, in this article, static electric fields associated with adverse health effects are analysed and various criteria are derived for limiting static electric field strengths.

Electron transport properties of bis[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-pyridine]beryllium investigated by impedance spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Yanping; Chen, Jiangshan; Huang, Jinying

2014-06-14

The electron transport properties of bis[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-pyridine] beryllium (Bepp{sub 2}) are investigated by impedance spectroscopy over a frequency range of 10 Hz to 13 MHz. The Cole-Cole plots demonstrate that the Bepp{sub 2}-based device can be represented by a single parallel resistance R{sub p} and capacitance C{sub p} network with a series resistance R{sub s}. The current-voltage characteristics and the variation of R{sub p} with applied bias voltage indicate the electron conduction of space-charge-limited current with exponential trap distributions in Bepp{sub 2}. It can be seen that the electron mobility exhibits strong field-dependence in low electric field region and almost saturate in highmore » electric field region. It is experimentally found that Bepp{sub 2} shows dispersion transport and becomes weak as the electric field increases. The activation energy is determined to be 0.043 eV by temperature-dependent conductivity, which is consistent with the result obtained from the temperature-dependent current density characteristics. The electron mobility reaches the orders of 10{sup −6}–10{sup −5} cm{sup 2} V{sup −1} s{sup −1}, depending on the electric field.« less

THE EVOLUTION OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT DURING THE FORMATION AND ERUPTION OF ACTIVE-REGION FILAMENTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Jincheng; Yan, Xiaoli; Qu, Zhongquan

We present a comprehensive study of the electric current related to the formation and eruption of active region filaments in NOAA AR 11884. The vertical current on the solar surface was investigated by using vector magnetograms (VMs) observed by HMI on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. To obtain the electric current along the filament's axis, we reconstructed the magnetic fields above the photosphere by using nonlinear force-free field extrapolation based on photospheric VMs. Spatio-temporal evolutions of the vertical current on the photospheric surface and the horizontal current along the filament's axis were studied during the long-term evolution and eruption-related period,more » respectively. The results show that the vertical currents of the entire active region behaved with a decreasing trend and the magnetic fields also kept decreasing during the long-term evolution. For the eruption-related evolution, the mean transverse field strengths decreased before two eruptions and increased sharply after two eruptions in the vicinity of the polarity inversion lines underneath the filament. The related vertical current showed different behaviors in two of the eruptions. On the other hand, a very interesting feature was found: opposite horizontal currents with respect to the current of the filament's axis appeared and increased under the filament before the eruptions and disappeared after the eruptions. We suggest that these opposite currents were carried by the new flux emerging from the photosphere bottom and might be the trigger mechanism for these filament eruptions.« less

Modifications to the edge current profile with auxiliary edge current drive and improved confinement in a reversed-field pinch

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chapman, B. E.; Biewer, T. M.; Chattopadhyay, P. K.

2000-09-01

Auxiliary edge current drive is routinely applied in the Madison Symmetric Torus [R. N. Dexter, D. W. Kerst, T. W. Lovell et al., Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)] with the goal of modifying the parallel current profile to reduce current-driven magnetic fluctuations and the associated particle and energy transport. Provided by an inductive electric field, the current drive successfully reduces fluctuations and transport. First-time measurements of the modified edge current profile reveal that, relative to discharges without auxiliary current drive, the edge current density decreases. This decrease is explicable in terms of newly measured reductions in the dynamo (fluctuation-based) electricmore » field and the electrical conductivity. Induced by the current drive, these two changes to the edge plasma play as much of a role in determining the resultant edge current profile as does the current drive itself. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.« less

Performance optimization in electric field gradient focusing.

PubMed

Sun, Xuefei; Farnsworth, Paul B; Tolley, H Dennis; Warnick, Karl F; Woolley, Adam T; Lee, Milton L

2009-01-02

Electric field gradient focusing (EFGF) is a technique used to simultaneously separate and concentrate biomacromolecules, such as proteins, based on the opposing forces of an electric field gradient and a hydrodynamic flow. Recently, we reported EFGF devices fabricated completely from copolymers functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol), which display excellent resistance to protein adsorption. However, the previous devices did not provide the predicted linear electric field gradient and stable current. To improve performance, Tris-HCl buffer that was previously doped in the hydrogel was replaced with a phosphate buffer containing a salt (i.e., potassium chloride, KCl) with high mobility ions. The new devices exhibited stable current, good reproducibility, and a linear electric field distribution in agreement with the shaped gradient region design due to improved ion transport in the hydrogel. The field gradient was calculated based on theory to be approximately 5.76 V/cm(2) for R-phycoerythrin when the applied voltage was 500 V. The effect of EFGF separation channel dimensions was also investigated; a narrower focused band was achieved in a smaller diameter channel. The relationship between the bandwidth and channel diameter is consistent with theory. Three model proteins were resolved in an EFGF channel of this design. The improved device demonstrated 14,000-fold concentration of a protein sample (from 2 ng/mL to 27 microg/mL).

Vertical motion of a charged colloidal particle near an AC polarized electrode with a nonuniform potential distribution: theory and experimental evidence.

PubMed

Fagan, Jeffrey A; Sides, Paul J; Prieve, Dennis C

2004-06-08

Electroosmotic flow in the vicinity of a colloidal particle suspended over an electrode accounts for observed changes in the average height of the particle when the electrode passes alternating current at 100 Hz. The main findings are (1) electroosmotic flow provides sufficient force to move the particle and (2) a phase shift between the purely electrical force on the particle and the particle's motion provides evidence of an E2 force acting on the particle. The electroosmotic force in this case arises from the boundary condition applied when faradaic reactions occur on the electrode. The presence of a potential-dependent electrode reaction moves the likely distribution of electrical current at the electrode surface toward uniform current density around the particle. In the presence of a particle the uniform current density is associated with a nonuniform potential; thus, the electric field around the particle has a nonzero radial component along the electrode surface, which interacts with unbalanced charge in the diffuse double layer on the electrode to create a flow pattern and impose an electroosmotic-flow-based force on the particle. Numerical solutions are presented for these additional height-dependent forces on the particle as a function of the current distribution on the electrode and for the time-dependent probability density of a charged colloidal particle near a planar electrode with a nonuniform electrical potential boundary condition. The electrical potential distribution on the electrode, combined with a phase difference between the electric field in solution and the electrode potential, can account for the experimentally observed motion of particles in ac electric fields in the frequency range from approximately 10 to 200 Hz.

Transport in a field aligned magnetized plasma/neutral gas boundary: the end of the plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Christopher Michael

The objective of this dissertation is to characterize the physics of a boundary layer between a magnetized plasma and a neutral gas along the direction of a confining magnetic field. A series of experiments are performed at the Enormous Toroidal Plasma Device (ETPD) at UCLA to study this field aligned Neutral Boundary Layer (NBL) at the end of the plasma. A Lanthanum Hexaboride (LaB6) cathode and semi-transparent anode creates a magnetized, current-free helium plasma which terminates on a neutral helium gas without touching any walls. Probes are inserted into the plasma to measure the basic plasma parameters and study the transport in the NBL. The experiment is performed in the weakly ionized limit where the plasma density (ne) is much less than the neutral density (nn) such that ne/nn < 5%. The NBL is characterized by a field-aligned electric field which begins at the point where the plasma pressure equilibrates with the neutral gas pressure. Beyond the pressure equilibration point the electrons and ions lose their momentum by collisions with the neutral gas and come to rest. An electric field is established self consistently to maintain a current-free termination through equilibration of the different species' stopping rates in the neutral gas. The electric field resembles a collisional quasineutral sheath with a length 10 times the electron-ion collision length, 100 times the neutral collision length, and 10,000 times the Debye length. Collisions with the neutral gas dominate the losses in the system. The measured plasma density loss rates are above the classical cross-field current-free ambipolar rate, but below the anomalous Bohm diffusion rate. The electron temperature is below the ionization threshold of the gas, 2.2 eV in helium. The ions are in thermal equilibrium with the neutral gas. A generalized theory of plasma termination in a Neutral Boundary Layer is applied to this case using a two-fluid, current-free, weakly ionized transport model. The electron and ion momentum equations along the field are combined in a generalized Ohm's law which predicts the axial electric field required to maintain a current-free termination. The pressure balance criteria for termination and the predicted electric field are confirmed over a scaling of plasma parameters. The experiment and the model are relevant for studying NBLs in other systems, such as the atmospheric termination of the aurora or detached gaseous divertors. A steady state modified ambipolar system is measured in the ETPD NBL. The drift speeds associated with these currents are a small fraction of the plasma flow speeds and the problem is treated as a perturbation to the termination model. The current-free condition on the model is relaxed to explain the presence of the divergence free current.

Electric field formation in three different plasmas: A fusion reactor, arc discharge, and the ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kwan Chul

2017-11-01

Three examples of electric field formation in the plasma are analyzed based on a new mechanism driven by ion-neutral collisions. The Gyro-Center Shift analysis uses the iteration of three equations including perpendicular current induced by the momentum exchange between ions and neutrals when there is asymmetry over the gyro-motion. This method includes non-zero divergence of current that leads the solution of time dependent state. The first example is radial electric field formation at the boundary of the nuclear fusion device, which is a key factor in the high-confinement mode operation of future fusion reactors. The second example is the reversed rotation of the arc discharge cathode spot, which has been a mysterious subject for more than one hundred years. The third example is electric field formations in the earth's ionosphere, which are important components of the equatorial electrojet and black aurora. The use of one method that explains various examples from different plasmas is reported, along with a discussion of the applications.

Evaluation of the effects of electric fields on implanted cardiac pacemakers. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moss, A.J.; Carstensen, E.

1985-02-01

The effects of extra high voltage (EHV) transmission line electric fields on pacemaker function were evaluated in 11 patients with seven different implanted pacemaker models from four manufacturers. Alteration in pacemaker function was demonstrated in five unipolar units (three different models) from two manufacturers during exposure to electric fields ranging from 2 to 9 kV/m, with total body currents from 47 to 175 ..mu..A. These electric fields and body currents are representative of values that can be encountered by individuals standing beneath EHV transmission lines. Transient alterations in pacemaker function observed in this study included inappropriate triggered activity, inhibition ofmore » impulse generation, reduction in rate, and reversion from demand to asynchronous mode. Electromagnetic interference from high voltage transmission lines can induce alterations in pacemaker function in certain designs of these devices. However, pacemaker manufacturers can incorporate appropriate circuits in the pacemaker design to eliminate this problem. 8 references.« less

Lightning Threat Analysis for the Space Shuttle Launch Pad and the Payload Changeout Room Using Finite Difference Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Collier, Richard S.

1997-01-01

This report describes finite difference computer calculations for the Space Shuttle Launch Pad which predict lightning induced electric currents and electric and magnetic fields caused by a lightning strike to the Lightning Protection System caternary wire. Description of possible lightning threats to Shuttle Payload components together with specifications for protection of these components, result from the calculation of lightning induced electric and magnetic fields inside and outside the during a lightning event. These fields also induce currents and voltages on cables and circuits which may be connected to, or a part of, shuttle payload components. These currents and voltages are also calculated. These threat levels are intended as a guide for designers of payload equipment to specify any shielding and/or lightning protection mitigation which may be required for payload components which are in the process of preparation or being transferred into the Shuttle Orbiter.

MAGNETIC BRAIDING AND PARALLEL ELECTRIC FIELDS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilmot-Smith, A. L.; Hornig, G.; Pontin, D. I.

2009-05-10

The braiding of the solar coronal magnetic field via photospheric motions-with subsequent relaxation and magnetic reconnection-is one of the most widely debated ideas of solar physics. We readdress the theory in light of developments in three-dimensional magnetic reconnection theory. It is known that the integrated parallel electric field along field lines is the key quantity determining the rate of reconnection, in contrast with the two-dimensional case where the electric field itself is the important quantity. We demonstrate that this difference becomes crucial for sufficiently complex magnetic field structures. A numerical method is used to relax a braided magnetic field towardmore » an ideal force-free equilibrium; the field is found to remain smooth throughout the relaxation, with only large-scale current structures. However, a highly filamentary integrated parallel current structure with extremely short length-scales is found in the field, with the associated gradients intensifying during the relaxation process. An analytical model is developed to show that, in a coronal situation, the length scales associated with the integrated parallel current structures will rapidly decrease with increasing complexity, or degree of braiding, of the magnetic field. Analysis shows the decrease in these length scales will, for any finite resistivity, eventually become inconsistent with the stability of the coronal field. Thus the inevitable consequence of the magnetic braiding process is a loss of equilibrium of the magnetic field, probably via magnetic reconnection events.« less

Electric field control of deterministic current-induced magnetization switching in a hybrid ferromagnetic/ferroelectric structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Kaiming; Yang, Meiyin; Ju, Hailang; Wang, Sumei; Ji, Yang; Li, Baohe; Edmonds, Kevin William; Sheng, Yu; Zhang, Bao; Zhang, Nan; Liu, Shuai; Zheng, Houzhi; Wang, Kaiyou

2017-07-01

All-electrical and programmable manipulations of ferromagnetic bits are highly pursued for the aim of high integration and low energy consumption in modern information technology. Methods based on the spin-orbit torque switching in heavy metal/ferromagnet structures have been proposed with magnetic field, and are heading toward deterministic switching without external magnetic field. Here we demonstrate that an in-plane effective magnetic field can be induced by an electric field without breaking the symmetry of the structure of the thin film, and realize the deterministic magnetization switching in a hybrid ferromagnetic/ferroelectric structure with Pt/Co/Ni/Co/Pt layers on PMN-PT substrate. The effective magnetic field can be reversed by changing the direction of the applied electric field on the PMN-PT substrate, which fully replaces the controllability function of the external magnetic field. The electric field is found to generate an additional spin-orbit torque on the CoNiCo magnets, which is confirmed by macrospin calculations and micromagnetic simulations.

Poole-Frenkel-effect as dominating current mechanism in thin oxide films—An illusion?!

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schroeder, Herbert

2015-06-07

In many of the publications, over 50 per year for the last five years, the Poole-Frenkel-effect (PFE) is identified or suggested as dominating current mechanism to explain measured current–electric field dependencies in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) thin film stacks. Very often, the insulating thin film is a metal oxide as this class of materials has many important applications, especially in information technology. In the overwhelming majority of the papers, the identification of the PFE as dominating current mechanism is made by the slope of the current–electric field curve in the so-called Poole-Frenkel plot, i.e., logarithm of current density, j, divided by themore » applied electric field, F, versus the square root of that field. This plot is suggested by the simplest current equation for the PFE, which comprises this proportionality (ln(j/F) vs. F{sup 1/2}) leading to a straight line in this plot. Only one other parameter (except natural constants) may influence this slope: the optical dielectric constant of the insulating film. In order to identify the importance of the PFE simulation studies of the current through MIM stacks with thin insulating films were performed and the current–electric field curves without and with implementation of the PFE were compared. For the simulation, an advanced current model has been used combining electronic carrier injection/ejection currents at the interfaces, described by thermionic emission, with the carrier transport in the dielectric, described by drift and diffusion of electrons and holes in a wide band gap semiconductor. Besides the applied electric field (or voltage), many other important parameters have been varied: the density of the traps (with donor- and acceptor-like behavior); the zero-field energy level of the traps within the energy gap, this energy level is changed by the PFE (also called internal Schottky effect); the thickness of the dielectric film; the permittivity of the dielectric film simulating different oxide materials; the barriers for electrons and holes at the interfaces simulating different electrode materials; the temperature. The main results and conclusions are: (1) For a single type of trap present only (donor-like or acceptor-like), none of the simulated current density curves shows the expected behavior of the PFE and in most cases within the tested parameter field the effect of PFE is negligibly small. (2) For both types of traps present (compensation) only in the case of exact compensation, the expected slope in the PF-plot was nearly found for a wider range of the applied electric field, but for a very small range of the tested parameter field because of the very restricting additional conditions: first, the quasi-fermi level of the current controlling particle (electrons or holes) has to be 0.1 to 0.5 eV closer to the respective band limit than the zero-field energy level of the respective traps and, second, the compensating trap energy level has to be shallow. The conclusion from all these results is: the observation of the PFE as dominating current mechanism in MIM stacks with thin dielectric (oxide) films (typically 30 nm) is rather improbable!.« less

Investigation of the effects of external current systems on the MAGSAT data utilizing grid cell modeling techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klumpar, D. M. (Principal Investigator)

1982-01-01

The feasibility of modeling magnetic fields due to certain electrical currents flowing in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere was investigated. A method was devised to carry out forward modeling of the magnetic perturbations that arise from space currents. The procedure utilizes a linear current element representation of the distributed electrical currents. The finite thickness elements are combined into loops which are in turn combined into cells having their base in the ionosphere. In addition to the extensive field modeling, additional software was developed for the reduction and analysis of the MAGSAT data in terms of the external current effects. Direct comparisons between the models and the MAGSAT data are possible.

Generalization of the lightning electromagnetic equations of Uman, McLain, and Krider based on Jefimenko equations

DOE PAGES

Shao, Xuan-Min

2016-04-12

The fundamental electromagnetic equations used by lightning researchers were introduced in a seminal paper by Uman, McLain, and Krider in 1975. However, these equations were derived for an infinitely thin, one-dimensional source current, and not for a general three-dimensional current distribution. In this paper, we introduce a corresponding pair of generalized equations that are determined from a three-dimensional, time-dependent current density distribution based on Jefimenko's original electric and magnetic equations. To do this, we derive the Jefimenko electric field equation into a new form that depends only on the time-dependent current density similar to that of Uman, McLain, and Krider,more » rather than on both the charge and current densities in its original form. The original Jefimenko magnetic field equation depends only on current, so no further derivation is needed. We show that the equations of Uman, McLain, and Krider can be readily obtained from the generalized equations if a one-dimensional source current is considered. For the purpose of practical applications, we discuss computational implementation of the new equations and present electric field calculations for a three-dimensional, conical-shape discharge.« less

Influence of Direct Current Electric Field on Corrosion Behavior of Tin Under a Thin Electrolyte Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, H. L.; Bu, F. R.; Tian, J.; Liu, D.

2017-12-01

The influence of a direct current electric field (DCEF) on corrosion behavior of tin under a thin electrolyte layer was investigated based on an array electrode technology by polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and surface analysis. The experimental results indicate that the corrosion rate of tin near the positive plate of DCEF increases with increased electric field intensity, which could be attributed to the acceleration of the migration of ions, the removal of corrosion products under DCEF and the damage of tin surface oxide film. Furthermore, tin at different positions in a DCEF exhibits different corrosion behavior, which could be ascribed to the difference of the local corrosion environment caused by the DCEF.

Conduction in In 2O 3/YSZ heterostructures: Complex interplay between electrons and ions, mediated by interfaces

DOE PAGES

Veal, B. W.; Eastman, J. A.

2017-03-01

Thin film In 2O 3/YSZ heterostructures exhibit significant increases in electrical conductance with time when small in-plane electric fields are applied. Contact resistances between the current electrodes and film, and between current electrodes and substrate are responsible for the behavior. With an in-plane electric field, different field profiles are established in the two materials, with the result that oxygen ions can be driven across the heterointerface, altering the doping of the n-type In 2O 3. Furthermore, a low frequency inductive feature observed in AC impedance spectroscopy measurements under DC bias conditions was found to be due to frequency-dependent changes inmore » the contact resistance.« less

A unified engineering model of the first stroke in downward negative lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nag, Amitabh; Rakov, Vladimir A.

2016-03-01

Each stroke in a negative cloud-to-ground lightning flash is composed of downward leader and upward return stroke processes, which are usually modeled individually. The first stroke leader is stepped and starts with preliminary breakdown (PB) which is often viewed as a separate process. We present the first unified engineering model for computing the electric field produced by a sequence of PB, stepped leader, and return stroke processes, serving to transport negative charge to ground. We assume that a negatively charged channel extends downward in a stepped fashion during both the PB and leader stages. Each step involves a current wave that propagates upward along the newly formed channel section. Once the leader attaches to ground, an upward propagating return stroke neutralizes the charge deposited along the channel. Model-predicted electric fields are in reasonably good agreement with simultaneous measurements at both near (hundreds of meters, electrostatic field component is dominant) and far (tens of kilometers, radiation field component is dominant) distances from the lightning channel. Relations between the features of computed electric field waveforms and model input parameters are examined. It appears that peak currents associated with PB pulses are similar to return stroke peak currents, and the observed variation of electric radiation field peaks produced by leader steps at different heights above ground is influenced by the ground corona space charge.

Hydrodynamic electron flow in a Weyl semimetal slab: Role of Chern-Simons terms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorbar, E. V.; Miransky, V. A.; Shovkovy, I. A.; Sukhachov, P. O.

2018-05-01

The hydrodynamic flow of the chiral electron fluid in a Weyl semimetal slab of finite thickness is studied by using the consistent hydrodynamic theory. The latter includes viscous, anomalous, and vortical effects, as well as accounts for dynamical electromagnetism. The energy and momentum separations between the Weyl nodes are taken into account via the topological Chern-Simons contributions in the electric current and charge densities in Maxwell's equations. When an external electric field is applied parallel to the slab, it is found that the electron fluid velocity has a nonuniform profile determined by the viscosity and the no-slip boundary conditions. Most remarkably, the fluid velocity field develops a nonzero component across the slab that gradually dissipates when approaching the surfaces. This abnormal component of the flow arises due to the anomalous Hall voltage induced by the topological Chern-Simons current. Another signature feature of the hydrodynamics in Weyl semimetals is a strong modification of the anomalous Hall current along the slab in the direction perpendicular to the applied electric field. Additionally, it is found that the topological current induces an electric potential difference between the surfaces of the slab that is strongly affected by the hydrodynamic flow.

Nulling Hall-Effect Current-Measuring Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullender, Craig C.; Vazquez, Juan M.; Berru, Robert I.

1993-01-01

Circuit measures electrical current via combination of Hall-effect-sensing and magnetic-field-nulling techniques. Known current generated by feedback circuit adjusted until it causes cancellation or near cancellation of magnetic field produced in toroidal ferrite core by current measured. Remaining magnetic field measured by Hall-effect sensor. Circuit puts out analog signal and digital signal proportional to current measured. Accuracy of measurement does not depend on linearity of sensing components.

Electric field control in DC cable test termination by nano silicone rubber composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Shu-Wei; Li, Zhongyuan; Zhao, Hong; Zhang, Peihong; Han, Baozhong; Fu, Mingli; Hou, Shuai

2017-07-01

The electric field distributions in high voltage direct current cable termination are investigated with silicone rubber nanocomposite being the electric stress control insulator. The nanocomposite is composed of silicone rubber, nanoscale carbon black and graphitic carbon. The experimental results show that the physical parameters of the nanocomposite, such as thermal activation energy and nonlinearity-relevant coefficient, can be manipulated by varying the proportion of the nanoscale fillers. The numerical simulation shows that safe electric field distribution calls for certain parametric region of the thermal activation energy and nonlinearity-relevant coefficient. Outside the safe parametric region, local maximum of electric field strength around the stress cone appears in the termination insulator, enhancing the breakdown of the cable termination. In the presence of the temperature gradient, thermal activation energy and nonlinearity-relevant coefficient work as complementary factors to produce a reasonable electric field distribution. The field maximum in the termination insulator show complicate variation in the transient processes. The stationary field distribution favors the increase of the nonlinearity-relevant coefficient; for the transient field distribution in the process of negative lighting impulse, however, an optimized value of the nonlinearity-relevant coefficient is necessary to equalize the electric field in the termination.

Field distribution and DNA transport in solid tumors during electric field-mediated gene delivery.

PubMed

Henshaw, Joshua W; Yuan, Fan

2008-02-01

Gene therapy has a great potential in cancer treatment. However, the efficacy of cancer gene therapy is currently limited by the lack of a safe and efficient means to deliver therapeutic genes into the nucleus of tumor cells. One method under investigation for improving local gene delivery is based on the use of pulsed electric field. Despite repeated demonstration of its effectiveness in vivo, the underlying mechanisms behind electric field-mediated gene delivery remain largely unknown. Without a thorough understanding of these mechanisms, it will be difficult to further advance the gene delivery. In this review, the electric field-mediated gene delivery in solid tumors will be examined by following individual transport processes that must occur in vivo for a successful gene transfer. The topics of examination include: (i) major barriers for gene delivery in the body, (ii) distribution of electric fields at both cell and tissue levels during the application of external fields, and (iii) electric field-induced transport of genes across each of the barriers. Through this approach, the review summarizes what is known about the mechanisms behind electric field-mediated gene delivery and what require further investigations in future studies.

Electric fields and field-aligned currents in polar regions of the solar corona: 3-D MHD consideration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pisanko, Yu. V.

1995-01-01

The calculation of the solar rotation electro-dynamical effects in the near-the-Sun solar wind seems more convenient from the non-inertial corotating reference frame. This implies some modification of the 3-D MHD equations generally on the base of the General Theory of Relativity. The paper deals with the search of stationary (in corotating non-inertial reference frame) solutions of the modified 3-D MHD equations for the in near-the-Sun high latitude sub-alfvenic solar wind. The solution is obtained requiring electric fields and field-aligned electric currents in the high latitude near-the-Sun solar wind. Various scenario are explored self-consistently via a number of numerical experiments. The analogy with the high latitude Earth's magnetosphere is used for the interpretation of the results. Possible observational manifestations are discussed.

New Heating Mechanism of Asteroids in Protoplanetary Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menzel, Raymond L.; Roberge, W. G.

2013-10-01

Heating of asteroids in the early solar system has been mainly attributed to two mechanisms: the decay of short-lived radionuclides and the unipolar induction mechanism originally proposed in a classic series of papers by Sonett and collaborators. As originally conceived, unipolar induction heating is the result of the dissipation of current inside the body driven by a “motional electric field”, which appears in the asteroid’s reference frame when it is immersed in a fully-ionized, magnetized T-Tauri solar wind. However we point out a subtle conceptual error in the way that the electric field is calculated. Strictly speaking, the motional electric field used by Sonett et al. is the electric field in the free-streaming plasma far from the asteroid. For realistic assumptions about the plasma density in protoplanetary disks, the interaction between the plasma and asteroid cause the formation of a shear layer, in which the motional electric field decreases and even vanishes at the asteroid surface. We reexamine and improve the induction heating mechanism by: (1) correcting this conceptual error by using non-ideal multifluid MHD to self consistently calculate the velocity, magnetic, and electric fields in and around the shear layer; and (2) considering more realistic environments and scenarios that are consistent with current theories about protoplanetary disks. We present solutions for two highly idealized flows, which demonstrate that the electric field inside the asteroid is actually produced by magnetic field gradients in the shear layer, and can either vanish or be comparable to the fields predicted by Sonett et al. depending on the flow geometry. We term this new mechanism “electrodynamic heating”, calculate its possible upper limits, and compare them to heating generated by the decay of short-lived radionuclides.

THE ROLE OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALS IN MURINE CORNEAL WOUND RE-EPITHELIALISATION

PubMed Central

Kucerova, R.; Walczysko, P.; Reid, B.; Ou, J.; Leiper, L. J.; Rajnicek, A. M.; McCaig, C. D.; Zhao, M.; Collinson, J. M.

2011-01-01

Ion flow from intact tissue into epithelial wound sites results in lateral electric currents that may represent a major driver of wound healing cell migration. Use of applied electric fields to promote wound healing is the basis of Medicare-approved electric stimulation therapy. This study investigated the roles for electric fields in wound re-epithelialisation, using the Pax6+/− mouse model of the human ocular surface abnormality aniridic keratopathy (in which wound healing and corneal epithelial cell migration are disrupted). Both wild-type and Pax6+/− corneal epithelial cells showed increased migration speeds in response to applied electric fields in vitro. However, only Pax6+/+ cells demonstrated directional galvanotaxis towards the cathode, with activation of pSrc signalling, polarised to the leading edges of cells. In vivo, the epithelial wound site normally represents a cathode, but 43% of Pax6+/− corneas exhibited reversed endogenous wound-induced currents (the wound was an anode). These corneas healed at the same rate as wild-type. Surprisingly, epithelial migration did not correlate with direction or magnitude of endogenous currents for wild-type or mutant corneas. Furthermore, during healing in vivo, no polarisation of pSrc was observed. We found little evidence that Src-dependent mechanisms of cell migration, observed in response to applied EFs in vitro, normally exist in vivo. It is concluded that endogenous electric fields do not drive long-term directionality of sustained healing migration in this mouse corneal epithelial model. Ion flow from wounds may nevertheless represent an important component of wound signalling initiation. PMID:20945376

Electroluminescence and electrical degradation of insulating polymers at electrode interfaces under divergent fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuai; Li, Qi; Hu, Jun; Zhang, Bo; He, Jinliang

2018-04-01

Electrical degradation of insulating polymers at electrode interfaces is an essential factor in determining long-term reliability. A critical challenge is that the exact mechanism of degradation is not fully understood, either experimentally or theoretically, due to the inherent complex processes. Consequently, in this study, we investigate electroluminescence (EL) at the interface of an electrode and insulator, and determine the relationship between EL and electrical degradation. Using a tip-plate electrode structure, the unique features of EL under a highly divergent field are investigated. The voltage type (alternating or direct current), the polymer matrix, and the time of pressing are also investigated separately. A study of EL from insulators under a divergent field is provided, and the relationship between EL spectra and degradation is discussed. It is shown that EL spectra under a divergent field have unique characteristics compared with EL spectra from polymer films under a uniform field and the most obvious one is the UV emission. The results obtained in the current investigation bring us a step closer to understanding the process of electrical degradation and provide a potential way to diagnose insulator defects.

Electricity Generation in Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) by Bacterium Isolated from Rice Paddy Field Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fakhirruddin, Fakhriah; Amid, Azura; Salim, Wan Wardatul Amani Wan; Suhaida Azmi, Azlin

2018-03-01

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an alternative approach in generating renewable energy by utilising bacteria that will oxidize organic or inorganic substrates, producing electrons yielded as electrical energy. Different species of exoelectrogenic bacteria capable of generating significant amount of electricity in MFC has been identified, using various organic compounds for fuel. Soil sample taken from rice paddy field is proven to contain exoelectrogenic bacteria, thus electricity generation using mixed culture originally found in the soil, and pure culture isolated from the soil is studied. This research will isolate the exoelectrogenic bacterial species in the rice paddy field soil responsible for energy generation. Growth of bacteria isolated from the MFC is observed by measuring the optical density (OD), cell density weight (CDW) and viable cell count. Mixed bacterial species found in paddy field soil generates maximum power of 77.62 μW and 0.70 mA of current. In addition, the research also shows that the pure bacterium in rice paddy field soil can produce maximum power and current at 51.32 μW and 0.28 mA respectively.

Magnetoelectric effects in the spin-1/2 XXZ model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thakur, Pradeep; Durganandini, P., E-mail: pdn@physics.unipune.ac.in

2015-06-24

We study the 1D spin-1/2 XXZ chain in the presence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (D-M) interaction and with longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields. We assume the spin-current mechanism of Katsura-Nagaosa-Balatsky at play and interpret the D-M interaction as a coupling between the local electric polarization and an external electric field. We study the interplay of electric and magnetic order in the ground state using the numerical density matrix renormalization group(DMRG) method. Specifically, we investigate the dependences of the magnetization and electric polarization on the external electric and magnetic fields. We find that for transverse magnetic fields, there are two different regimesmore » of polarization while for longitudinal magnetic fields, there are three different regimes of polarization. The different regimes can be tuned by the external magnetic fields.« less

Non-invasive electric current stimulation for restoration of vision after unilateral occipital stroke.

PubMed

Gall, Carolin; Silvennoinen, Katri; Granata, Giuseppe; de Rossi, Francesca; Vecchio, Fabrizio; Brösel, Doreen; Bola, Michał; Sailer, Michael; Waleszczyk, Wioletta J; Rossini, Paolo M; Tatlisumak, Turgut; Sabel, Bernhard A

2015-07-01

Occipital stroke often leads to visual field loss, for which no effective treatment exists. Little is known about the potential of non-invasive electric current stimulation to ameliorate visual functions in patients suffering from unilateral occipital stroke. One reason is the traditional thinking that visual field loss after brain lesions is permanent. Since evidence is available documenting vision restoration by means of vision training or non-invasive electric current stimulation future studies should also consider investigating recovery processes after visual cortical strokes. Here, protocols of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are presented and the European consortium for restoration of vision (REVIS) is introduced. Within the consortium different stimulation approaches will be applied to patients with unilateral occipital strokes resulting in homonymous hemianopic visual field defects. The aim of the study is to evaluate effects of current stimulation of the brain on vision parameters, vision-related quality of life, and physiological parameters that allow concluding about the mechanisms of vision restoration. These include EEG-spectra and coherence measures, and visual evoked potentials. The design of stimulation protocols involves an appropriate sham-stimulation condition and sufficient follow-up periods to test whether the effects are stable. This is the first application of non-invasive current stimulation for vision rehabilitation in stroke-related visual field deficits. Positive results of the trials could have far-reaching implications for clinical practice. The ability of non-invasive electrical current brain stimulation to modulate the activity of neuronal networks may have implications for stroke rehabilitation also in the visual domain. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Particle-in-Cell Simulations of the Twisted Magnetospheres of Magnetars. I.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Alexander Y.; Beloborodov, Andrei M.

2017-08-01

The magnetospheres of magnetars are believed to be filled with electron-positron plasma generated by electric discharge. We present a first numerical experiment demonstrating this process in an axisymmetric magnetosphere with a simple threshold prescription for pair creation, which is applicable to the inner magnetosphere with an ultrastrong field. The {e}+/- discharge occurs in response to the twisting of the closed magnetic field lines by a shear deformation of the magnetar surface, which launches electric currents into the magnetosphere. The simulation shows the formation of an electric “gap” with an unscreened electric field ({\\boldsymbol{E}}\\cdot {\\boldsymbol{B}}\

An interpretation of induced electric currents in long pipelines caused by natural geomagnetic sources of the upper atmosphere

USGS Publications Warehouse

Campbell, W.H.

1986-01-01

Electric currents in long pipelines can contribute to corrosion effects that limit the pipe's lifetime. One cause of such electric currents is the geomagnetic field variations that have sources in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Knowledge of the general behavior of the sources allows a prediction of the occurrence times, favorable locations for the pipeline effects, and long-term projections of corrosion contributions. The source spectral characteristics, the Earth's conductivity profile, and a corrosion-frequency dependence limit the period range of the natural field changes that affect the pipe. The corrosion contribution by induced currents from geomagnetic sources should be evaluated for pipelines that are located at high and at equatorial latitudes. At midlatitude locations, the times of these natural current maxima should be avoided for the necessary accurate monitoring of the pipe-to-soil potential. ?? 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company.

Electric currents in E-like planetary ionospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, K. D.

1990-01-01

In this paper an MHD approach is used to consider the conduction of electric current in a lightly ionized gas, taking into account the gradients of pressure in the ion and electron gases, in addition to the electric field. The coefficients of electrical conductivity are found for each driver of current. New expressions for the components of heat dissipation associated with each driver of current are developed, which are fully consistent with kinetic theory. The relationship of the results to those obtained by kinetic theory is discussed. New components of currents associated with planetary equatorial electrojets are found. A new diffusion equation for magnetic induction is found, applicable in E-like regions of planetary ionospheres, and stellar photospheres.

First and subsequent return stroke properties of cloud-to-ground lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Namasivayam, S.; Lundquist, Stig

1991-01-01

Lightning properties obtained by a network of magnetic direction finders and by electric field measurements for distances from 50 to 500 km are compared for three summer thunderstorms in Sweden. The data from direct field recordings indicate 31, 17, and 26 pcts. of negative subsequent return strokes with peak current (as inferred from the peak electric field) higher than the first. Electric fields from first strokes are compared with normalized amplitudes registered by the magnetic direction finding system. The efficiency of detection by the magnetic direction finding system is discussed in terms of the percentage of lightning flashes observed by electric field measurements that are not localized. Statistics of the number of strokes per flash and the interstroke time intervals are presented.

Automated electric valve for electrokinetic separation in a networked microfluidic chip.

PubMed

Cui, Huanchun; Huang, Zheng; Dutta, Prashanta; Ivory, Cornelius F

2007-02-15

This paper describes an automated electric valve system designed to reduce dispersion and sample loss into a side channel when an electrokinetically mobilized concentration zone passes a T-junction in a networked microfluidic chip. One way to reduce dispersion is to control current streamlines since charged species are driven along them in the absence of electroosmotic flow. Computer simulations demonstrate that dispersion and sample loss can be reduced by applying a constant additional electric field in the side channel to straighten current streamlines in linear electrokinetic flow (zone electrophoresis). This additional electric field was provided by a pair of platinum microelectrodes integrated into the chip in the vicinity of the T-junction. Both simulations and experiments of this electric valve with constant valve voltages were shown to provide unsatisfactory valve performance during nonlinear electrophoresis (isotachophoresis). On the basis of these results, however, an automated electric valve system was developed with improved valve performance. Experiments conducted with this system showed decreased dispersion and increased reproducibility as protein zones isotachophoretically passed the T-junction. Simulations of the automated electric valve offer further support that the desired shape of current streamlines was maintained at the T-junction during isotachophoresis. Valve performance was evaluated at different valve currents based on statistical variance due to dispersion. With the automated control system, two integrated microelectrodes provide an effective way to manipulate current streamlines, thus acting as an electric valve for charged species in electrokinetic separations.

REEXAMINATION OF INDUCTION HEATING OF PRIMITIVE BODIES IN PROTOPLANETARY DISKS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Menzel, Raymond L.; Roberge, Wayne G., E-mail: menzer@rpi.edu, E-mail: roberw@rpi.edu

2013-10-20

We reexamine the unipolar induction mechanism for heating asteroids originally proposed in a classic series of papers by Sonett and collaborators. As originally conceived, induction heating is caused by the 'motional electric field' that appears in the frame of an asteroid immersed in a fully ionized, magnetized solar wind and drives currents through its interior. However, we point out that classical induction heating contains a subtle conceptual error, in consequence of which the electric field inside the asteroid was calculated incorrectly. The problem is that the motional electric field used by Sonett et al. is the electric field in themore » freely streaming plasma far from the asteroid; in fact, the motional field vanishes at the asteroid surface for realistic assumptions about the plasma density. In this paper we revisit and improve the induction heating scenario by (1) correcting the conceptual error by self-consistently calculating the electric field in and around the boundary layer at the asteroid-plasma interface; (2) considering weakly ionized plasmas consistent with current ideas about protoplanetary disks; and (3) considering more realistic scenarios that do not require a fully ionized, powerful T Tauri wind in the disk midplane. We present exemplary solutions for two highly idealized flows that show that the interior electric field can either vanish or be comparable to the fields predicted by classical induction depending on the flow geometry. We term the heating driven by these flows 'electrodynamic heating', calculate its upper limits, and compare them to heating produced by short-lived radionuclides.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shao, Jiahang; Antipov, Sergey P.; Baryshev, Sergey V.

Field emission from a solid metal surface has been continuously studied for a century over macroscopic to atomic scales. It is general knowledge that, other than the surface properties, the emitted current is governed solely by the applied electric field. A pin cathode has been used to study the dependence of field emission on stored energy in an L-band rf gun. The stored energy was changed by adjusting the axial position (distance between the cathode base and the gun back surface) of the cathode while the applied electric field on the cathode tip is kept constant. Avery strong correlation ofmore » the field-emission current with the stored energy has been observed. While eliminating all possible interfering sources, an enhancement of the current by a factor of 5 was obtained as the stored energy was increased by a factor of 3. It implies that under certain circumstances a localized field emission may be significantly altered by the global parameters in a system.« less

System and method for heating ferrite magnet motors for low temperatures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reddy, Patel Bhageerath; El-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi; Huh, Kum-Kang

A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly.more » The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.« less

Preflare magnetic and velocity fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagyard, M. J.; Gaizauskas, V.; Chapman, G. A.; Deloach, A. C.; Gary, G. A.; Jones, H. P.; Karpen, J. T.; Martres, M.-J.; Porter, J. G.; Schmeider, B.

1986-01-01

A characterization is given of the preflare magnetic field, using theoretical models of force free fields together with observed field structure to determine the general morphology. Direct observational evidence for sheared magnetic fields is presented. The role of this magnetic shear in the flare process is considered within the context of a MHD model that describes the buildup of magnetic energy, and the concept of a critical value of shear is explored. The related subject of electric currents in the preflare state is discussed next, with emphasis on new insights provided by direct calculations of the vertical electric current density from vector magnetograph data and on the role of these currents in producing preflare brightenings. Results from investigations concerning velocity fields in flaring active regions, describing observations and analyses of preflare ejecta, sheared velocities, and vortical motions near flaring sites are given. This is followed by a critical review of prevalent concepts concerning the association of flux emergence with flares

System and method for heating ferrite magnet motors for low temperatures

DOEpatents

Reddy, Patel Bhageerath; El-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi; Huh, Kum-Kang

2017-07-04

A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly. The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.

Pulsed electric field processing for fruit and vegetables

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This month’s column reviews the theory and current applications of pulsed electric field (PEF) processing for fruits and vegetables to improve their safety and quality. This month’s column coauthor, Stefan Toepfl, is advanced research manager at the German Institute of Food Technologies and professo...

Exploration of a possible cause of magnetic reconfiguration/reconnection due to generation, rather than annihilation, of magnetic field in a nun-uniform thin current sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Y. C.; Lyu, L. H.

2014-12-01

Magnetic reconfiguration/reconnection plays an important role on energy and plasma transport in the space plasma. It is known that magnetic field lines on two sides of a tangential discontinuity can connect to each other only at a neutral point, where the strength of the magnetic field is equal to zero. Thus, the standard reconnection picture with magnetic field lines intersecting at the neutral point is not applicable to the component reconnection events observed at the magnetopause and in the solar corona. In our early study (Yu, Lyu, & Wu, 2011), we have shown that annihilation of magnetic field near a thin current sheet can lead to the formation of normal magnetic field component (normal to the current sheet) to break the frozen-in condition and to accelerate the reconnected plasma flux, even without the presence of a neutral point. In this study, we examine whether or not a generation, rather than annihilation, of magnetic field in a nun-uniform thin current sheet can also lead to reconnection of plasma flux. Our results indicate that a non-uniform enhancement of electric current can yield formation of field-aligned currents. The normal-component magnetic field generated by the field-aligned currents can yield reconnection of plasma flux just outside the current-enhancement region. The particle motion that can lead to non-uniform enhancement of electric currents will be discussed.

Layer thickness dependence of the current-induced effective field vector in Ta|CoFeB|MgO.

PubMed

Kim, Junyeon; Sinha, Jaivardhan; Hayashi, Masamitsu; Yamanouchi, Michihiko; Fukami, Shunsuke; Suzuki, Tetsuhiro; Mitani, Seiji; Ohno, Hideo

2013-03-01

Current-induced effective magnetic fields can provide efficient ways of electrically manipulating the magnetization of ultrathin magnetic heterostructures. Two effects, known as the Rashba spin orbit field and the spin Hall spin torque, have been reported to be responsible for the generation of the effective field. However, a quantitative understanding of the effective field, including its direction with respect to the current flow, is lacking. Here we describe vector measurements of the current-induced effective field in Ta|CoFeB|MgO heterostructrures. The effective field exhibits a significant dependence on the Ta and CoFeB layer thicknesses. In particular, a 1 nm thickness variation of the Ta layer can change the magnitude of the effective field by nearly two orders of magnitude. Moreover, its sign changes when the Ta layer thickness is reduced, indicating that there are two competing effects contributing to it. Our results illustrate that the presence of atomically thin metals can profoundly change the landscape for controlling magnetic moments in magnetic heterostructures electrically.

Effects of electron pressure anisotropy on current sheet configuration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artemyev, A. V., E-mail: aartemyev@igpp.ucla.edu; Angelopoulos, V.; Runov, A.

2016-09-15

Recent spacecraft observations in the Earth's magnetosphere have demonstrated that the magnetotail current sheet can be supported by currents of anisotropic electron population. Strong electron currents are responsible for the formation of very thin (intense) current sheets playing the crucial role in stability of the Earth's magnetotail. We explore the properties of such thin current sheets with hot isotropic ions and cold anisotropic electrons. Decoupling of the motions of ions and electrons results in the generation of a polarization electric field. The distribution of the corresponding scalar potential is derived from the electron pressure balance and the quasi-neutrality condition. Wemore » find that electron pressure anisotropy is partially balanced by a field-aligned component of this polarization electric field. We propose a 2D model that describes a thin current sheet supported by currents of anisotropic electrons embedded in an ion-dominated current sheet. Current density profiles in our model agree well with THEMIS observations in the Earth's magnetotail.« less

A possible mechanism of the enhancement and maintenance of the shear magnetic field component in the current sheet of the Earth’s magnetotail

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grigorenko, E. E., E-mail: elenagrigorenko2003@yahoo.com; Malova, H. V., E-mail: hmalova@yandex.ru; Malykhin, A. Yu., E-mail: anmaurdreg@gmail.com

2015-01-15

The influence of the shear magnetic field component, which is directed along the electric current in the current sheet (CS) of the Earth’s magnetotail and enhanced near the neutral plane of the CS, on the nonadiabatic dynamics of ions interacting with the CS is studied. The results of simulation of the nonadiabatic ion motion in the prescribed magnetic configuration similar to that observed in the magnetotail CS by the CLUSTER spacecraft demonstrated that, in the presence of some initial shear magnetic field, the north-south asymmetry in the ion reflection/refraction in the CS is observed. This asymmetry leads to the formationmore » of an additional current system formed by the oppositely directed electric currents flowing in the northern and southern parts of the plasma sheet in the planes tangential to the CS plane and in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric current in the CS. The formation of this current system perhaps is responsible for the enhancement and further maintenance of the shear magnetic field near the neutral plane of the CS. The CS structure and ion dynamics observed in 17 intervals of the CS crossings by the CLUSTER spacecraft is analyzed. In these intervals, the shear magnetic field was increased near the neutral plane of the CS, so that the bell-shaped spatial distribution of this field across the CS plane was observed. The results of the present analysis confirm the suggested scenario of the enhancement of the shear magnetic field near the neutral plane of the CS due to the peculiarities of the nonadiabatic ion dynamics.« less

A novel approach for in vitro studies applying electrical fields to cell cultures by transformer-like coupling.

PubMed

Hess, R; Neubert, H; Seifert, A; Bierbaum, S; Hart, D A; Scharnweber, D

2012-12-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a new apparatus for in vitro studies applying low frequency electrical fields to cells without interfering side effects like biochemical reactions or magnetic fields which occur in currently available systems. We developed a non-invasive method by means of the principle of transformer-like coupling where the magnetic field is concentrated in a toroid and, therefore, does not affect the cell culture. Next to an extensive characterization of the electrical field parameters, initial cell culture studies have focused on examining the response of bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to pulsed electrical fields. While no significant differences in the proliferation of human MSCs could be detected, significant increases in ALP activity as well as in gene expression of other osteogenic markers were observed. The results indicate that transformer-like coupled electrical fields can be used to influence osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs in vitro and can pose a useful tool in understanding the influence of electrical fields on the cellular and molecular level.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING IN CONTROL OF OCULAR CELL BEHAVIORS

PubMed Central

Zhao, Min; Chalmers, Laura; Cao, Lin; Viera, Ana C.; Mannis, Mark; Reid, Brian

2011-01-01

Epithelia of the cornea, lens and retina contain a vast array of ion channels and pumps. Together they produce a polarized flow of ions in and out of cells, as well as across the epithelia. These naturally occurring ion fluxes are essential to the hydration and metabolism of the ocular tissues, especially for the avascular cornea and lens. The directional transport of ions generates electric fields and currents in those tissues. Applied electric fields affect migration, division and proliferation of ocular cells which are important in homeostasis and healing of the ocular tissues. Abnormalities in any of those aspects may underlie many ocular diseases, for example chronic corneal ulcers, posterior capsule opacity after cataract surgery, and retinopathies. Electric field-inducing cellular responses, termed electrical signaling here, therefore may be an unexpected yet powerful mechanism in regulating ocular cell behavior. Both endogenous electric fields and applied electric fields could be exploited to regulate ocular cells. We aim to briefly describe the physiology of the naturally occurring electrical activities in the corneal, lens, and retinal epithelia, to provide experimental evidence of the effects of electric fields on ocular cell behaviors, and to suggest possible clinical implications. PMID:22020127

Dissipation in the superconducting mixed state in the presence of a small oscillatory magnetic-field component

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Risse, M. P.; Aikele, M. G.; Doettinger, S. G.; Huebener, R. P.; Tsuei, C. C.; Naito, M.

1997-06-01

We have studied the electric resistivity in superconducting amorphous Mo3Si films in a perpendicular magnetic field B0+B1 sin ωt with B1<0 we observed perfectly Ohmic behavior at currents I<

Effect of double layers on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lysak, Robert L.; Hudson, Mary K.

1987-01-01

The dynamic aspects of auroral current structures are reviewed with emphasis on consequences for models of microscopic turbulence (MT). A number of models of MT are introduced into a large-scale model of Alfven wave propagation to determine the effect of various models on the overall structure of auroral currents. The effect of a double layer (DL) electric field which scales with the plasma temperature and the Debye length is compared with the effect of anomalous resistivity due to electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence in which the electric field scales with the magnetic field strength. It is shown that the DL model is less diffusive than the resistive model, indicating the possibility of narrow intense current structures.

Cathode fall model and current-voltage characteristics of field emission driven direct current microplasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Venkattraman, Ayyaswamy

2013-11-15

The post-breakdown characteristics of field emission driven microplasma are studied theoretically and numerically. A cathode fall model assuming a linearly varying electric field is used to obtain equations governing the operation of steady state field emission driven microplasmas. The results obtained from the model by solving these equations are compared with particle-in-cell with Monte Carlo collisions simulation results for parameters including the plasma potential, cathode fall thickness, ion number density in the cathode fall, and current density vs voltage curves. The model shows good overall agreement with the simulations but results in slightly overpredicted values for the plasma potential andmore » the cathode fall thickness attributed to the assumed electric field profile. The current density vs voltage curves obtained show an arc region characterized by negative slope as well as an abnormal glow discharge characterized by a positive slope in gaps as small as 10 μm operating at atmospheric pressure. The model also retrieves the traditional macroscale current vs voltage theory in the absence of field emission.« less

Electromagnetic Induction with Neodymium Magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Deborah; Sebranek, John

2013-09-01

In April 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted noticed that the needle of a nearby compass deflected briefly from magnetic north each time the electric current of the battery he was using for an unrelated experiment was turned on or off. Upon further investigation, he showed that an electric current flowing through a wire produces a magnetic field. In 1831 Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry separately expanded on Ørsted's discovery by showing that a changing magnetic field produces an electric current. Heinrich Lenz found in 1833 that an induced current has the opposite direction from the electromagnetic force that produced it. This paper describes an experiment that can help students to develop an understanding of Faraday's law and Lenz's law by studying the emf generated as a magnet drops through a set of coils having increasing numbers of turns.

Electron distribution functions in electric field environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rudolph, Terence H.

1991-01-01

The amount of current carried by an electric discharge in its early stages of growth is strongly dependent on its geometrical shape. Discharges with a large number of branches, each funnelling current to a common stem, tend to carry more current than those with fewer branches. The fractal character of typical discharges was simulated using stochastic models based on solutions of the Laplace equation. Extension of these models requires the use of electron distribution functions to describe the behavior of electrons in the undisturbed medium ahead of the discharge. These electrons, interacting with the electric field, determine the propagation of branches in the discharge and the way in which further branching occurs. The first phase in the extension of the referenced models , the calculation of simple electron distribution functions in an air/electric field medium, is discussed. Two techniques are investigated: (1) the solution of the Boltzmann equation in homogeneous, steady state environments, and (2) the use of Monte Carlo simulations. Distribution functions calculated from both techniques are illustrated. Advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed.

Field tuning the g factor in InAs nanowire double quantum dots.

PubMed

Schroer, M D; Petersson, K D; Jung, M; Petta, J R

2011-10-21

We study the effects of magnetic and electric fields on the g factors of spins confined in a two-electron InAs nanowire double quantum dot. Spin sensitive measurements are performed by monitoring the leakage current in the Pauli blockade regime. Rotations of single spins are driven using electric-dipole spin resonance. The g factors are extracted from the spin resonance condition as a function of the magnetic field direction, allowing determination of the full g tensor. Electric and magnetic field tuning can be used to maximize the g-factor difference and in some cases altogether quench the electric-dipole spin resonance response, allowing selective single spin control. © 2011 American Physical Society

Investigation of the magnetospheric convection influence on equatorial electrojet and electric field at the geomagnetic equator in quiet conditions on the basis of the GSM TIP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimenko, M. V.; Klimenko, V. V.; Bryukhanov, V. V.

Inclusion in the Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere Ionosphere and Protonosphere GSM TIP developed in WD IZMIRAN of the new block of the electric field calculation allows to carry out the investigation of the equatorial ionosphere In this block the decision of the three-dimensional equation of the full current density conservation in the ionosphere of the Earth is realized by adduction it to the two-dimensional by integration on thickness of the current conductive layer along geomagnetic field lines which are expected equipotential In the given work are presented the calculation results on the basis of the model GSM TIP in which the composition and the temperature of neutral atmosphere computed on the basis of model MSIS The calculations were carried out for the quiet equinox conditions in the minimum of the solar activity The magnetosphere convection field calculated in the model by two ways paid in models - by setting of the field aligned currents of the first zone or potential difference across the polar caps Herewith in the first variant of calculations the currents of the first zone were selected so as got the potential difference through the polar caps was approximately such as assigned in the second variant There are considered two events - an absence of the screening by Alfven layer electric field that is to say the absence of the field aligned currents of the second zone and presence of such screening under given field aligned currents of the second zone All calculations were carried out with taking into account of

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peng, Yong; Yao, Manwen, E-mail: yaomw@tongji.edu.cn; Chen, Jianwen

The electrical characteristics of SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (160 nm up/90 nm down) laminated film capacitors using the sol-gel process have been investigated. SrTiO{sub 3} is a promising and extensively studied high-K dielectric material, but its leakage current property is poor. SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laminated films can effectively suppress the demerits of pure SrTiO{sub 3} films under low electric field, but the leakage current value reaches to 0.1 A/cm{sup 2} at higher electric field (>160 MV/m). In this study, a new approach was applied to reduce the leakage current and improve the dielectric strength of SrTiO{sub 3}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laminated films. Compared tomore » laminated films with Au top electrodes, dielectric strength of laminated films with Al top electrodes improves from 205 MV/m to 322 MV/m, simultaneously the leakage current maintains the same order of magnitude (10{sup −4} A/cm{sup 2}) until the breakdown occurs. The above electrical characteristics are attributed to the anodic oxidation reaction in origin, which can repair the defects of laminated films at higher electric field. The anodic oxidation reactions have been confirmed by the corresponding XPS measurement and the cross sectional HRTEM analysis. This work provides a new approach to fabricate dielectrics with high dielectric strength and low leakage current.« less

Ground and CHAMP observations of field-aligned current circuits generated by lower atmospheric disturbances and expectations to the SWARM to clarify their three dimensional structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyemori, Toshihiko; Nakanishi, Kunihito; Aoyama, Tadashi; Lühr, Hermann

2014-05-01

Acoustic gravity waves propagated to the ionosphere cause dynamo currents in the ionosphere. They divert along geomagnetic field lines of force to another hemisphere accompanying electric field and then flow in the ionosphere of another hemisphere by the electric field forming closed current circuits. The oscillating current circuits with the period of acoustic waves generate magnetic variations on the ground, and they are observed as long period geomagnetic pulsations. This effect has been detected during big earthquakes, strong typhoons, tornados etc. On a low-altitude satellite orbit, the spatial distribution (i.e., structure) of the current circuits along the satellite orbit should be detected as temporal magnetic oscillations, and the effect is confirmed by a CHAMP data analysis. On the spatial structure, in particular, in the longitudinal direction, it has been difficult to examine by a single satellite or from ground magnetic observations. The SWARM satellites will provide an unique opportunity to clarify the three dimensional structure of the field-aligned current circuits.

Impact ionization and transport properties of hexagonal boron nitride in a constant-voltage measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hattori, Yoshiaki; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Nagashio, Kosuke

2018-01-01

The electrical evaluation of the crystallinity of hexagonal boron nitride (h -BN) is still limited to the measurement of dielectric breakdown strength, in spite of its importance as the substrate for two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructure devices. In this study, physical phenomena for degradation and failure in exfoliated single-crystal h -BN films were investigated using the constant-voltage stress test. At low electrical fields, the current gradually reduced and saturated with time, while the current increased at electrical fields higher than ˜8 MV /cm and finally resulted in the catastrophic dielectric breakdown. These transient behaviors may be due to carrier trapping to the defect sites in h -BN because trapped carriers lower or enhance the electrical fields in h -BN depending on their polarities. The key finding is the current enhancement with time at the high electrical field, suggesting the accumulation of electrons generated by the impact ionization process. Therefore, a theoretical model including the electron generation rate by an impact ionization process was developed. The experimental data support the expected degradation mechanism of h -BN. Moreover, the impact ionization coefficient was successfully extracted, which is comparable to that of Si O2 , even though the fundamental band gap for h -BN is smaller than that for Si O2 . Therefore, the dominant impact ionization in h -BN could be band-to-band excitation, not defect-assisted impact ionization.

Defect and field-enhancement characterization through electron-beam-induced current analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umezawa, Hitoshi; Gima, Hiroki; Driche, Khaled; Kato, Yukako; Yoshitake, Tsuyoshi; Mokuno, Yoshiaki; Gheeraert, Etienne

2017-05-01

To investigate the effects of defects and field enhancement in diamond power devices, a biased Schottky barrier diode was characterized by electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) analysis. The nonuniform distribution of the electrical field was revealed by bright spots on the laterally expanded depletion layer of the EBIC intensity map when the applied electrical field exceeded 0.95 MV/cm. The nonuniformity is partly due to a structural effect: the roughness at the edge of the Schottky electrode, induced by lithography and lift-off processes. A second family of spots was shown to increase the leakage current of the device. The time constant associated with this second spot family was 0.98 ms, which is three orders of magnitude shorter than that for defects previously characterized by deep-level transient spectroscopy.

Analysis of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pikin, Alexander; Alessi, James G.; Beebe, Edward N.

Electron diode guns, which have strongly varying magnetic or electric fields in a cathode-anode gap, were investigated in order to generate laminar electron beams with high current density using magnetically immersed guns. By creating a strongly varying radial electric field in a cathode-anode gap of the electron gun, it was demonstrated that the optical properties of the gun can be significantly altered, which allows the generation of a laminar, high-current electron beam with relatively low magnetic field on the cathode. The relatively high magnetic compression of the electron beam achieved by this method is important for producing electron beams withmore » high current density. A similar result can be obtained by inducing a strong variation of the magnetic field in a cathode-anode gap. It was observed that creating a dip in the axial magnetic field in the cathode-anode gap of an adiabatic electron gun has an optical effect similar to guns with strong variation of radial electric field. By analyzing the electron trajectories angles and presenting the results in a gun performance map different geometries of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields are compared with each other and with a more traditional adiabatic electron gun. Some advantages and limitations of guns with non-adiabatic fields are outlined. In conclusion, the tests results of non-adiabatic electron gun with modified magnetic field are presented.« less

Analysis of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields

DOE PAGES

Pikin, Alexander; Alessi, James G.; Beebe, Edward N.; ...

2016-11-08

Electron diode guns, which have strongly varying magnetic or electric fields in a cathode-anode gap, were investigated in order to generate laminar electron beams with high current density using magnetically immersed guns. By creating a strongly varying radial electric field in a cathode-anode gap of the electron gun, it was demonstrated that the optical properties of the gun can be significantly altered, which allows the generation of a laminar, high-current electron beam with relatively low magnetic field on the cathode. The relatively high magnetic compression of the electron beam achieved by this method is important for producing electron beams withmore » high current density. A similar result can be obtained by inducing a strong variation of the magnetic field in a cathode-anode gap. It was observed that creating a dip in the axial magnetic field in the cathode-anode gap of an adiabatic electron gun has an optical effect similar to guns with strong variation of radial electric field. By analyzing the electron trajectories angles and presenting the results in a gun performance map different geometries of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields are compared with each other and with a more traditional adiabatic electron gun. Some advantages and limitations of guns with non-adiabatic fields are outlined. In conclusion, the tests results of non-adiabatic electron gun with modified magnetic field are presented.« less

Analysis of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields.

PubMed

Pikin, Alexander; Alessi, James G; Beebe, Edward N; Raparia, Deepak; Ritter, John

2016-11-01

Electron diode guns, which have strongly varying magnetic or electric fields in a cathode-anode gap, were investigated in order to generate laminar electron beams with high current density using magnetically immersed guns. By creating a strongly varying radial electric field in a cathode-anode gap of the electron gun, it was demonstrated that the optical properties of the gun can be significantly altered, which allows the generation of a laminar, high-current electron beam with relatively low magnetic field on the cathode. The relatively high magnetic compression of the electron beam achieved by this method is important for producing electron beams with high current density. A similar result can be obtained by inducing a strong variation of the magnetic field in a cathode-anode gap. It was observed that creating a dip in the axial magnetic field in the cathode-anode gap of an adiabatic electron gun has an optical effect similar to guns with strong variation of radial electric field. By analyzing the electron trajectories angles and presenting the results in a gun performance map, different geometries of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields are compared with each other and with a more traditional adiabatic electron gun. Some advantages and limitations of guns with non-adiabatic fields are outlined. The tests' results of a non-adiabatic electron gun with modified magnetic field are presented.

Chromospheric-coronal coupling during solar flares: Current systems and particle acceleration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winglee, Robert M.; Mckean, M. E.; Dulk, G. A.

1989-01-01

Two-dimensional (three velocity) electrostatic particle simulations are used to investigate the particle heating and acceleration associated with the impulsive phase of a solar flare. A crossfield current in the high corona (which is presumably driven by reconnection processes) is used to initiate the flare. Due to the differential motion of the electrons and ions, currents, and associated quasi-static electric fields are generated with the primary current and balancing return current being on adjacent field lines. These currents extend from the corona down into the chromosphere. Electrons can be accelerated to energies exceeding 100 keV on short time scales via the quasi-static fields and wave-particle interactions. The spectra of these electrons has a broken power-law distribution which hardens in time. The spatially separate primary and return currents are closed by the cross-field acceleration of the ambient ions into the primary current regions. These ions are then accelerated upwards into the corona by the same quasi-static electric field accelerating the electrons downwards. This acceleration can account for the broadened stationary and weak blue shifted component seen in soft x ray line emissions and enhancements in heavy ion abundances seen in the solar wind in associations with solar flares.

Electrical Stimulation for Wound-Healing: Simulation on the Effect of Electrode Configurations

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Endogenous electric field is known to play important roles in the wound-healing process, mainly through its effects on protein synthesis and cell migration. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation (ES) with steady direct currents is beneficial to accelerating wound-healing, even though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, a three-dimensional finite element wound model was built to optimize the electrode configuration in ES. Four layers of the skin, stratum corneum, epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, with defined thickness and electrical properties were modeled. The main goal was to evaluate the distributions of exogenous electric fields delivered with direct current (DC) stimulation using different electrode configurations such as sizes and positions. Based on the results, some guidelines were obtained in designing the electrode configuration for applications of clinical ES. PMID:28497054

High voltage and high current density vertical GaN power diodes

DOE PAGES

Fischer, A. J.; Dickerson, J. R.; Armstrong, A. M.; ...

2016-01-01

We report on the realization of a GaN high voltage vertical p-n diode operating at > 3.9 kV breakdown with a specific on-resistance < 0.9 mΩ.cm 2. Diodes achieved a forward current of 1 A for on-wafer, DC measurements, corresponding to a current density > 1.4 kA/cm 2. An effective critical electric field of 3.9 MV/cm was estimated for the devices from analysis of the forward and reverse current-voltage characteristics. Furthermore this suggests that the fundamental limit to the GaN critical electric field is significantly greater than previously believed.

Electromagnetic dissipation during asymmetric reconnection with a moderate guide field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genestreti, Kevin; Burch, James; Cassak, Paul; Torbert, Roy; Phan, Tai; Ergun, Robert; Giles, Barbara; Russell, Chris; Wang, Shan; Akhavan-Tafti, Mojtaba; Varsani, Ali

2017-04-01

We calculate the work done on the plasma by the electromagnetic (EM) field, ⃗Jṡ⃗E', and analyze the related electron currents and electric fields, focusing on a single asymmetric guide field electron diffusion region (EDR) event observed by MMS on 8 December 2015. For this event, each of the four MMS spacecraft observed dissipation of EM energy at the in-plane magnetic null point, though large-scale generation/dissipation was observed inconsistently on the magnetospheric side of the boundary. The current at the null was carried by a beam-like population of magnetosheath electrons traveling anti-parallel to the guide field, whereas the current on the Earthward side of the boundary was carried by crescent-shaped electron distributions. We also analyze the terms in Ohm's law, finding a large residual electric field throughout the EDR, inertial and pressure divergence fields at the null, and pressure divergence fields at the magnetosphere-side EDR. Our analysis of the terms in Ohm's law suggests that the EDR had significant three-dimensional structure.

Students' Development of Representational Competence through the Sense of Touch

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magana, Alejandra J.; Balachandran, Sadhana

2017-01-01

Electromagnetism is an umbrella encapsulating several different concepts like electric current, electric fields and forces, and magnetic fields and forces, among other topics. However, a number of studies in the past have highlighted the poor conceptual understanding of electromagnetism concepts by students even after instruction. This study aims…

Engineering and Technical Efforts to Design and Construct a 10 MW gyrotron Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-18

coupling coefficients are proptional to the square of the effective electric field at the beam. The effective electric field, Es, is given in...develop- ed to alleviate shorts in the body current beam diagnostic and baking constraints that previous o-ring designs have experienced. The prototype

Assessment of the electrochemical effects of pulsed electric fields in a biological cell suspension.

PubMed

Chafai, Djamel Eddine; Mehle, Andraž; Tilmatine, Amar; Maouche, Bachir; Miklavčič, Damijan

2015-12-01

Electroporation of cells is successfully used in biology, biotechnology and medicine. Practical problems still arise in the electroporation of cells in suspension. For example, the determination of cell electroporation is still a demanding and time-consuming task. Electric pulses also cause contamination of the solution by the metal released from the electrodes and create local enhancements of the electric field, leading to the occurrence of electrochemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. In our study, we investigated the possibility of assessing modifications to the cell environment caused by pulsed electric fields using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We designed an experimental protocol to elucidate the mechanism by which a pulsed electric field affects the electrode state in relation to different electrolyte conductivities at the interface. The results show that a pulsed electric field affects electrodes and its degree depends on the electrolyte conductivity. Evolution of the electrochemical reaction rate depends on the initial free charges and those generated by the pulsed electric field. In the presence of biological cells, the initial free charges in the medium are reduced. The electrical current path at low frequency is longer, i.e., conductivity is decreased, even in the presence of increased permeability of the cell membrane created by the pulsed electric field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterizing the performance of eddy current probes using photoinductive field-mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moulder, John C.; Nakagawa, Norio

1992-12-01

We present a new method for characterizing the performance of eddy current probes by mapping their electromagnetic fields. The technique is based on the photoinductive effect, the change in the impedance of an eddy current probe induced by laser heating of the material under the probe. The instrument we developed maps a probe's electric field distribution by scanning an infrared laser beam over a thin film of gold lying underneath the probe. Measurements of both photoinductive signals and flaw signals for a series of similar probes demonstrates that the impedance change caused by an electrical-discharge-machined notch or a fatigue crack is proportional to the strength of the photoinductive signal. Thus, photoinductive measurements can supplant the use of artifact standards to calibrate eddy current probes.

Electric current in a unipolar sunspot with an untwisted field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osherovich, V. A.; Garcia, H. A.

1990-01-01

The return flux (RF) sunspot model is applied to a round, unipolar sunspot observed by H. Kawakami (1983). Solving the magnetohydrostatic problem using the gas pressure deficit between the umbral and quiet-sun atmospheres as a source function, a distribution of electric current density in an untwisted, unipolar sunspot as a function of height and radial distance from the sunspot center is observed. Maximum electric current density is about 32 mA/sq m at the bottom of the sunspot.

Electric generator

DOEpatents

Foster, Jr., John S.; Wilson, James R.; McDonald, Jr., Charles A.

1983-01-01

1. In an electrical energy generator, the combination comprising a first elongated annular electrical current conductor having at least one bare surface extending longitudinally and facing radially inwards therein, a second elongated annular electrical current conductor disposed coaxially within said first conductor and having an outer bare surface area extending longitudinally and facing said bare surface of said first conductor, the contiguous coaxial areas of said first and second conductors defining an inductive element, means for applying an electrical current to at least one of said conductors for generating a magnetic field encompassing said inductive element, and explosive charge means disposed concentrically with respect to said conductors including at least the area of said inductive element, said explosive charge means including means disposed to initiate an explosive wave front in said explosive advancing longitudinally along said inductive element, said wave front being effective to progressively deform at least one of said conductors to bring said bare surfaces thereof into electrically conductive contact to progressively reduce the inductance of the inductive element defined by said conductors and transferring explosive energy to said magnetic field effective to generate an electrical potential between undeformed portions of said conductors ahead of said explosive wave front.

Electric field enhancement due to a saw-tooth asperity in a channel and implications on microscale gas breakdown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkattraman, Ayyaswamy

2014-10-01

The electric field enhancement due to an isolated saw-tooth asperity in an infinite channel is considered with the goal of providing some inputs to the choice of field enhancement factors used to describe microscale gas breakdown. The Schwarz-Christoffel transformation is used to map the interior of the channel to the upper half of the transformed plane. The expression for the electric field in the transformed plane is then used to determine the electric field distribution in the channel as well as field enhancement near the asperity. The effective field enhancement factor is determined and its dependence on operating and geometrical parameters is studied. While the effective field enhancement factor depends only weakly on the height of the asperity in comparison to the channel, it is influenced significantly by the base angles of the asperity. Due to the strong dependence of field emission current density on electric field, the effective field enhancement factor (βeff) is shown to vary rapidly with the applied electric field irrespective of the geometrical parameters. This variation is included in the analysis of microscale gas breakdown and compared with results obtained using a constant βeff as is done traditionally. Even though results for a varying βeff may be approximately reproduced using an equivalent constant βeff independent of E-field, it might be important for a range of operating conditions. This is confirmed by extracting βeff from experimental data for breakdown in argon microgaps with plane-parallel cathodes and comparing its dependence on the E-field. While the use of two-dimensional asperities is shown to be a minor disadvantage of the proposed approach in its current form, it can potentially help in developing predictive capabilities as opposed to treating βeff as a curve-fitting parameter.

Static current-sheet models of quiescent prominences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, F.; Low, B. C.

1986-01-01

A particular class of theoretical models idealize the prominence to be a discrete flat electric-current sheet suspended vertically in a potential magnetic field. The weight of the prominence is supported by the Lorentz force in the current sheet. These models can be extended to have curved electric-current sheets and to vary three-dimensionally. The equation for force balance is 1 over 4 pi (del times B) times Bdel p- p9 z=zero. Using Cartesian coordinates we take, for simplicity, a uniform gravity with constant acceleration g in the direction -z. If we are interested not in the detailed internal structure of the prominence, but in the global magnetic configuration around the prominence, we may take prominence plasma to be cold. Consideration is given to how such equilibrium states can be constructed. To simplify the mathematical problem, suppose there is no electric current in the atmosphere except for the discrete currents in the cold prominence sheet. Let us take the plane z =0 to be the base of the atmosphere and restrict our attention to the domain z greater than 0. The task we have is to solve for a magnetic field which is everywhere potential except on some free surface S, subject to suit able to boundary conditions. The surface S is determined by requiring that it possesses a discrete electric current density such that the Lorentz force on it is everywhere vertically upward to balance the weight of the material m(S). Since the magnetic field is potential in the external atmosphere, the latter is decoupled from the magnetic field and its plane parallel hydrostatic pressure and density can be prescribed.

Static current-sheet models of quiescent prominences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, F.; Low, B. C.

1986-12-01

A particular class of theoretical models idealize the prominence to be a discrete flat electric-current sheet suspended vertically in a potential magnetic field. The weight of the prominence is supported by the Lorentz force in the current sheet. These models can be extended to have curved electric-current sheets and to vary three-dimensionally. The equation for force balance is 1 over 4 pi (del times B) times Bdel p- p9 z=zero. Using Cartesian coordinates we take, for simplicity, a uniform gravity with constant acceleration g in the direction -z. If we are interested not in the detailed internal structure of the prominence, but in the global magnetic configuration around the prominence, we may take prominence plasma to be cold. Consideration is given to how such equilibrium states can be constructed. To simplify the mathematical problem, suppose there is no electric current in the atmosphere except for the discrete currents in the cold prominence sheet. Let us take the plane z =0 to be the base of the atmosphere and restrict our attention to the domain z greater than 0. The task we have is to solve for a magnetic field which is everywhere potential except on some free surface S, subject to suit able to boundary conditions. The surface S is determined by requiring that it possesses a discrete electric current density such that the Lorentz force on it is everywhere vertically upward to balance the weight of the material m(S). Since the magnetic field is potential in the external atmosphere, the latter is decoupled from the magnetic field and its plane parallel hydrostatic pressure and density can be prescribed.

Electric Current Activated Combustion Synthesis and Chemical Ovens Under Terrestrial and Reduced Gravity Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Unuvar, C.; Fredrick, D.; Anselmi-Tamburini, U.; Manerbino, A.; Guigne, J. Y.; Munir, Z. A.; Shaw, B. D.

2004-01-01

Combustion synthesis (CS) generally involves mixing reactants together (e.g., metal powders) and igniting the mixture. Typically, a reaction wave will pass through the sample. In field activated combustion synthesis (FACS), the addition of an electric field has a marked effect on the dynamics of wave propagation and on the nature, composition, and homogeneity of the product as well as capillary flow, mass-transport in porous media, and Marangoni flows, which are influenced by gravity. The objective is to understand the role of an electric field in CS reactions under conditions where gravity-related effects are suppressed or altered. The systems being studied are Ti+Al and Ti+3Al. Two different ignition orientations have been used to observe effects of gravity when one of the reactants becomes molten. This consequentially influences the position and concentration of the electric current, which in turn influences the entire process. Experiments have also been performed in microgravity conditions. This process has been named Microgravity Field Activated Combustion Synthesis (MFACS). Effects of gravity have been demonstrated, where the reaction wave temperature and velocity demonstrate considerable differences besides the changes of combustion mechanisms with the different high currents applied. Also the threshold for the formation of a stable reaction wave is increased under zero gravity conditions. Electric current was also utilized with a chemical oven technique, where inserts of aluminum with minute amounts of tungsten and tantalum were used to allow observation of effects of settling of the higher density solid particles in liquid aluminum at the present temperature profile and wave velocity of the reaction.

Finite element simulation of thunderstorm electrodynamics in the proximity of the storm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baginski, Michael Edward

1988-01-01

Observations of electric fields, Maxwell current density, and air conductivity over thunderstorms were presented. The measurements were obtained using electric field mils and conductivity probes installed on a U2 aircraft as the aircraft passed approximately directly over an active thunderstorm at an altitude of 18 to 20 km. Accurate electrical observations of this type are rare and provide important information to those involved in numerically modeling a thunderstorm. A preliminary set of computer simulations based on this data were conducted and are described. The simulations show good agreement with measurements and are used to infer the thundercloud's charging current and amount of charge exchanged per flash.

Self-sustained criterion with photoionization for positive dc corona plasmas between coaxial cylinders

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, Yuesheng, E-mail: yueshengzheng@fzu.edu.cn; Zhang, Bo, E-mail: shizbcn@tsinghua.edu.cn; He, Jinliang, E-mail: hejl@tsinghua.edu.cn

The positive dc corona plasmas between coaxial cylinders in air under the application of a self-sustained criterion with photoionization are investigated in this paper. A photon absorption function suitable for cylindrical electrode, which can characterize the total photons within the ionization region, is proposed on the basis of the classic corona onset criteria. Based on the general fluid model with the self-sustained criterion, the role of photoionization in the ionization region is clarified. It is found that the surface electric field keeps constant under a relatively low corona current, while it is slightly weakened with the increase of the coronamore » current. Similar tendencies can be found under different conductor radii and relative air densities. The small change of the surface electric field will become more significant for the electron density distribution as well as the ionization activity under a high corona current, compared with the results under the assumption of a constant surface field. The assumption that the surface electric field remains constant should be corrected with the increase of the corona current when the energetic electrons with a distance from the conductor surface are concerned.« less

Electric field tomography for contactless imaging of resistivity in biomedical applications.

PubMed

Korjenevsky, A V

2004-02-01

The technique of contactless imaging of resistivity distribution inside conductive objects, which can be applied in medical diagnostics, has been suggested and analyzed. The method exploits the interaction of a high-frequency electric field with a conductive medium. Unlike electrical impedance tomography, no electric current is injected into the medium from outside. The interaction is accompanied with excitation of high-frequency currents and redistribution of free charges inside the medium leading to strong and irregular perturbation of the field's magnitude outside and inside the object. Along with this the considered interaction also leads to small and regular phase shifts of the field in the area surrounding the object. Measuring these phase shifts using a set of electrodes placed around the object enables us to reconstruct the internal structure of the medium. The basics of this technique, which we name electric field tomography (EFT), are described, simple analytical estimations are made and requirements for measuring equipment are formulated. The realizability of the technique is verified by numerical simulations based on the finite elements method. Results of simulation have confirmed initial estimations and show that in the case of EFT even a comparatively simple filtered backprojection algorithm can be used for reconstructing the static resistivity distribution in biological tissues.

Turning Noise into Signal: Utilizing Impressed Pipeline Currents for EM Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindau, Tobias; Becken, Michael

2017-04-01

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems are extensively used for the protection of central Europe's dense network of oil-, gas- and water pipelines against destruction by electrochemical corrosion. While ICCP systems usually provide protection by injecting a DC current into the pipeline, mandatory pipeline integrity surveys demand a periodical switching of the current. Consequently, the resulting time varying pipe currents induce secondary electric- and magnetic fields in the surrounding earth. While these fields are usually considered to be unwanted cultural noise in electromagnetic exploration, this work aims at utilizing the fields generated by the ICCP system for determining the electrical resistivity of the subsurface. The fundamental period of the switching cycles typically amounts to 15 seconds in Germany and thereby roughly corresponds to periods used in controlled source EM applications (CSEM). For detailed studies we chose an approximately 30km long pipeline segment near Herford, Germany as a test site. The segment is located close to the southern margin of the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB) and part of a larger gas pipeline composed of multiple segments. The current injected into the pipeline segment originates in a rectified 50Hz AC signal which is periodically switched on and off. In contrast to the usual dipole sources used in CSEM surveys, the current distribution along the pipeline is unknown and expected to be non-uniform due to coating defects that cause current to leak into the surrounding soil. However, an accurate current distribution is needed to model the fields generated by the pipeline source. We measured the magnetic fields at several locations above the pipeline and used Biot-Savarts-Law to estimate the currents decay function. The resulting frequency dependent current distribution shows a current decay away from the injection point as well as a frequency dependent phase shift which is increasing with distance from the injection point. Electric field data were recorded at 45 stations located in an area of about 60 square kilometers in the vicinity to the pipeline. Additionally, the injected source current was recorded directly at the injection point. Transfer functions between the local electric fields and the injected source current are estimated for frequencies ranging from 0.03Hz to 15Hz using robust time series processing techniques. The resulting transfer functions are inverted for a 3D conductivity model of the subsurface using an elaborate pipeline model. We interpret the model with regards to the local geologic setting, demonstrating the methods capabilities to image the subsurface.

Three Dimensional Distribution of Sensitive Field and Stress Field Inversion of Force Sensitive Materials under Constant Current Excitation.

PubMed

Zhao, Shuanfeng; Liu, Min; Guo, Wei; Zhang, Chuanwei

2018-02-28

Force sensitive conductive composite materials are functional materials which can be used as the sensitive material of force sensors. However, the existing sensors only use one-dimensional electrical properties of force sensitive conductive materials. Even in tactile sensors, the measurement of contact pressure is achieved by large-scale arrays and the units of a large-scale array are also based on the one-dimensional electrical properties of force sensitive materials. The main contribution of this work is to study the three-dimensional electrical properties and the inversion method of three-dimensional stress field of a force sensitive material (conductive rubber), which pushes the application of force sensitive material from one dimensional to three-dimensional. First, the mathematical model of the conductive rubber current field distribution under a constant force is established by the effective medium theory, and the current field distribution model of conductive rubber with different geometry, conductive rubber content and conductive rubber relaxation parameters is deduced. Secondly, the inversion method of the three-dimensional stress field of conductive rubber is established, which provides a theoretical basis for the design of a new tactile sensor, three-dimensional stress field and space force based on force sensitive materials.

Non-Markovian quantum Brownian motion in one dimension in electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, H. Z.; Su, S. L.; Zhou, Y. H.; Yi, X. X.

2018-04-01

Quantum Brownian motion is the random motion of quantum particles suspended in a field (or an effective field) resulting from their collision with fast-moving modes in the field. It provides us with a fundamental model to understand various physical features concerning open systems in chemistry, condensed-matter physics, biophysics, and optomechanics. In this paper, without either the Born-Markovian or rotating-wave approximation, we derive a master equation for a charged-Brownian particle in one dimension coupled with a thermal reservoir in electric fields. The effect of the reservoir and the electric fields is manifested as time-dependent coefficients and coherent terms, respectively, in the master equation. The two-photon correlation between the Brownian particle and the reservoir can induce nontrivial squeezing dynamics to the particle. We derive a current equation including the source from the driving fields, transient current from the system flowing into the environment, and the two-photon current caused by the non-rotating-wave term. The presented results then are compared with that given by the rotating-wave approximation in the weak-coupling limit, and these results are extended to a more general quantum network involving an arbitrary number of coupled-Brownian particles. The presented formalism might open a way to better understand exactly the non-Markovian quantum network.

Penetration electric fields: A Volland Stern approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, William J.

2007-07-01

This paper reformulates the Volland Stern model, separating contributions from corotation and convection to predict electric field penetration of the inner magnetosphere using data from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite. In the absence of shielding, the model electric field is EVS=ΦPC/2LYRE, where ΦPC is the polar cap potential and 2LYRE is the width of the magnetosphere along the dawn dusk meridian. ΦPC is estimated from the interplanetary electric field (IEF) and the dynamic pressure of the solar wind (PSW); values of LY were approximated using PSW and simple force-balance considerations. ACE measurements on 16 17 April 2002 were then used to calculate EVS for comparison with the eastward electric field component (EJφ) detected by the incoherent scatter radar at Jicamarca, Peru. While the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was southward, the model predicted observed ratios of EVS/IEF. During intervals of northward IMF, EJφ turned westward suggesting that a northward IMF BZ system of field-aligned currents affected the electrodynamics of the dayside ionosphere on rapid time scales.

Atomic electric fields revealed by a quantum mechanical approach to electron picodiffraction.

PubMed

Müller, Knut; Krause, Florian F; Béché, Armand; Schowalter, Marco; Galioit, Vincent; Löffler, Stefan; Verbeeck, Johan; Zweck, Josef; Schattschneider, Peter; Rosenauer, Andreas

2014-12-15

By focusing electrons on probes with a diameter of 50 pm, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is currently crossing the border to probing subatomic details. A major challenge is the measurement of atomic electric fields using differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, traditionally exploiting the concept of a field-induced shift of diffraction patterns. Here we present a simplified quantum theoretical interpretation of DPC. This enables us to calculate the momentum transferred to the STEM probe from diffracted intensities recorded on a pixel array instead of conventional segmented bright-field detectors. The methodical development yielding atomic electric field, charge and electron density is performed using simulations for binary GaN as an ideal model system. We then present a detailed experimental study of SrTiO3 yielding atomic electric fields, validated by comprehensive simulations. With this interpretation and upgraded instrumentation, STEM is capable of quantifying atomic electric fields and high-contrast imaging of light atoms.

Atomic electric fields revealed by a quantum mechanical approach to electron picodiffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Knut; Krause, Florian F.; Béché, Armand; Schowalter, Marco; Galioit, Vincent; Löffler, Stefan; Verbeeck, Johan; Zweck, Josef; Schattschneider, Peter; Rosenauer, Andreas

2014-12-01

By focusing electrons on probes with a diameter of 50 pm, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is currently crossing the border to probing subatomic details. A major challenge is the measurement of atomic electric fields using differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, traditionally exploiting the concept of a field-induced shift of diffraction patterns. Here we present a simplified quantum theoretical interpretation of DPC. This enables us to calculate the momentum transferred to the STEM probe from diffracted intensities recorded on a pixel array instead of conventional segmented bright-field detectors. The methodical development yielding atomic electric field, charge and electron density is performed using simulations for binary GaN as an ideal model system. We then present a detailed experimental study of SrTiO3 yielding atomic electric fields, validated by comprehensive simulations. With this interpretation and upgraded instrumentation, STEM is capable of quantifying atomic electric fields and high-contrast imaging of light atoms.

Atomic electric fields revealed by a quantum mechanical approach to electron picodiffraction

PubMed Central

Müller, Knut; Krause, Florian F.; Béché, Armand; Schowalter, Marco; Galioit, Vincent; Löffler, Stefan; Verbeeck, Johan; Zweck, Josef; Schattschneider, Peter; Rosenauer, Andreas

2014-01-01

By focusing electrons on probes with a diameter of 50 pm, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is currently crossing the border to probing subatomic details. A major challenge is the measurement of atomic electric fields using differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, traditionally exploiting the concept of a field-induced shift of diffraction patterns. Here we present a simplified quantum theoretical interpretation of DPC. This enables us to calculate the momentum transferred to the STEM probe from diffracted intensities recorded on a pixel array instead of conventional segmented bright-field detectors. The methodical development yielding atomic electric field, charge and electron density is performed using simulations for binary GaN as an ideal model system. We then present a detailed experimental study of SrTiO3 yielding atomic electric fields, validated by comprehensive simulations. With this interpretation and upgraded instrumentation, STEM is capable of quantifying atomic electric fields and high-contrast imaging of light atoms. PMID:25501385

Vibration energy harvesting based on stress-induced polarization switching: a phase field approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dan; Wang, Linxiang; Melnik, Roderick

2017-06-01

Different from the traditional piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting, a new strategy based on stress-induced polarization switching has been proposed in the current paper. Two related prototypes are presented and the associated advantages and drawbacks have been discussed in detail. It has been demonstrated that, with the assistance of a bias electric field, the robustness of the energy harvesters is improved. Furthermore, the real-space phase-field model has been employed to study the nonlinear hysteretic behavior involved in the proposed energy harvesting process. A substantially larger electric current associated with the stress-induced polarization switching has been demonstrated when compared with that with piezoelectric effect. In addition, the effects of bias electric potential, bias resistance, mechanical boundary conditions, charge leakage and electrodes arrangements have also been investigated by the phase-field simulation, which provides a guidance for future real implementations.

Explorations of electric current system in solar active regions. I - Empirical inferences of the current flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ding, Y. J.; Hong, Q. F.; Hagyard, M. J.; Deloach, A. C.; Liu, X. P.

1987-01-01

Techniques to identify sources of electric current systems and their channels of flow in solar active regions are explored. Measured photospheric vector magnetic fields together with high-resolution white-light and H-alpha filtergrams provide the data base to derive the current systems in the photosphere and chromosphere. As an example, the techniques are then applied to infer current systems in AR 2372 in early April 1980.

Electric field effects on current–voltage relationships in microfluidic channels presenting multiple working electrodes in the weak-coupling limit

DOE PAGES

Contento, Nicholas M.; Bohn, Paul W.

2014-05-23

While electrochemical methods are well suited for lab-on-a-chip applications, reliably coupling multiple, electrode-controlled processes in a single microfluidic channel remains a considerable challenge, because the electric fields driving electrokinetic flow make it difficult to establish a precisely known potential at the working electrode(s). The challenge of coupling electrochemical detection with microchip electrophoresis is well known; however, the problem is general, arising in other multielectrode arrangements with applications in enhanced detection and chemical processing. Here, we study the effects of induced electric fields on voltammetric behavior in a microchannel containing multiple in-channel electrodes, using a Fe(CN) 6 3/4- model system. Whenmore » an electric field is induced by applying a cathodic potential at one inchannel electrode, the half-wave potential (E 1/2) for the oxidation of ferrocyanide at an adjacent electrode shifts to more negative potentials. The E 1/2 value depends linearly on the electric field current at a separate in-channel electrode. The observed shift in E 1/2 is quantitatively described by a model, which accounts for the change in solution potential caused by the iR drop along the length of the microchannel. The model, which reliably captures changes in electrode location and solution conductivity, apportions the electric field potential between iR drop and electrochemical potential components, enabling the study of microchannel electric field magnitudes at low applied potentials. In the system studied, the iR component of the electric field potential increases exponentially with applied current before reaching an asymptotic value near 80 % of the total applied potential. The methods described will aid in the development and interpretation of future microchip electrochemistry methods, particularly those that benefit from the coupling of electrokinetic and electrochemical phenomena at low voltages.« less

Grain Boundary Resistivity of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia at 1400°C

DOE PAGES

Wang, J.; Du, A.; Yang, Di; ...

2013-01-01

Tmore » he grain size dependence of the bulk resistivity of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia at 1400°C was determined from the effect of a dc electric field E a = 18.1  V/cm on grain growth and the corresponding electric current during isothermal annealing tests. Employing the brick layer model, the present annealing test results were in accordance with extrapolations of the values obtained at lower temperature employing impedance spectroscopy and 4-point-probe dc. he combined values give that the magnitude of the grain boundary resistivity ρ b = 133  ohm-cm. he electric field across the grain boundary width was 28–43 times the applied field for the grain size and current ranges in the present annealing test.« less

Transmission of electric fields due to distributed cloud charges in the atmosphere-ionosphere system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Suman; De, S. S.; Haldar, D. K.; Guha, G.

2017-10-01

The transmission of electric fields in the lower atmosphere by thunder clouds with a suitable charge distribution profile has been modeled. The electromagnetic responses of the atmosphere are presented through Maxwell's equations together with a time-varying source charge distribution. The conductivities are taken to be exponentially graded function of altitude. The radial and vertical electric field components are derived for isotropic, anisotropic and thundercloud regions. The analytical solutions for the total Maxwell's current which flows from the cloud into the ionosphere under DC and quasi-static conditions are obtained for isotropic region. We found that the effect of charge distribution in thunderclouds produced by lightning discharges diminishes rapidly with increasing altitudes. Also, it is found that time to reach Maxwell's currents a maximum is higher for higher altitudes.

Modeling of the Coupled Magnetospheric and Neutral Wind Dynamos

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thayer, Jeffrey P.

1997-01-01

Over the past four years of funding, SRI, in collaboration with the University of Texas at Dallas, has been involved in assessing the influence of thermospheric neutral winds on the electric field and current systems at high latitudes. The initial direction of the project was to perform a set of numerical experiments concerning the contribution of the magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamo processes, under specific boundary conditions, to the polarization electric field and/or the field-aligned current distribution at high latitudes. To facilitate these numerical experiments we developed a numerical scheme that relied on using output from the NCAR Thermosphere-Ionosphere General Circulation Model (NCAR-TIGCM), expanding them in the form of spherical harmonics and solving the dynamo equations spectrally. Once initial calculations were completed, it was recognized that the neutral wind contribution could be significant but its actual contribution to the electric field or currents depended strongly on the generator properties of the magnetosphere. Solutions to this problem are not unique because of the unknown characteristics of the magnetospheric generator, therefore the focus was on two limiting cases. One limiting case was to consider the magnetosphere as a voltage generator delivering a fixed voltage to the high-latitude ionosphere and allowing for the neutral wind dynamo to contribute only to the current system. The second limiting case was to consider the magnetosphere as a current generator and allowing for the neutral wind dynamo to contribute only to the generation of polarization electric fields. This work was completed and presented at the l994 Fall AGU meeting. The direction of the project then shifted to applying the Poynting flux concept to the high-latitude ionosphere. This concept was more attractive as it evaluated the influence of neutral winds on the high-latitude electrodynamics without actually having to determine the generator characteristics of the magnetosphere. The influence of the neutral wind was then determined not by estimating how much electric potential or current density it provides, but by determining the contribution of the neutral wind to the net electromagnetic energy transferred between the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The estimate of the net electromagnetic energy transfer and the role of the neutral winds proves to be a more fundamental quantity in studies of magnetosphere- ionosphere coupling also showed that by using electric and magnetic field measurements from the HILAT satellite, the Poynting flux could be a measurable quantity from polar-orbiting, low- altitude spacecraft. Through collaboration with Dr. Heelis and others at UTD and their expertise of the electric field measurements on the DE-B satellite, an extensive analysis was planned to determine the Poynting flux from the DE-B measurements in combination with a modeling effort to help interpret the observations taking into account the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere.

Measurements of electric fields in the solar wind: Interpretation difficulties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chertkov, A. D.

1995-06-01

The traditionally measured electric fields in the solar wind plasma (about 1-10 mV/m) are not the natural, primordial ones but are the result of plasma-vehicle interaction. The theory of this interaction is not complete now and current interpretation of the measurements can fail. The state of fully ionized plasma depends on the entropy of the creating source and on the process in which plasma is involved. The increasing twofold of a moving volume in the solar wind (with energy transfer across its surface which is comparable with its whole internal energy) is a more rapid process than the relaxation for the pressure. The presumptive source of the solar wind creation - the induction electric field of the solar origin - has very low entropy. The state of plasma must be very far from the state of thermodynamic equilibrium. The internal energy of plasma can be contained mainly in plasma waves, resonant plasma oscillations, and electric currents. The primordial microscopic oscillating electric fields could be about 1 V/m. It can be checked by special measurements, not ruining the natural plasma state. The tool should be a dielectrical microelectroscope outside the distortion zone of the spacecraft, having been observed from the latter.

Ohmic model for electrodeposition of metallic ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gliozzi, A. S.; Alexe-Ionescu, A. L.; Barbero, G.

2015-10-01

An ohmic model to describe the electrodeposition of metallic ions on the electrodes is proposed. We assume that the ionic distribution is homogeneous across the electrolytic cell, and that the ionic current is due to the bulk electric field. The nucleation in the electrodeposition is supposed to be well described by a kinetic equation at the electrode, taking into account the neutralization of metallic ions on the electrodes. Two cases are considered. In the first case the characteristic time describing the neutralization of the ions is supposed to be negligible with respect to the flight time of the ions across the cell. In this framework the bulk electric field coincides with the external electric field, and our analysis gives analytical formulae for the surface density of deposited ions and for the electric current in the external circuit. The case where the two characteristic times are comparable, and the effective electric field in the bulk depends on the surface deposition, is considered too. In this case the ordinary differential equations describing the ionic distribution and the adsorption phenomenon have to be solved numerically. The agreement between the presented model and the experimental results published by several groups is reasonably good.

Measurements of electric fields in the solar wind: Interpretation difficulties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chertkov, A. D.

1995-01-01

The traditionally measured electric fields in the solar wind plasma (about 1-10 mV/m) are not the natural, primordial ones but are the result of plasma-vehicle interaction. The theory of this interaction is not complete now and current interpretation of the measurements can fail. The state of fully ionized plasma depends on the entropy of the creating source and on the process in which plasma is involved. The increasing twofold of a moving volume in the solar wind (with energy transfer across its surface which is comparable with its whole internal energy) is a more rapid process than the relaxation for the pressure. The presumptive source of the solar wind creation - the induction electric field of the solar origin - has very low entropy. The state of plasma must be very far from the state of thermodynamic equilibrium. The internal energy of plasma can be contained mainly in plasma waves, resonant plasma oscillations, and electric currents. The primordial microscopic oscillating electric fields could be about 1 V/m. It can be checked by special measurements, not ruining the natural plasma state. The tool should be a dielectrical microelectroscope outside the distortion zone of the spacecraft, having been observed from the latter.

Electromagnetic Field Modeling of Transcranial Electric and Magnetic Stimulation: Targeting, Individualization, and Safety of Convulsive and Subconvulsive Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Zhi-De

The proliferation of noninvasive transcranial electric and magnetic brain stimulation techniques and applications in recent years has led to important insights into brain function and pathophysiology of brain-based disorders. Transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation encompasses a wide spectrum of methods that have developed into therapeutic interventions for a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Although these methods are at different stages of development, the physical principle underlying these techniques is the similar. Namely, an electromagnetic field is induced in the brain either via current injection through scalp electrodes or via electromagnetic induction. The induced electric field modulates the neuronal transmembrane potentials and, thereby, neuronal excitability or activity. Therefore, knowledge of the induced electric field distribution is key in the design and interpretation of basic research and clinical studies. This work aims to delineate the fundamental physical limitations, tradeoffs, and technological feasibility constraints associated with transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation, in order to inform the development of technologies that deliver safer, and more spatially, temporally, and patient specific stimulation. Part I of this dissertation expounds on the issue of spatial targeting of the electric field. Contrasting electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST) configurations that differ markedly in efficacy, side effects, and seizure induction efficiency could advance our understanding of the principles linking treatment parameters and therapeutic outcome and could provide a means of testing hypotheses of the mechanisms of therapeutic action. Using the finite element method, we systematically compare the electric field characteristics of existing forms of ECT and MST. We introduce a method of incorporating a modality-specific neural activation threshold in the electric field models that can inform dosage requirements in convulsive therapies. Our results indicate that the MST electric field is more focal and more confined to the superficial cortex compared to ECT. Further, the conventional ECT current amplitude is much higher than necessary for seizure induction. One of the factors important to clinical outcome is seizure expression. However, it is unknown how the induced electric field is related to seizure onset and propagation. In this work, we explore the effect of the electric field distribution on the quantitative ictal electroencephalography and current source density in ECT and MST. We further demonstrate how the ECT electrode shape, size, spacing, and current can be manipulated to yield more precise control of the induced electric field. If desirable, ECT can be made as focal as MST while using simpler stimulation equipment. Next, we demonstrate how the electric field induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be controlled. We present the most comprehensive comparison of TMS coil electric field penetration and focality to date. The electric field distributions of more than 50 TMS coils were simulated. We show that TMS coils differ markedly in their electric field characteristics, but they all are subject to a consistent depth-focality tradeoff. Specifically, the ability to directly stimulate deeper brain structures is obtained at the expense of inducing wider electric field spread. Figure-8 type coils are fundamentally more focal compared to circular type coils. Understanding the depth-focality tradeoff can help researchers and clinicians to appropriately select coils and interpret TMS studies. This work also enables the development of novel TMS coils with electronically switchable active and sham modes as well as for deep TMS. Design considerations of these coils are extensively discussed. Part II of the dissertation aims to quantify the effect of individual, sex, and age differences in head geometry and conductivity on the induced neural stimulation strength and focality of ECT and MST. Across and within ECT studies, there is marked unexplained variability in seizure threshold and clinical outcomes. It is not known to what extent the age and sex effects on seizure threshold are mediated by interindividual variation in neural excitability and/or anatomy of the head. Addressing this question, we examine the effect on ECT and MST induced field characteristics of the variability in head diameter, scalp and skull thicknesses and conductivities, as well as brain volume, in a range of values that are representative of the patient population. Variations in the local tissue properties such as scalp and skull thickness and conductivity affect the existing ECT configurations more than MST. On the other hand, the existing MST coil configurations show greater sensitivity to head diameter variation compared to ECT. Due to the high focality of MST compared to ECT, the stimulated brain volume in MST is more sensitive to variation in tissue layer thicknesses. We further demonstrate how individualization of the stimulus pulse current amplitude, which is not presently done in ECT or MST, can be used as a means of compensating for interindividual anatomical variability, which could lead to better and more consistent clinical outcomes. Part III of the dissertation aims to systemically investigate, both computationally and experimentally, the safety of TMS and ECT in patients with a deep-brain stimulation system, and propose safety guidelines for the dual-device therapy. We showed that the induction of significant voltages in the subcutaneous leads in the scalp during TMS could result in unintended and potentially dangerous levels of electrical currents in the DBS electrode contacts. When applying ECT in patients with intracranial implants, we showed that there is an increase in the electric field strength in the brain due to conduction through the burr holes, especially when the burr holes are not fitted with nonconductive caps. Safety concerns presently limit the access of patients with intracranial electronic devices to therapies involving transcranial stimulation technology, which may preclude them from obtaining appropriate medical treatments. Gaining better understanding of the interactions between transcranial and implanted stimulation devices will demarcate significant safety risks from benign interactions, and will provide recommendations for reducing risk, thus enhancing the patient's therapeutic options.

Response of ionospheric electric fields at mid-low latitudes during sudden commencements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, N.; Kasaba, Y.; Shinbori, A.; Nishimura, Y.; Kikuchi, T.; Ebihara, Y.; Nagatsuma, T.

2015-06-01

Using in situ observations from the Republic of China Satellite-1 spacecraft, we investigated the time response and local time dependence of the ionospheric electric field at mid-low latitudes associated with geomagnetic sudden commencements (SCs) that occurred from 1999 to 2004. We found that the ionospheric electric field variation associated with SCs instantaneously responds to the preliminary impulse (PI) signature on the ground regardless of spacecraft local time. Our statistical analysis also supports the global instant transmission of electric field from the polar region. In contrast, the peak time detected in the ionospheric electric field is earlier than that of the equatorial geomagnetic field (~20 s before in the PI phase). Based on the ground-ionosphere waveguide model, this time lag can be attributed to the latitudinal difference of ionospheric conductivity. However, the local time distribution of the initial excursion of ionospheric electric field shows that dusk-to-dawn ionospheric electric fields develop during the PI phase. Moreover, the westward electric field in the ionosphere, which produces the preliminary reverse impulse of the geomagnetic field on the dayside feature, appears at 18-22 h LT where the ionospheric conductivity beyond the duskside terminator (18 h LT) is lower than on the dayside. The result of a magnetohydrodynamic simulation for an ideal SC shows that the electric potential distribution is asymmetric with respect to the noon-midnight meridian. This produces the local time distribution of ionospheric electric fields similar to the observed result, which can be explained by the divergence of the Hall current under nonuniform ionospheric conductivity.

Room temperature antiferroelectric-phase stability in BNT-BT lead-free ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guerra, J. D. S.; Peláiz-Barranco, A.; Calderón-Piñar, F.; Mendez-González, Y.

2017-11-01

In this work the electric field dependence of electrical polarization (hysteresis loop) has been investigated as a function of the frequency in the (Bi0.500Na0.500)0.920Ba0.065La0.010TiO3 ceramic system. Results, not previously reported in the current literature, revealed that the magnitude of the electric field, necessary to obtain true domain switching, is strongly dependent of the frequency of the applied electric field. The structural properties, studied from x-ray diffraction and Rietveld's refinement, showed the coexistence of both antiferroelectric (AFE) and ferroelectric (FE) phases at room temperature, confirming the major contribution for the AFE phase. A strong contribution of the AFE phase on the electric field dependence of the polarization has been also evaluated, even at higher frequencies, considering a non-power-law dependence for the coercive field.

Diffusion with Varying Drag; the Runaway Problem.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rollins, David Kenneth

We study the motion of electrons in an ionized plasma of electrons and ions in an external electric field. A probability distribution function describes the electron motion and is a solution of a Fokker-Planck equation. In zero field, the solution approaches an equilibrium Maxwellian. For arbitrarily small field, electrons overcome the diffusive effects and are freely accelerated by the field. This is the electron runaway phenomenon. We treat the electric field as a small perturbation. We consider various diffusion coefficients for the one dimensional problem and determine the runaway current as a function of the field strength. Diffusion coefficients, non-zero on a finite interval are examined. Some non-trivial cases of these can be solved exactly in terms of known special functions. The more realistic case where the diffusion coefficient decays with velocity are then considered. To determine the runaway current, the equivalent Schrodinger eigenvalue problem is analysed. The smallest eigenvalue is shown to be equal to the runaway current. Using asymptotic matching a solution can be constructed which is then used to evaluate the runaway current. The runaway current is exponentially small as a function of field strength. This method is used to extract results from the three dimensional problem.

Topology and convection of a northward interplanetary magnetic field reconnection event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wendel, Deirdre E.

>From observations and global MHD simulations, we deduce the local and global magnetic topology and current structure of a northward IMF reconnection event in the dayside magnetopause. The ESA four-satellite Cluster suite crossed the magnetopause at a location mapping along field lines to an ionospheric H-alpha emission observed by the IMAGE spacecraft. Therefore, we seek reconnection signatures in the Cluster data. From the four-point Cluster observations, we develop a superposed epoch method to find the instantaneous x-line, its associated current sheet, and the nature of the reconnecting particle flows. This method is unique in that it removes the motion of the hyperbolic structure and the magnetopause relative to the spacecraft. We detect singular field line reconnection--planar hyperbolic reconnecting fields superposed on an out-of- plane field. We also detect the non-ideal electric field that is required to certify reconnection at locations where the magnetic field does not vanish, and estimate a reconnection electric field of - 4 mV/m. The current sheet appears bifurcated, embedding a 30 km current sheet of opposite polarity within a broader current sheet about 130 km thick. Using a resistive MHD simulation and ionospheric satellite data, we examine the same event at global length scales. This gives a 3D picture of where reconnection occurs on the magnetopause for northward IMF with B x and B y components and a tilted dipole field. It also demonstrates that northward IMF 3D reconnection couples the reconnection electric field and field-aligned currents to the ionosphere, driving sunward convection in a manner that agrees with satellite measurements of sunward flows. We find singular field line reconnection of the IMF with both open and closed field lines near nulls in both hemispheres. The reconnection in turn produces both open and closed field lines. We discuss for the first time how line-tying in the ionosphere and draping of open and IMF field lines produce a torsion of the reconnecting singular magnetic field lines within the magnetopause. The simulation and data show that magnetopause reconnection topology is three-dimensional in a way that challenges accepted models of neutral lines and x-lines with guide fields.

Particle pinch with fully noninductive lower hybrid current drive in Tore Supra.

PubMed

Hoang, G T; Bourdelle, C; Pégourié, B; Schunke, B; Artaud, J F; Bucalossi, J; Clairet, F; Fenzi-Bonizec, C; Garbet, X; Gil, C; Guirlet, R; Imbeaux, F; Lasalle, J; Loarer, T; Lowry, C; Travère, J M; Tsitrone, E

2003-04-18

Recently, plasmas exceeding 4 min have been obtained with lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) in Tore Supra. These LHCD plasmas extend for over 80 times the resistive current diffusion time with zero loop voltage. Under such unique conditions the neoclassical particle pinch driven by the toroidal electric field vanishes. Nevertheless, the density profile remains peaked for more than 4 min. For the first time, the existence of an inward particle pinch in steady-state plasma without toroidal electric field, much larger than the value predicted by the collisional neoclassical theory, is experimentally demonstrated.

World's simplest electric train

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Criado, C.; Alamo, N.

2016-01-01

We analyze the physics of the "world's simplest electric train." The "train" consists of a AA battery with a strong magnet on each end that moves through a helical coil of copper wire. The motion of the train results from the interaction between the magnetic field created by the current in the wire and the magnetic field of the magnets. We calculate the force of this interaction and the terminal velocity of the train due to eddy currents and friction. Our calculations provide a good illustration of Faraday's and Lenz's laws, as well as of the concepts of the Lorentz force and eddy currents.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Lingyan, E-mail: l.y.wang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn, E-mail: wren@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Ren, Wei, E-mail: l.y.wang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn, E-mail: wren@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Shi, Peng

Lead-free ferroelectric un-doped and doped K{sub 0.5}Na{sub 0.5}NbO{sub 3} (KNN) films with different amounts of manganese (Mn) were prepared by a chemical solution deposition method. The thicknesses of all films are about 1.6 μm. Their phase, microstructure, leakage current behavior, and electrical properties were investigated. With increasing the amounts of Mn, the crystallinity became worse. Fortunately, the electrical properties were improved due to the decreased leakage current density after Mn-doping. The study on leakage behaviors shows that the dominant conduction mechanism at low electric field in the un-doped KNN film is ohmic mode and that at high electric field is space-charge-limitedmore » and Pool-Frenkel emission. After Mn doping, the dominant conduction mechanism at high electric field of KNN films changed single space-charge-limited. However, the introduction of higher amount of Mn into the KNN film would lead to a changed conduction mechanism from space-charge-limited to ohmic mode. Consequently, there exists an optimal amount of Mn doping of 2.0 mol. %. The 2.0 mol. % Mn doped KNN film shows the lowest leakage current density and the best electrical properties. With the secondary ion mass spectroscopies and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, the homogeneous distribution in the KNN films and entrance of Mn element in the lattice of KNN perovskite structure were also confirmed.« less

Self-triggering superconducting fault current limiter

DOEpatents

Yuan, Xing [Albany, NY; Tekletsadik, Kasegn [Rexford, NY

2008-10-21

A modular and scaleable Matrix Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a "variable impedance" device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. The matrix fault current limiter comprises a fault current limiter module that includes a superconductor which is electrically coupled in parallel with a trigger coil, wherein the trigger coil is magnetically coupled to the superconductor. The current surge doing a fault within the electrical power network will cause the superconductor to transition to its resistive state and also generate a uniform magnetic field in the trigger coil and simultaneously limit the voltage developed across the superconductor. This results in fast and uniform quenching of the superconductors, significantly reduces the burnout risk associated with non-uniformity often existing within the volume of superconductor materials. The fault current limiter modules may be electrically coupled together to form various "n" (rows).times."m" (columns) matrix configurations.

Characterization of AC current sensor based on giant magnetoresistance and coil for power meter design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhani, H. S.; Aminudin, A.; Waslaluddin

2018-05-01

Electric current is the basic variable of measurement in instrumentation system. One of the current measurements had been developed was based on magnetic sensor. Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) produces an output voltage when it detects the magnetic field from electric current flow. The purpose of this study was to characterize the response of GMR when variation number of coil was given. The characterization was the GMR voltage response to the AC current values from 0.01 A to 5.00 A. The linearity of the relation was reaching saturation point when the magnetic field measured higher than 10.5 Oe at room temperature. As the number of coil increased, the earlier saturation occurred. To see the sensitivity of the sensor response, the data graph was cut off at 1.56 A AC. From this research, we got single coil was ideal to measure electric current higher than 1.56 A AC, as the relation of GMR voltage to the current tended to maintain its linearity. For measurement of 1.56 A AC and less, coil number addition would increase the sensitivity of sensor response. This research hopefully will be benefit for further development using an electric current measurement based on GMR magnetic sensor for power meter design.

Effect of external applied electric field on the silicon solar cell's thermodynamic efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zieba Falama, R.; Mibaile, Justin; Guemene Dountio, E.; Djongyang, Noël; Doka, Serge Y.; Kofane, Timoleon C.

2017-03-01

This paper presents a possible solution to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells. An external electric field is applied on a silicon photovoltaic solar cell, inducing band-trap ionization of charge carriers. Output current is then monitored and the thermodynamic efficiency is calculated. Results show on the one hand a significant increase in efficiency for a certain margin of applied electric field, and on the another hand the instabilities of efficiency. A simple approach is then suggested for the implementation of these results. An efficiency of 67% has been reached for an applied electric of 1586 V/Cm.

Inertial Currents in Isotropic Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinemann, M.; Erickson, G. M.; Pontius, D. H., Jr.

1993-01-01

The magnetospheric convection electric field contributes to Birkeland currents. The effects of the field are to polarize the plasma by displacing the bounce paths of the ions from those of electrons, to redistribute the pressure so that it is not constant along magnetic field lines, and to enhance the pressure gradient by the gradient of the bulk speed. Changes in the polarization charge during the convection of the plasma are neutralized by electrons in the form of field-aligned currents that close through the ionosphere. The pressure drives field-aligned currents through its gradient in the same manner as in quasi-static plasma, but with modifications that are important if the bulk speed is of the order of the ion thermal speed; the variations in the pressure along field lines are maintained by a weak parallel potential drop. These effects are described in terms of the field-aligned currents in steady state, isotropic, MED plasma. Solutions are developed by taking the MHD limit of two-fluid solutions and illustrated in the special case of Maxwellian plasma for which the temperature is constant along magnetic field lines. The expression for the Birkeland current density is a generalization of Vasyliunas' expression for the field-aligned current density in quasi-static plasma and provides a unifying expression when both pressure gradients and ion inertia operate simultaneously as sources of field-aligned currents. It contains a full account of different aspects of the ion flow (parallel and perpendicular velocity and vorticity) that contribute to the currents. Contributions of ion inertia to field-aligned currents will occur in regions of strong velocity shear, electric field reversal, or large gradients in the parallel velocity or number density, and may be important in the low-latitude boundary layer, plasma sheet boundary layer, and the inner edge region of the plasma sheet.

Inertial currents in isotropic plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinemann, M.; Erickson, G. M.; Pontius, D. H. JR.

1994-01-01

The magnetospheric convection electric field contributes to Birkeland currents. The effects of the field are to polarize the plasma by displacing the bounce paths of the ions from those of electrons, to redistribute the pressure so that it is not constant along magnetic field lines, and to enhance the pressure gradient by the gradient of the bulk speed. Changes in the polarization charge during the convection of the plasma are neutralized by electrons in the form of field-aligned currents that close through the ionosphere. The pressure drives field-aligned currents through its gradient in the same manner as in quasi-static plasma, but with modifications that are important if the bulk speed is of the order of the ion thermal speed; the variations in the pressure along field lines are maintained by a weak parallel potential drop. These effects are described in terms of the field-aligned currents in steady state, isotropic, magnetohyrodynamic (MHD) plasma. Solutions are developed by taking the MHD limit of two-fluid solutions and illustrated in the special case of Maxwellian plasma for which the temperature is constant along magnetic field lines. The expression for the Birkeland current density is a generalization of Vasyliunas' expression for the field-aligned current density in quasi-static plasma and provides a unifying expression when both pressure gradients and ion inertia operate simultaneously as sources of field-aligned currents. It contains a full account of different aspects of the ion flow (parallel and perpendicular velocity and vorticity) that contribute to the currents. Contributions of ion inertia to field-aligned currents will occur in regions of strong velocity shear, electric field reversal, or large gradients in the parallel velocity or number density, and may be important in the low-latitude boundary layer, plasma sheet boundary layer, and the inner edge region of the plasma sheet.

Inertial currents in isotropic plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinemann, M.; Erickson, G. M.; Pontius, D. H., Jr.

1994-01-01

The magnetospheric convection electric field contributes to Birkeland currents. The effects of the field are to polarize the plasma by displacing the bounce paths of the ions from those of electrons, to redistribute the pressure so that it is not constant along magnetic field lines, and to enhance the pressure gradient by the gradient of the bulk speed. Changes in the polarization charge during the convection of the plasma are neutralized by electrons in the form of field-aligned currents that close through the ionosphere. The pressure drives field-aligned currents through its gradient in the same manner as in quasi-static plasmas, but with modifications that are important if the bulk speed is of the order of the ion thermal speed; the variations in the pressure along field lines are maintained by a weak parallel potential drop. These effects are described in terms of the field-aligned currents in steady state, isotropic, MHD plasma. Solutions are developed by taking the MHD limit ot two-fluid solutions and illustrated in the special case of Maxwellian plasma for which the temperature is constant along magnetic field lines. The expression for the Birkeland current density is a generalization of Vasyliunas' expression for the field-aligned current density in quasi-static plasma and provides a unifying expression when both pressure gradients and ion inertia operate simultaneously as sources of field-aligned currents. It contains a full account of different aspects of the ion flow (parallel and perpendicular velocity and vorticity) that contribute to the currents. Contributions of ion inertia to field-aligned currents will occur in regions of strong velocity shear, electric field reversal, or large gradients in the parallel velocity or number density, and may be important in the low-latitude boundary layer, plasma sheet boundary layer, and the inner edge region of the plasma sheet.

Development of a compact bushing for NBI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Esch, H. P. L.; Simonin, A.; Grand, C.; Lepetit, B.; Lemoine, D.; Márquez-Mijares, M.; Minea, T.; Caillault, L.; Seznec, B.; Jager, T.; Odic, E.; Kirkpatrick, M. J.; Teste, Ph.; Dessante, Ph.; Almaksour, K.

2017-08-01

Research into a novel type of compact bushing is being conducted through the HVIV (High Voltage holding In Vacuum) partnership between CEA-Cadarache1, GeePs-Centralesupélec4, LPGP3 and LCAR2. The bushing aims to concentrate the high electric field inside its interior, rather than in the vacuum tank. Hence the field emission current is also concentrated inside the bushing and it can be attempted to suppress this so-called dark current by conditioning the internal surfaces and by adding gas. LCAR have performed theoretical quantum mechanical studies of electron field emission and the role of adsorbates in changing the work function. LPGP studied the ionization of gas due to field emission current and the behavior of micro particles exposed to emissive electron current in the vacuum gap under high electric fields. Experiments at Geeps have clarified the role of surface conditioning in reducing the dark current. Geeps also found that adding low pressure nitrogen gas to the vacuum is much more effective than helium in reducing the field emission. An interesting observation is the growth of carbon structures after exposure of an electrode to the electric field. Finally, IRFM have performed experiments on a single stage test bushing that features a 36 cm high porcelain insulator and two cylindrical electrode surfaces in vacuum or low-pressure gas. Using 0.1 Pa N2 gas, the voltage holding exceeded 185 kV over a 40 mm "vacuum" gap without dark current. Above this voltage, exterior breakdowns occurred over the insulator, which was in air. The project will finish with the fabrication of a 2-stage compact bushing, capable to withstand 400 kV.

Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling and convection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, R. A.; Spiro, R. W.

1984-01-01

The following international Magnetospheric Study quantitative models of observed ionosphere-magnetosphere events are reviewed: (1) a theoretical model of convection; (2) algorithms for deducing ionospheric current and electric-field patterns from sets of ground magnetograms and ionospheric conductivity information; and (3) empirical models of ionospheric conductances and polar cap potential drop. Research into magnetic-field-aligned electric fields is reviewed, particularly magnetic-mirror effects and double layers.

Kinetic Alfven wave explanation of the Hall signals in magnetic reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, L.; Wang, C.; Zhang, Y.; Duan, S.; Lavraud, B.; Burch, J. L.; Pollock, C.; Torbert, R. B.

2017-12-01

Magnetic reconnection is initiated in a small diffusion region but can drive global-scale dynamics in Earth's magnetosphere, solar flares, and astrophysical systems. Understanding the processes at work in the diffusion region remains a main challenge in space plasma physics. Recent in-situ observations from MMS and THEMIS reveal that the electric field normal to the reconnection current layer, often called the Hall electric field (En), is mainly balanced by the ion pressure gradient. Here we present theoretical explanations indicating that this observation fact is a manifestation of Kinetic Alfven Waves (KAW) physics. The ion pressure gradient represents the finite gyroradius effect of KAW, leading to ion intrusion across the magnetic field lines. Electrons stream along the magnetic field lines to track ions, resulting in field-aligned currents and the associated pattern of the out-of-plane Hall magnetic field (Bm). The ratio En/Bm is on the order of the Alfven speed, as predicted by the KAW theory. The KAW physics further provides new perspectives on how ion intrusion may trigger electric fields suitable for reconnection to occur.

On the importance of body posture and skin modelling with respect to in situ electric field strengths in magnetic field exposure scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmid, Gernot; Hirtl, Rene

2016-06-01

The reference levels and maximum permissible exposure values for magnetic fields that are currently used have been derived from basic restrictions under the assumption of upright standing body models in a standard posture, i.e. with arms laterally down and without contact with metallic objects. Moreover, if anatomical modelling of the body was used at all, the skin was represented as a single homogeneous tissue layer. In the present paper we addressed the possible impacts of posture and skin modelling in scenarios of exposure to a 50 Hz uniform magnetic field on the in situ electric field strength in peripheral tissues, which must be limited in order to avoid peripheral nerve stimulation. We considered different body postures including situations where body parts form large induction loops (e.g. clasped hands) with skin-to-skin and skin-to-metal contact spots and compared the results obtained with a homogeneous single-layer skin model to results obtained with a more realistic two-layer skin representation consisting of a low-conductivity stratum corneum layer on top of a combined layer for the cellular epidermis and dermis. Our results clearly indicated that postures with loops formed of body parts may lead to substantially higher maximum values of induced in situ electric field strengths than in the case of standard postures due to a highly concentrated current density and in situ electric field strength in the skin-to-skin and skin-to-metal contact regions. With a homogeneous single-layer skin, as is used for even the most recent anatomical body models in exposure assessment, the in situ electric field strength may exceed the basic restrictions in such situations, even when the reference levels and maximum permissible exposure values are not exceeded. However, when using the more realistic two-layer skin model the obtained in situ electric field strengths were substantially lower and no violations of the basic restrictions occurred, which can be explained by the current-limiting effect of the low-conductivity stratum corneum layer.

Polypyrrole nanostructures and their field emission investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harpale, Kashmira; More, Mahendra A.; Koinkar, Pankaj M.; Patil, Sandip S.; Sonawane, Kishor M.

2015-03-01

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanostructures have been synthesized on indium doped tin oxide (ITO) substrates by a facile electrochemical route employing cyclic voltammetry (CV) mode. The morphology of the PPy thin films was observed to be influenced by the monomer concentration. Furthermore, FTIR revealed formation of electrically conducting state of PPy. Field emission investigations of the PPy nanostructures were carried out at base pressure of 1×10-8mbar. The values of turn-on field, corresponding to emission current density of 1 μA/cm2 were observed to be 0.6, 1.0 and 1.2 V/μm for the PPy films characterized with rod-like, cauliflower and granular morphology, respectively. In case of PPy nanorods maximum current density of 1.2 mA/cm2 has been drawn at electric field of 1 V/μm. The low turn on field, extraction of very high emission current density at relatively lower applied field and good emission stability propose the PPy nanorods as a promising material for field emission based devices.

Topological responses from chiral anomaly in multi-Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ze-Min; Zhou, Jianhui; Shen, Shun-Qing

2017-08-01

Multi-Weyl semimetals are a kind of topological phase of matter with discrete Weyl nodes characterized by multiple monopole charges, in which the chiral anomaly, the anomalous nonconservation of an axial current, occurs in the presence of electric and magnetic fields. Electronic transport properties related to the chiral anomaly in the presence of both electromagnetic fields and axial electromagnetic fields in multi-Weyl semimetals are systematically studied. It has been found that the anomalous Hall conductivity has a modification linear in the axial vector potential from inhomogeneous strains. The axial electric field leads to an axial Hall current that is proportional to the distance of Weyl nodes in momentum space. This axial current may generate chirality accumulation of Weyl fermions through delicately engineering the axial electromagnetic fields even in the absence of external electromagnetic fields. Therefore this work provides a nonmagnetic mechanism of generation of chirality accumulation in Weyl semimetals and might shed new light on the application of Weyl semimetals in the emerging field of valleytronics.

Comparing the magnetic resonant coupling radiofrequency stimulation to the traditional approaches: Ex-vivo tissue voltage measurement and electromagnetic simulation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeung, Sai Ho; Pradhan, Raunaq; Feng, Xiaohua; Zheng, Yuanjin

2015-09-01

Recently, the design concept of magnetic resonant coupling has been adapted to electromagnetic therapy applications such as non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) stimulation. This technique can significantly increase the electric field radiated from the magnetic coil at the stimulation target, and hence enhancing the current flowing through the nerve, thus enabling stimulation. In this paper, the developed magnetic resonant coupling (MRC) stimulation, magnetic stimulation (MS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are compared. The differences between the MRC RF stimulation and other techniques are presented in terms of the operating mechanism, ex-vivo tissue voltage measurement and electromagnetic simulation analysis. The ev-vivo tissue voltage measurement experiment is performed on the compared devices based on measuring the voltage induced by electromagnetic induction at the tissue. The focusing effect, E field and voltage induced across the tissue, and the attenuation due to the increase of separation between the coil and the target are analyzed. The electromagnetic stimulation will also be performed to obtain the electric field and magnetic field distribution around the biological medium. The electric field intensity is proportional to the induced current and the magnetic field is corresponding to the electromagnetic induction across the biological medium. The comparison between the MRC RF stimulator and the MS and TENS devices revealed that the MRC RF stimulator has several advantages over the others for the applications of inducing current in the biological medium for stimulation purposes.

Comparing the magnetic resonant coupling radiofrequency stimulation to the traditional approaches: Ex-vivo tissue voltage measurement and electromagnetic simulation analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yeung, Sai Ho; Pradhan, Raunaq; Feng, Xiaohua

Recently, the design concept of magnetic resonant coupling has been adapted to electromagnetic therapy applications such as non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) stimulation. This technique can significantly increase the electric field radiated from the magnetic coil at the stimulation target, and hence enhancing the current flowing through the nerve, thus enabling stimulation. In this paper, the developed magnetic resonant coupling (MRC) stimulation, magnetic stimulation (MS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are compared. The differences between the MRC RF stimulation and other techniques are presented in terms of the operating mechanism, ex-vivo tissue voltage measurement and electromagnetic simulation analysis. The ev-vivo tissuemore » voltage measurement experiment is performed on the compared devices based on measuring the voltage induced by electromagnetic induction at the tissue. The focusing effect, E field and voltage induced across the tissue, and the attenuation due to the increase of separation between the coil and the target are analyzed. The electromagnetic stimulation will also be performed to obtain the electric field and magnetic field distribution around the biological medium. The electric field intensity is proportional to the induced current and the magnetic field is corresponding to the electromagnetic induction across the biological medium. The comparison between the MRC RF stimulator and the MS and TENS devices revealed that the MRC RF stimulator has several advantages over the others for the applications of inducing current in the biological medium for stimulation purposes.« less

Static Measurements on HTS Coils of Fully Superconducting AC Electric Machines for Aircraft Electric Propulsion System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Benjamin B.; Hunker, Keith R.; Hartwig, Jason; Brown, Gerald V.

2017-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been developing the high efficiency and high-power density superconducting (SC) electric machines in full support of electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) systems for a future electric aircraft. A SC coil test rig has been designed and built to perform static and AC measurements on BSCCO, (RE)BCO, and YBCO high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire and coils at liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature. In this paper, DC measurements on five SC coil configurations of various geometry in zero external magnetic field are measured to develop good measurement technique and to determine the critical current (Ic) and the sharpness (n value) of the super-to-normal transition. Also, standard procedures for coil design, fabrication, coil mounting, micro-volt measurement, cryogenic testing, current control, and data acquisition technique were established. Experimentally measured critical currents are compared with theoretical predicted values based on an electric-field criterion (Ec). Data here are essential to quantify the SC electric machine operation limits where the SC begins to exhibit non-zero resistance. All test data will be utilized to assess the feasibility of using HTS coils for the fully superconducting AC electric machine development for an aircraft electric propulsion system.

Optically Tunable Resistive-Switching Memory in Multiferroic Heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Ming; Ni, Hao; Xu, Xiaoke; Qi, Yaping; Li, Xiaomin; Gao, Ju

2018-04-01

Electronic phase separation has been used to realize exotic functionalities in complex oxides with external stimuli, such as magnetic field, electric field, current, light, strain, etc. Using the Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3/0.7 Pb (Mg1 /3Nb2 /3)O3-0 .3 PbTiO3 multiferroic heterostructure as a model system, we investigate the electric field and light cocontrol of phase separation in resistive switching. The electric-field-induced nonvolatile electroresistance response is achieved at room temperature using reversible ferroelastic domain switching, which can be robustly modified on illumination of light. Moreover, the electrically controlled ferroelastic strain can effectively enhance the visible-light-induced photoresistance effect. These findings demonstrate that the electric-field- and light-induced effects strongly correlate with each other and are essentially driven by electronic phase separation. Our work opens a gate to design electrically tunable multifunctional storage devices based on multiferroic heterostructures by adding light as an extra control parameter.

Plasma rotation by electric and magnetic fields in a discharge cylinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilhelm, H. E.; Hong, S. H.

1977-01-01

A theoretical model for an electric discharge consisting of a spatially diverging plasma sustained electrically between a small ring cathode and a larger ring anode in a cylindrical chamber with an axial magnetic field is developed to study the rotation of the discharge plasma in the crossed electric and magnetic fields. The associated boundary-value problem for the coupled partial differential equations which describe the electric potential and the plasma velocity fields is solved in closed form. The electric field, current density, and velocity distributions are discussed in terms of the Hartmann number and the Hall coefficient. As a result of Lorentz forces, the plasma rotates with speeds as high as 1 million cm/sec around its axis of symmetry at typical conditions. As an application, it is noted that rotating discharges of this type could be used to develop a high-density plasma-ultracentrifuge driven by j x B forces, in which the lighter (heavier) ion and atom components would be enriched in (off) the center of the discharge cylinder.

Motionally-induced electromagnetic fields generated by idealized ocean currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyler, R. H.; Mysak, L. A.

Using the induction equation, we investigate the generation of electromagnetic fields by the motional electromagnetic induction due to ocean currents. In this paper, solutions are presented for a linear induction equation for the magnetic flux density vector which contains prescribed time-independent ocean current and conductivity fields. Once the magnetic flux density is known, the electric field and electric current density are easily obtained by differentiation. Solutions are given for several examples of idealized flow which include: 1) Vertically and horizontally sheared plane-parallel flow with depth-dependent conductivity; 2) A simple Stommel circulation gyre; and 3) Symmetric gyres. The results indicate that typical ocean current features induce magnetic fields with magnitudes reaching 100's of nT within the water and about 1-10 outside of the water. For the case of a field of gyres, the ocean-induced magnetic fields decay away from the ocean on spatial scales set by the horizontal scale of the ocean feature. At the altitudes of magnetic field satellite surveys, ocean-induced magnetic fields may retain values of a few nT, which are strong enough to be detected. Thus it is concluded that satellite observations of the earth's main magnetic field and, in particular, the observed temporal variations, could be affected by the ocean circulation. Summary and discussion In Section 3, we found exact solutions to the induction equation for idealized flows. The results gave magnitudes of about tens to hundreds of nT for the magnetic fields bH, about 10-5 V/m for the electric fields E, and about 10-5 A/m2 for the electric current density J induced by the ocean currents. These figures are in general agreement with the calculations of Lilley et al. (1993). In Section 4.2 we obtained solutions for the magnetic field above the ocean surface for the case of a Stommel gyre and a field of symmetric gyres. It was found in the last case that ocean gyres with a total transport of 100 Sv would have field magnitudes above the ocean of up to 23 nT and more typically between about 1 and 10 nT. The results also indicate that the decay scales for the magnetic field away from the ocean are of the same order as the horizontal scale of the flow. We calculated that flow features with scales of 100 km or more may retain magnitudes that are strong enough (a few nT) to be detected at satellite altitudes (300-500 km). Flows of smaller scale, however, would probably not be detected by current satellites. We have not explicitly solved for the magnetic fields that would be observed at magnetic observations on land since we have only treated cases of horizontally homogeneous conductivity. However, we conjecture that inland magnetic observations will also be affected by the ocean induction. The spatial decay inland from the ocean would again be set by the horizontal scale of the flow except when the electric currents involved in the induction are close to the coast. In this case there is a coastal effect, with the stronger fields decaying over a shorter scale. We have presented arguments which indicate that for uniform ocean conductivity s over a sediment layer of low conductivity, barotropic currents are efficient generators of electric fields but poor generators of electrical current and magnetic fields, while baroclinic currents are efficient generators of electrical current and magnetic fields, and (in our simple examples) poor generators of electric fields. When, however, s varies in the vertical, it appears that virtually all realistic forms of ocean circulation will be reasonably efficient generators of electrical current and magnetic fields. It is conceivable that the geomagnetic record from land and satellite observatories has captured oceanic signals. Another task before ocean and geomagnetic records can be linked, however, is to isolate the oceanic signal from the records which are known to be swarmed with magnetic signals from many other sources. How can we know that measured magnetic variations are due to variations in the ocean induction and not due to sources in the ionosphere or earth's core? This is a difficult problem, but there may be some ways to resolve it. Variations in ocean circulation or conductivity are rather slow compared to the rapid magnetic storms and most other variations due to external sources. Also the external effects at the earth's surface tend to have large spatial scales which allows removal using techniques such as 'remote referencing' as done by Lilley et al. (1993). With regard to sources in the earth's core, the geometric and electromagnetic filtering by the mantle are thought to prevent all but the lowest frequencies from reaching the earth's surface. Hence, it is conceivable that at the earth's surface, magnetic fields due to the earth's core can only appear as relatively smooth, slowly-varying fields with periods of decadal scale and longer. Hence, there is probably a fortuitous 'spectral window' through which we can view interannual variations in the ocean-induced fields. It is also important that the accuracy in measuring the time rate of change of the magnetic field on these time scales is greater than the accuracy of the field values (at least at the land observatories). This is because when differencing the magnetic series, errors in the baseline drift are reduced. Hence, it is probable that fluctuations in the ocean-induced magnetic fields would be easier to detect than the steady-state fields. The results presented here should also be helpful in designing future strategies for numerically modelling the ocean-induced electromagnetic fields. As we mentioned, (73) is similar in principle to the two-dimensional equation solved by Stephenson and Bryan (1992) but is more general, allowing for a more realistic description of conductivity and allowing for horizontal divergence in the conductivity transport. Other results in this paper may be helpful in finding new approaches to the problem of numerically modelling the oceanic induction. The flux form of the induction equation (18) could be a more convenient form to be used in established numerical algorithms using flux conservation. Also, (11) or (18) could be used with the Stokes or Divergence theorems to create a box-model description of global oceanic induction. When the scalar fluid property Λ described in Section 4.2.3 is taken to be a function of the conductivity, equation (76) is greatly simplified, suggesting that a three-dimensional numerical model using constant conductivity layers [similar in essence to the constant-density layer approach used in the OPYC ocean-circulation model written by Joseph Oberhuber (1993)] may be profitably exploited.

Characterization of complementary electric field coupled resonant surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hand, Thomas H.; Gollub, Jonah; Sajuyigbe, Soji; Smith, David R.; Cummer, Steven A.

2008-11-01

We present angle-resolved free-space transmission and reflection measurements of a surface composed of complementary electric inductive-capacitive (CELC) resonators. By measuring the reflection and transmission coefficients of a CELC surface with different polarizations and particle orientations, we show that the CELC only responds to in-plane magnetic fields. This confirms the Babinet particle duality between the CELC and its complement, the electric field coupled LC resonator. Characterization of the CELC structure serves to expand the current library of resonant elements metamaterial designers can draw upon to make unique materials and surfaces.

Imaging ac losses in superconducting films via scanning Hall probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinner, Rafael B.; Moler, Kathryn A.; Feldmann, D. Matthew; Beasley, M. R.

2007-04-01

Various local probes have been applied to understanding current flow through superconducting films, which are often surprisingly inhomogeneous. Here, we show that magnetic imaging allows quantitative reconstruction of both current density J and electric field E resolved in time and space in a film carrying subcritical ac current. Current reconstruction entails inversion of the Biot-Savart law, while electric fields are reconstructed using Faraday’s law. We describe the corresponding numerical procedures, largely adapting existing work to the case of a strip carrying ac current, but including other methods of obtaining the complete electric field from the inductive portion determined by Faraday’s law. We also delineate the physical requirements behind the mathematical transformations. We then apply the procedures to images of a strip of YBa2Cu3O7-δ carrying an ac current at 400Hz . Our scanning Hall probe microscope produces a time series of magnetic images of the strip with 1μm spatial resolution and 25μs time resolution. Combining the reconstructed J and E , we obtain a complete characterization including local critical current density, E-J curves, and power losses. This analysis has a range of applications from fundamental studies of vortex dynamics to practical coated conductor development.

Shielded capacitive electrode

DOEpatents

Kireeff Covo, Michel

2013-07-09

A device is described, which is sensitive to electric fields, but is insensitive to stray electrons/ions and unlike a bare, exposed conductor, it measures capacitively coupled current while rejecting currents due to charged particle collected or emitted. A charged particle beam establishes an electric field inside the beam pipe. A grounded metallic box with an aperture is placed in a drift region near the beam tube radius. The produced electric field that crosses the aperture generates a fringe field that terminates in the back surface of the front of the box and induces an image charge. An electrode is placed inside the grounded box and near the aperture, where the fringe fields terminate, in order to couple with the beam. The electrode is negatively biased to suppress collection of electrons and is protected behind the front of the box, so the beam halo cannot directly hit the electrode and produce electrons. The measured signal shows the net potential (positive ion beam plus negative electrons) variation with time, as it shall be observed from the beam pipe wall.

Computational study of graphene-based vertical field effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wenchao; Rinzler, Andrew; Guo, Jing

2013-03-01

Poisson and drift-diffusion equations are solved in a three-dimensional device structure to simulate graphene-based vertical field effect transistors (GVFETs). Operation mechanisms of the GVFET with and without punched holes in the graphene source contact are presented and compared. The graphene-channel Schottky barrier can be modulated by gate electric field due to graphene's low density of states. For the graphene contact with punched holes, the contact barrier thinning and lowering around punched hole edge allow orders of magnitude higher tunneling current compared to the region away from the punched hole edge, which is responsible for significant performance improvement as already verified by experiments. Small hole size is preferred due to less electrostatic screening from channel inversion layer, which gives large electric field around the punched hole edge, thus, leading to a thinner and lower barrier. Bilayer and trilayer graphenes as the source contact degrade the performance improvement because stronger electrostatic screening leads to smaller contact barrier lowering and thinning. High punched hole area percentage improves current performance by allowing more gate electric field to modulate the graphene-channel barrier. Low effective mass channel material gives better on-off current ratio.

On Alfvenic Waves and Stochastic Ion Heating with 1Re Observations of Strong Field-aligned Currents, Electric Fields, and O+ ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coffey, Victoria; Chandler, Michael; Singh, Nagendra

2008-01-01

The role that the cleft/cusp has in ionosphere/magnetosphere coupling makes it a very dynamic region having similar fundamental processes to those within the auroral regions. With Polar passing through the cusp at 1 Re in the Spring of 1996, we observe a strong correlation between ion heating and broadband ELF (BBELF) emissions. This commonly observed relationship led to the study of the coupling of large field-aligned currents, burst electric fields, and the thermal O+ ions. We demonstrate the role of these measurements to Alfvenic waves and stochastic ion heating. Finally we will show the properties of the resulting density cavities.

A novel feedback algorithm for simulating controlled dynamics and confinement in the advanced reversed-field pinch

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dahlin, J.-E.; Scheffel, J.

2005-06-15

In the advanced reversed-field pinch (RFP), the current density profile is externally controlled to diminish tearing instabilities. Thus the scaling of energy confinement time with plasma current and density is improved substantially as compared to the conventional RFP. This may be numerically simulated by introducing an ad hoc electric field, adjusted to generate a tearing mode stable parallel current density profile. In the present work a current profile control algorithm, based on feedback of the fluctuating electric field in Ohm's law, is introduced into the resistive magnetohydrodynamic code DEBSP [D. D. Schnack and D. C. Baxter, J. Comput. Phys. 55,more » 485 (1984); D. D. Schnack, D. C. Barnes, Z. Mikic, D. S. Marneal, E. J. Caramana, and R. A. Nebel, Comput. Phys. Commun. 43, 17 (1986)]. The resulting radial magnetic field is decreased considerably, causing an increase in energy confinement time and poloidal {beta}. It is found that the parallel current density profile spontaneously becomes hollow, and that a formation, being related to persisting resistive g modes, appears close to the reversal surface.« less

Effect of the radio frequency discharge on the dust charging process in a weakly collisional and fully ionized plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Motie, Iman; Bokaeeyan, Mahyar, E-mail: Mehyar9798@gmail.com

2015-02-15

A close analysis of dust charging process in the presence of radio frequency (RF) discharge on low pressure and fully ionized plasma for both weak and strong discharge's electric field is considered. When the electromagnetic waves pass throughout fully ionized plasma, the collision frequency of the plasma is derived. Moreover, the disturbed distribution function of plasma particles in the presence of the RF discharge is obtained. In this article, by using the Krook model, we separate the distribution function in two parts, the Maxwellian part and the perturbed part. The perturbed part of distribution can make an extra current, so-calledmore » the accretion rate of electron (or ion) current, towards a dust particle as a function of the average electron-ion collision frequency. It is proven that when the potential of dust grains increases, the accretion rate of electron current experiences an exponential reduction. Furthermore, the accretion rate of electron current for a strong electric field is relatively smaller than that for a weak electric field. The reasons are elaborated.« less

Electroluminescence and other diagnostic techniques for the study of hot-electron effects in compound semiconductor devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanoni, Enrico; Meneghesso, Gaudenzio; Menozzi, Roberto

2000-03-01

Hot electron in III-V FETs can be indirectly monitored by measuring the current coming out from the gate when the device is biased at high electric fields. This negative current is due to the collection of holes generated by impact ionization in the gate-to drain region. Electroluminescence represents a powerful tool in order to characterize not only hot electrons but also material properties. By using spatially resolved emission microscopy it is possible to show that the light due to cold electron/hole recombination is emitted between the gate and the source (low electric field region), while the contribution due to hot electrons is emitted between the gate and the drain (high electric field region). Deep-traps created in the device by hot carriers can be analysed by means of drain current deep level transient spectroscopy and by transconductance frequency dispersion. Cathodoluminescence, optical beam induced current, X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy in combination with a transmission electron microscopy are powerful tools in order to identify and localize surface modification following hot-electron stress tests.

Cosmic-ray streaming and anisotropies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forman, M. A.; Gleeson, L. J.

1975-01-01

The paper is concerned with the differential current densities and anisotropies that exist in the interplanetary cosmic-ray gas, and in particular with a correct formulation and simple interpretation of the momentum equation that describes these on a local basis. Two examples of the use of this equation in the interpretation of previous data are given. It is demonstrated that in interplanetary space, the electric-field drifts and convective flow parallel to the magnetic field of cosmic-ray particles combine as a simple convective flow with the solar wind, and that there exist diffusive currents and transverse gradient drift currents. Thus direct reference to the interplanetary electric-field drifts is eliminated, and the study of steady-state and transient cosmic-ray anisotropies is both more systematic and simpler.

Electric fields and current densities under small Florida thunderstorms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deaver, Lance E.; Krider, E. P.

1991-01-01

Results are presented of measurements of the electric field E and Maxwell current density that were performed simultaneously under and near small Florida thunderstorms. It is shown that the amplitude of JM is of the order of 1 nA/sq cm or less in the absence of precipitation and that there are regular time variations in JM during the intervals between lightning discharges that tend to have the same shapes after different discharges in different storms. It is argued that the major causes of time variations in JM between lightning discharges are currents that flow in the finitely conducting atmosphere in response to the field changes rather than rapid time variations in the strength of cloud current sources. The displacement current densities that are computed from the E records dominate JM except when there is precipitation, when E is large and steady, or when E is unusually noisy.

Observation of a westward travelling surge from satellites at low, medium and high altitudes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ungstrup, E.; Sharp, R. D.; Cattell, C. A.; Anderson, R. R.; Fitzenreiter, R. J.; Evans, D. S.; Baker, D. N.

1984-01-01

The motion of discontinuity; electric potential and current structure of the event; energy source and flow; wave-particle interactions; and particle acceleration are addressed using wave, electron, ion mass spectrometer, dc electric field, and magnetic field observation from the Isee-1, NOAA-6, and the 1976-059 geostationary satellite.

Transient electrophoretic motion of a charged particle through a converging-diverging microchannel: effect of direct current-dielectrophoretic force.

PubMed

Ai, Ye; Joo, Sang W; Jiang, Yingtao; Xuan, Xiangchun; Qian, Shizhi

2009-07-01

Transient electrophoretic motion of a charged particle through a converging-diverging microchannel is studied by solving the coupled system of the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flow and the Laplace equation for electrical field with an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite-element method. A spatially non-uniform electric field is induced in the converging-diverging section, which gives rise to a direct current dielectrophoretic (DEP) force in addition to the electrostatic force acting on the charged particle. As a sequence, the symmetry of the particle velocity and trajectory with respect to the throat is broken. We demonstrate that the predicted particle trajectory shifts due to DEP show quantitative agreements with the existing experimental data. Although converging-diverging microchannels can be used for super fast electrophoresis due to the enhancement of the local electric field, it is shown that large particles may be blocked due to the induced DEP force, which thus must be taken into account in the study of electrophoresis in microfluidic devices where non-uniform electric fields are present.

Analysis of electrical tomography sensitive field based on multi-terminal network and electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Yongbo; Su, Xingguo; Xu, Meng; Wang, Huaxiang

2010-08-01

Electrical tomography (ET) aims at the study of the conductivity/permittivity distribution of the interested field non-intrusively via the boundary voltage/current. The sensor is usually regarded as an electric field, and finite element method (FEM) is commonly used to calculate the sensitivity matrix and to optimize the sensor architecture. However, only the lumped circuit parameters can be measured by the data acquisition electronics, it's very meaningful to treat the sensor as a multi terminal network. Two types of multi terminal network with common node and common loop topologies are introduced. Getting more independent measurements and making more uniform current distribution are the two main ways to minimize the inherent ill-posed effect. By exploring the relationships of network matrixes, a general formula is proposed for the first time to calculate the number of the independent measurements. Additionally, the sensitivity distribution is analyzed with FEM. As a result, quasi opposite mode, an optimal single source excitation mode, that has the advantages of more uniform sensitivity distribution and more independent measurements, is proposed.

Analyzing Electric Field Morphology Through Data-Model Comparisons of the GEM IM/S Assessment Challenge Events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liemohn, Michael W.; Ridley, Aaron J.; Kozyra, Janet U.; Gallagher, Dennis L.; Thomsen, Michelle F.; Henderson, Michael G.; Denton, Michael H.; Brandt, Pontus C.; Goldstein, Jerry

2006-01-01

The storm-time inner magnetospheric electric field morphology and dynamics are assessed by comparing numerical modeling results of the plasmasphere and ring current with many in situ and remote sensing data sets. Two magnetic storms are analyzed, April 22,2001 and October 21-23,2001, which are the events selected for the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Inner Magnetosphere/Storms (IM/S) Assessment Challenge (IMSAC). The IMSAC seeks to quantify the accuracy of inner magnetospheric models as well as synthesize our understanding of this region. For each storm, the ring current-atmosphere interaction model (RAM) and the dynamic global core plasma model (DGCPM) were run together with various settings for the large-scale convection electric field and the nightside ionospheric conductance. DGCPM plasmaspheric parameters were compared with IMAGE-EUV plasmapause extractions and LANL-MPA plume locations and velocities. RAM parameters were compared with Dst*, LANL-MPA fluxes and moments, IMAGE-MENA images, and IMAGE-HENA images. Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons were made to determine the electric field morphology that allows the model results to best fit the plasma data at various times during these events. The simulations with self-consistent electric fields were, in general, better than those with prescribed field choices. This indicates that the time-dependent modulation of the inner magnetospheric electric fields by the nightside ionosphere is quite significant for accurate determination of these fields (and their effects). It was determined that a shielded Volland-Stern field description driven by the 3-hour Kp index yields accurate results much of the time, but can be quite inconsistent. The modified Mcllwain field description clearly lagged in overall accuracy compared to the other fields, but matched some data sets (like Dst*) quite well. The rankings between the simulations varied depending on the storm and the individual data sets, indicating that each field description did well for some place, time, and energy range during the events, as well as doing less well in other places, times, and energies. Several unresolved issues regarding the storm-time inner magnetospheric electric field are discussed.

Field-aligned currents in the undisturbed polar ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroehl, H. W.

1989-09-01

Field-aligned currents, FAC's, which couple ionospheric currents at high latitudes with magnetospheric currents have become an essential cornerstone to our understanding of plasma dynamics in the polar region and in the earth's magnetosphere. Initial investigators of polar electrodynamics including the aurora were unable to distinguish between the ground magnetic signatures of a purely two-dimensional current and those from a three-dimensional current system, ergo many scientists ignored the possible existence of these vertical currents. However, data from magnetometers and electrostatic analyzers flown on low-altitude, polar-orbiting satellites proved beyond any reasonable doubt that field-aligned currents existed, and that different ionospheric regions were coupled to different magnetospheric regions which were dominated by different electrodynamic processes, e.g., magnetospheric convection electric fields, magnetospheric substorms and parallel electric fields. Therefore, to define the “undisturbed” polar ionosphere and its structure and dynamics, one needs to consider these electrodynamic processes, to select times for analysis when they are not strongly active and to remember that the polar ionosphere may be disturbed when the equatorial, mid-latitude and sub-auroral ionospheres are not. In this paper we will define the principle high-latitude current systems, describe the effects of FAC's associated with these systems, review techniques which would minimize these effects and present our description of the “undisturbed” polar ionosphere.

Induced Eddy Currents in Simple Conductive Geometries: Mathematical Formalism Describes the Excitation of Electrical Eddy Currents in a Time-Varying Magnetic Field

DOE PAGES

Nagel, James R.

2017-12-22

In this paper, a complete mathematical formalism is introduced to describe the excitation of electrical eddy currents due to a time-varying magnetic field. The process works by applying a quasistatic approximation to Ampere's law and then segregating the magnetic field into impressed and induced terms. The result is a nonhomogeneous vector Helmholtz equation that can be analytically solved for many practical geometries. Four demonstration cases are then solved under a constant excitation field over all space—an infinite slab in one dimension, a longitudinal cylinder in two dimensions, a transverse cylinder in two dimensions, and a sphere in three dimensions. Numericalmore » simulations are also performed in parallel with analytic computations, all of which verify the accuracy of the derived expressions.« less

Statistical average estimates of high latitude field-aligned currents from the STARE and SABRE coherent VHF radar systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosch, M. J.; Nielsen, E.

Two bistatic VHF radar systems, STARE and SABRE, have been employed to estimate ionospheric electric fields in the geomagnetic latitude range 61.1 - 69.3° (geographic latitude range 63.8 - 72.6°) over northern Scandinavia. 173 days of good backscatter from all four radars have been analysed during the period 1982 to 1986, from which the average ionospheric divergence electric field versus latitude and time is calculated. The average magnetic field-aligned currents are computed using an AE-dependent empirical model of the ionospheric conductance. Statistical Birkeland current estimates are presented for high and low values of the Kp and AE indices as well as positive and negative orientations of the IMF B z component. The results compare very favourably to other ground-based and satellite measurements.

Induced Eddy Currents in Simple Conductive Geometries: Mathematical Formalism Describes the Excitation of Electrical Eddy Currents in a Time-Varying Magnetic Field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nagel, James R.

In this paper, a complete mathematical formalism is introduced to describe the excitation of electrical eddy currents due to a time-varying magnetic field. The process works by applying a quasistatic approximation to Ampere's law and then segregating the magnetic field into impressed and induced terms. The result is a nonhomogeneous vector Helmholtz equation that can be analytically solved for many practical geometries. Four demonstration cases are then solved under a constant excitation field over all space—an infinite slab in one dimension, a longitudinal cylinder in two dimensions, a transverse cylinder in two dimensions, and a sphere in three dimensions. Numericalmore » simulations are also performed in parallel with analytic computations, all of which verify the accuracy of the derived expressions.« less

Effect of magnetic and electric coupling fields on micro- and nano- structure of carbon films in the CVD diamond process and their electron field emission property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yijia; Li, Jiaxin; Hu, Naixiu; Jiang, Yunlu; Wei, Qiuping; Yu, Zhiming; Long, Hangyu; Zhu, Hekang; Xie, Youneng; Ma, Li; Lin, Cheng-Te; Su, Weitao

2018-03-01

In this paper, both electric field and magnetic field were used to assist the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) and we systematically investigated the effects of which on the (1) phase composition, (2) grain size, (3) thickness and (4) preferred orientation of diamond films through SEM, Raman and XRD. The application of magnetic field in electric field, so called ‘the magnetic and electric coupling fields’, enhanced the graphitization and refinement of diamond crystals, slowed down the decrease of film thickness along with the increase of bias current, and suppressed diamond (100) orientation. During the deposition process, the electric field provided additional energy to HFCVD system and generated large number of energetic particles which might annihilate at the substrate and lose kinetic energy, while the Lorentz force, provided by magnetic field, could constrict charged particles (including electrons) to do spiral movement, which prolonged their moving path and life, thus the system energy increased. With the graphitization of diamond films intensified, the preferred orientation of diamond films completely evolved from (110) to (100), until the orientation and diamond phase disappeared, which can be attributed to (I) the distribution and concentration ratio of carbon precursors (C2H2 and CH3) and (II) graphitization sequence of diamond crystal facets. Since the electron field emission property of carbon film is sensitive to the phase composition, thickness and preferred orientation, nano- carbon cones, prepared by the negative bias current of 20 mA and magnetic field strength of 80 Gauss, exhibited the lowest turn-on field of 6.1 V -1 μm-1.

The effect of an electric field on the morphological stability of the crystal-melt interface of a binary alloy. III - Weakly nonlinear theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wheeler, A. A.; Mcfadden, G. B.; Coriell, S. R.; Hurle, D. T. J.

1990-01-01

The effect of a constant electric current on the crystal-melt interface morphology during directional solidification at constant velocity of a binary alloy is considered. A linear temperature field is assumed, and thermoelectric effects and Joule heating are neglected; electromigration and differing electrical conductivities of crystal and melt are taken into account. A two-dimensional weakly nonlinear analysis is carried out to third order in the interface amplitude, resulting in a cubic amplitude equation that describes whether the bifurcation from the planar state is supercritical or subcritical. For wavelengths corresponding to the most dangerous mode of linear theory, the demarcation between supercritical and subcritical behavior is calculated as a function of processing conditions and material parameters. The bifurcation behavior is a sensitive function of the magnitude and direction of the electric current and of the electrical conductivity ratio.