Sample records for electric fields ongoing

  1. Endogenous Cortical Oscillations Constrain Neuromodulation by Weak Electric Fields

    PubMed Central

    Schmidt, Stephen L.; Iyengar, Apoorva K.; Foulser, A. Alban; Boyle, Michael R.; Fröhlich, Flavio

    2014-01-01

    Background Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation modality that may modulate cognition by enhancing endogenous neocortical oscillations with the application of sine-wave electric fields. Yet, the role of endogenous network activity in enabling and shaping the effects of tACS has remained unclear. Objective We combined optogenetic stimulation and multichannel slice electrophysiology to elucidate how the effect of weak sine-wave electric field depends on the ongoing cortical oscillatory activity. We hypothesized that the structure of the response to stimulation depended on matching the stimulation frequency to the endogenous cortical oscillation. Methods We studied the effect of weak sine-wave electric fields on oscillatory activity in mouse neocortical slices. Optogenetic control of the network activity enabled the generation of in vivo like cortical oscillations for studying the temporal relationship between network activity and sine-wave electric field stimulation. Results Weak electric fields enhanced endogenous oscillations but failed to induce a frequency shift of the ongoing oscillation for stimulation frequencies that were not matched to the endogenous oscillation. This constraint on the effect of electric field stimulation imposed by endogenous network dynamics was limited to the case of weak electric fields targeting in vivo-like network dynamics. Together, these results suggest that the key mechanism of tACS may be enhancing but not overriding of intrinsic network dynamics. Conclusion Our results contribute to understanding the inconsistent tACS results from human studies and propose that stimulation precisely adjusted in frequency to the endogenous oscillations is key to rational design of non-invasive brain stimulation paradigms. PMID:25129402

  2. Methodology for Time-Domain Estimation of Storm-Time Electric Fields Using the 3D Earth Impedance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kelbert, A.; Balch, C. C.; Pulkkinen, A. A.; Egbert, G. D.; Love, J. J.; Rigler, E. J.; Fujii, I.

    2016-12-01

    Magnetic storms can induce geoelectric fields in the Earth's electrically conducting interior, interfering with the operations of electric-power grid industry. The ability to estimate these electric fields at Earth's surface in close to real-time and to provide local short-term predictions would improve the ability of the industry to protect their operations. At any given time, the electric field at the Earth's surface is a function of the time-variant magnetic activity (driven by the solar wind), and the local electrical conductivity structure of the Earth's crust and mantle. For this reason, implementation of an operational electric field estimation service requires an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort between space science, real-time space weather operations, and solid Earth geophysics. We highlight in this talk an ongoing collaboration between USGS, NOAA, NASA, Oregon State University, and the Japan Meteorological Agency, to develop algorithms that can be used for scenario analyses and which might be implemented in a real-time, operational setting. We discuss the development of a time domain algorithm that employs discrete time domain representation of the impedance tensor for a realistic 3D Earth, known as the discrete time impulse response (DTIR), convolved with the local magnetic field time series, to estimate the local electric field disturbances. The algorithm is validated against measured storm-time electric field data collected in the United States and Japan. We also discuss our plans for operational real-time electric field estimation using 3D Earth impedances.

  3. Understanding Cognitive and Collaborative Work: Observations in an Electric Transmission Operations Control Center

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

    Obradovich, Jodi H.

    2011-09-30

    This paper describes research that is part of an ongoing project to design tools to assist in the integration of renewable energy into the electric grid. These tools will support control room dispatchers in real-time system operations of the electric power transmission system which serves much of the Western United States. Field observations comprise the first phase of this research in which 15 operators have been observed over various shifts and times of day for approximately 90 hours. Findings describing some of the cognitive and environmental challenges of managing the dynamically changing electric grid are presented.

  4. The IEEE Software Engineering Standards Process

    PubMed Central

    Buckley, Fletcher J.

    1984-01-01

    Software Engineering has emerged as a field in recent years, and those involved increasingly recognize the need for standards. As a result, members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) formed a subcommittee to develop these standards. This paper discusses the ongoing standards development, and associated efforts.

  5. An innovative large scale integration of silicon nanowire-based field effect transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Legallais, M.; Nguyen, T. T. T.; Mouis, M.; Salem, B.; Robin, E.; Chenevier, P.; Ternon, C.

    2018-05-01

    Since the early 2000s, silicon nanowire field effect transistors are emerging as ultrasensitive biosensors while offering label-free, portable and rapid detection. Nevertheless, their large scale production remains an ongoing challenge due to time consuming, complex and costly technology. In order to bypass these issues, we report here on the first integration of silicon nanowire networks, called nanonet, into long channel field effect transistors using standard microelectronic process. A special attention is paid to the silicidation of the contacts which involved a large number of SiNWs. The electrical characteristics of these FETs constituted by randomly oriented silicon nanowires are also studied. Compatible integration on the back-end of CMOS readout and promising electrical performances open new opportunities for sensing applications.

  6. Oceanic Storm Characteristics Off the Kennedy Space Center Coast

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, J.; Simpson, A. A.; Cummins, K. L.; Kiriazes, J. J.; Brown, R. G.; Mata, C. T.

    2014-01-01

    Natural cloud-to-ground lightning may behave differently depending on the characteristics of the attachment mediums, including the peak current (inferred from radiation fields) and the number of ground strike locations per flash. Existing literature has raised issues over the yea"rs on the behavior of lightning over ocean terrain and these phenomena are not yet well understood. To investigate lightning characteristics over differing terrain we will obtain identical observations over adjacent land and ocean regions during both clear air and thunderstorm periods comparing the electric field behavior over these various terrains. For this, a 3-meter NOAA buoy moored 20NM off the coast of the Kennedy Space Center was instrumented with an electric field mill and New Mexico Tech's slow antenna to measure the electric fields aloft and compared to the existing on-shore electric field mill suite of 31 sensors and a coastal slow antenna. New Mexico Tech's Lightning Mapping Array and the Eastern Range Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Surveillance System, along with the network of high-speed cameras being used to capture cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over the terrain regions to identify a valid data set and verify the electric fields. This is an on-going project with the potential for significant impact on the determination of lightning risk to objects on the ground. This presentation will provide results and instrumentation progress to date.

  7. Simulations of 4D edge transport and dynamics using the TEMPEST gyro-kinetic code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rognlien, T. D.; Cohen, B. I.; Cohen, R. H.; Dorr, M. R.; Hittinger, J. A. F.; Kerbel, G. D.; Nevins, W. M.; Xiong, Z.; Xu, X. Q.

    2006-10-01

    Simulation results are presented for tokamak edge plasmas with a focus on the 4D (2r,2v) option of the TEMPEST continuum gyro-kinetic code. A detailed description of a variety of kinetic simulations is reported, including neoclassical radial transport from Coulomb collisions, electric field generation, dynamic response to perturbations by geodesic acoustic modes, and parallel transport on open magnetic-field lines. Comparison is made between the characteristics of the plasma solutions on closed and open magnetic-field line regions separated by a magnetic separatrix, and simple physical models are used to qualitatively explain the differences observed in mean flow and electric-field generation. The status of extending the simulations to 5D turbulence will be summarized. The code structure used in this ongoing project is also briefly described, together with future plans.

  8. Synaptic Effects of Electric Fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahman, Asif

    Learning and sensory processing in the brain relies on the effective transmission of information across synapses. The strength and efficacy of synaptic transmission is modifiable through training and can be modulated with noninvasive electrical brain stimulation. Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), specifically, induces weak intensity and spatially diffuse electric fields in the brain. Despite being weak, electric fields modulate spiking probability and the efficacy of synaptic transmission. These effects critically depend on the direction of the electric field relative to the orientation of the neuron and on the level of endogenous synaptic activity. TES has been used to modulate a wide range of neuropsychiatric indications, for various rehabilitation applications, and cognitive performance in diverse tasks. How can a weak and diffuse electric field, which simultaneously polarizes neurons across the brain, have precise changes in brain function? Designing therapies to maximize desired outcomes and minimize undesired effects presents a challenging problem. A series of experiments and computational models are used to define the anatomical and functional factors leading to specificity of TES. Anatomical specificity derives from guiding current to targeted brain structures and taking advantage of the direction-sensitivity of neurons with respect to the electric field. Functional specificity originates from preferential modulation of neuronal networks that are already active. Diffuse electric fields may recruit connected brain networks involved in a training task and promote plasticity along active synaptic pathways. In vitro, electric fields boost endogenous synaptic plasticity and raise the ceiling for synaptic learning with repeated stimulation sessions. Synapses undergoing strong plasticity are preferentially modulated over weak synapses. Therefore, active circuits that are involved in a task could be more susceptible to stimulation than inactive circuits. Moreover, stimulation polarity has asymmetric effects on synaptic strength making it easier to enhance ongoing plasticity. These results suggest that the susceptibility of brain networks to an electric field depends on the state of synaptic activity. Combining a training task, which activates specific circuits, with TES may lead to functionally-specific effects. Given the simplicity of TES and the complexity of brain function, understanding the mechanisms leading to specificity is fundamental to the rational advancement of TES.

  9. 77 FR 26674 - Enhancement of Electricity Market Surveillance and Analysis Through Ongoing Electronic Delivery...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-07

    ...; Order No. 760] Enhancement of Electricity Market Surveillance and Analysis Through Ongoing Electronic... ensure just and reasonable rates. \\1\\ 16 U.S.C. 825(b), 825f(a). II. Background 2. Wholesale electricity... consumers.\\4\\ \\2\\ A more in-depth discussion of developments in wholesale electricity markets--which no...

  10. Investigation of Characteristics of Large dB/dt for Geomagnetically Induced Currents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Munoz, D.; Ngwira, C.; Damas, M. C.

    2016-12-01

    When geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flow through electrical networks, they become a potential threat for electrical power systems. Changes in the geomagnetic field (dB/dt) during severe geomagnetic disturbances are the main sources of GICs. These dB/dt phenomena were studied by selecting 24 strong geomagnetic storms with Dst ≤ - 150 nT. ACE spacecraft solar wind data: flow speed, proton density, By and Bz IMF components of the solar wind were correlated with measurements of the magnetic field detected on ground stations at different latitudes. This article reports characteristics of the solar wind during time intervals of large changes in the horizontal geomagnetic field with a threshold of dB/dt ≥ ± 20 nT/min for the 24 geomagnetic storms. The results of this investigation can help scientists to understand the mechanisms responsible for causing large magnetic field variations in order to predict and mitigate possible large events in the future, which is critical for our society that relies constantly on electricity for livelihood and security. In addition, this ongoing project will continue to investigate electron flux response before, during, and after large changes in geomagnetic field.

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

    M. Hoeschele, M. Seitzler

    Heat pump water heaters offer a significant opportunity to improve water heating performance for the over 40% of U.S. households that heat domestic hot water using electric resistance storage water heaters. Numerous field studies have also been completed documenting performance in a variety of climates and applications. More recent evaluation efforts have focused attention on the performance of May through September 2014, with ongoing winter monitoring being sponsored by California utility partners.

  12. Oceanic Storm Characteristics off the Kennedy Space Center Coast

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, J. G.; Simpson, A. A.; Cummins, K. L.; Kiriazes, J. J.; Brown, R. G.; Mata, C. T.

    2014-01-01

    Natural cloud-to-ground lightning may behave differently depending on the characteristics of the attachment mediums, including the peak current (inferred from radiation fields) and the number of ground strike locations per flash. Existing literature has raised questions over the years on these characteristics of lightning over oceans, and the behaviors are not yet well understood. To investigate this we will obtain identical electric field observations over adjacent land and ocean regions during both clear air and thunderstorm periods. Oceanic observations will be obtained using a 3-meter NOAA buoy that has been instrumented with a Campbell Scientific electric field mill and New Mexico Techs slow antenna, to measure the electric fields aloft. We are currently obtaining measurements from this system on-shore at the Florida coast, to calibrate and better understand the behavior of the system in elevated-field environments. Sometime during winter 2013, this system will be moored 20NM off the coast of the Kennedy Space Center. Measurements from this system will be compared to the existing on-shore electric field mill suite of 31 sensors and a coastal slow antenna. Supporting observations will be provided by New Mexico Techs Lightning Mapping Array, the Eastern Range Cloud to Ground Lightning Surveillance System, and the National Lightning Detection Network. An existing network of high-speed cameras will be used to capture cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over the terrain regions to identify a valid data set for analysis. This on-going project will demonstrate the value of off-shore electric field measurements for safety-related decision making at KSC, and may improve our understanding of relative lightning risk to objects on the ground vs. ocean. This presentation will provide an overview of this new instrumentation, and a summary of our progress to date.

  13. Monitoring Induced Fractures with Electrical Measurements using Depth to Surface Resistivity: A Field Case Study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wilt, M.; Nieuwenhuis, G.; Sun, S.; MacLennan, K.

    2016-12-01

    Electrical methods offer an attractive option to map induced fractures because the recovered anomaly is related to the electrical conductivity of the injected fluid in the open (propped) section of the fracture operation. This is complementary to existing micro-seismic technology, which maps the mechanical effects of the fracturing. In this paper we describe a 2014 field case where a combination of a borehole casing electrode and a surface receiver array was used to monitor hydrofracture fracture creation and growth in an unconventional oil field project. The fracture treatment well was 1 km long and drilled to a depth of 2.2 km. Twelve fracture events were induced in 30 m intervals (stages) in the 1 km well. Within each stage 5 events (clusters) were initiated at 30 m intervals. Several of the fracture stages used a high salinity brine, instead of fresh water, to enhance the electrical signal. The electrical experiment deployed a downhole source in a well parallel to the treatment well and 100 m away. The source consisted of an electrode attached to a wireline cable into which a 0.25 Hz square wave was injected. A 60-station electrical field receiver array was placed above the fracture and extending for several km. Receivers were oriented to measure electrical field parallel with the presumed fracture direction and those perpendicular to it. Active source electrical data were collected continuously during 7 frac stages, 3 of which used brine as the frac fluid over a period of several days. Although the site was quite noisy and the electrical anomaly small we managed to extract a clear frac anomaly using field separation, extensive signal averaging and background noise rejection techniques. Preliminary 3D modeling, where we account for current distribution of the casing electrode and explicitly model multiple thin conductive sheets to represent fracture stages, produces a model consistent with the field measurements and also highlights the sensitivity of the measurements to the high salinity frac stages. Data inversion is presently ongoing.

  14. Synthesis of economic criteria in the design of electric utility industrial conservation programs in Costa Rica

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

    Fisher, S.C.

    This paper lays out a set of economic criteria to guide the development of electricity conservation programs for industrial customers of the Costa Rican utilities. It puts the problem of utility and other public policy formulation in the industrial conservation field into the context of ongoing economic and trade liberalization in Costa Rica, as well as the financial and political pressures with which the country`s utilities must contend. The need to bolster utility financial performance and the perennial political difficulty of adjusting power rates for inflation and devaluation, not to mention maintaining efficient real levels, puts a premium on controllingmore » the costs of utility conservation programs and increasing the degree of cost recovery over time. Industrial conservation programs in Costa Rica must adopt a certain degree of activation to help overcome serious market failures and imperfections while at the same time avoiding significant distortion of the price signals guiding the ongoing industrial rationalization process and the reactivation of growth.« less

  15. Differential polarization of cortical pyramidal neuron dendrites through weak extracellular fields

    PubMed Central

    Obermayer, Klaus

    2018-01-01

    The rise of transcranial current stimulation (tCS) techniques have sparked an increasing interest in the effects of weak extracellular electric fields on neural activity. These fields modulate ongoing neural activity through polarization of the neuronal membrane. While the somatic polarization has been investigated experimentally, the frequency-dependent polarization of the dendritic trees in the presence of alternating (AC) fields has received little attention yet. Using a biophysically detailed model with experimentally constrained active conductances, we analyze the subthreshold response of cortical pyramidal cells to weak AC fields, as induced during tCS. We observe a strong frequency resonance around 10-20 Hz in the apical dendrites sensitivity to polarize in response to electric fields but not in the basal dendrites nor the soma. To disentangle the relative roles of the cell morphology and active and passive membrane properties in this resonance, we perform a thorough analysis using simplified models, e.g. a passive pyramidal neuron model, simple passive cables and reconstructed cell model with simplified ion channels. We attribute the origin of the resonance in the apical dendrites to (i) a locally increased sensitivity due to the morphology and to (ii) the high density of h-type channels. Our systematic study provides an improved understanding of the subthreshold response of cortical cells to weak electric fields and, importantly, allows for an improved design of tCS stimuli. PMID:29727454

  16. Increasing The Electric Field For An Improved Search For Time-Reversal Violation Using Radium-225

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Powers, Adam

    2017-09-01

    Radium-225 atoms, because of their unusual pear-shaped nuclei, have an enhanced sensitivity to the violation of time reversal symmetry. A breakdown of this fundamental symmetry could help explain the apparent scarcity of antimatter in the Universe. Our goal is to improve the statistical sensitivity of an ongoing experiment that precisely measures the EDM of Radium-225. This can be done by increasing the electric field acting on the Radium atoms. We do this by increasing the voltage that can be reliably applied between two electrodes, and narrowing the gap between them. We use a varying high voltage system to condition the electrodes using incremental voltage ramp tests to achieve higher voltage potential differences. Using an adjustable gap mount to change the distance between the electrodes, specific metals for their composition, and a clean room procedure to keep particulates out of the system, we produce a higher and more stable electric field. Progress is marked by measurements of the leakage current between the electrodes during our incremental voltage ramp tests or emulated tests of the actual experiment, with low and constant current showing stability of the field. This project is supported by Michigan State University, and the US DOE, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under Contract DE-AC02-06CH11357.

  17. Electric-field-induced strain contributions in morphotropic phase boundary composition of (Bi{sub 1/2}Na{sub 1/2})TiO{sub 3}-BaTiO{sub 3} during poling

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

    Khansur, Neamul H.; Daniels, John E.; Hinterstein, Manuel

    2015-12-14

    The microscopic contributions to the electric-field-induced macroscopic strain in a morphotropic 0.93(Bi{sub 1/2}Na{sub 1/2}TiO{sub 3})−0.07(BaTiO{sub 3}) with a mixed rhombohedral and tetragonal structure have been quantified using full pattern Rietveld refinement of in situ high-energy x-ray diffraction data. The analysis methodology allows a quantification of all strain mechanisms for each phase in a morphotropic composition and is applicable to use in a wide variety of piezoelectric compositions. It is shown that during the poling of this material 24%, 44%, and 32% of the total macroscopic strain is generated from lattice strain, domain switching, and phase transformation strains, respectively. The resultsmore » also suggest that the tetragonal phase contributes the most to extrinsic domain switching strain, whereas the lattice strain primarily stems from the rhombohedral phase. The analysis also suggests that almost 32% of the total strain is lost or is a one-time effect due to the irreversible nature of the electric-field-induced phase transformation in the current composition. This information is relevant to on-going compositional development strategies to harness the electric-field-induced phase transformation strain of (Bi{sub 1/2}Na{sub 1/2})TiO{sub 3}-based lead-free piezoelectric materials for actuator applications.« less

  18. Modulation of spike coding by subthreshold extracellular electric fields and neuronal morphology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Xile; Li, Bingjie; Lu, Meili; Yi, Guosheng; Wang, Jiang

    2015-07-01

    We use a two-compartment model, which includes soma and dendrite, to explore how extracellular subthreshold sinusoidal electric fields (EFs) influence the spike coding of an active neuron. By changing the intensity and the frequency of subthreshold EFs, we find that subthreshold EFs indeed affect neuronal coding remarkably within several stimulus frequency windows where the field effects on spike timing are stronger than that on spiking rate. The field effects are maximized at several harmonics of the intrinsic spiking frequency of an active neuron. Our findings implicate the potential resonance mechanism underlying subthreshold field effects. We also discuss how neuronal morphologic properties constrain subthreshold EF effects on spike timing. The morphologic properties are represented by two parameters, gc and p, where gc is the internal conductance between soma and dendrite and geometric factor p characterizes the proportion of area occupied by soma. We find that the contribution to field effects from the variation of p is stronger than that from gc, which suggests that neuronal geometric features play a crucial role in subthreshold field effects. Theoretically, these insights into how subthreshold sinusoidal EFs modulate ongoing neuron behaviors could contribute to uncovering the relevant mechanism of subthreshold sinusoidal EFs effects on neuronal coding. Furthermore, they are useful in rationally designing noninvasive brain stimulation strategies and developing electromagnetic stimulus techniques.

  19. Toward noninvasive monitoring of ongoing electrical activity of human uterus and fetal heart and brain.

    PubMed

    Lew, S; Hämäläinen, M S; Okada, Y

    2017-12-01

    To evaluate whether a full-coverage fetal-maternal scanner can noninvasively monitor ongoing electrophysiological activity of maternal and fetal organs. A simulation study was carried out for a scanner with an array of magnetic field sensors placed all around the torso from the chest to the hip within a horizontal magnetic shielding enclosure. The magnetic fields from internal organs and an external noise source were computed for a pregnant woman with a 35-week old fetus. Signal processing methods were used to reject the external and internal interferences, to visualize uterine activity, and to detect activity of fetal heart and brain. External interference was reduced by a factor of 1000, sufficient for detecting signals from internal organs when combined with passive and active shielding. The scanner rejects internal interferences better than partial-coverage arrays. It can be used to estimate currents around the uterus. It clearly detects spontaneous activity from the fetal heart and brain without averaging and weaker evoked brain activity at all fetal head positions after averaging. The simulated device will be able to monitor the ongoing activity of the fetal and maternal organs. This type of scanner may become a novel tool in fetal medicine. Copyright © 2017 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Subsecond Sensory Modulation of Serotonin Levels in a Primary Sensory Area and Its Relation to Ongoing Communication Behavior in a Weakly Electric Fish.

    PubMed

    Fotowat, Haleh; Harvey-Girard, Erik; Cheer, Joseph F; Krahe, Rüdiger; Maler, Leonard

    2016-01-01

    Serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei of vertebrates project to most regions of the brain and are known to significantly affect sensory processing. The subsecond dynamics of sensory modulation of serotonin levels and its relation to behavior, however, remain unknown. We used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to measure serotonin release in the electrosensory system of weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus . These fish use an electric organ to generate a quasi-sinusoidal electric field for communicating with conspecifics. In response to conspecific signals, they frequently produce signal modulations called chirps. We measured changes in serotonin concentration in the hindbrain electrosensory lobe (ELL) with a resolution of 0.1 s concurrently with chirping behavior evoked by mimics of conspecific electric signals. We show that serotonin release can occur phase locked to stimulus onset as well as spontaneously in the ELL region responsible for processing these signals. Intense auditory stimuli, on the other hand, do not modulate serotonin levels in this region, suggesting modality specificity. We found no significant correlation between serotonin release and chirp production on a trial-by-trial basis. However, on average, in the trials where the fish chirped, there was a reduction in serotonin release in response to stimuli mimicking similar-sized same-sex conspecifics. We hypothesize that the serotonergic system is part of an intricate sensory-motor loop: serotonin release in a sensory area is triggered by sensory input, giving rise to motor output, which can in turn affect serotonin release at the timescale of the ongoing sensory experience and in a context-dependent manner.

  1. Subsecond Sensory Modulation of Serotonin Levels in a Primary Sensory Area and Its Relation to Ongoing Communication Behavior in a Weakly Electric Fish

    PubMed Central

    Krahe, Rüdiger; Maler, Leonard

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei of vertebrates project to most regions of the brain and are known to significantly affect sensory processing. The subsecond dynamics of sensory modulation of serotonin levels and its relation to behavior, however, remain unknown. We used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to measure serotonin release in the electrosensory system of weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. These fish use an electric organ to generate a quasi-sinusoidal electric field for communicating with conspecifics. In response to conspecific signals, they frequently produce signal modulations called chirps. We measured changes in serotonin concentration in the hindbrain electrosensory lobe (ELL) with a resolution of 0.1 s concurrently with chirping behavior evoked by mimics of conspecific electric signals. We show that serotonin release can occur phase locked to stimulus onset as well as spontaneously in the ELL region responsible for processing these signals. Intense auditory stimuli, on the other hand, do not modulate serotonin levels in this region, suggesting modality specificity. We found no significant correlation between serotonin release and chirp production on a trial-by-trial basis. However, on average, in the trials where the fish chirped, there was a reduction in serotonin release in response to stimuli mimicking similar-sized same-sex conspecifics. We hypothesize that the serotonergic system is part of an intricate sensory–motor loop: serotonin release in a sensory area is triggered by sensory input, giving rise to motor output, which can in turn affect serotonin release at the timescale of the ongoing sensory experience and in a context-dependent manner. PMID:27844054

  2. Inhibitory effect of high-frequency greater occipital nerve electrical stimulation on trigeminovascular nociceptive processing in rats.

    PubMed

    Lyubashina, Olga A; Panteleev, Sergey S; Sokolov, Alexey Y

    2017-02-01

    Electrical stimulation of the greater occipital nerve (GON) has recently shown promise as an effective non-pharmacological prophylactic therapy for drug-resistant chronic primary headaches, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying its anticephalgic action are not elucidated. Considering that the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) is a key segmental structure playing a prominent role in pathophysiology of headaches, in the present study we evaluated the effects of GON electrical stimulation on ongoing and evoked firing of the dura-sensitive STN neurons. The experiments were carried out on urethane/chloralose-anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated male Wistar rats. Extracellular recordings were made from 11 neurons within the caudal part of the STN that received convergent input from the ipsilateral facial cutaneous receptive fields, dura mater and GON. In each experiment, five various combinations of the GON stimulation frequency (50, 75, 100 Hz) and intensity (1, 3, 6 V) were tested successively in 10 min interval. At all parameter sets, preconditioning GON stimulation (250 ms train of pulses applied before each recording) produced suppression of both the ongoing activity of the STN neurons and their responses to electrical stimulation of the dura mater. The inhibitory effect depended mostly on the GON stimulation intensity, being maximally pronounced when a stimulus of 6 V was applied. Thus, the GON stimulation-induced inhibition of trigeminovascular nociceptive processing at the level of STN has been demonstrated for the first time. The data obtained can contribute to a deeper understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of GON stimulation in primary headaches.

  3. On the search for the electric dipole moment of strange and charm baryons at LHC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Botella, F. J.; Garcia Martin, L. M.; Marangotto, D.; Martinez Vidal, F.; Merli, A.; Neri, N.; Oyanguren, A.; Ruiz Vidal, J.

    2017-03-01

    Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange Λ baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in p p collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of Λ and \\overline{Λ} baryons. For short-lived {Λ} ^+c and {Ξ} ^+c baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed.

  4. Recent development of plasma optical systems (invited)

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

    Goncharov, A. A., E-mail: gonchar@iop.kiev.ua

    2016-02-15

    The article devotes a brief description of the recent development and current status of an ongoing research of plasma optical systems based on the fundamental plasma optical idea magnetic electron isolation, equipotentialization magnetic field lines, and the axi-symmetric cylindrical electrostatic plasma lens (PL) configuration. The experimental, theoretical, and simulation investigations have been carried out over recent years collaboratively between IP NASU (Kiev), LBNL (Berkeley, USA), and HCEI RAS (Tomsk). The crossed electric and magnetic fields inherent the PL configuration that provides the attractive method for establishing a stable plasma discharge at low pressure. Using PL configuration, several high reliability plasmamore » devices were developed. These devices are attractive for many high-tech applications.« less

  5. Calculating realistic voltages across the US power grid utilizing measured impedances and magnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lucas, G.; Love, J. J.; Kelbert, A.; Bedrosian, P.; Rigler, E. J.

    2017-12-01

    Space weather induces significant geoelectric fields within Earth's subsurface that can adversely affect electric power grids. The complex interaction between space weather and the solid Earth has traditionally been approached with the use of simple 1-D impedance functions relating the inducing magnetic field to the induced geoelectric field. Ongoing data collection through the NSF EarthScope program has produced measured impedance data across much of the continental US. In this work, impedance data are convolved with magnetic field variations, obtained from USGS magnetic observatories, during a geomagnetic storm. This convolution produces geoelectric fields within the earth. These geoelectric fields are then integrated across power transmission lines to determine the voltage generated within each power line as a function of time during a geomagnetic storm. The voltages generated within the electric power grid will be shown for several historic geomagnetic storms. The estimated voltages calculated from 1-D and 3-D impedances differ by more than 100 V across some transmission lines. In combination with grounding resistance data and network topology, these voltage estimates can be utilized by power companies to estimate geomagnetically-induced currents throughout the network. These voltage estimates can provide information on which power lines are most vulnerable to geomagnetic storms, and assist power grid companies investigating where to install additional protections within their grid.

  6. Bioinspired model of mechanical energy harvesting based on flexoelectric membranes.

    PubMed

    Rey, Alejandro D; Servio, P; Herrera-Valencia, E E

    2013-02-01

    Membrane flexoelectricity is an electromechanical coupling process that describes membrane electrical polarization due to bending and membrane bending under electric fields. In this paper we propose, formulate, and characterize a mechanical energy harvesting system consisting of a deformable soft flexoelectric thin membrane subjected to harmonic forcing from contacting bulk fluids. The key elements of the energy harvester are formulated and characterized, including (i) the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency, (ii) the electromechanical shape equation connecting fluid forces with membrane curvature and electric displacement, and (iii) the electric power generation and efficiency. The energy conversion efficiency is cast as the ratio of flexoelectric coupling to the product of electric and bending elasticity. The device is described by a second-order curvature dynamics coupled to the electric displacement equation and as such results in mechanical power absorption with a resonant peak whose amplitude decreases with bending viscosity. The electric power generation is proportional to the conversion factor and the power efficiency decreases with frequency. Under high bending viscosity, the power efficiency increases with the conversion factor and under low viscosities it decreases with the conversion factor. The theoretical results presented contribute to the ongoing experimental efforts to develop mechanical energy harvesting from fluid flow energy through solid-fluid interactions and electromechanical transduction.

  7. Progress Towards a New Technique for Measuring Local Electric and Magnetic Field Fluctuations in High Temperature Plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burke, M. G.; Fonck, R. J.; McKee, G. R.; Winz, G. R.

    2017-10-01

    Local measurements of electrostatic and magnetic turbulence in fusion grade plasmas is a critical missing component in advancing our understanding of current experiments and validating nonlinear turbulence simulations. A novel diagnostic for measuring local electric and magnetic field fluctuations (Ẽ and B ) is being developed to address this need. It employs high-speed measurements of the spectral linewidth and/or line intensities of the Motional Stark Effect split neutral beam emission. This emission is split into several spectral components, with the amount of splitting being proportional to local magnetic and electric fields at the emission site. High spectral resolution ( 0.025 nm), high throughput ( 0.01 cm2str), and high speed (f 250 kHz) are required for the measurement of fast changes in the MSE spectrum. Spatial heterodyne spectroscopy (SHS) techniques coupled to a CMOS detector can meet these demands. A prototype SHS has been deployed to DIII-D for initial testing in the tokamak environment, SNR evaluation, and neutral beam efficacy. In addition, design studies of the SHS interferogram are ongoing to further optimize the measurement technique. One major contributor to loss of fringe contrast is line broadening arising from employing a large collection lens. This broadening can be mitigated by making the lens at the tokamak wall optically conjugate with the interference fringes image field. Work supported by US DOE Grant DE-FG02-89ER53296.

  8. Overview of Advanced Electromagnetic Propulsion Development at NASA Glenn Research Center

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pencil, Eric J.; Kamhawi, Hani; Gilland, James H.; Arrington, Lynn A.

    2005-01-01

    NASA Glenn Research Center s Very High Power Electric Propulsion task is sponsored by the Energetics Heritage Project. Electric propulsion technologies currently being investigated under this program include pulsed electromagnetic plasma thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, helicon plasma sources as well as the systems models for high power electromagnetic propulsion devices. An investigation and evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic plasma thruster performance at energy levels up to 700 Joules is underway. On-going magnetoplasmadynamic thruster experiments will investigate applied-field performance characteristics of gas-fed MPDs. Plasma characterization of helicon plasma sources will provide additional insights into the operation of this novel propulsion concept. Systems models have been developed for high power electromagnetic propulsion concepts, such as pulsed inductive thrusters and magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters to enable an evaluation of mission-optimized designs.

  9. A modular, closed-loop platform for intracranial stimulation in people with neurological disorders.

    PubMed

    Sarma, Anish A; Crocker, Britni; Cash, Sydney S; Truccolo, Wilson

    2016-08-01

    Neuromodulation systems based on electrical stimulation can be used to investigate, probe, and potentially treat a range of neurological disorders. The effects of ongoing neural state and dynamics on stimulation response, and of stimulation parameters on neural state, have broad implications for the development of closed-loop neuro-modulation approaches. We describe the development of a modular, low-latency platform for pre-clinical, closed-loop neuromodulation studies with human participants. We illustrate the uses of the platform in a stimulation case study with a person with epilepsy undergoing neuro-monitoring prior to resective surgery. We demonstrate the efficacy of the system by tracking interictal epileptiform discharges in the local field potential to trigger intracranial electrical stimulation, and show that the response to stimulation depends on the neural state.

  10. Experiment-Model Comparisons of Turbulence, Transport, and Flows in a Magnetized Linear Plasma Using a Global Two-Fluid Braginskii Solver

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilmore, M.; Fisher, D. M.; Kelly, R. F.; Hatch, M. W.; Rogers, B. N.

    2017-10-01

    Ongoing experiments and numerical modeling of the dynamics of electrostatic turbulence and transport in the presence of flow shear are being conducted in helicon plasmas in the linear HelCat (Helicon-Cathode) device. Modeling is being done using GBS, a 3D, global two-fluid Braginskii code that solves self-consistently for plasma equilibrium as well as fluctuations. Past experimental measurements of flows have been difficult to reconcile with simple expectations, such as azimuthal flows being dominated by Er x Bz rotation. Therefore, recent measurements have focused on understanding plasma flows, and the role of neutral dynamics. In the model, a set of two-fluid drift-reduced Braginskii equations are evolved using the Global Braginskii Solver Code (GBS). For low-field helicon-sourced Ar plasmas a non-negligible cross-field thermal collisional term must be added to shift the electric potential in the ion momentum and vorticity equations as the ions are unmagnetized. Significant radially and axially dependent neutral profiles are also included in the simulations to try and match those observed in HelCat. Ongoing simulations show a mode dependence on the axial magnetic field along with strong axial variations that suggest drift waves may be important in the low-field case. Supported by U.S. National Science Foundation Award 1500423.

  11. Analytic Solution to the Problem of Aircraft Electric Field Mill Calibration

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Koshak, William

    2003-01-01

    It is by no means a simple task to retrieve storm electric fields from an aircraft instrumented with electric field mill sensors. The presence of the aircraft distorts the ambient field in a complicated way. Before retrievals of the storm field can be made, the field mill measurement system must be "calibrated". In other words, a relationship between impressed (i.e., ambient) electric field and mill output must be established. If this relationship can be determined, it is mathematically inverted so that ambient field can be inferred from the mill outputs. Previous studies have primarily focused on linear theories where the relationship between ambient field and mill output is described by a "calibration matrix" M. Each element of the matrix describes how a particular component of the ambient field is enhanced by the aircraft. For example the product M(sub ix), E(sub x), is the contribution of the E(sub x) field to the i(th) mill output. Similarly, net aircraft charge (described by a "charge field component" E(sub q)) contributes an amount M(sub iq)E(sub q) to the output of the i(th) sensor. The central difficulty in obtaining M stems from the fact that the impressed field (E(sub x), E(sub y), E(sub z), E(sub q) is not known but is instead estimated. Typically, the aircraft is flown through a series of roll and pitch maneuvers in fair weather, and the values of the fair weather field and aircraft charge are estimated at each point along the aircraft trajectory. These initial estimates are often highly inadequate, but several investigators have improved the estimates by implementing various (ad hoc) iterative methods. Unfortunately, none of the iterative methods guarantee absolute convergence to correct values (i.e., absolute convergence to correct values has not been rigorously proven). In this work, the mathematical problem is solved directly by analytic means. For m mills installed on an arbitrary aircraft, it is shown that it is possible to solve for a single 2m-vector that provides all other needed variables (i.e., the unknown fair weather field, the unknown aircraft charge, and the unknown matrix M). Numerical tests of the solution, effects of measurement errors, and studies of solution non-uniqueness are ongoing as of this writing.

  12. Experimental Bell violations with classical, non-entangled optical fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gonzales, J.; Sánchez, P.; Barberena, D.; Yugra, Y.; Caballero, R.; De Zela, F.

    2018-02-01

    We report experiments in which the Bell parameter S that enters the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality: | S| ≤slant 2, attains values | S| > 2. In our experiments, we used two spatially separated optical beams, the electric fields of which were correlated to one another. The amount of correlation was quantified by the spectral degree of coherence η (α ,β ). This quantity measures the correlation between fields that exist at two distant locations and whose respective polarizations are given in terms of angles α and β, which can be set independently from one another. Such a correlation qualifies for the construction of the Bell parameter S. By changing the amount of field correlation, we could cover a range that goes from | S| < 2 to | S| > 2. Our experimental findings should provide useful material for the ongoing, theoretical discussions about the quantum-classical border.

  13. Tunable 3D Nanoresonators for Gas-Sensing Applications

    DOE PAGES

    Arnold, Georg; Winkler, Robert; Stermitz, Martin; ...

    2018-03-15

    Here, the detection of gas species with high sensitivity is a significant task for fundamental sciences as well as for industrial applications. Similarly, the ongoing trend for device miniaturization brings new challenges for advanced fabrication including on–demand functionality tuning. Following this motivation, here the additive, direct–write fabrication of freestanding 3D nanoarchitectures is introduced, which can be brought into mechanical resonance via electric AC fields. Specifically, this study focuses on the 3D nanostructure synthesis, the subsequent determination of Young's modulus, and demonstrates a postgrowth procedure, which can precisely tune the material modulus. As–fabricated resonators reveal a Young's modulus of 9–13 GPa,more » which can be increased by a factor greater than 5. Next, the electric readout of the resonance behavior is demonstrated via electric current measurement as an essential element for the resonance sensor applications. Finally, the implications of gas–physisorption and gas–chemisorption on the resonance frequencies are studied, representing a proof–of–principle for sensing applications by the here presented approach.« less

  14. Tunable 3D Nanoresonators for Gas-Sensing Applications

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

    Arnold, Georg; Winkler, Robert; Stermitz, Martin

    Here, the detection of gas species with high sensitivity is a significant task for fundamental sciences as well as for industrial applications. Similarly, the ongoing trend for device miniaturization brings new challenges for advanced fabrication including on–demand functionality tuning. Following this motivation, here the additive, direct–write fabrication of freestanding 3D nanoarchitectures is introduced, which can be brought into mechanical resonance via electric AC fields. Specifically, this study focuses on the 3D nanostructure synthesis, the subsequent determination of Young's modulus, and demonstrates a postgrowth procedure, which can precisely tune the material modulus. As–fabricated resonators reveal a Young's modulus of 9–13 GPa,more » which can be increased by a factor greater than 5. Next, the electric readout of the resonance behavior is demonstrated via electric current measurement as an essential element for the resonance sensor applications. Finally, the implications of gas–physisorption and gas–chemisorption on the resonance frequencies are studied, representing a proof–of–principle for sensing applications by the here presented approach.« less

  15. Seasonal Patterns of Melatonin, Cortisol, and Progesterone Secretion in Female Lambs Raised Beneath a 500-KV Transmission Line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Jack Monroe, Jr.

    There is ongoing controversy about the possibility of adverse biological effects from environmental exposures to electric and magnetic fields. These fields are produced by all electrical equipment and appliances including electrical transmission lines. The objective of this environmental science study was to investigate the possible effects of a high voltage transmission line on domestic sheep (Ovis aries L.), a species that can often be found near such lines. The study was primarily designed to determine whether a specific effect of electric and magnetic fields found in laboratory animals also occurs in livestock under natural environmental conditions. The effect is the ability of fields, at levels found in the environment, to significantly depress the normally high nocturnal concentrations of the pineal hormone-melatonin. Ten female Suffolk lambs were penned for 10 months directly beneath a 500-kV transmission line near Estacada, Oregon. Ten other lambs of the same type were penned in a control area away from the transmission line where electric and magnetic fields were at ambient levels. Serum melatonin was analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) from 6618 blood samples collected at 0.5 to 3-hour intervals over eight 48-hour periods. Serum progesterone was analyzed by RIA from blood samples collected twice weekly. Serum cortisol was also assayed by RIA from the blood samples collected during the 48-hour samples. Results showed that lambs in both the control and line groups had the typical pattern of melatonin secretion consisting of low daytime and high nighttime serum concentrations. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in melatonin levels, or in the phase or duration of the nighttime melatonin elevation. Age at puberty and number of reproductive cycles also did not differ between groups. Serum cortisol showed a circadian rhythm with highest concentrations during the day. There were, however, no differences in cortisol concentrations between groups. Statistical analyses on other biological parameters revealed no differences between groups for body weight gain, wool growth, or behavior.

  16. Status report on investigations of potential human health effects associated with power frequency electric and magnetic fields. Report for June 1994-October 1995

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

    Patty, S.S.

    1995-12-01

    This report focuses on epidemiology and mechanisms that may identify how EMF could cause adverse health effects. The purpose of these reports is to provide the Maryland Public Service Commission with the latest information regarding the human health effects of exposure to EMF as part of their on-going assessment of the need for regulations to ensure the safety of Maryland citizens. The research results summarized herein are the most recent of the seven status report summaries that have been published since 1990.

  17. Modeling and simulations of the double-probe electric field instrument in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyake, Y.; Cully, C. M.; Usui, H.; Nakashima, H.

    2013-12-01

    In order to increase accuracy and reliability of in-situ measurements made by scientific spacecraft, it is imperative to develop comprehensive understanding of spacecraft-plasma interactions. In space environments, not only the spacecraft charging but also surrounding plasma disturbances such as caused by the wake formation may interfere directly with in-situ measurements. The self-consistent solutions of such phenomena are necessary to assess their effects on scientific spacecraft systems. As our recent activity, we work on the modeling and simulations of Cluster double-probe instrument in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas [1]. Double-probe electric field sensors are often deployed using wire booms with radii much less than typical Debye lengths of magnetospheric plasmas (millimeters compared to tens of meters). However, in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas seen in the polar cap and lobe regions, the wire booms have a high positive potential due to photoelectron emission and can strongly scatter approaching ions. Consequently, an electrostatic wake formed behind the spacecraft is further enhanced by the presence of the wire booms. We reproduce this process for the case of the Cluster satellite by performing plasma particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations [2], which include the effects of both the spacecraft body and the wire booms in a simultaneous manner, on modern supercomputers. The simulations reveal that the effective thickness of the booms for the Cluster Electric Field and Wave (EFW) instrument is magnified from its real thickness (2.2 millimeters) to several meters, when the spacecraft potential is at 30-40 volts. Such booms enhance the wake electric field magnitude by a factor of about 2 depending on the spacecraft potential, and play a principal role in explaining the in situ Cluster EFW data showing sinusoidal spurious electric fields of about 10 mV/m amplitudes. The boom effects are quantified by comparing PIC simulations with and without wire booms. The paper also reports some recent progress of ongoing PIC simulation research that focuses on spurious electric field generation in subsonic ion flows. Our preliminary simulation results revealed that; (1) there is no apparent wake signature behind the spacecraft in such a condition, but (2) spurious electric field over 1 mV/m amplitude is observed in the direction of the flow vector. The observed field amplitude is sometimes comparable to the convection electric field (a few mV/m) associated with the flow. Our analysis also confirmed that the spurious field is caused by a weakly-asymmetric potential pattern created by the ion flow. We will present the parametric study of such spurious fields for various conditions of plasma flows. [References] [1] Miyake, Y., C. M. Cully, H. Usui, and H. Nakashima (2013), Plasma particle simulations of wake formation behind a spacecraft with thin wire booms, submitted to J. Geophys. Res. [2] Miyake, Y., and H. Usui (2009), New electromagnetic particle simulation code for the analysis of spacecraft-plasma interactions, Phys. Plasmas, 16, 062904, doi:10.1063/1.3147922.

  18. Evaluation of area strain response of dielectric elastomer actuator using image processing technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sahu, Raj K.; Sudarshan, Koyya; Patra, Karali; Bhaumik, Shovan

    2014-03-01

    Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is a kind of soft actuators that can produce significantly large electric-field induced actuation strain and may be a basic unit of artificial muscles and robotic elements. Understanding strain development on a pre-stretched sample at different regimes of electrical field is essential for potential applications. In this paper, we report about ongoing work on determination of area strain using digital camera and image processing technique. The setup, developed in house consists of low cost digital camera, data acquisition and image processing algorithm. Samples have been prepared by biaxially stretched acrylic tape and supported between two cardboard frames. Carbon-grease has been pasted on the both sides of the sample, which will be compliant with electric field induced large deformation. Images have been grabbed before and after the application of high voltage. From incremental image area, strain has been calculated as a function of applied voltage on a pre-stretched dielectric elastomer (DE) sample. Area strain has been plotted with the applied voltage for different pre-stretched samples. Our study shows that the area strain exhibits nonlinear relationship with applied voltage. For same voltage higher area strain has been generated on a sample having higher pre-stretched value. Also our characterization matches well with previously published results which have been done with costly video extensometer. The study may be helpful for the designers to fabricate the biaxial pre-stretched planar actuator from similar kind of materials.

  19. Cyberwarfare on the Electricity Infrastructure

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

    Murarka, N.; Ramesh, V.C.

    2000-03-20

    The report analyzes the possibility of cyberwarfare on the electricity infrastructure. The ongoing deregulation of the electricity industry makes the power grid all the more vulnerable to cyber attacks. The report models the power system information system components, models potential threats and protective measures. It therefore offers a framework for infrastructure protection.

  20. Simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG): assessing the impact of tDCS on slow cortical magnetic fields.

    PubMed

    Garcia-Cossio, Eliana; Witkowski, Matthias; Robinson, Stephen E; Cohen, Leonardo G; Birbaumer, Niels; Soekadar, Surjo R

    2016-10-15

    Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can influence cognitive, affective or motor brain functions. Whereas previous imaging studies demonstrated widespread tDCS effects on brain metabolism, direct impact of tDCS on electric or magnetic source activity in task-related brain areas could not be confirmed due to the difficulty to record such activity simultaneously during tDCS. The aim of this proof-of-principal study was to demonstrate the feasibility of whole-head source localization and reconstruction of neuromagnetic brain activity during tDCS and to confirm the direct effect of tDCS on ongoing neuromagnetic activity in task-related brain areas. Here we show for the first time that tDCS has an immediate impact on slow cortical magnetic fields (SCF, 0-4Hz) of task-related areas that are identical with brain regions previously described in metabolic neuroimaging studies. 14 healthy volunteers performed a choice reaction time (RT) task while whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) was recorded. Task-related source-activity of SCFs was calculated using synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM) in absence of stimulation and while anodal, cathodal or sham tDCS was delivered over the right primary motor cortex (M1). Source reconstruction revealed task-related SCF modulations in brain regions that precisely matched prior metabolic neuroimaging studies. Anodal and cathodal tDCS had a polarity-dependent impact on RT and SCF in primary sensorimotor and medial centro-parietal cortices. Combining tDCS and whole-head MEG is a powerful approach to investigate the direct effects of transcranial electric currents on ongoing neuromagnetic source activity, brain function and behavior. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG): assessing the impact of tDCS on slow cortical magnetic fields

    PubMed Central

    Garcia-Cossio, Eliana; Witkowski, Matthias; Robinson, Stephen E.; Cohen, Leonardo G.; Birbaumer, Niels; Soekadar, Surjo R.

    2016-01-01

    Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can influence cognitive, affective or motor brain functions. Whereas previous imaging studies demonstrated widespread tDCS effects on brain metabolism, direct impact of tDCS on electric or magnetic source activity in task-related brain areas could not be confirmed due to the difficulty to record such activity simultaneously during tDCS. The aim of this proof-of-principal study was to demonstrate the feasibility of whole-head source localization and reconstruction of neuromagnetic brain activity during tDCS and to confirm the direct effect of tDCS on ongoing neuromagnetic activity in task-related brain areas. Here we show for the first time that tDCS has an immediate impact on slow cortical magnetic fields (SCF, 0–4 Hz) of task-related areas that are identical with brain regions previously described in metabolic neuroimaging studies. 14 healthy volunteers performed a choice reaction time (RT) task while whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) was recorded. Task-related source-activity of SCFs was calculated using synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM) in absence of stimulation and while anodal, cathodal or sham tDCS was delivered over the right primary motor cortex (M1). Source reconstruction revealed task-related SCF modulations in brain regions that precisely matched prior metabolic neuroimaging studies. Anodal and cathodal tDCS had a polarity-dependent impact on RT and SCF in primary sensorimotor and medial centro-parietal cortices. Combining tDCS and whole-head MEG is a powerful approach to investigate the direct effects of transcranial electric currents on ongoing neuromagnetic source activity, brain function and behavior. PMID:26455796

  2. Time domain structures in a colliding magnetic flux rope experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tang, Shawn Wenjie; Gekelman, Walter; Dehaas, Timothy; Vincena, Steve; Pribyl, Patrick

    2017-10-01

    Electron phase-space holes, regions of positive potential on the scale of the Debye length, have been observed in auroras as well as in laboratory experiments. These potential structures, also known as Time Domain Structures (TDS), are packets of intense electric field spikes that have significant components parallel to the local magnetic field. In an ongoing investigation at UCLA, TDS were observed on the surface of two magnetized flux ropes produced within the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). A barium oxide (BaO) cathode was used to produce an 18 m long magnetized plasma column and a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) source was used to create 11 m long kink unstable flux ropes. Using two probes capable of measuring the local electric and magnetic fields, correlation analysis was performed on tens of thousands of these structures and their propagation velocities, probability distribution function and spatial distribution were determined. The TDS became abundant as the flux ropes collided and appear to emanate from the reconnection region in between them. In addition, a preliminary analysis of the permutation entropy and statistical complexity of the data suggests that the TDS signals may be chaotic in nature. Work done at the Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) at UCLA which is supported by DOE and NSF.

  3. Particle-in-Cell Simulation of Collisionless Driven Reconnection with Open Boundaries

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kimas, Alex; Hesse, Michael; Zenitani, Seiji; Kuznetsova, Maria

    2010-01-01

    First results are discussed from an ongoing study of driven collisionless reconnection using a 2 1/2-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation model with open inflow and outflow boundaries. An extended electron diffusion region (EEDR) is defined as that region surrounding a reconnecting neutral line in which the out-of-plane nonideal electric field is positive. It is shown that the boundaries of this region in the directions of the outflow jets are at the positions where the electrons make the transition from unfrozen meandering motion in the current sheet to outward drifting with the magnetic field in the outflow jets; a turning length scale is defined to mark these positions, The initial width of the EEDR in the inflow directions is comparable to the electron bounce width. Later. as shoulders develop to form a two-scale structure. thc EEDR width expands to the ion bounce width scale. The inner portion of the EEDR or the electron diffusion region proper remains at the electron bounce width. Two methods are introduced for predicting the reconnection electric field using the dimensions of the EEDR. These results are interpreted as further evidence that the EEDR is the region that is relevant to understanding the electron role in the neutral line vicinity.

  4. 78 FR 16497 - Notice of FERC Staff Attendance

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-15

    ... Electric Company ER13-91-000 Black Hills Power, Inc., et al ER13-96-000 Black Hills Colorado Electric... of the Commission's ongoing outreach efforts. The meeting may discuss matters at issue in the above...

  5. 77 FR 22772 - Sunshine Act Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-17

    ... Transmission. E-4 RM11-17-000 Enhancement of Electricity Market Surveillance and Analysis through Ongoing.... RP11-1566-009. RP11-1566-011. RP11-2066-001. Hydro H-1 P-12632-004 East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc...

  6. Modelisation agregee de chauffe-eau electriques commandes par champ moyen pour la gestion des charges dans un reseau

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Losseau, Romain

    The ongoing energy transition is about to entail important changes in the way we use and manage energy. In this view, smart grids are expected to play a significant part through the use of intelligent storage techniques. Initiated in 2014, the SmartDesc project follows this trend to create an innovative load management program by exploiting the thermal storage associated with electric water heaters existing in residential households. The device control algorithms rely on the recent theory of mean field games to achieve a decentralized control of the water heaters temperatures producing an aggregate optimal trajectory, designed to smooth the electric demand of a neighborhood. Currently, this theory does not include power and temperature constraints due to the tank heating system or necessary for the user's safety and comfort. Therefore, a trajectory violating these constraints would not be feasible and would not induce the forecast load smoothing. This master's thesis presents a method to detect the non-feasability, of a target trajectory based on the Kolmogorov equations associated with the controlled electric water heaters and suggests a way to correct it so as to make it achievable under constraints. First, a partial differential equations based model of the water heaters under temperature constraints is presented. Subsequently, a numerical scheme is developed to simulate it, and applied to the mean field control. The results of the mean field control with and without constraints are compared, and non-feasabilities of the target trajectory are highlighted upon violations. The last part of the thesis is dedicated to developing an accelerated version of the mean field and a method of correcting the target trajectory so as to enlarge as much as possible the set of achievable profiles.

  7. Battery cycling and calendar aging: year one testing results.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-07-01

    This report is meant to provide an update on the ongoing battery testing performed by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to evaluate Electric Vehicle (EV) battery durability and reliability under electric utility grid operations. Commercial EV batte...

  8. Computer code for scattering from impedance bodies of revolution. Part 3: Surface impedance with s and phi variation. Analytical and numerical results

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Uslenghi, Piergiorgio L. E.; Laxpati, Sharad R.; Kawalko, Stephen F.

    1993-01-01

    The third phase of the development of the computer codes for scattering by coated bodies that has been part of an ongoing effort in the Electromagnetics Laboratory of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago is described. The work reported discusses the analytical and numerical results for the scattering of an obliquely incident plane wave by impedance bodies of revolution with phi variation of the surface impedance. Integral equation formulation of the problem is considered. All three types of integral equations, electric field, magnetic field, and combined field, are considered. These equations are solved numerically via the method of moments with parametric elements. Both TE and TM polarization of the incident plane wave are considered. The surface impedance is allowed to vary along both the profile of the scatterer and in the phi direction. Computer code developed for this purpose determines the electric surface current as well as the bistatic radar cross section. The results obtained with this code were validated by comparing the results with available results for specific scatterers such as the perfectly conducting sphere. Results for the cone-sphere and cone-cylinder-sphere for the case of an axially incident plane were validated by comparing the results with the results with those obtained in the first phase of this project. Results for body of revolution scatterers with an abrupt change in the surface impedance along both the profile of the scatterer and the phi direction are presented.

  9. Generalized Stoner criterion and versatile spin ordering in two-dimensional spin-orbit coupled electron systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Weizhe Edward; Chesi, Stefano; Webb, David; Zülicke, U.; Winkler, R.; Joynt, Robert; Culcer, Dimitrie

    2017-12-01

    Spin-orbit coupling is a single-particle phenomenon known to generate topological order, and electron-electron interactions cause ordered many-body phases to exist. The rich interplay of these two mechanisms is present in a broad range of materials and has been the subject of considerable ongoing research and controversy. Here we demonstrate that interacting two-dimensional electron systems with strong spin-orbit coupling exhibit a variety of time reversal symmetry breaking phases with unconventional spin alignment. We first prove that a Stoner-type criterion can be formulated for the spin polarization response to an electric field, which predicts that the spin polarization susceptibility diverges at a certain value of the electron-electron interaction strength. The divergence indicates the possibility of unconventional ferromagnetic phases even in the absence of any applied electric or magnetic field. This leads us, in the second part of this work, to study interacting Rashba spin-orbit coupled semiconductors in equilibrium in the Hartree-Fock approximation as a generic minimal model. Using classical Monte Carlo simulations, we construct the complete phase diagram of the system as a function of density and spin-orbit coupling strength. It includes both an out-of-plane spin-polarized phase and in-plane spin-polarized phases with shifted Fermi surfaces and rich spin textures, reminiscent of the Pomeranchuk instability, as well as two different Fermi-liquid phases having one and two Fermi surfaces, respectively, which are separated by a Lifshitz transition. We discuss possibilities for experimental observation and useful application of these novel phases, especially in the context of electric-field-controlled macroscopic spin polarizations.

  10. Capillary electrophoresis: Imaging of electroosmotic and pressure driven flow profiles in fused silica capillaries

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, George O., Jr.

    1996-01-01

    This study is a continuation of the summer of 1994 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. This effort is a portion of the ongoing work by the Biophysics Branch of the Marshall Space Flight Center. The work has focused recently on the separation of macromolecules using capillary electrophoresis (CE). Two primary goals were established for the effort this summer. First, we wanted to use capillary electrophoresis to study the electrohydrodynamics of a sample stream. Secondly, there was a need to develop a methodology for using CE for separation of DNA molecules of various sizes. In order to achieve these goals we needed to establish a procedure for detection of a sample plug under the influence of an electric field Detection of the sample with the microscope and image analysis system would be helpful in studying the electrohydrodynamics of this stream under load. Videotaping this process under the influence of an electric field in real time would also be useful. Imaging and photography of the sample/background electrolyte interface would be vital to this study. Finally, detection and imaging of electroosmotic flow and pressure driven flow must be accomplished.

  11. Far-Field RF Sheaths due to Shear Alfvén Waves in the LAPD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martin, Michael; van Compernolle, Bart; Gekelman, Walter; Pribyl, Pat; Carter, Troy; D'Ippolito, Daniel A.; Myra, James R.

    2013-10-01

    Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is an important tool in current fusion experiments and will be an essential heating component in ITER. ICRH could be limited by deleterious effects due to the formation of radio frequency (RF) sheaths in the near-field (at the antenna) and in the far-field (e.g. in the divertor region). Far-field sheaths are thought to be caused by the direct launch of or mode conversion to a shear Alfvén wave with an electric field component parallel to the background magnetic field at the wall. In this experiment a limiter plate was inserted into a cylindrical plasma in the LAPD (ne ~ 1010-11 cm-3, Te ~ 5 eV, B0 = 1.2 kG) and RF sheaths were created by directly launching the shear Alfven wave. Plasma potential measurements were made with an emissive probe. DC plasma potential rectification was observed along field lines connected to the plate, serving as an indirect measure of RF sheath formation. 2-D maps of plasma properties and rectified plasma potential will be presented. This research is part of an ongoing campaign to study the formation and structure of RF sheaths.

  12. Managing Ongoing EVSE Costs

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

    Hodge, Cabell

    The costs associated with EVSE begin with picking the best location and unit for the job, but they continue with electricity and network charges through the life of your vehicle. This presentation tells how to balance electricity demand charges and network management costs through smart planning at your program's inception.

  13. Giant magnetoelectric effect in pure manganite-manganite heterostructures

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

    Paul, Sanjukta; Pankaj, Ravindra; Yarlagadda, Sudhakar

    2017-11-01

    Obtaining strong magnetoelectric couplings in bulk materials and heterostructures is an ongoing challenge. We demonstrate that manganite heterostructures of the form (Insulator) /(LaMnO3)(n)/Interface/(CaMnO3)(n)/(Insulator) show strong multiferroicity in magnetic manganites where ferroelectric polarization is realized by charges leaking from LaMnO3 to CaMnO3 due to repulsion. Here, an effective nearest-neighbor electron-electron (electron-hole) repulsion (attraction) is generated by cooperative electron-phonon interaction. Double exchange, when a particle virtually hops to its unoccupied neighboring site and back, produces magnetic polarons that polarize antiferromagnetic regions. Thus a striking giant magnetoelectric effect ensues when an external electrical field enhances the electron leakage across the interface.

  14. Mid-infrared lasers for energy frontier plasma accelerators

    DOE PAGES

    Pogorelsky, I. V.; Polyanskiy, M. N.; Kimura, W. D.

    2016-09-12

    Plasma wake field accelerators driven with solid-state near-IR lasers have been considered as an alternative to conventional rf accelerators for next-generation TeV-class lepton colliders. Here, we extend this study to the mid-IR spectral domain covered by CO 2 lasers. We conclude that the increase in the laser driver wavelength favors the regime of laser wake field acceleration with a low plasma density and high electric charge. This regime is the most beneficial for gamma colliders to be converted from lepton colliders via inverse Compton scattering. Selecting a laser wavelength to drive a Compton gamma source is essential for the designmore » of such a machine. In conclusion, the revealed benefits from spectral diversification of laser drivers for future colliders and off-spring applications validate ongoing efforts in advancing the ultrafast CO 2 laser technology.« less

  15. Recent advances in electrohydrodynamic pumps operated by ionic winds: a review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johnson, Michael J.; Go, David B.

    2017-10-01

    An ionic or electric wind is a bulk air movement induced by electrohydrodynamic (EHD) phenomena in a gas discharge. Because they are silent, low power, respond rapidly, and require no moving parts, ionic wind devices have been proposed for a wide range of applications, ranging from convection cooling and food drying to combustion management. The past several decades have seen the area grow tremendously leading to a number of new actuation strategies and devices that can be incorporated into various applications. In this review, we discuss the physics of ionic winds and recent developments of the past five years that have pushed the field forward, focusing on the development on bulk air-moving devices we term EHD pumps. We then highlight the ongoing challenges with transitioning ionic wind technologies to the market place, from issues that affect robustness to practical implementation, and point to areas where future research could have an impact on the field.

  16. Electromagnetic Measurements in an Active Oilfield Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schramm, K. A.; Aldridge, D. F.; Bartel, L. C.; Knox, H. A.; Weiss, C. J.

    2015-12-01

    An important issue in oilfield development pertains to mapping and monitoring of the fracture distributions (either natural or man-made) controlling subsurface fluid flow. Although microseismic monitoring and analysis have been used for this purpose for several decades, there remain several ambiguities and uncertainties with this approach. We are investigating a novel electromagnetic (EM) technique for detecting and mapping hydraulic fractures in a petroleum reservoir by injecting an electrically conductive contrast agent into an open fracture. The fracture is subsequently illuminated by a strong EM field radiated by a large engineered antenna. Specifically, a grounded electric current source is applied directly to the steel casing of the borehole, either at/near the wellhead or at a deep downhole point. Transient multicomponent EM signals (both electric and magnetic) scattered by the conductivity contrast are then recorded by a surface receiver array. We are presently utilizing advanced 3D numerical modeling algorithms to accurately simulate fracture responses, both before and after insertion of the conductive contrast agent. Model results compare favorably with EM field data recently acquired in a Permian Basin oilfield. However, extraction of the very-low-amplitude fracture signatures from noisy data requires effective noise suppression strategies such as long stacking times, rejection of outliers, and careful treatment of natural magnetotelluric fields. Dealing with the ever-present "episodic EM noise" typical in an active oilfield environment (associated with drilling, pumping, machinery, traffic, etc.) constitutes an ongoing problem. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

  17. Apprentice and Ongoing Training Needs in the Electrical and Associated Industries.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Doughney, James; Howes, Jenny; Worland, David; Wragg, Cheryl

    A study investigated skill shortages in the electrical and associated industries in Victoria and their nature and contributing factors. Research methods were a literature review, data analysis, and qualitative and quantitative research into apprentices, employers, and practitioners. Findings indicated a decline in the number of apprentices in…

  18. 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.

  19. Experimental Study of RF Sheaths due to Shear Alfv'en Waves in the LAPD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martin, Michael; van Compernolle, Bart; Carter, Troy; Gekelman, Walter; Pribyl, Patrick; D'Ippolito, Daniel A.; Myra, James R.

    2012-10-01

    Ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) heating is an important tool in current fusion experiments and will be an essential part of the heating power in ITER. A current limitation of ICRF heating is impurity generation through the formation of radiofrequency (RF) sheaths, both near-field (at the antenna) and far-field (e.g. in the divertor region). Far-field sheaths are thought to be generated through the direct launch of or mode conversion to shear Alfv'en waves. Shear Alfv'en waves have an electric field component parallel to the background magnetic field near the wall that drives an RF sheath.footnotetextD. A. D'Ippolito and J. R. Myra, Phys. Plasmas 19, 034504 (2012) In this study we directly launch the shear Alfv'en wave and measure the plasma potential oscillations and DC potential in the bulk plasma of the LAPD using emissive and Langmuir probes. Measured changes in the DC plasma potential can serve as an indirect measurement of the formation of an RF sheath because of rectification. These measurements will be useful in guiding future experiments to measure the plasma potential profile inside RF sheaths as part of an ongoing campaign.

  20. Simulations of surface stress effects in nanoscale single crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zadin, V.; Veske, M.; Vigonski, S.; Jansson, V.; Muszinsky, J.; Parviainen, S.; Aabloo, A.; Djurabekova, F.

    2018-04-01

    Onset of vacuum arcing near a metal surface is often associated with nanoscale asperities, which may dynamically appear due to different processes ongoing in the surface and subsurface layers in the presence of high electric fields. Thermally activated processes, as well as plastic deformation caused by tensile stress due to an applied electric field, are usually not accessible by atomistic simulations because of the long time needed for these processes to occur. On the other hand, finite element methods, able to describe the process of plastic deformations in materials at realistic stresses, do not include surface properties. The latter are particularly important for the problems where the surface plays crucial role in the studied process, as for instance, in the case of plastic deformations at a nanovoid. In the current study by means of molecular dynamics (MD) and finite element simulations we analyse the stress distribution in single crystal copper containing a nanovoid buried deep under the surface. We have developed a methodology to incorporate the surface effects into the solid mechanics framework by utilizing elastic properties of crystals, pre-calculated using MD simulations. The method leads to computationally efficient stress calculations and can be easily implemented in commercially available finite element software, making it an attractive analysis tool.

  1. 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.

  2. Identifying and Investigating Difficult Concepts in Engineering Mechanics and Electric Circuits. Research Brief

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Streveler, Ruth; Geist, Monica; Ammerman, Ravel; Sulzbach, Candace; Miller, Ronald; Olds, Barbara; Nelson, Mary

    2007-01-01

    This study extends ongoing work to identify difficult concepts in thermal and transport science and measure students' understanding of those concepts via a concept inventory. Two research questions provided the focal point: "What important concepts in electric circuits and engineering mechanics do students find difficult to learn?" and…

  3. Resistance modulation in VO2 nanowires induced by an electric field via air-gap gates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanki, Teruo; Chikanari, Masashi; Wei, Tingting; Tanaka, Hidekazu; The Institute of Scientific; Industrial Research Team

    Vanadium dioxide (VO2) shows huge resistance change with metal-insulator transition (MIT) at around room temperature. Controlling of the MIT by applying an electric field is a topical ongoing research toward the realization of Mott transistor. In this study, we have successfully switched channel resistance of VO2 nano-wire channels by a pure electrostatic field effect using a side-gate-type field-effect transistor (SG-FET) viaair gap and found that single crystalline VO2 nanowires and the channels with narrower width enhance transport modulation rate. The rate of change in resistance ((R0-R)/R, where R0 and R is the resistance of VO2 channel with off state and on state gate voltage (VG) , respectively) was 0.42 % at VG = 30 V in in-plane poly-crystalline VO2 channels on Al2O3(0001) substrates, while the rate in single crystalline channels on TiO2 (001) substrates was 3.84 %, which was 9 times higher than that using the poly-crystalline channels. With reducing wire width from 3000 nm to 400 nm of VO2 on TiO2 (001) substrate, furthermore, resistance modulation ratio enhanced from 0.67 % to 3.84 %. This change can not be explained by a simple free-electron model. In this presentation, we will compare the electronic properties between in-plane polycrystalline VO2 on Al2O3 (0001) and single crystalline VO2 on TiO2 (001) substrates, and show experimental data in detail..

  4. Residential exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile phone base stations, and broadcast transmitters: a population-based survey with personal meter.

    PubMed

    Viel, J F; Clerc, S; Barrera, C; Rymzhanova, R; Moissonnier, M; Hours, M; Cardis, E

    2009-08-01

    Both the public perceptions, and most published epidemiologic studies, rely on the assumption that the distance of a particular residence from a base station or a broadcast transmitter is an appropriate surrogate for exposure to radiofrequency fields, although complex propagation characteristics affect the beams from antennas. The main goal of this study was to characterise the distribution of residential exposure from antennas using personal exposure meters. A total of 200 randomly selected people were enrolled. Each participant was supplied with a personal exposure meter for 24 h measurements, and kept a time-location-activity diary. Two exposure metrics for each radiofrequency were then calculated: the proportion of measurements above the detection limit (0.05 V/m), and the maximum electric field strength. Residential address was geocoded, and distance from each antenna was calculated. Much of the time, the recorded field strength was below the detection level (0.05 V/m), the FM band standing apart with a proportion above the detection threshold of 12.3%. The maximum electric field strength was always lower than 1.5 V/m. Exposure to GSM and DCS waves peaked around 280 m and 1000 m from the antennas. A downward trend was found within a 10 km range for FM. Conversely, UMTS, TV 3, and TV 4&5 signals did not vary with distance. Despite numerous limiting factors entailing a high variability in radiofrequency exposure assessment, but owing to a sound statistical technique, we found that exposures from GSM and DCS base stations increase with distance in the near source zone, to a maximum where the main beam intersects the ground. We believe these results will contribute to the ongoing public debate over the location of base stations and their associated emissions.

  5. Development of large, horizontal-axis wind turbines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Baldwin, D. H.; Kennard, J.

    1985-01-01

    A program to develop large, horizontal-axis wind turbines is discussed. The program is directed toward developing the technology for safe, reliable, environmentally acceptable large wind turbines that can generate a significant amount of electricity at costs competitive with those of conventional electricity-generating systems. In addition, these large wind turbines must be fully compatible with electric utility operations and interface requirements. Several ongoing projects in large-wind-turbine development are directed toward meeting the technology requirements for utility applications. The machines based on first-generation technology (Mod-OA and Mod-1) successfully completed their planned periods of experimental operation in June, 1982. The second-generation machines (Mod-2) are in operation at selected utility sites. A third-generation machine (Mod-5) is under contract. Erection and initial operation of the Mod-5 in Hawaii should take place in 1986. Each successive generation of technology increased reliability and energy capture while reducing the cost of electricity. These advances are being made by gaining a better understanding of the system-design drivers, improving the analytical design tools, verifying design methods with operating field data, and incorporating new technology and innovative designs. Information is given on the results from the first- and second-generation machines (Mod-OA, - 1, and -2), the status of the Department of Interior, and the status of the third-generation wind turbine (Mod-5).

  6. Central Nervous System Cancers, Version 1.2015.

    PubMed

    Nabors, Louis Burt; Portnow, Jana; Ammirati, Mario; Baehring, Joachim; Brem, Henry; Brown, Paul; Butowski, Nicholas; Chamberlain, Marc C; Fenstermaker, Robert A; Friedman, Allan; Gilbert, Mark R; Hattangadi-Gluth, Jona; Holdhoff, Matthias; Junck, Larry; Kaley, Thomas; Lawson, Ronald; Loeffler, Jay S; Lovely, Mary P; Moots, Paul L; Mrugala, Maciej M; Newton, Herbert B; Parney, Ian; Raizer, Jeffrey J; Recht, Lawrence; Shonka, Nicole; Shrieve, Dennis C; Sills, Allen K; Swinnen, Lode J; Tran, David; Tran, Nam; Vrionis, Frank D; Weiss, Stephanie; Wen, Patrick Yung; McMillian, Nicole; Engh, Anita M

    2015-10-01

    The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers provide interdisciplinary recommendations for managing adult CNS cancers. Primary and metastatic brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with varied outcomes and management strategies. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the NCCN CNS Cancers Panel's discussion and highlight notable changes in the 2015 update. This article outlines the data and provides insight into panel decisions regarding adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy treatment options for high-risk newly diagnosed low-grade gliomas and glioblastomas. Additionally, it describes the panel's assessment of new data and the ongoing debate regarding the use of alternating electric field therapy for high-grade gliomas. Copyright © 2015 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

  7. Impeding hohlraum plasma stagnation in inertial-confinement fusion.

    PubMed

    Li, C K; Séguin, F H; Frenje, J A; Rosenberg, M J; Rinderknecht, H G; Zylstra, A B; Petrasso, R D; Amendt, P A; Landen, O L; Mackinnon, A J; Town, R P J; Wilks, S C; Betti, R; Meyerhofer, D D; Soures, J M; Hund, J; Kilkenny, J D; Nikroo, A

    2012-01-13

    This Letter reports the first time-gated proton radiography of the spatial structure and temporal evolution of how the fill gas compresses the wall blowoff, inhibits plasma jet formation, and impedes plasma stagnation in the hohlraum interior. The potential roles of spontaneously generated electric and magnetic fields in the hohlraum dynamics and capsule implosion are discussed. It is shown that interpenetration of the two materials could result from the classical Rayleigh-Taylor instability occurring as the lighter, decelerating ionized fill gas pushes against the heavier, expanding gold wall blowoff. This experiment showed new observations of the effects of the fill gas on x-ray driven implosions, and an improved understanding of these results could impact the ongoing ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility.

  8. Impedance Spectrum in Cortical Tissue: Implications for Propagation of LFP Signals on the Microscopic Level

    PubMed Central

    Miceli, Stéphanie

    2017-01-01

    Brain research investigating electrical activity within neural tissue is producing an increasing amount of physiological data including local field potentials (LFPs) obtained via extracellular in vivo and in vitro recordings. In order to correctly interpret such electrophysiological data, it is vital to adequately understand the electrical properties of neural tissue itself. An ongoing controversy in the field of neuroscience is whether such frequency-dependent effects bias LFP recordings and affect the proper interpretation of the signal. On macroscopic scales and with large injected currents, previous studies have found various grades of frequency dependence of cortical tissue, ranging from negligible to strong, within the frequency band typically considered relevant for neuroscience (less than a few thousand hertz). Here, we performed a detailed investigation of the frequency dependence of the conductivity within cortical tissue at microscopic distances using small current amplitudes within the typical (neuro)physiological micrometer and sub-nanoampere range. We investigated the propagation of LFPs, induced by extracellular electrical current injections via patch-pipettes, in acute rat brain slice preparations containing the somatosensory cortex in vitro using multielectrode arrays. Based on our data, we determined the cortical tissue conductivity over a 100-fold increase in signal frequency (5–500 Hz). Our results imply at most very weak frequency-dependent effects within the frequency range of physiological LFPs. Using biophysical modeling, we estimated the impact of different putative impedance spectra. Our results indicate that frequency dependencies of the order measured here and in most other studies have negligible impact on the typical analysis and modeling of LFP signals from extracellular brain recordings. PMID:28197543

  9. Impedance Spectrum in Cortical Tissue: Implications for Propagation of LFP Signals on the Microscopic Level.

    PubMed

    Miceli, Stéphanie; Ness, Torbjørn V; Einevoll, Gaute T; Schubert, Dirk

    2017-01-01

    Brain research investigating electrical activity within neural tissue is producing an increasing amount of physiological data including local field potentials (LFPs) obtained via extracellular in vivo and in vitro recordings. In order to correctly interpret such electrophysiological data, it is vital to adequately understand the electrical properties of neural tissue itself. An ongoing controversy in the field of neuroscience is whether such frequency-dependent effects bias LFP recordings and affect the proper interpretation of the signal. On macroscopic scales and with large injected currents, previous studies have found various grades of frequency dependence of cortical tissue, ranging from negligible to strong, within the frequency band typically considered relevant for neuroscience (less than a few thousand hertz). Here, we performed a detailed investigation of the frequency dependence of the conductivity within cortical tissue at microscopic distances using small current amplitudes within the typical (neuro)physiological micrometer and sub-nanoampere range. We investigated the propagation of LFPs, induced by extracellular electrical current injections via patch-pipettes, in acute rat brain slice preparations containing the somatosensory cortex in vitro using multielectrode arrays. Based on our data, we determined the cortical tissue conductivity over a 100-fold increase in signal frequency (5-500 Hz). Our results imply at most very weak frequency-dependent effects within the frequency range of physiological LFPs. Using biophysical modeling, we estimated the impact of different putative impedance spectra. Our results indicate that frequency dependencies of the order measured here and in most other studies have negligible impact on the typical analysis and modeling of LFP signals from extracellular brain recordings.

  10. Wireless Electrical Device Using Open-Circuit Elements Having No Electrical Connections

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, Bryant Douglas (Inventor); Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor)

    2012-01-01

    A wireless electrical device includes an electrically unconnected electrical conductor and at least one electrically unconnected electrode spaced apart from the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. Each electrode is at a location lying within the magnetic field response so-generated and is constructed such that a linear movement of electric charges is generated in each electrode due to the magnetic field response so-generated.

  11. UV Waterworks Outreach Support. Final Report

    DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

    Miller, P.

    1998-05-01

    A recently invented device uses UV light (254 nm) to inexpensively disinfect community drinking water supplies. Its novel features are: low cost (about US $600), robust design, rapid disinfection (12 seconds), low electricity use (40W), low maintenance (every 6 months), high flow rate (15 l/min) and ability to work with unpressurized water sources. The device could service a community of 1,000 persons, at an annual total cost of 14 cents US per person. This device has been tested in a number of independent laboratories worldwide. The laboratory tests have confirmed that the unit is capable of disinfecting waters to drinking water standards for bacteria and viruses. An extended field trial of the device began in South Africa in February 1997, with lab testing at the municipal water utility. A unit installed at the first field site, an AIDS hospice near Durban, has been in continuous operation since August, 1997. Additional test sites are being identified. The author describes the results of the initial lab tests, reports the most recent findings from the ongoing field test-monitoring program, and discusses plans for future tests.

  12. Static electric fields modify the locomotory behaviour of cockroaches.

    PubMed

    Jackson, Christopher W; Hunt, Edmund; Sharkh, Suleiman; Newland, Philip L

    2011-06-15

    Static electric fields are found throughout the environment and there is growing interest in how electric fields influence insect behaviour. Here we have analysed the locomotory behaviour of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in response to static electric fields at levels equal to and above those found in the natural environment. Walking behaviour (including velocity, distance moved, turn angle and time spent walking) were analysed as cockroaches approached an electric field boundary in an open arena, and also when continuously exposed to an electric field. On approaching an electric field boundary, the greater the electric field strength the more likely a cockroach would be to turn away from, or be repulsed by, the electric field. Cockroaches completely exposed to electric fields showed significant changes in locomotion by covering less distance, walking slowly and turning more often. This study highlights the importance of electric fields on the normal locomotory behaviour of insects.

  13. Field-induced exciton dissociation in PTB7-based organic solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gerhard, Marina; Arndt, Andreas P.; Bilal, Mühenad; Lemmer, Uli; Koch, Martin; Howard, Ian A.

    2017-05-01

    The physics of charge separation in organic semiconductors is a topic of ongoing research of relevance to material and device engineering. Herein, we present experimental observations of the field and temperature dependence of charge separation from singlet excitons in PTB7 and PC71BM , and from charge-transfer states created across interfaces in PTB 7 /PC71BM bulk heterojunction solar cells. We obtain this experimental data by time-resolving the near infrared emission of the states from 10 K to room temperature and electric fields from 0 to 2.5 MVcm -1 . Examining how the luminescence is quenched by field and temperature gives direct insight into the underlying physics. We observe that singlet excitons can be split by high fields, and that disorder broadens the high threshold fields needed to split the excitons. Charge-transfer (CT) states, on the other hand, can be separated by both field and temperature. Also, the data imply a strong reduction of the activation barrier for charge splitting from the CT state relative to the exciton state. The observations provided herein of the field-dependent separation of CT states as a function of temperature offer a rich data set against which theoretical models of charge separation can be rigorously tested; it should be useful for developing the more advanced theoretical models of charge separation.

  14. Electric Field Sensor for Lightning Early Warning System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Premlet, B.; Mohammed, R.; Sabu, S.; Joby, N. E.

    2017-12-01

    Electric field mills are used popularly for atmospheric electric field measurements. Atmospheric Electric Field variation is the primary signature for Lightning Early Warning systems. There is a characteristic change in the atmospheric electric field before lightning during a thundercloud formation.A voltage controlled variable capacitance is being proposed as a method for non-contacting measurement of electric fields. A varactor based mini electric field measurement system is developed, to detect any change in the atmospheric electric field and to issue lightning early warning system. Since this is a low-cost device, this can be used for developing countries which are facing adversities. A network of these devices can help in forming a spatial map of electric field variations over a region, and this can be used for more improved atmospheric electricity studies in developing countries.

  15. Apparatuses and methods for generating electric fields

    DOEpatents

    Scott, Jill R; McJunkin, Timothy R; Tremblay, Paul L

    2013-08-06

    Apparatuses and methods relating to generating an electric field are disclosed. An electric field generator may include a semiconductive material configured in a physical shape substantially different from a shape of an electric field to be generated thereby. The electric field is generated when a voltage drop exists across the semiconductive material. A method for generating an electric field may include applying a voltage to a shaped semiconductive material to generate a complex, substantially nonlinear electric field. The shape of the complex, substantially nonlinear electric field may be configured for directing charged particles to a desired location. Other apparatuses and methods are disclosed.

  16. Introduction to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields.

    PubMed Central

    Kaune, W T

    1993-01-01

    This paper introduces the reader to electric and magnetic fields, particularly those fields produced by electric power systems and other sources using frequencies in the power-frequency range. Electric fields are produced by electric charges; a magnetic field also is produced if these charges are in motion. Electric fields exert forces on other charges; if in motion, these charges will experience magnetic forces. Power-frequency electric and magnetic fields induce electric currents in conducting bodies such as living organisms. The current density vector is used to describe the distribution of current within a body. The surface of the human body is an excellent shield for power-frequency electric fields, but power-frequency magnetic fields penetrate without significant attenuation; the electric fields induced inside the body by either exposure are comparable in magnitude. Electric fields induced inside a human by most environmental electric and magnetic fields appear to be small in magnitude compared to levels naturally occurring in living tissues. Detection of such fields thus would seem to require the existence of unknown biological mechanisms. Complete characterization of a power-frequency field requires measurement of the magnitudes and electrical phases of the fundamental and harmonic amplitudes of its three vector components. Most available instrumentation measures only a small subset, or some weighted average, of these quantities. Hand-held survey meters have been used widely to measure power-frequency electric and magnetic fields. Automated data-acquisition systems have come into use more recently to make electric- and magnetic-field recordings, covering periods of hours to days, in residences and other environments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:8206045

  17. The Astronautics Laboratory of the Air Force Systems Command electric propulsion projects

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

    Sanks, T.M.; Andrews, J.C.

    1989-01-01

    Ongoing projects at the Astronautics Laboratory (AL) of the USAF Systems Command are described. Particular attention is given to experiments with arcjets, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, ion engines, and the Electric Insertion Transfer Experiment (ELITE). ELITE involves the integration of high-power ammonia arcjets, low-power xenon ion thrusters, advanced photovoltaic solar arrays, and an autononomous flight control system. It is believed that electric propulsion will become a dominant element in the military and industrial use of space. 6 refs.

  18. Multiple Factors in the Long-Term Effectiveness of Contingent Electric Shock Treatment for Self-Injurious Behavior: A Case Example.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Linscheid, Thomas R.; Reichenbach, Heidi

    2002-01-01

    Data are presented to document the initial dramatic reduction in self-injurious behavior and the ongoing effectiveness of contingent electric shock treatment of an adolescent. Positive effects of the intervention are documented, as is information on the interaction of a medical condition, psychoactive mediation status, and staff changes. (Contains…

  19. The path to exploring physics in advanced devices with a heavy ion beam probe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Demers, D. R.; Fimognari, P. J.

    2012-10-01

    The scientific progression of alternative or advanced devices must be met with comparable diagnostic technologies. Heavy ion beam probe innovations from ongoing diagnostic development are meeting this challenge. The diagnostic is uniquely capable of measuring the radial electric field, critically important in stellarators, simultaneously with fluctuations of electron density and electric potential. HIBP measurements can also improve the understanding of edge physics in tokamaks and spherical tori. It can target issues associated with the pedestal region, including the mechanisms underlying the L-H transition, the onset and evolution of ELMs, and the evolution of the electron current density. Beam attenuation (and resulting low signal to noise levels), a challenge to operation on devices with large plasma cross-sections and high ne and Te, can be mitigated with greater beam energies and currents. Other application challenges, such as measurements of plasma fluctuations and profile variations with elevated temporal and spatial resolutions, can be achieved with innovative detectors. The scientific studies motivating the implementation of an HIBP on HSX, ASDEX-U, and W7-X will be presented along with preliminary scoping studies.

  20. Autonomous Sensors for Measuring Continuously the Moisture and Salinity of a Porous Medium

    PubMed Central

    Chavanne, Xavier; Frangi, Jean-Pierre

    2017-01-01

    The article describes a new field sensor to monitor continuously in situ moisture and salinity of a porous medium via measurements of its dielectric permittivity, conductivity and temperature. It intends to overcome difficulties and biases encountered with sensors based on the same sensitivity principle. Permittivity and conductivity are determined simultaneously by a self-balanced bridge, which measures directly the admittance of sensor electrodes in medium. All electric biases are reduced and their residuals taken into account by a physical model of the instrument, calibrated against reference fluids. Geometry electrode is optimized to obtain a well representative sample of the medium. The sensor also permits acquiring a large amount of data at high frequency (six points every hour, and even more) and to access it rapidly, even in real time, owing to autonomy capabilities and wireless communication. Ongoing developments intend to simplify and standardize present sensors. Results of field trials of prototypes in different environments are presented. PMID:28492471

  1. Autonomous Sensors for Measuring Continuously the Moisture and Salinity of a Porous Medium.

    PubMed

    Chavanne, Xavier; Frangi, Jean-Pierre

    2017-05-11

    The article describes a new field sensor to monitor continuously in situ moisture and salinity of a porous medium via measurements of its dielectric permittivity, conductivity and temperature. It intends to overcome difficulties and biases encountered with sensors based on the same sensitivity principle. Permittivity and conductivity are determined simultaneously by a self-balanced bridge, which measures directly the admittance of sensor electrodes in medium. All electric biases are reduced and their residuals taken into account by a physical model of the instrument, calibrated against reference fluids. Geometry electrode is optimized to obtain a well representative sample of the medium. The sensor also permits acquiring a large amount of data at high frequency (six points every hour, and even more) and to access it rapidly, even in real time, owing to autonomy capabilities and wireless communication. Ongoing developments intend to simplify and standardize present sensors. Results of field trials of prototypes in different environments are presented.

  2. Saturation of the Electric Field Transmitted to the Magnetosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lyatsky, Wladislaw; Khazanov, George V.; Slavin, James A.

    2010-01-01

    We reexamined the processes leading to saturation of the electric field, transmitted into the Earth's ionosphere from the solar wind, incorporating features of the coupled system previously ignored. We took into account that the electric field is transmitted into the ionosphere through a region of open field lines, and that the ionospheric conductivity in the polar cap and auroral zone may be different. Penetration of the electric field into the magnetosphere is linked with the generation of the Alfven wave, going out from the ionosphere into the solar wind and being coupled with the field-aligned currents at the boundary of the open field limes. The electric field of the outgoing Alfven wave reduces the original electric field and provides the saturation effect in the electric field and currents during strong geomagnetic disturbances, associated with increasing ionospheric conductivity. The electric field and field-aligned currents of this Alfven wave are dependent on the ionospheric and solar wind parameters and may significantly affect the electric field and field-aligned currents, generated in the polar ionosphere. Estimating the magnitude of the saturation effect in the electric field and field-aligned currents allows us to improve the correlation between solar wind parameters and resulting disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere.

  3. Simultaneous recording of mouse retinal ganglion cells during epiretinal or subretinal stimulation

    PubMed Central

    Sim, S.L.; Szalewski, R.J.; Johnson, L.J.; Akah, L.E.; Shoemaker, L.E.; Thoreson, W.B.; Margalit, E.

    2015-01-01

    We compared response patterns and electrical receptive fields (ERF) of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during epiretinal and subretinal electrical stimulation of isolated mouse retina. Retinas were stimulated with an array of 3200 independently controllable electrodes. Four response patterns were observed: a burst of activity immediately after stimulation (Type I cells, Vision Research (2008), 48, 1562–1568), delayed bursts beginning >25 ms after stimulation (Type II), a combination of both (Type III), and inhibition of ongoing spike activity. Type I responses were produced more often by epiretinal than subretinal stimulation whereas delayed and inhibitory responses were evoked more frequently by subretinal stimulation. Response latencies were significantly shorter with epiretinal than subretinal stimulation. These data suggest that subretinal stimulation is more effective at activating intraretinal circuits than epiretinal stimulation. There was no significant difference in charge threshold between subretinal and epiretinal configurations. ERFs were defined by the stimulating array surface area that successfully stimulated spikes in an RGC. ERFs were complex in shape, similar to receptive fields mapped with light. ERF areas were significantly smaller with subretinal than epiretinal stimulation. This may reflect the greater distance between stimulating electrodes and RGCs in the subretinal configuration. ERFs for immediate and delayed responses mapped within the same Type III cells differed in shape and size, consistent with different sites and mechanisms for generating these two response types. PMID:24863584

  4. Laser-driven electron acceleration in a plasma channel with an additional electric field

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

    Cheng, Li-Hong; Xue, Ju-Kui, E-mail: xuejk@nwnu.edu.cn; Liu, Jie, E-mail: liu-jie@iapcm.ac.cn

    2016-05-15

    We examine the electron acceleration in a two-dimensional plasma channel under the action of a laser field and an additional static electric field. We propose to design an appropriate additional electric field (its direction and location), in order to launch the electron onto an energetic trajectory. We find that the electron acceleration strongly depends on the coupled effects of the laser polarization, the direction, and location of the additional electric field. The additional electric field affects the electron dynamics by changing the dephasing rate. Particularly, a suitably designed additional electric field leads to a considerable energy gain from the lasermore » pulse after the interaction with the additional electric field. The electron energy gain from the laser with the additional electric field can be much higher than that without the additional electric field. This engineering provides a possible means for producing high energetic electrons.« less

  5. Summer Indoor Heat Pump Water Heater Evaluation in a Hot-Dry Climate

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

    Hoeschele, Marc; Seitzler, Matthew

    Heat pump water heaters offer a significant opportunity to improve water heating performance for the over 40% of U.S. households that heat domestic hot water using electric resistance storage water heaters. Numerous field studies have also been completed documenting performance in a variety of climates and applications. More recent evaluation efforts have focused attention on the performance of May through September 2014, with ongoing winter monitoring being sponsored by California utility partners. Summer results show favorable system performance with extrapolated annual water heating savings of 1,466 to 2,300 kWh per year, based on the observed hot water loads. Additional summermore » space cooling benefits savings of 121 to 135 kWh per year were projected, further increasing the water energy savings.« less

  6. Summer Indoor Heat Pump Water Heater Evaluation in a Hot-Dry Climate

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

    Hoeschele, Marc; Seitzler, Matthew

    2017-05-01

    Heat pump water heaters offer a significant opportunity to improve water heating performance for the over 40% of U.S. households that heat domestic hot water using electric resistance storage water heaters. Numerous field studies have also been completed documenting performance in a variety of climates and applications. More recent evaluation efforts have focused attention on the performance of May through September 2014, with ongoing winter monitoring being sponsored by California utility partners. Summer results show favorable system performance with extrapolated annual water heating savings of 1,466 to 2,300 kWh per year, based on the observed hot water loads. Additional summermore » space cooling benefits savings of 121 to 135 kWh per year were projected, further increasing the water energy savings.« less

  7. 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.

  8. Analysis of Surface Electric Field Measurements from an Array of Electric Field Mills

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lucas, G.; Thayer, J. P.; Deierling, W.

    2016-12-01

    Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has operated an distributed array of over 30 electric field mills over the past 18 years, providing a unique data set of surface electric field measurements over a very long timespan. In addition to the electric field instruments there are many meteorological towers around KSC that monitor the local meteorological conditions. Utilizing these datasets we have investigated and found unique spatial and temporal signatures in the electric field data that are attributed to local meteorological effects and the global electric circuit. The local and global scale influences on the atmospheric electric field will be discussed including the generation of space charge from the ocean surf, local cloud cover, and a local enhancement in the electric field that is seen at sunrise.

  9. Preliminary Findings from the One-Year Electric Field Study in the North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA), Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Field Campaign

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lavigne, T.; Liu, C.

    2017-12-01

    Previous studies focusing on the comparison of the measured electric field to the physical properties of global electrified clouds have been conducted almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. The One-Year Electric Field Study-North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA) aims to establish a long-running collection of this valuable electric field data in the Northern Hemisphere. Presented here is the six-month preliminary data and results of the OYES-NSA Atmospheric Radiation Mission (ARM) field campaign. The local electric field measured in Barrow, Alaska using two CS110 reciprocating shutter field meters, has been compared to simultaneous measurements from the ARM Ka-Band zenith radar, to better understand the influence and contribution of different types of clouds on the local electric field. The fair-weather electric field measured in Barrow has also been analyzed and compared to the climatology of electric field at Vostok Station, Antarctica. The combination of the electric field dataset in the Northern Hemisphere, alongside the local Ka cloud radar, global Precipitation Feature (PF) database, and quasi-global lightning activity (55oN-55oS), allows for advances in the physical understanding of the local electric field, as well as the Global Electric Circuit (GEC).

  10. 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.

  11. Simple estimation of induced electric fields in nervous system tissues for human exposure to non-uniform electric fields at power frequency

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarao, Hiroo; Miyamoto, Hironobu; Korpinen, Leena; Hayashi, Noriyuki; Isaka, Katsuo

    2016-06-01

    Most results regarding induced current in the human body related to electric field dosimetry have been calculated under uniform field conditions. We have found in previous work that a contact current is a more suitable way to evaluate induced electric fields, even in the case of exposure to non-uniform fields. If the relationship between induced currents and external non-uniform fields can be understood, induced electric fields in nervous system tissues may be able to be estimated from measurements of ambient non-uniform fields. In the present paper, we numerically calculated the induced electric fields and currents in a human model by considering non-uniform fields based on distortion by a cubic conductor under an unperturbed electric field of 1 kV m-1 at 60 Hz. We investigated the relationship between a non-uniform external electric field with no human present and the induced current through the neck, and the relationship between the current through the neck and the induced electric fields in nervous system tissues such as the brain, heart, and spinal cord. The results showed that the current through the neck can be formulated by means of an external electric field at the central position of the human head, and the distance between the conductor and the human model. As expected, there is a strong correlation between the current through the neck and the induced electric fields in the nervous system tissues. The combination of these relationships indicates that induced electric fields in these tissues can be estimated solely by measurements of the external field at a point and the distance from the conductor.

  12. 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.

  13. Ongoing compound field potentials from octopus brain are labile and vertebrate-like.

    PubMed

    Bullock, T H

    1984-05-01

    Ongoing electrical activity was recorded from the brain of the virtually intact, semirestrained, unanesthetized octopus by semimicroelectrodes thrust through the cartilage into the optic, vertical or basal lobe. With flexible lead-in wires such electrodes were carried by and moved with the head without causing movement artifacts. Controls suggest that the activity reported comes from the brain; it is reversibly flattened by doses of urethane that do not embarrass respiration. Muscle potentials are only troublesome on occasion. Seen through a wideband filter, neuronal spikes are usually small or below noise level under these conditions; slow waves (1-70 Hz) dominate, with a maximum less than 25 Hz, usually less than 10 Hz and no consistent sharp peaks. The fall in power above ca. 25 Hz is usually slower than in the typical vertebrate EEG but the average power spectrum is much more like those of vertebrate brains than of cerebral ganglia of other invertebrates (insect, crustacean, gastropod). Variance among sample epochs is large, e.g. short spells may have relatively much more low frequency (less than 25 Hz) or more 'hashy' high frequency (greater than 50 Hz) energy; there may be runs of spikes. Fluctuation in the composition of ongoing activity is graphically shown by writing out in parallel the outputs of several narrow band (one octave) filters; this shows irregular low frequency waxing and waning of the amplitude in each band. The envelopes were computed and their peak power is around 1 Hz or lower; the waxing and waning in the several bands is sometimes strongly correlated, especially when the envelope amplitude is large and slow. Optic lobe activity tends usually to be faster, with more small spikey hash than in the vertical lobe. The described electrical activity of the brain is strikingly episodic; it is recorded during seconds or minutes separated by long intervals of nearly electrical silence (10-40 dB lower power; the difference larger at frequencies greater than 20 Hz). Active and quiet periods are usually not correlated with differences in visible behavior. Under my conditions the animal is usually not moving except for quiet ventilation and occasional local writhing of an arm. Potentials evoked by single flashes of light (0.2-1/sec) are conspicuous in the optic but not in the vertical lobe. They form a sequence of large, slow waves; the first peak may be at about 40 msec, others up to at least 400 msec.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

  14. Study of electric field distorted by space charges under positive lightning impulse voltage

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Zezhong; Geng, Yinan

    2018-03-01

    Actually, many insulation problems are related to electric fields. And measuring electric fields is an important research topic of high-voltage engineering. In particular, the electric field distortion caused by space charge is the basis of streamer theory, and thus quantitatively measuring the Poisson electric field caused by space charge is significant to researching the mechanism of air gap discharge. In this paper, we used our photoelectric integrated sensor to measure the electric field distribution in a 1-m rod-plane gap under positive lightning impulse voltage. To verify the reliability of this quantitative measurement, we compared the measured results with calculated results from a numerical simulation. The electric-field time domain waveforms on the axis of the 1-m rod-plane out of the space charge zone were measured with various electrodes. The Poisson electric fields generated by space charge were separated from the Laplace electric field generated by applied voltages, and the amplitudes and variations were measured for various applied voltages and at various locations. This work also supplies the feasible basis for directly measuring strong electric field under high voltage.

  15. Wireless Chemical Sensor and Sensing Method for Use Therewith

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oglesby, Donald M. (Inventor); Taylor, Bryant D. (Inventor); Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor)

    2016-01-01

    A wireless chemical sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material separated therefrom by an electric insulator. The electrical conductor is an unconnected open-circuit shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the first electrical conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The material is positioned at a location lying within at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses so-generated. The material changes in electrical conductivity in the presence of a chemical-of-interest.

  16. Wireless Chemical Sensor and Sensing Method for Use Therewith

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor); Oglesby, Donald M. (Inventor); Taylor, Bryant Douglas (Inventor)

    2014-01-01

    A wireless chemical sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material separated therefrom by an electric insulator. The electrical conductor is an unconnected open-circuit shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the first electrical conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The material is positioned at a location lying within at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses so-generated. The material changes in electrical conductivity in the presence of a chemical-of-interest.

  17. Wireless Chemical Sensing Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, Bryant D. (Inventor); Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor); Oglesby, Donald M. (Inventor)

    2017-01-01

    A wireless chemical sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material separated therefrom by an electric insulator. The electrical conductor is an unconnected open-circuit shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the first electrical conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The material is positioned at a location lying within at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses so-generated. The material changes in electrical conductivity in the presence of a chemical-of-interest.

  18. Giant Electric Field Enhancement in Split Ring Resonators Featuring Nanometer-Sized Gaps

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bagiante, S.; Enderli, F.; Fabiańska, J.; Sigg, H.; Feurer, T.

    2015-01-01

    Today's pulsed THz sources enable us to excite, probe, and coherently control the vibrational or rotational dynamics of organic and inorganic materials on ultrafast time scales. Driven by standard laser sources THz electric field strengths of up to several MVm-1 have been reported and in order to reach even higher electric field strengths the use of dedicated electric field enhancement structures has been proposed. Here, we demonstrate resonant electric field enhancement structures, which concentrate the incident electric field in sub-diffraction size volumes and show an electric field enhancement as high as ~14,000 at 50 GHz. These values have been confirmed through a combination of near-field imaging experiments and electromagnetic simulations.

  19. 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.

  20. Magnetospheric electric fields and currents

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mauk, B. H.; Zanetti, L. J.

    1987-01-01

    The progress made in the years 1983-1986 in understanding the character and operation of magnetospheric electric fields and electric currents is discussed, with emphasis placed on the connection with the interior regions. Special attention is given to determinations of global electric-field configurations, measurements of the response of magnetospheric particle populations to the electric-field configurations, and observations of the magnetospheric currents at high altitude and during northward IMF. Global simulations of current distributions are discussed, and the sources of global electric fields and currents are examined. The topics discussed in the area of impulsive and small-scale phenomena include substorm current systems, impulsive electric fields and associated currents, and field-aligned electrodynamics. A key finding of these studies is that the electric fields and currents are interrelated and cannot be viewed as separate entities.

  1. Continuous multi-component geophysical experiment on LUSI mud edifice: What can we learn from it?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mauri, Guillaume; Husein, Alwi; Karyono, Karyono; Hadi, Soffian; Mazzini, Adriano; Collignon, Marine; Faubert, Maïté; Miller, Stephen A.; Lupi, Matteo

    2016-04-01

    The Lusi eruption is located in East Java, Indonesia, and is ongoing since May 29th, 2006. In the framework of joined international projects, several joint geophysical studies focussing on seismic monitoring, spatial investigation over the mud edifice and its surroundings are being conducted. Here we present freshly acquired data from a test site to investigate: (1) potential change in the natural electrical self-potential generation over time (2) potential change in gravity field associated to change in mass or volume, (3) if the geysering activity generates disruption on either the electrical or gravity field. We selected a location ˜200m to the NE of the active Lusi crater. The experiment site covers an area of 60m x 80m, crossing the boundaries between the soft and the solid walkable mud. The western edge of the study area was less than 100m away from the rim of the crater site. A self-potential array made of 6 Pb-PbCl2 electrodes was deployed over the site. The electrodes were positioned inside active seeps, on dry unaltered zones and close to the mud stream that flushes the water erupted from the crater site. All the electrodes were connected to a single Pb-PbCl2 electrode reference. A second array of 7 thermometers was installed positioning 5 of them next to SP electrodes, one to measure atmospheric temperature and another P/T probe to monitor the stream water. In addition a seismometer coupled with a HD video camera, a thermal camera and a gravimeter recorded on site for several days monitoring visual and seismic activity of the crater. The collected data allows us to 1) monitor and define the different geysering activities ongoing at the crater, 2) define the delay existing between the recorded seismicity and the visual observations, 3) verify if the crater activity triggers perturbations that are transmitted to e.g. the thousands of satellite seeps distributed in the 7 square kilometers zone inside the embankment; 4) how significant is the delay between the crater activity and the water streamed out.

  2. Molecules with an induced dipole moment in a stochastic electric field.

    PubMed

    Band, Y B; Ben-Shimol, Y

    2013-10-01

    The mean-field dynamics of a molecule with an induced dipole moment (e.g., a homonuclear diatomic molecule) in a deterministic and a stochastic (fluctuating) electric field is solved to obtain the decoherence properties of the system. The average (over fluctuations) electric dipole moment and average angular momentum as a function of time for a Gaussian white noise electric field are determined via perturbative and nonperturbative solutions in the fluctuating field. In the perturbative solution, the components of the average electric dipole moment and the average angular momentum along the deterministic electric field direction do not decay to zero, despite fluctuations in all three components of the electric field. This is in contrast to the decay of the average over fluctuations of a magnetic moment in a Gaussian white noise magnetic field. In the nonperturbative solution, the component of the average electric dipole moment and the average angular momentum in the deterministic electric field direction also decay to zero.

  3. 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.

  4. Cloaking magnetic field and generating electric field with topological insulator and superconductor bi-layer sphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Jin

    2017-12-01

    When an electric field is applied on a topological insulator, not only the electric field is generated, but also the magnetic field is generated, vice versa. I designed topological insulator and superconductor bi-layer magnetic cloak, derived the electric field and magnetic field inside and outside the topological insulator and superconductor sphere. Simulation and calculation results show that the applied magnetic field is screened by the topological insulator and superconductor bi-layer, and the electric field is generated in the cloaked region.

  5. Electric Field Feature of Moving Magnetic Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, You Jun

    2001-05-01

    A new fundamental relationship of electric field with magnetic field has been inferred from the fundamental experimental laws and theories of classical electromagnetics. It can be described as moving magnetic field has or gives electric feature. When a field with magnetic induction of B moves in the velocity of V, it will show electric field character, the electric field intensity E is E = B x V and the direction of E is in the direction of the vector B x V. It is improper to use the time-varying electromagnetics theories as the fundamental theory of the electromagnetics and group the electromagnetic field into static kind and time-varying kind for the static is relative to motional not only time-varying. The relationship of time variation of magnetic field induction or magnetic flux with electric field caused by magnetic field is fellowship not causality. Thus time-varying magnetic field can cause electric field is not a nature principle. Sometime the time variation of magnetic flux is equal to the negative electromotive force or the time variation of magnetic field induction is equal to the negative curl of electric field caused by magnetic field motion, but not always. And not all motion of magnetic field can cause time variation of magnetic field. Therefore Faraday-Lenz`s law can only be used as mathematics tool to calculate the quantity relation of the electricity with the magnetism in some case like the magnetic field moving in uniform medium. Faraday-Lenz`s law is unsuitable to be used in moving uniform magnetic field or there is magnetic shield. Key word: Motional magnetic field, Magnetic induction, Electric field intensity, Velocity, Faraday-Lenz’s law

  6. Processes in suspensions of nanocomposite microcapsules exposed to external electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ermakov, A. V.; Lomova, M. V.; Kim, V. P.; Chumakov, A. S.; Gorbachev, I. A.; Gorin, D. A.; Glukhovskoy, E. G.

    2016-04-01

    Microcapsules with and without magnetite nanoparticles incorporated in the polyelectrolyte shell were prepared. The effect of external electric field on the nanocomposite polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing magnetite nanoparticles in the shell was studied in this work as a function of the electric field strength. Effect of electric fields on polyelectrolyte microcapsules and the control over integrity of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with and without inorganic nanoparticles by constant electric field has been investigated. Beads effect, aggregation and deformations of nanocomposite microcapsule shell in response to electric field were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Thus, a new approach for effect on the nanocomposite microcapsule, including opening microcapsule shell by an electric field, was demonstrated. These results can be used for creation of new systems for drug delivery systems with controllable release by external electric field.

  7. 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.

  8. Permanent magnetic field, direct electric field, and infrared to reduce blood glucose level and hepatic function in mus musculus with diabetic mellitus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suhariningsih; Basuki Notobroto, Hari; Winarni, Dwi; Achmad Hussein, Saikhu; Anggono Prijo, Tri

    2017-05-01

    Blood contains several electrolytes with positive (cation) and negative (anion) ion load. Both electrolytes deliver impulse synergistically adjusting body needs. Those electrolytes give specific effect to external disturbance such as electric, magnetic, even infrared field. A study has been conducted to reduce blood glucose level and liver function, in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients, using Biophysics concept which uses combination therapy of permanent magnetic field, electric field, and infrared. This study used 48 healthy mice (mus musculus), male, age 3-4 weeks, with approximately 25-30 g in weight. Mice was fed with lard as high fat diet orally, before Streptozotocin (STZ) induction become diabetic mice. Therapy was conducted by putting mice in a chamber that emits the combination of permanent magnetic field, electric field, and infrared, every day for 1 hour for 28 days. There were 4 combinations of therapy/treatment, namely: (1) permanent magnetic field, direct electric field, and infrared; (2) permanent magnetic field, direct electric field, without infrared; (3) permanent magnetic field, alternating electric field, and infrared; and (4) permanent magnetic field, alternating electric field, without infrared. The results of therapy show that every combination is able to reduce blood glucose level, AST, and ALT. However, the best result is by using combination of permanent magnetic field, direct electric field, and infrared.

  9. Additive Manufacturing of Aerospace Propulsion Components

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Misra, Ajay K.; Grady, Joseph E.; Carter, Robert

    2015-01-01

    The presentation will provide an overview of ongoing activities on additive manufacturing of aerospace propulsion components, which included rocket propulsion and gas turbine engines. Future opportunities on additive manufacturing of hybrid electric propulsion components will be discussed.

  10. High sensitive space electric field sensing based on micro fiber interferometer with field force driven gold nanofilm.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Tao; Zhou, Liming; Liu, Min; Zhang, Jingdong; Shi, Leilei

    2015-10-28

    The traditional electrical field sensing can be realized by utilizing electro-optic materials or liquid crystals, and has limitations of easy breakdown, free assembly and difficult measurement of low-frequency. Here, we propose a new method to realize safe measurement of spatial dynamic electric field by using a micro fiber interferometer integrated with gold nanofilm. The energy of the electric charge received through antenna forms the intrinsic electric field with two micro electrodes, one of which is the 120 nm gold film vibration beam micromachined by femtosecond lasers and integrated with the micro fiber. The change of the intrinsic electric field force due to the spatial electric field will cause the vibration of the film beam. By demodulating the output signal of the micro fiber interferometer, the electric field can be measured. We demonstrate the detectable frequency ranges from tens of Hz to tens of KHz, and the minimum electric field intensity is ~200 V/m at 1 KHz. Our electric field measurement technology combining optical fiber interference with gold nanostructures shows the advantages of security, high sensitivity, compact size, and multiplexed multi-point and remote detection.

  11. High sensitive space electric field sensing based on micro fiber interferometer with field force driven gold nanofilm

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Tao; Zhou, Liming; Liu, Min; Zhang, Jingdong; Shi, Leilei

    2015-01-01

    The traditional electrical field sensing can be realized by utilizing electro-optic materials or liquid crystals, and has limitations of easy breakdown, free assembly and difficult measurement of low-frequency. Here, we propose a new method to realize safe measurement of spatial dynamic electric field by using a micro fiber interferometer integrated with gold nanofilm. The energy of the electric charge received through antenna forms the intrinsic electric field with two micro electrodes, one of which is the 120 nm gold film vibration beam micromachined by femtosecond lasers and integrated with the micro fiber. The change of the intrinsic electric field force due to the spatial electric field will cause the vibration of the film beam. By demodulating the output signal of the micro fiber interferometer, the electric field can be measured. We demonstrate the detectable frequency ranges from tens of Hz to tens of KHz, and the minimum electric field intensity is ~200 V/m at 1 KHz. Our electric field measurement technology combining optical fiber interference with gold nanostructures shows the advantages of security, high sensitivity, compact size, and multiplexed multi-point and remote detection. PMID:26507680

  12. Direct comparison between satellite electric field measurements and the visual aurora

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Swift, D. W.; Gurnett, D. A.

    1973-01-01

    Electric field data from two passes of the Injun 5 satellite, one corresponding to magnetically quiet conditions and one corresponding to substorm conditions, are compared with simultaneous all-sky-camera data from College, Alaska. In each case, a significant deviation of the electric field from the expected V x B field (where V is the satellite velocity) was evident and a distinct electric field reversal could be identified. In the region of substantial electric field equatorward of the electric field reversal a diffuse auroral arc was observed during the magnetically quiet pass and auroral patches were observed during the substorm pass. The motion of the auroral patches was consistent with the general direction and magnitude of the E x B drift computed from the satellite electric field measurements. In the substorm case the electric field reversal occurred very near a discrete auroral arc at the poleward side of the diffuse arcs and patches. Comparison of the quiet time and substorm cases suggests that the convection electric field penetrates deeper into the magnetosphere during a substorm.

  13. Computational methods for 2D materials: discovery, property characterization, and application design.

    PubMed

    Paul, J T; Singh, A K; Dong, Z; Zhuang, H; Revard, B C; Rijal, B; Ashton, M; Linscheid, A; Blonsky, M; Gluhovic, D; Guo, J; Hennig, R G

    2017-11-29

    The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) materials comes at a time when computational methods are mature and can predict novel 2D materials, characterize their properties, and guide the design of 2D materials for applications. This article reviews the recent progress in computational approaches for 2D materials research. We discuss the computational techniques and provide an overview of the ongoing research in the field. We begin with an overview of known 2D materials, common computational methods, and available cyber infrastructures. We then move onto the discovery of novel 2D materials, discussing the stability criteria for 2D materials, computational methods for structure prediction, and interactions of monolayers with electrochemical and gaseous environments. Next, we describe the computational characterization of the 2D materials' electronic, optical, magnetic, and superconducting properties and the response of the properties under applied mechanical strain and electrical fields. From there, we move on to discuss the structure and properties of defects in 2D materials, and describe methods for 2D materials device simulations. We conclude by providing an outlook on the needs and challenges for future developments in the field of computational research for 2D materials.

  14. Computational methods for 2D materials: discovery, property characterization, and application design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paul, J. T.; Singh, A. K.; Dong, Z.; Zhuang, H.; Revard, B. C.; Rijal, B.; Ashton, M.; Linscheid, A.; Blonsky, M.; Gluhovic, D.; Guo, J.; Hennig, R. G.

    2017-11-01

    The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) materials comes at a time when computational methods are mature and can predict novel 2D materials, characterize their properties, and guide the design of 2D materials for applications. This article reviews the recent progress in computational approaches for 2D materials research. We discuss the computational techniques and provide an overview of the ongoing research in the field. We begin with an overview of known 2D materials, common computational methods, and available cyber infrastructures. We then move onto the discovery of novel 2D materials, discussing the stability criteria for 2D materials, computational methods for structure prediction, and interactions of monolayers with electrochemical and gaseous environments. Next, we describe the computational characterization of the 2D materials’ electronic, optical, magnetic, and superconducting properties and the response of the properties under applied mechanical strain and electrical fields. From there, we move on to discuss the structure and properties of defects in 2D materials, and describe methods for 2D materials device simulations. We conclude by providing an outlook on the needs and challenges for future developments in the field of computational research for 2D materials.

  15. Inhibition of brain tumor cell proliferation by alternating electric fields

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

    Jeong, Hyesun; Oh, Seung-ick; Hong, Sunghoi, E-mail: shong21@korea.ac.kr, E-mail: radioyoon@korea.ac.kr

    2014-11-17

    This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which electric fields affect cell function, and to determine the optimal conditions for electric field inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Low-intensity (<2 V/cm) and intermediate-frequency (100–300 kHz) alternating electric fields were applied to glioblastoma cell lines. These electric fields inhibited cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and abnormal mitosis due to the malformation of microtubules. These effects were significantly dependent on the intensity and frequency of applied electric fields.

  16. A corotation electric field model of the Earth derived from Swarm satellite magnetic field measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maus, Stefan

    2017-08-01

    Rotation of the Earth in its own geomagnetic field sets up a primary corotation electric field, compensated by a secondary electric field of induced electrical charges. For the geomagnetic field measured by the Swarm constellation of satellites, a derivation of the global corotation electric field inside and outside of the corotation region is provided here, in both inertial and corotating reference frames. The Earth is assumed an electrical conductor, the lower atmosphere an insulator, followed by the corotating ionospheric E region again as a conductor. Outside of the Earth's core, the induced charge is immediately accessible from the spherical harmonic Gauss coefficients of the geomagnetic field. The charge density is positive at high northern and southern latitudes, negative at midlatitudes, and increases strongly toward the Earth's center. Small vertical electric fields of about 0.3 mV/m in the insulating atmospheric gap are caused by the corotation charges located in the ionosphere above and the Earth below. The corotation charges also flow outward into the region of closed magnetic field lines, forcing the plasmasphere to corotate. The electric field of the corotation charges further extends outside of the corotating regions, contributing radial outward electric fields of about 10 mV/m in the northern and southern polar caps. Depending on how the magnetosphere responds to these fields, the Earth may carry a net electric charge.

  17. Rotation Detection Using the Precession of Molecular Electric Dipole Moment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ke, Yi; Deng, Xiao-Bing; Hu, Zhong-Kun

    2017-11-01

    We present a method to detect the rotation by using the precession of molecular electric dipole moment in a static electric field. The molecular electric dipole moments are polarized under the static electric field and a nonzero electric polarization vector emerges in the molecular gas. A resonant radio-frequency pulse electric field is applied to realize a 90° flip of the electric polarization vector of a particular rotational state. After the pulse electric field, the electric polarization vector precesses under the static electric field. The rotation induces a shift in the precession frequency which is measured to deduce the angular velocity of the rotation. The fundamental sensitivity limit of this method is estimated. This work is only a proposal and does not involve experimental results.

  18. The effect of pulsed electric fields on carotenoids bioaccessibility: The role of tomato matrix.

    PubMed

    Bot, Francesca; Verkerk, Ruud; Mastwijk, Hennie; Anese, Monica; Fogliano, Vincenzo; Capuano, Edoardo

    2018-02-01

    Tomato fractions were subjected to pulsed electric fields treatment combined or not with heating. Results showed that pulsed electric fields and heating applied in combination or individually induced permeabilization of cell membranes in the tomato fractions. However, no changes in β-carotene and lycopene bioaccessibility were found upon combined and individual pulsed electric fields and heating, except in the following cases: (i) in tissue, a significant decrease in lycopene bioaccessibility upon combined pulsed electric fields and heating and heating only was observed; (ii) in chromoplasts, both β-carotene and lycopene bioaccessibility significantly decreased upon combined pulsed electric fields and heating and pulsed electric fields only. The reduction in carotenoids bioaccessibility was attributed to modification in chromoplasts membrane and carotenoids-protein complexes. Differences in the effects of pulsed electric fields on bioaccessibility among different tomato fractions were related to tomato structure complexity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Optical Measurements of Strong Radio-Frequency Fields Using Rydberg Atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miller, Stephanie Anne

    There has recently been an initiative toward establishing atomic measurement standards for field quantities, including radio-frequency, millimeter-wave, and micro-wave electric fields. Current measurement standards are obtained using dipole antennas, which are fundamentally limited in frequency bandwidth (set by the physical size of the antenna) and accuracy (due to the metal perturbing the field during the measurement). Establishing an atomic standard rectifies these problems. My thesis work contributes to an ongoing effort towards establishing the viability of using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to perform atom-based measurements of radio-frequency (RF) fields over a wide range of frequencies and field strengths, focusing on strong-field measurements. Rydberg atoms are atoms with an electron excited to a high principal quantum number, resulting in a high sensitivity to an applied field. A model based on Floquet theory is implemented to accurately describe the observed atomic energy level shifts from which information about the field is extracted. Additionally, the effects due to the different electric field domains within the measurement volume are accurately modeled. Absolute atomic measurements of fields up to 296 V/m within a +/-0.35% relative uncertainty are demonstrated. This is the strongest field measured at the time of data publication. Moreover, the uncertainty is over an order of magnitude better than that of current standards. A vacuum chamber setup that I implemented during my graduate studies is presented and its unique components are detailed. In this chamber, cold-atom samples are generated and Rydberg atoms are optically excited within the ground-state sample. The Rydberg ion detection and imaging procedure are discussed, particularly the high magnification that the system provides. By analyzing the position of the ions, the spatial correlation g(2) (r) of Rydberg-atom distributions can be extracted. Aside from ion detection, EIT is implemented in the cold-atom samples. By measuring the timing of the probe photons exiting the EIT medium, the temporal correlation function g(2)(tau) can be extracted, yielding information about the timing between two different arbitrary photons. An experimental goal using this setup is to look at g(2)(tau) in conjunction with g(2)(r) for Rydberg atoms. Progress and preliminary measurements of ion detection and EIT spectra are presented including observed qualitative behaviors.

  20. Reception and learning of electric fields in bees

    PubMed Central

    Greggers, Uwe; Koch, Gesche; Schmidt, Viola; Dürr, Aron; Floriou-Servou, Amalia; Piepenbrock, David; Göpfert, Martin C.; Menzel, Randolf

    2013-01-01

    Honeybees, like other insects, accumulate electric charge in flight, and when their body parts are moved or rubbed together. We report that bees emit constant and modulated electric fields when flying, landing, walking and during the waggle dance. The electric fields emitted by dancing bees consist of low- and high-frequency components. Both components induce passive antennal movements in stationary bees according to Coulomb's law. Bees learn both the constant and the modulated electric field components in the context of appetitive proboscis extension response conditioning. Using this paradigm, we identify mechanoreceptors in both joints of the antennae as sensors. Other mechanoreceptors on the bee body are potentially involved but are less sensitive. Using laser vibrometry, we show that the electrically charged flagellum is moved by constant and modulated electric fields and more strongly so if sound and electric fields interact. Recordings from axons of the Johnston organ document its sensitivity to electric field stimuli. Our analyses identify electric fields emanating from the surface charge of bees as stimuli for mechanoreceptors, and as biologically relevant stimuli, which may play a role in social communication. PMID:23536603

  1. Reception and learning of electric fields in bees.

    PubMed

    Greggers, Uwe; Koch, Gesche; Schmidt, Viola; Dürr, Aron; Floriou-Servou, Amalia; Piepenbrock, David; Göpfert, Martin C; Menzel, Randolf

    2013-05-22

    Honeybees, like other insects, accumulate electric charge in flight, and when their body parts are moved or rubbed together. We report that bees emit constant and modulated electric fields when flying, landing, walking and during the waggle dance. The electric fields emitted by dancing bees consist of low- and high-frequency components. Both components induce passive antennal movements in stationary bees according to Coulomb's law. Bees learn both the constant and the modulated electric field components in the context of appetitive proboscis extension response conditioning. Using this paradigm, we identify mechanoreceptors in both joints of the antennae as sensors. Other mechanoreceptors on the bee body are potentially involved but are less sensitive. Using laser vibrometry, we show that the electrically charged flagellum is moved by constant and modulated electric fields and more strongly so if sound and electric fields interact. Recordings from axons of the Johnston organ document its sensitivity to electric field stimuli. Our analyses identify electric fields emanating from the surface charge of bees as stimuli for mechanoreceptors, and as biologically relevant stimuli, which may play a role in social communication.

  2. The influence of electric field and confinement on cell motility.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yu-Ja; Samorajski, Justin; Kreimer, Rachel; Searson, Peter C

    2013-01-01

    The ability of cells to sense and respond to endogenous electric fields is important in processes such as wound healing, development, and nerve regeneration. In cell culture, many epithelial and endothelial cell types respond to an electric field of magnitude similar to endogenous electric fields by moving preferentially either parallel or antiparallel to the field vector, a process known as galvanotaxis. Here we report on the influence of dc electric field and confinement on the motility of fibroblast cells using a chip-based platform. From analysis of cell paths we show that the influence of electric field on motility is much more complex than simply imposing a directional bias towards the cathode or anode. The cell velocity, directedness, as well as the parallel and perpendicular components of the segments along the cell path are dependent on the magnitude of the electric field. Forces in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the electric field are in competition with one another in a voltage-dependent manner, which ultimately govern the trajectories of the cells in the presence of an electric field. To further investigate the effects of cell reorientation in the presence of a field, cells are confined within microchannels to physically prohibit the alignment seen in 2D environment. Interestingly, we found that confinement results in an increase in cell velocity both in the absence and presence of an electric field compared to migration in 2D.

  3. A survey of laser lightning rod techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barnes, Arnold A., Jr.; Berthel, Robert O.

    1991-01-01

    The work done to create a laser lightning rod (LLR) is discussed. Some ongoing research which has the potential for achieving an operational laser lightning rod for use in the protection of missile launch sites, launch vehicles, and other property is discussed. Because of the ease with which a laser beam can be steered into any cloud overhead, an LLR could be used to ascertain if there exists enough charge in the clouds to discharge to the ground as triggered lightning. This leads to the possibility of using LLRs to test clouds prior to launching missiles through the clouds or prior to flying aircraft through the clouds. LLRs could also be used to probe and discharge clouds before or during any hazardous ground operations. Thus, an operational LLR may be able to both detect such sub-critical electrical fields and effectively neutralize them.

  4. Nuclear security applications of antineutrino detectors : current capabilities and future prospects.

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

    Bernstein, A.; Goodman, M.; Baldwin, G.

    2010-12-10

    Antineutrinos are electrically neutral, nearly massless fundamental particles produced in large numbers in the cores of nuclear reactors and in nuclear explosions. In the half century since their discovery, major advances in the understanding of their properties, and in detector technology, have opened the door to a new discipline - Applied Antineutrino Physics. Because antineutrinos are inextricably linked to the process of nuclear fission, there are many applications of interest in nuclear nonproliferation. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of applied antineutrino physics relevant for nonproliferation, summarizes recent advances in the field, describes the overlap of this nascent discipline withmore » other ongoing fundamental and applied antineutrino research, and charts a course for research and development for future applications. It is intended as a resource for policymakers, researchers, and the wider nuclear nonproliferation community.« less

  5. 77 FR 66609 - Notice of FERC Staff Attendance

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-06

    ... El Paso Electric Company ER13-91-000 Black Hills Power, Inc., et al......... ER13-96-000 Black Hills... ongoing outreach efforts. The meeting may discuss matters at issue in the above captioned dockets. For...

  6. Electric Field Imaging Project

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilcutt, Terrence; Hughitt, Brian; Burke, Eric; Generazio, Edward

    2016-01-01

    NDE historically has focused technology development in propagating wave phenomena with little attention to the field of electrostatics and emanating electric fields. This work is intended to bring electrostatic imaging to the forefront of new inspection technologies, and new technologies in general. The specific goals are to specify the electric potential and electric field including the electric field spatial components emanating from, to, and throughout volumes containing objects or in free space.

  7. Electric-field enhanced performance in catalysis and solid-state devices involving gases

    DOEpatents

    Blackburn, Bryan M.; Wachsman, Eric D.; Van Assche, IV, Frederick Martin

    2015-05-19

    Electrode configurations for electric-field enhanced performance in catalysis and solid-state devices involving gases are provided. According to an embodiment, electric-field electrodes can be incorporated in devices such as gas sensors and fuel cells to shape an electric field provided with respect to sensing electrodes for the gas sensors and surfaces of the fuel cells. The shaped electric fields can alter surface dynamics, system thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and adsorption/desorption processes. In one embodiment, ring-shaped electric-field electrodes can be provided around sensing electrodes of a planar gas sensor.

  8. Effect of strong electric field on the conformational integrity of insulin.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xianwei; Li, Yongxiu; He, Xiao; Chen, Shude; Zhang, John Z H

    2014-10-02

    A series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations up to 1 μs for bovine insulin monomer in different external electric fields were carried out to study the effect of external electric field on conformational integrity of insulin. Our results show that the secondary structure of insulin is kept intact under the external electric field strength below 0.15 V/nm, but disruption of secondary structure is observed at 0.25 V/nm or higher electric field strength. Although the starting time of secondary structure disruption of insulin is not clearly correlated with the strength of the external electric field ranging between 0.15 and 0.60 V/nm, long time MD simulations demonstrate that the cumulative effect of exposure time under the electric field is a major cause for the damage of insulin's secondary structure. In addition, the strength of the external electric field has a significant impact on the lifetime of hydrogen bonds when it is higher than 0.60 V/nm. The fast evolution of some hydrogen bonds of bovine insulin in the presence of the 1.0 V/nm electric field shows that different microwaves could either speed up protein folding or destroy the secondary structure of globular proteins deponding on the intensity of the external electric field.

  9. Electron transport in reduced graphene oxides in high electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jian, Wen-Bin; Lai, Jian-Jhong; Wang, Sheng-Tsung; Tsao, Rui-Wen; Su, Min-Chia; Tsai, Wei-Yu; Rosenstein, Baruch; Zhou, Xufeng; Liu, Zhaoping

    Due to a honeycomb structure, charge carriers in graphene exhibit quasiparticles of linear energy-momentum dispersion and phenomena of Schwinger pair creation may be explored. Because graphene is easily broken in high electric fields, single-layer reduced graphene oxides (rGO) are used instead. The rGO shows a small band gap while it reveals a graphene like behavior in high electric fields. Electron transport in rGO exhibits two-dimensional Mott's variable range hopping. The temperature behavior of resistance in low electric fields and the electric field behavior of resistance at low temperatures are all well explained by the Mott model. At temperatures higher than 200 K, the electric field behavior does not agree with the model while it shows a power law behavior with an exponent of 3/2, being in agreement with the Schwinger model. Comparing with graphene, the rGO is more sustainable to high electric field thus presenting a complete high-electric field behavior. When the rGO is gated away from the charge neutral point, the turn-on electric field of Schwinger phenomena is increased. A summary figure is given to present electric field behaviors and power law variations of resistances of single-layer rGO, graphene, and MoS2.

  10. Electric-field-driven switching of individual magnetic skyrmions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsu, Pin-Jui; Kubetzka, André; Finco, Aurore; Romming, Niklas; von Bergmann, Kirsten; Wiesendanger, Roland

    2017-02-01

    Controlling magnetism with electric fields is a key challenge to develop future energy-efficient devices. The present magnetic information technology is mainly based on writing processes requiring either local magnetic fields or spin torques, but it has also been demonstrated that magnetic properties can be altered on the application of electric fields. This has been ascribed to changes in magnetocrystalline anisotropy caused by spin-dependent screening and modifications of the band structure, changes in atom positions or differences in hybridization with an adjacent oxide layer. However, the switching between states related by time reversal, for example magnetization up and down as used in the present technology, is not straightforward because the electric field does not break time-reversal symmetry. Several workarounds have been applied to toggle between bistable magnetic states with electric fields, including changes of material composition as a result of electric fields. Here we demonstrate that local electric fields can be used to switch reversibly between a magnetic skyrmion and the ferromagnetic state. These two states are topologically inequivalent, and we find that the direction of the electric field directly determines the final state. This observation establishes the possibility to combine electric-field writing with the recently envisaged skyrmion racetrack-type memories.

  11. Questions Students Ask: Why Not Bend Light with an Electric Field?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Van Heuvelen, Alan

    1983-01-01

    In response to a question, "Why not use a magnetic or electric field to deflect light?," reviews the relation between electric charge and electric/magnetic fields. Discusses the Faraday effect, (describing matter as an intermediary in the rotation of the place of polarization) and other apparent interactions of light with electric/magnetic fields.…

  12. 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

  13. From Ions to Wires to the Grid: The Transformational Science of LANL Research in High-Tc Superconducting Tapes and Electric Power Applications

    ScienceCinema

    Marken, Ken

    2018-01-09

    The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) has been tasked to lead national efforts to modernize the electric grid, enhance security and reliability of the energy infrastructure, and facilitate recovery from disruptions to energy supplies. LANL has pioneered the development of coated conductors – high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes – which permit dramatically greater current densities than conventional copper cable, and enable new technologies to secure the national electric grid. Sustained world-class research from concept, demonstration, transfer, and ongoing industrial support has moved this idea from the laboratory to the commercial marketplace.

  14. Remote sensing of mesospheric electric fields using MF radars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meek, C. E.; Manson, A. H.; Martynenko, S. I.; Rozumenko, V. T.; Tyrnov, O. F.

    2004-07-01

    Large mesospheric electric fields can play an essential role in middle atmospheric electrodynamics (see, e.g., Goldberg, R. A., Middle Atmospheric Electrodynamics during MAP, Adv. Space Res. 10 (10) (1990) 209). The V/m electric fields of atmospheric origin can be the possible cause of large variations in the electron collision frequency at mesospheric altitudes, and this provides a unique opportunity to take measurements of electric fields in the lower ionosphere by using remote sensing instruments employing radiowave techniques. A technique has been proposed for making estimates of large mesospheric electric field intensities on the lower edge of the ionosphere by using MF radar data and the inherent effective electron collision frequency. To do this, data collected in Canada and Ukraine were utilized. The developed technique permits the changes in mesospheric electric field intensities to be derived from MF radar data in real time. The statistical analysis of data consistent with large mesospheric electric field intensities in the 60-67km region resulted in the following inferences. There are at least two mechanisms for the generation of large mesospheric electric fields in the mesosphere. The most likely mechanism, with a probability of 60-70%, is the summation of random fields from a large number of elementary small-scale mesospheric generators, which results in a one-parameter Rayleigh distribution of the total large mesospheric electric field intensity E with a mean value of approximately 0.7-0.9V/m in the 60-67km altitude region, or in the corresponding one-parameter exponential distribution of the intensity squared E2 of large mesospheric electric fields. The second mechanism of unknown nature, with 5-15% probability, gives rise to the sporadic appearance of large mesospheric electric field intensities E>2.5V/m with a mean of 4V/m. Statistically significant seasonal differences in the averaged large mesospheric electric field parameters have not been revealed. The probability of the absence of local large mesospheric electric fields amounts to approximately 25% for Ukraine and approximately 30% for Canada. A comparison of the Ukrainian and Canadian data indicates the possible existence of a latitudinal dependence in mean large mesospheric electric field features. Hence, the large electric fields are an additional source of electron heating that must be taken into account in studying a disturbed lower ionosphere and radio wave propagation within it.

  15. High Power MPD Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) for Artificial Gravity HOPE Missions to Callisto

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McGuire, Melissa L.; Borowski, Stanley K.; Mason, Lee M.; Gilland, James

    2003-01-01

    This documents the results of a one-year multi-center NASA study on the prospect of sending humans to Jupiter's moon, Callisto, using an all Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) space transportation system architecture with magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. The fission reactor system utilizes high temperature uranium dioxide (UO2) in tungsten (W) metal matrix cermet fuel and electricity is generated using advanced dynamic Brayton power conversion technology. The mission timeframe assumes on-going human Moon and Mars missions and existing space infrastructure to support launch of cargo and crewed spacecraft to Jupiter in 2041 and 2045, respectively.

  16. Compilation of geospatial data for the mineral industries and related infrastructure of Latin America and the Caribbean

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Baker, Michael S.; Buteyn, Spencer D.; Freeman, Philip A.; Trippi, Michael H.; Trimmer III, Loyd M.

    2017-07-31

    This report describes the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) ongoing commitment to its mission of understanding the nature and distribution of global mineral commodity supply chains by updating and publishing the georeferenced locations of mineral commodity production and processing facilities, mineral exploration and development sites, and mineral commodity exporting ports in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report includes an overview of data sources and an explanation of the geospatial PDF map format.The geodatabase and geospatial data layers described in this report create a new geographic information product in the form of a geospatial portable document format (PDF) map. The geodatabase contains additional data layers from USGS, foreign governmental, and open-source sources as follows: (1) coal occurrence areas, (2) electric power generating facilities, (3) electric power transmission lines, (4) hydrocarbon resource cumulative production data, (5) liquefied natural gas terminals, (6) oil and gas concession leasing areas, (7) oil and gas field center points, (8) oil and gas pipelines, (9) USGS petroleum provinces, (10) railroads, (11) recoverable proven plus probable hydrocarbon resources, (12) major cities, (13) major rivers, and (14) undiscovered porphyry copper tracts.

  17. High electric field conduction in low-alkali boroaluminosilicate glass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dash, Priyanka; Yuan, Mengxue; Gao, Jun; Furman, Eugene; Lanagan, Michael T.

    2018-02-01

    Electrical conduction in silica-based glasses under a low electric field is dominated by high mobility ions such as sodium, and there is a transition from ionic transport to electronic transport as the electric field exceeds 108 V/m at low temperatures. Electrical conduction under a high electric field was investigated in thin low-alkali boroaluminosilicate glass samples, showing nonlinear conduction with the current density scaling approximately with E1/2, where E is the electric field. In addition, thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) characterization was carried out on room-temperature electrically poled glass samples, and an anomalous discharging current flowing in the same direction as the charging current was observed. High electric field conduction and TSDC results led to the conclusion that Poole-Frenkel based electronic transport occurs in the mobile-cation-depleted region adjacent to the anode, and accounts for the observed anomalous current.

  18. Electric emissions from electrical appliances.

    PubMed

    Leitgeb, N; Cech, R; Schröttner, J

    2008-01-01

    Electric emissions from electric appliances are frequently considered negligible, and standards consider electric appliances to comply without testing. By investigating 122 household devices of 63 different categories, it could be shown that emitted electric field levels do not justify general disregard. Electric reference values can be exceeded up to 11-fold. By numerical dosimetry with homogeneous human models, induced intracorporal electric current densities were determined and factors calculated to elevate reference levels to accounting for reduced induction efficiency of inhomogeneous fields. These factors were found not high enough to allow generally concluding on compliance with basic restrictions without testing. Electric appliances usually simultaneously emit both electric and magnetic fields exposing almost the same body region. Since the sum of induced current densities is limited, one field component reduces the available margin for the other. Therefore, superposition of electric current densities induced by either field would merit consideration.

  19. Coherence and phase locking in the scalp EEG and between LORETA model sources, and microstates as putative mechanisms of brain temporo-spatial functional organization.

    PubMed

    Lehmann, Dietrich; Faber, Pascal L; Gianotti, Lorena R R; Kochi, Kieko; Pascual-Marqui, Roberto D

    2006-01-01

    Brain electric mechanisms of temporary, functional binding between brain regions are studied using computation of scalp EEG coherence and phase locking, sensitive to time differences of few milliseconds. However, such results if computed from scalp data are ambiguous since electric sources are spatially oriented. Non-ambiguous results can be obtained using calculated time series of strength of intracerebral model sources. This is illustrated applying LORETA modeling to EEG during resting and meditation. During meditation, time series of LORETA model sources revealed a tendency to decreased left-right intracerebral coherence in the delta band, and to increased anterior-posterior intracerebral coherence in the theta band. An alternate conceptualization of functional binding is based on the observation that brain electric activity is discontinuous, i.e., that it occurs in chunks of up to about 100 ms duration that are detectable as quasi-stable scalp field configurations of brain electric activity, called microstates. Their functional significance is illustrated in spontaneous and event-related paradigms, where microstates associated with imagery- versus abstract-type mentation, or while reading positive versus negative emotion words showed clearly different regions of cortical activation in LORETA tomography. These data support the concept that complete brain functions of higher order such as a momentary thought might be incorporated in temporal chunks of processing in the range of tens to about 100 ms as quasi-stable brain states; during these time windows, subprocesses would be accepted as members of the ongoing chunk of processing.

  20. 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.

  1. Effects of an electric field on interaction of aromatic systems.

    PubMed

    Youn, Il Seung; Cho, Woo Jong; Kim, Kwang S

    2016-04-30

    The effect of uniform external electric field on the interactions between small aromatic compounds and an argon atom is investigated using post-HF (MP2, SCS-MP2, and CCSD(T)) and density functional (PBE0-D3, PBE0-TS, and vdW-DF2) methods. The electric field effect is quantified by the difference of interaction energy calculated in the presence and absence of the electric field. All the post-HF methods describe electric field effects accurately although the interaction energy itself is overestimated by MP2. The electric field effect is explained by classical electrostatic models, where the permanent dipole moment from mutual polarization mainly determines its sign. The size of π-conjugated system does not have significant effect on the electric field dependence. We found out that PBE0-based methods give reasonable interaction energies and electric field response in every case, while vdW-DF2 sometimes shows spurious artifact owing to its sensitivity toward the real space electron density. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. How to include the variability of TMS responses in simulations: a speech mapping case study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De Geeter, N.; Lioumis, P.; Laakso, A.; Crevecoeur, G.; Dupré, L.

    2016-11-01

    When delivered over a specific cortical site, TMS can temporarily disrupt the ongoing process in that area. This allows mapping of speech-related areas for preoperative evaluation purposes. We numerically explore the observed variability of TMS responses during a speech mapping experiment performed with a neuronavigation system. We selected four cases with very small perturbations in coil position and orientation. In one case (E) a naming error occurred, while in the other cases (NEA, B, C) the subject appointed the images as smoothly as without TMS. A realistic anisotropic head model was constructed of the subject from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI. The induced electric field distributions were computed, associated to the coil parameters retrieved from the neuronavigation system. Finally, the membrane potentials along relevant white matter fibre tracts, extracted from DTI-based tractography, were computed using a compartmental cable equation. While only minor differences could be noticed between the induced electric field distributions of the four cases, computing the corresponding membrane potentials revealed different subsets of tracts were activated. A single tract was activated for all coil positions. Another tract was only triggered for case E. NEA induced action potentials in 13 tracts, while NEB stimulated 11 tracts and NEC one. The calculated results are certainly sensitive to the coil specifications, demonstrating the observed variability in this study. However, even though a tract connecting Broca’s with Wernicke’s area is only triggered for the error case, further research is needed on other study cases and on refining the neural model with synapses and network connections. Case- and subject-specific modelling that includes both electromagnetic fields and neuronal activity enables demonstration of the variability in TMS experiments and can capture the interaction with complex neural networks.

  3. Lattice QCD with strong external electric fields.

    PubMed

    Yamamoto, Arata

    2013-03-15

    We study particle generation by a strong electric field in lattice QCD. To avoid the sign problem of the Minkowskian electric field, we adopt the "isospin" electric charge. When a strong electric field is applied, the insulating vacuum is broken down and pairs of charged particles are produced by the Schwinger mechanism. The competition against the color confining force is also discussed.

  4. Divergent effect of electric fields on the mechanical property of water-filled carbon nanotubes with an application as a nanoscale trigger

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Hongfei; Zheng, Yonggang; Zhou, Lili; Zhao, Junfei; Zhang, Hongwu; Chen, Zhen

    2018-01-01

    Polar water molecules exhibit extraordinary phenomena under nanoscale confinement. Through the application of an electric field, a water-filled carbon nanotube (CNT) that has been successfully fabricated in the laboratory is expected to have distinct responses to the external electricity. Here, we examine the effect of electric field direction on the mechanical property of water-filled CNTs. It is observed that a longitudinal electric field enhances, but the transverse electric field reduces the elastic modulus and critical buckling stress of water-filled CNTs. The divergent effect of the electric field is attributed to the competition between the axial and circumferential pressures induced by polar water molecules. Furthermore, it is notable that the transverse electric field could result in an internal pressure with elliptical distribution, which is an effective and convenient approach to apply nonuniform pressure on nanochannels. Based on pre-strained water-filled CNTs, we designed a nanoscale trigger with an evident and rapid height change initiated by switching the direction of the electric field. The reported finding provides a foundation for an electricity-controlled property of nanochannels filled with polar molecules and provides an insight into the design of nanoscale functional devices.

  5. Divergent effect of electric fields on the mechanical property of water-filled carbon nanotubes with an application as a nanoscale trigger.

    PubMed

    Ye, Hongfei; Zheng, Yonggang; Zhou, Lili; Zhao, Junfei; Zhang, Hongwu; Chen, Zhen

    2017-12-11

    Polar water molecules exhibit extraordinary phenomena under nanoscale confinement. Through the application of an electric field, a water-filled carbon nanotube (CNT) that has been successfully fabricated in the laboratory is expected to have distinct responses to the external electricity. Here, we examine the effect of electric field direction on the mechanical property of water-filled CNTs. It is observed that a longitudinal electric field enhances, but the transverse electric field reduces the elastic modulus and critical buckling stress of water-filled CNTs. The divergent effect of the electric field is attributed to the competition between the axial and circumferential pressures induced by polar water molecules. Furthermore, it is notable that the transverse electric field could result in an internal pressure with elliptical distribution, which is an effective and convenient approach to apply nonuniform pressure on nanochannels. Based on pre-strained water-filled CNTs, we designed a nanoscale trigger with an evident and rapid height change initiated by switching the direction of the electric field. The reported finding provides a foundation for an electricity-controlled property of nanochannels filled with polar molecules and provides an insight into the design of nanoscale functional devices.

  6. Domain switching of fatigued ferroelectric thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tak Lim, Yun; Yeog Son, Jong; Shin, Young-Han

    2014-05-01

    We investigate the domain wall speed of a ferroelectric PbZr0.48Ti0.52O3 (PZT) thin film using an atomic force microscope incorporated with a mercury-probe system to control the degree of electrical fatigue. The depolarization field in the PZT thin film decreases with increasing the degree of electrical fatigue. We find that the wide-range activation field previously reported in ferroelectric domains result from the change of the depolarization field caused by the electrical fatigue. Domain wall speed exhibits universal behavior to the effective electric field (defined by an applied electric field minus the depolarization field), regardless of the degree of the electrical fatigue.

  7. Heisenberg spin-1/2 XXZ chain in the presence of electric and magnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thakur, Pradeep; Durganandini, P.

    2018-02-01

    We study the interplay of electric and magnetic order in the one-dimensional Heisenberg spin-1/2 XXZ chain with large Ising anisotropy in the presence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction and with longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields, interpreting the DM interaction as a coupling between the local electric polarization and an external electric field. We obtain the ground state phase diagram using the density matrix renormalization group method and compute various ground state quantities like the magnetization, staggered magnetization, electric polarization and spin correlation functions, etc. In the presence of both longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields, there are three different phases corresponding to a gapped Néel phase with antiferromagnetic (AF) order, gapped saturated phase, and a critical incommensurate gapless phase. The external electric field modifies the phase boundaries but does not lead to any new phases. Both external magnetic fields and electric fields can be used to tune between the phases. We also show that the transverse magnetic field induces a vector chiral order in the Néel phase (even in the absence of an electric field) which can be interpreted as an electric polarization in a direction parallel to the AF order.

  8. New modes of electron microscopy for materials science enabled by fast direct electron detectors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Minor, Andrew

    There is an ongoing revolution in the development of electron detector technology that has enabled modes of electron microscopy imaging that had only before been theorized. The age of electron microscopy as a tool for imaging is quickly giving way to a new frontier of multidimensional datasets to be mined. These improvements in electron detection have enabled cryo-electron microscopy to resolve the three-dimensional structures of non-crystalized proteins, revolutionizing structural biology. In the physical sciences direct electron detectors has enabled four-dimensional reciprocal space maps of materials at atomic resolution, providing all the structural information about nanoscale materials in one experiment. This talk will highlight the impact of direct electron detectors for materials science, including a new method of scanning nanobeam diffraction. With faster detectors we can take a series of 2D diffraction patterns at each position in a 2D STEM raster scan resulting in a four-dimensional data set. For thin film analysis, direct electron detectors hold the potential to enable strain, polarization, composition and electrical field mapping over relatively large fields of view, all from a single experiment.

  9. Curved Thermopiezoelectric Shell Structures Modeled by Finite Element Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lee, Ho-Jun

    2000-01-01

    "Smart" structures composed of piezoelectric materials may significantly improve the performance of aeropropulsion systems through a variety of vibration, noise, and shape-control applications. The development of analytical models for piezoelectric smart structures is an ongoing, in-house activity at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field focused toward the experimental characterization of these materials. Research efforts have been directed toward developing analytical models that account for the coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite materials. Current work revolves around implementing thermal effects into a curvilinear-shell finite element code. This enhances capabilities to analyze curved structures and to account for coupling effects arising from thermal effects and the curved geometry. The current analytical model implements a unique mixed multi-field laminate theory to improve computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. The mechanics can model both the sensory and active behavior of piezoelectric composite shell structures. Finite element equations are being implemented for an eight-node curvilinear shell element, and numerical studies are being conducted to demonstrate capabilities to model the response of curved piezoelectric composite structures (see the figure).

  10. A Computational Study of a Circular Interface Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability in MHD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maxon, William; Black, Wolfgang; Denissen, Nicholas; McFarland, Jacob; Los Alamos National Laboratory Collaboration; University of Missouri Shock Tube Laboratory Team

    2017-11-01

    The Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is a hydrodynamic instability that appears in several high energy density applications such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In ICF, as the thermonuclear fuel is being compressed it begins to mix due to fluid instabilities including the RMI. This mixing greatly decreases the energy output. The RMI occurs when two fluids of different densities are impulsively accelerated and the pressure and density gradients are misaligned. In magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), the RMI may be suppressed by introducing a magnetic field in an electrically conducting fluid, such as a plasma. This suppression has been studied as a possible mechanism for improving confinement in ICF targets. In this study,ideal MHD simulations are performed with a circular interface impulsively accelerated by a shock wave in the presence of a magnetic field. These simulations are executed with the research code FLAG, a multiphysics, arbitrary Lagrangian/Eulerian, hydrocode developed and utilized at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The simulation results will be assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively to examine the stabilization mechanism. These simulations will guide ongoing MHD experiments at the University of Missouri Shock Tube Facility.

  11. Electric field with bipolar structure during magnetic reconnection without a guide field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Jun

    2014-05-01

    We present a study on the polarized electric field during the collisionless magnetic reconnection of antiparallel fields using two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The simulations demonstrate clearly that electron holes and electric field with bipolar structure are produced during magnetic reconnection without a guide field. The electric field with bipolar structure can be found near the X-line and on the separatrix and the plasma sheet boundary layer, which is consistent with the observations. These structures will elongate electron's time staying in the diffusion region. In addition, the electric fields with tripolar structures are also found in our simulation.

  12. Babcock Redux: An Amendment of Babcock's Schematic of the Sun's Magnetic Cycle

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moore, Ronald L.; Cirtain, Jonathan W.; Sterling, Alphonse C.

    2017-08-01

    We amend Babcock's original scenario for the global dynamo process that sustains the Sun's 22-year magnetic cycle. The amended scenario fits post-Babcock observed features of the magnetic activity cycle and convection zone, and is based on ideas of Spruit & Roberts (1983, Nature, 304, 401) about magnetic flux tubes in the convection zone. A sequence of four schematic cartoons lays out the proposed evolution of the global configuration of the magnetic field above, in, and at the bottom of the convection zone through sunspot Cycle 23 and into Cycle 24. Three key elements of the amended scenario are: (1) as the net following-polarity magnetic field from the sunspot-region Ω-loop fields of an ongoing sunspot cycle is swept poleward to cancel and replace the opposite-polarity polar-cap field from the previous sunspot cycle, it remains connected to the ongoing sunspot cycle's toroidal source-field band at the bottom of the convection zone; (2) topological pumping by the convection zone's free convection keeps the horizontal extent of the poleward-migrating following-polarity field pushed to the bottom, forcing it to gradually cancel and replace old horizontal field below it that connects the ongoing-cycle source-field band to the previous-cycle polar-cap field; (3) in each polar hemisphere, by continually shearing the poloidal component of the settling new horizontal field, the latitudinal differential rotation low in the convection zone generates the next-cycle source-field band poleward of the ongoing-cycle band. The amended scenario is a more-plausible version of Babcock's scenario, and its viability can be explored by appropriate kinematic flux-transport solar-dynamo simulations. A paper giving a full description of our dynamo scenario is posted on arXiv (http://arxiv.org/abs/1606.05371).This work was funded by the Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate through the Living With a Star Targeted Research and Technology Program and the Hinode Project.

  13. The role of the large scale convection electric field in erosion of the plasmasphere during moderate and strong storms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thaller, S. A.; Wygant, J. R.; Cattell, C. A.; Breneman, A. W.; Bonnell, J. W.; Kletzing, C.; De Pascuale, S.; Kurth, W. S.; Hospodarsky, G. B.; Bounds, S. R.

    2015-12-01

    The Van Allen Probes offer the first opportunity to investigate the response of the plasmasphere to the enhancement and penetration of the large scale duskward convection electric field in different magnetic local time (MLT) sectors. Using electric field measurements and estimates of the cold plasma density from the Van Allen Probes' Electric Fields and Waves (EFW) instrument, we study erosion of the plasmasphere during moderate and strong geomagnetic storms. We present the electric field and density data both on an orbit by orbit basis and synoptically, showing the behavior of the convection electric field and plasmasphere over a period of months. The data indicate that the large scale duskward electric field penetrates deep (L shell < 3) into the inner magnetosphere on both the dusk and dawn sides, but that the plasmasphere response on the dusk and dawn sides differ. In particular, significant (~2 orders of magnitude) decreases in the cold plasma density occur on the dawn side within hours of the onset of enhanced duskward electric field. In contrast, on the dusk side, the plasmapause is located at higher L shell than it is on the dawn side. In some cases, in the post-noon sector, cold plasma density enhancements accompany duskward electric field enhancements for the first orbit after the electric field enchantment, consistent with a duskside, sunward flowing, drainage plume.

  14. 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.

  15. Dynamics analysis of extraction of manganese intensified by electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Wenrui; Tao, Changyuan; Li, Huizhan; Liu, Zuohua; Liu, Renlong

    2018-06-01

    In this study, a process reinforcement technology for leaching process of pyrolusite was developed. The electric field was introduced to decrease reaction temperature and improve the leaching rate of pyrolusite. The mechanisms of electric field intensifying leaching process of pyrolusite were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) in detail. The results showed that the electric field could decrease obviously the apparent activation energy of leaching process of pyrolusite. The apparent activation energy of the leaching of pyrolusite intensified by electric field was calculated to be 53.76 kJ.mol-1. In addition, the leaching efficiency of manganese was effectively increased by 10% to 20% than that without electric field under the same conditions. This was because that the electron conduit between Fe (II)/Fe (III) and pyrite was dredged effectively by electric field.

  16. Electric field prediction for a human body-electric machine system.

    PubMed

    Ioannides, Maria G; Papadopoulos, Peter J; Dimitropoulou, Eugenia

    2004-01-01

    A system consisting of an electric machine and a human body is studied and the resulting electric field is predicted. A 3-phase induction machine operating at full load is modeled considering its geometry, windings, and materials. A human model is also constructed approximating its geometry and the electric properties of tissues. Using the finite element technique the electric field distribution in the human body is determined for a distance of 1 and 5 m from the machine and its effects are studied. Particularly, electric field potential variations are determined at specific points inside the human body and for these points the electric field intensity is computed and compared to the limit values for exposure according to international standards.

  17. Electroporation of the photosynthetic membrane: structural changes in protein and lipid-protein domains.

    PubMed Central

    Rosemberg, Y; Rotenberg, M; Korenstein, R

    1994-01-01

    A biological membrane undergoes a reversible permeability increase through structural changes in the lipid domain when exposed to high external electric fields. The present study shows the occurrence of electric field-induced changes in the conductance of the proton channel of the H(+)-ATPase as well as electric field-induced structural changes in the lipid-protein domain of photosystem (PS) II in the photosynthetic membrane. The study was carried out by analyzing the electric field-stimulated delayed luminescence (EPL), which originates from charge recombination in the protein complexes of PS I and II of photosynthetic vesicles. We established that a small fraction of the total electric field-induced conductance change was abolished by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), an inhibitor of the H(+)-ATPase. This reversible electric field-induced conductance change has characteristics of a small channel and possesses a lifetime < or = 1 ms. To detect electric field-induced changes in the lipid-protein domains of PS II, we examined the effects of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on EPL. Higher values of EPL were observed from vesicles that were exposed in the presence of PLA2 to an electroporating electric field than to a nonelectroporating electric field. The effect of the electroporating field was a long-lived one, lasting for a period > or = 2 min. This effect was attributed to long-lived electric field-induced structural changes in the lipid-protein domains of PS II. PMID:7811916

  18. Structured DC Electric Fields With and Without Associated Plasma Density Gradients Observed with the C/NOFS Satellite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pfaff, R.; Rowland, D.; Klenzing, J.; Freudenreich, H.; Bromund, K.; Liebrecht, C.; Roddy, P.; Hunton, D.

    2009-01-01

    DC electric field observations and associated plasma drifts gathered with the Vector Electric Field Investigation on the Air Force Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite typically reveal considerable variation at large scales (approximately 100's of km), in both daytime and nighttime cases, with enhanced structures usually confined to the nightside. Although such electric field structures are typically associated with plasma density depletions and structures, as observed by the Planar Langmuir Probe on C/NOFS, what is surprising is the number of cases in which large amplitude, structured DC electric fields are observed without a significant plasma density counterpart structure, including their appearance at times when the ambient plasma density appears relatively quiescent. We investigate the relationship of such structured DC electric fields and the ambient plasma density in the C/NOFS satellite measurements observed thus far, taking into account both plasma density depletions and enhancements. We investigate the mapping of the electric fields along magnetic field lines from distant altitudes and latitudes to locations where the density structures, which presumably formed the original seat of the electric fields, are no longer discernible in the observations. In some cases, the electric field structures and spectral characteristics appear to mimic those associated with equatorial spread-F processes, providing important clues to their origins. We examine altitude, seasonal, and longitudinal effects in an effort to establish the origin of such structured DC electric fields observed both with, and without, associated plasma density gradients

  19. A vector-free ECG interpretation with P, QRS & T waves as unbalanced transitions between stable configurations of the heart electric field during P-R, S-T & T-P segments

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Since cell membranes are weak sources of electrostatic fields, this ECG interpretation relies on the analogy between cells and electrets. It is here assumed that cell-bound electric fields unite, reach the body surface and the surrounding space and form the thoracic electric field that consists from two concentric structures: the thoracic wall and the heart. If ECG leads measure differences in electric potentials between skin electrodes, they give scalar values that define position of the electric field center along each lead. Repolarised heart muscle acts as a stable positive electric source, while depolarized heart muscle produces much weaker negative electric field. During T-P, P-R and S-T segments electric field is stable, only subtle changes are detectable by skin electrodes. Diastolic electric field forms after ventricular depolarization (T-P segments in the ECG recording). Telediastolic electric field forms after the atria have been depolarized (P-Q segments in the ECG recording). Systolic electric field forms after the ventricular depolarization (S-T segments in the ECG recording). The three ECG waves (P, QRS and T) can then be described as unbalanced transitions of the heart electric field from one stable configuration to the next and in that process the electric field center is temporarily displaced. In the initial phase of QRS, the rapidly diminishing septal electric field makes measured potentials dependent only on positive charges of the corresponding parts of the left and the right heart that lie within the lead axes. If more positive charges are near the "DOWN" electrode than near the "UP" electrode, a Q wave will be seen, otherwise an R wave is expected. Repolarization of the ventricular muscle is dampened by the early septal muscle repolarization that reduces deflection of T waves. Since the "UP" electrode of most leads is near the usually larger left ventricle muscle, T waves are in these leads positive, although of smaller amplitude and longer duration than the QRS wave in the same lead. The proposed interpretation is applied to bundle branch blocks, fascicular (hemi-) blocks and changes during heart muscle ischemia. PMID:24506945

  20. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 30 CFR 18.91 - Electric equipment for which field approvals will be issued.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Electric equipment for which field approvals... OF LABOR TESTING, EVALUATION, AND APPROVAL OF MINING PRODUCTS ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Field Approval of Electrically Operated Mining Equipment § 18.91 Electric equipment...

  3. 30 CFR 18.91 - Electric equipment for which field approvals will be issued.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Electric equipment for which field approvals... OF LABOR TESTING, EVALUATION, AND APPROVAL OF MINING PRODUCTS ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Field Approval of Electrically Operated Mining Equipment § 18.91 Electric equipment...

  4. Charged particle mobility refrigerant analyzer

    DOEpatents

    Allman, S.L.; Chunghsuan Chen; Chen, F.C.

    1993-02-02

    A method for analyzing a gaseous electronegative species comprises the steps of providing an analysis chamber; providing an electric field of known potential within the analysis chamber; admitting into the analysis chamber a gaseous sample containing the gaseous electronegative species; providing a pulse of free electrons within the electric field so that the pulse of free electrons interacts with the gaseous electronegative species so that a swarm of electrically charged particles is produced within the electric field; and, measuring the mobility of the electrically charged particles within the electric field.

  5. Charged particle mobility refrigerant analyzer

    DOEpatents

    Allman, Steve L.; Chen, Chung-Hsuan; Chen, Fang C.

    1993-01-01

    A method for analyzing a gaseous electronegative species comprises the steps of providing an analysis chamber; providing an electric field of known potential within the analysis chamber; admitting into the analysis chamber a gaseous sample containing the gaseous electronegative species; providing a pulse of free electrons within the electric field so that the pulse of free electrons interacts with the gaseous electronegative species so that a swarm of electrically charged particles is produced within the electric field; and, measuring the mobility of the electrically charged particles within the electric field.

  6. Measured electric field intensities near electric cloud discharges detected by the Kennedy Space Center's Lightning Detection and Ranging System, LDAR

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Poehler, H. A.

    1977-01-01

    For a summer thunderstorm, for which simultaneous, airborne electric field measurements and Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) System data was available, measurements were coordinated to present a picture of the electric field intensity near cloud electrical discharges detected by the LDAR System. Radar precipitation echos from NOAA's 10 cm weather radar and measured airborne electric field intensities were superimposed on LDAR PPI plots to present a coordinated data picture of thunderstorm activity.

  7. Modelling of induced electric fields based on incompletely known magnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laakso, Ilkka; De Santis, Valerio; Cruciani, Silvano; Campi, Tommaso; Feliziani, Mauro

    2017-08-01

    Determining the induced electric fields in the human body is a fundamental problem in bioelectromagnetics that is important for both evaluation of safety of electromagnetic fields and medical applications. However, existing techniques for numerical modelling of induced electric fields require detailed information about the sources of the magnetic field, which may be unknown or difficult to model in realistic scenarios. Here, we show how induced electric fields can accurately be determined in the case where the magnetic fields are known only approximately, e.g. based on field measurements. The robustness of our approach is shown in numerical simulations for both idealized and realistic scenarios featuring a personalized MRI-based head model. The approach allows for modelling of the induced electric fields in biological bodies directly based on real-world magnetic field measurements.

  8. Electric-field-induced structural changes in water confined between two graphene layers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sobrino Fernández, Mario; Peeters, F. M.; Neek-Amal, M.

    2016-07-01

    An external electric field changes the physical properties of polar liquids due to the reorientation of their permanent dipoles. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we predict that an in-plane electric field applied parallel to the channel polarizes water molecules which are confined between two graphene layers, resulting in distinct ferroelectricity and electrical hysteresis. We found that electric fields alter the in-plane order of the hydrogen bonds: Reversing the electric field does not restore the system to the nonpolar initial state, instead a residual dipole moment remains in the system. The square-rhombic structure of 2D ice is transformed into two rhombic-rhombic structures. Our study provides insights into the ferroelectric state of water when confined in nanochannels and shows how this can be tuned by an electric field.

  9. 77 FR 66609 - Notice of FERC Staff Attendance; PacifiCorp, et al.

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-06

    ...-82-000 El Paso Electric Company ER13-91-000 Black Hills Power, Inc., et al......... ER13-96-000 Black... Commission's ongoing outreach efforts. The meeting may discuss matters at issue in the above captioned...

  10. 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.

  11. Imaging electric field dynamics with graphene optoelectronics.

    PubMed

    Horng, Jason; Balch, Halleh B; McGuire, Allister F; Tsai, Hsin-Zon; Forrester, Patrick R; Crommie, Michael F; Cui, Bianxiao; Wang, Feng

    2016-12-16

    The use of electric fields for signalling and control in liquids is widespread, spanning bioelectric activity in cells to electrical manipulation of microstructures in lab-on-a-chip devices. However, an appropriate tool to resolve the spatio-temporal distribution of electric fields over a large dynamic range has yet to be developed. Here we present a label-free method to image local electric fields in real time and under ambient conditions. Our technique combines the unique gate-variable optical transitions of graphene with a critically coupled planar waveguide platform that enables highly sensitive detection of local electric fields with a voltage sensitivity of a few microvolts, a spatial resolution of tens of micrometres and a frequency response over tens of kilohertz. Our imaging platform enables parallel detection of electric fields over a large field of view and can be tailored to broad applications spanning lab-on-a-chip device engineering to analysis of bioelectric phenomena.

  12. Effects of an electric field on the electronic and optical properties of zigzag boron nitride nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh

    2011-02-01

    We have investigated the electro-optical properties of zigzag BNNTs, under an external electric field, using the tight binding approximation. It is found that an electric field modifies the band structure and splits the band degeneracy. Also the large electric strength leads to coupling the neighbor subbands which these effects reflect in the DOS and JDOS spectrum. It has been shown that, unlike CNTs, the band gap of BNNTs can be reduced linearly by applying a transverse external electric field. Also we show that the larger diameter tubes are more sensitive than small ones. The semiconducting metallic transition can be achieved through increasing the applied fields. The number and position of peaks in the JDOS spectrum are dependent on electric field strength. It is found that at a high electric field, the two lowest subbands are oscillatory with multiple nodes at the Fermi level.

  13. Optimization of Pockels electric field in transverse modulated optical voltage sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Yifan; Xu, Qifeng; Chen, Kun-Long; Zhou, Jie

    2018-05-01

    This paper investigates the possibilities of optimizing the Pockels electric field in a transverse modulated optical voltage sensor with a spherical electrode structure. The simulations show that due to the edge effect and the electric field concentrations and distortions, the electric field distributions in the crystal are non-uniform. In this case, a tiny variation in the light path leads to an integral error of more than 0.5%. Moreover, a 2D model cannot effectively represent the edge effect, so a 3D model is employed to optimize the electric field distributions. Furthermore, a new method to attach a quartz crystal to the electro-optic crystal along the electric field direction is proposed to improve the non-uniformity of the electric field. The integral error is reduced therefore from 0.5% to 0.015% and less. The proposed method is simple, practical and effective, and it has been validated by numerical simulations and experimental tests.

  14. Creation of vector bosons by an electric field in curved spacetime

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

    Kangal, E. Ersin; Yanar, Hilmi; Havare, Ali

    2014-04-15

    We investigate the creation rate of massive spin-1 bosons in the de Sitter universe by a time-dependent electric field via the Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau (DKP) equation. Complete solutions are given by the Whittaker functions and particle creation rate is computed by using the Bogoliubov transformation technique. We analyze the influence of the electric field on the particle creation rate for the strong and vanishing electric fields. We show that the electric field amplifies the creation rate of charged, massive spin-1 particles. This effect is analyzed by considering similar calculations performed for scalar and spin-1/2 particles. -- Highlights: •Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau equation is solved exactlymore » in the presence of an electrical field. •Solutions were made in (1+1)-dimensional curved spacetime. •Particle creation rate for the de Sitter model is calculated. •Pure gravitational or pure electrical field effect on the creation rate is analyzed.« less

  15. The fragmentation of ethanol cation under an electric field: An ab initio/RRKM study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Hsiu-Feng; Li, F.-Y.; Lin, Chun-Chin; Nagaya, K.; Chao, Ito; Lin, S. H.

    2007-08-01

    We present a theoretical study of ethanol cation under an electric field due to the existence of laser field in order to understand the influence of electric field on the mass spectrum of ethanol. The electric field was applied to the four major reaction channels of an ethanol cation, such as the conversion between C 2H 5OH + and c-C 2H 5OH +, CH 3-elimination and two α-H-eliminations, respectively. The correlation between product distribution and field strength is quite complex due to the different responses of the reactants and transition states toward the external electric field. This makes the product distribution change as field strength varies.

  16. Double-edged effect of electric field on the mechanical property of water-filled carbon nanotubes with an application to nanoscale trigger.

    PubMed

    Ye, Hongfei; Zheng, Yonggang; Zhou, Lili; Zhao, Junfei; Zhang, Hong Wu; Chen, Zhen

    2017-11-08

    Polar water molecules would exhibit extraordinary phenomena under nanoscale confinement. By means of electric field, the water-filled carbon nanotube (CNT) that has been successfully fabricated in laboratory is expected to make distinct responses to the external electricity. Here, we examine the effect of electric field direction on the mechanical property of water-filled CNTs. It is found that the longitudinal electric field enhances but the transversal electric field reduces the elastic modulus and critical buckling stress of water-filled CNTs. The double-edged effect of electric field is attributed to the competition between the axial and circumferential pressures induced by polar water molecules. Furthermore, it is notable that the transversal electric field could result in an internal pressure with elliptical distribution, which is an effective and convenient approach to apply the nonuniform pressure on nanochannels. Based on a pre-strained water-filled CNTs, we design a nanoscale trigger with the evident and rapid height change started through switching the direction of electric field. The reported finding lays a foundation for the electricity-controlled property of nanochannels filled with polar molecules and provides an insight into the design of nanoscale functional devices. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

  17. Engineering Topological Surface State of Cr-doped Bi2Se3 under external electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Jian-Min; Lian, Ruqian; Yang, Yanmin; Xu, Guigui; Zhong, Kehua; Huang, Zhigao

    2017-03-01

    External electric field control of topological surface states (SSs) is significant for the next generation of condensed matter research and topological quantum devices. Here, we present a first-principles study of the SSs in the magnetic topological insulator (MTI) Cr-doped Bi2Se3 under external electric field. The charge transfer, electric potential, band structure and magnetism of the pure and Cr doped Bi2Se3 film have been investigated. It is found that the competition between charge transfer and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) will lead to an electrically tunable band gap in Bi2Se3 film under external electric field. As Cr atom doped, the charge transfer of Bi2Se3 film under external electric field obviously decreases. Remarkably, the band gap of Cr doped Bi2Se3 film can be greatly engineered by the external electric field due to its special band structure. Furthermore, magnetic coupling of Cr-doped Bi2Se3 could be even mediated via the control of electric field. It is demonstrated that external electric field plays an important role on the electronic and magnetic properties of Cr-doped Bi2Se3 film. Our results may promote the development of electronic and spintronic applications of magnetic topological insulator.

  18. Hy-wire and fast electric field change measurements near an isolated thunderstorm, appendix C

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Holzworth, R. H.; Levine, D. M.

    1983-01-01

    Electric field measurements near an isolated thunderstorm at 6.4 km distance are presented from both a tethered balloon experiment called Hy-wire and also from ground based fast and slow electric field change systems. Simultaneous measurements were made of the electric fields during several lightning flashes at the beginning of the storm which the data clearly indicate were cloud-to-ground flashes. In addition to providing a comparison between the Hy-wire technique for measuring electric fields and more traditional methods, these data are interesting because the lightning flashes occurred prior to changes in the dc electric field, although Hy-wire measured changes in the dc field of up to 750 V/m in the direction opposite to the fair weather field a short time later. Also, the dc electric field was observed to decay back to its preflash value after each flash. The data suggest that Hy-wire was at the field reversal distance from this storm and suggest the charge realignment was taking place in the cloud with a time constant on the order of 20 seconds.

  19. Nonlinearity in the High-Electric-Field Piezoelectricity of Epitaxial BiFeO3 on SrTiO3

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-02-10

    Nonlinearity in the high- electric -field piezoelectricity of epitaxial BiFeO3 on SrTiO3 Pice Chen,1 Rebecca J. Sichel-Tissot,1,a) Ji Young Jo,1,b...field linear response in electric fields higher than 150 MV/m. Time-resolved synchrotron x-ray microdiffraction reveals a low-field piezoelectric...decreases throughout the high- electric -field regime, accompanied by increased diffuse scattering, consistent with lattice softening lattice near a field

  20. 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.

  1. Rates of Charged Clocks in an Electric Field.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ozer, Murat

    2008-04-01

    The gravitational arguments leading to time dilation, redshift, and spacetime curvature are adapted to electric fields. The energy levels of two identical positively charged atoms at different potentials in a static electric field are shown to undergo blueshift. Secondly, the period of a charged simple pendulum (clock) in the electric field of a metallic sphere is shown to vary with the electric potential. The spacetime diagram for the world lines of two photons emitted and absorbed by two pendulums at different potentials at different times and the world lines of the pendulums, as in Schild's argument, is shown to be not a parallelogram in Minkowski spacetime, concluding that spacetime must be curved. A Pound-Rebka-Snider experiment in an electric field is proposed to confirm that photons undergo a frequency shift in an electric field and hence the spacetime manifold is curved. Next, Torretti's gravitational argument that spacetime around a mass distribution concentrated at a point is curved is extended to electric charge distributions to conclude that the nonuniform electric fields of such charge distributions too curve spacetime. Finally, the local equivalence of a uniform electric field times the charge to mass ratio to a uniform acceleration is shown through spacetime transformations and the electrical redshift is obtained in a uniformly accelerated frame by using this principle. These arguments lead to the conclusion that special relativistic electromagnetism is an approximation to a general relativistic multi-metric theory.

  2. Electric toothbrushes induce electric current in fixed dental appliances by creating magnetic fields.

    PubMed

    Kameda, Takashi; Ohkuma, Kazuo; Ishii, Nozomu; Sano, Natsuki; Ogura, Hideo; Terada, Kazuto

    2012-01-01

    Magnetic fields can represent a health problem, especially low frequency electromagnetic fields sometimes induced by electric current in metallic objects worn or used in or on the body (as opposed to high frequency electromagnetic fields that produce heat). Electric toothbrushes are widely used because of their convenience, but the electric motors that power them may produce electromagnetic waves. In this study, we showed that electric toothbrushes generate low frequency (1-2000 Hz) magnetic fields and induce electric current in dental appliances (e. g. orthodontic and prosthetic appliances and dental implants). Current induced by electric toothbrushes might be dependent on the quantity and types of metals used, and the shape of the appliances. Furthermore, these induced currents in dental appliances could impact upon human oral health, producing pain and discomfort.

  3. Characteristics of DC electric fields in transient plasma sheet events

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laakso, H. E.; Escoubet, C. P.; Masson, A.

    2015-12-01

    We take an advantage of five different DC electric field measurements in the plasma sheet available from the EFW double probe experiment, EDI electron drift instrument, CODIF and HIA ion spectrometers, and PEACE electron spectrometer on the four Cluster spacecraft. The calibrated observations of the three spectrometers are used to determine the proton and electron velocity moments. The velocity moments can be used to estimate the proton and electron drift velocity and furthermore the DC electric field, assuming that the electron and proton velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field is dominated by the ExB drift motion. Naturally when ions and electrons do not perform a proper drift motion, which can happen in the plasma sheet, the estimated DC electric field from ion and electron motion is not correct. However, surprisingly often the DC electric fields estimated from electron and ion motions are identical suggesting that this field is a real DC electric field around the measurement point. As the measurement techniques are so different, it is quite plausible that when two different measurements yield the same DC electric field, it is the correct field. All five measurements of the DC electric field are usually not simultaneously available, especially on Cluster 2 where CODIF and HIA are not operational, or on Cluster 4 where EDI is off. In this presentation we investigate DC electric field in various transient plasma sheet events such as dipolarization events and BBF's and how the five measurements agree or disagree. There are plenty of important issues that are considered, e.g., (1) what kind of DC electric fields exist in such events and what are their spatial scales, (2) do electrons and ions perform ExB drift motions in these events, and (3) how well the instruments have been calibrated.

  4. Evaluation method for in situ electric field in standardized human brain for different transcranial magnetic stimulation coils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iwahashi, Masahiro; Gomez-Tames, Jose; Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa

    2017-03-01

    This study proposes a method to evaluate the electric field induced in the brain by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to realize focal stimulation in the target area considering the inter-subject difference of the brain anatomy. The TMS is a non-invasive technique used for treatment/diagnosis, and it works by inducing an electric field in a specific area of the brain via a coil-induced magnetic field. Recent studies that report on the electric field distribution in the brain induced by TMS coils have been limited to simplified human brain models or a small number of detailed human brain models. Until now, no method has been developed that appropriately evaluates the coil performance for a group of subjects. In this study, we first compare the magnetic field and the magnetic vector potential distributions to determine if they can be used as predictors of the TMS focality derived from the electric field distribution. Next, the hotspots of the electric field on the brain surface of ten subjects using six coils are compared. Further, decisive physical factors affecting the focality of the induced electric field by different coils are discussed by registering the computed electric field in a standard brain space for the first time, so as to evaluate coil characteristics for a large population of subjects. The computational results suggest that the induced electric field in the target area cannot be generalized without considering the morphological variability of the human brain. Moreover, there was no remarkable difference between the various coils, although focality could be improved to a certain extent by modifying the coil design (e.g., coil radius). Finally, the focality estimated by the electric field was more correlated with the magnetic vector potential than the magnetic field in a homogeneous sphere.

  5. Evaluation method for in situ electric field in standardized human brain for different transcranial magnetic stimulation coils.

    PubMed

    Iwahashi, Masahiro; Gomez-Tames, Jose; Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa

    2017-03-21

    This study proposes a method to evaluate the electric field induced in the brain by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to realize focal stimulation in the target area considering the inter-subject difference of the brain anatomy. The TMS is a non-invasive technique used for treatment/diagnosis, and it works by inducing an electric field in a specific area of the brain via a coil-induced magnetic field. Recent studies that report on the electric field distribution in the brain induced by TMS coils have been limited to simplified human brain models or a small number of detailed human brain models. Until now, no method has been developed that appropriately evaluates the coil performance for a group of subjects. In this study, we first compare the magnetic field and the magnetic vector potential distributions to determine if they can be used as predictors of the TMS focality derived from the electric field distribution. Next, the hotspots of the electric field on the brain surface of ten subjects using six coils are compared. Further, decisive physical factors affecting the focality of the induced electric field by different coils are discussed by registering the computed electric field in a standard brain space for the first time, so as to evaluate coil characteristics for a large population of subjects. The computational results suggest that the induced electric field in the target area cannot be generalized without considering the morphological variability of the human brain. Moreover, there was no remarkable difference between the various coils, although focality could be improved to a certain extent by modifying the coil design (e.g., coil radius). Finally, the focality estimated by the electric field was more correlated with the magnetic vector potential than the magnetic field in a homogeneous sphere.

  6. Evaluation of the induced electric field and compliance procedure for a wireless power transfer system in an electrical vehicle.

    PubMed

    Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa

    2013-11-07

    In this study, an induced electric field in a human body is evaluated for the magnetic field leaked from a wireless power transfer system for charging an electrical vehicle. The magnetic field from the wireless power transfer system is modelled computationally, and its effectiveness is confirmed by comparison with the field measured in a previous study. The induced electric field in a human standing around the vehicle is smaller than the allowable limit prescribed in international guidelines, although the magnetic field strength in the human body is locally higher than the allowable external field strength. Correlation between the external magnetic field and the induced electric field is confirmed to be reasonable at least in the standing posture, which is the case discussed in the international standard. Based on this finding, we discussed and confirmed the applicability of a three-point magnetic field measurement at heights of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m for safety compliance.

  7. Successful Completion of FY18/Q1 ASC L2 Milestone 6355: Electrical Analysis Calibration Workflow Capability Demonstration.

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

    Copps, Kevin D.

    The Sandia Analysis Workbench (SAW) project has developed and deployed a production capability for SIERRA computational mechanics analysis workflows. However, the electrical analysis workflow capability requirements have only been demonstrated in early prototype states, with no real capability deployed for analysts’ use. This milestone aims to improve the electrical analysis workflow capability (via SAW and related tools) and deploy it for ongoing use. We propose to focus on a QASPR electrical analysis calibration workflow use case. We will include a number of new capabilities (versus today’s SAW), such as: 1) support for the XYCE code workflow component, 2) data managementmore » coupled to electrical workflow, 3) human-in-theloop workflow capability, and 4) electrical analysis workflow capability deployed on the restricted (and possibly classified) network at Sandia. While far from the complete set of capabilities required for electrical analysis workflow over the long term, this is a substantial first step toward full production support for the electrical analysts.« less

  8. Ultrafast Electric Field Pulse Control of Giant Temperature Change in Ferroelectrics

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

    Qi, Y.; Liu, S.; Lindenberg, A. M.

    There is a surge of interest in developing environmentally friendly solid-state-based cooling technology. Here, we point out that a fast cooling rate (≈ 10 11 K/s) can be achieved by driving solid crystals to a high-temperature phase with a properly designed electric field pulse. Specifically, we predict that an ultrafast electric field pulse can cause a giant temperature decrease up to 32 K in PbTiO 3 occurring on few picosecond time scales. Here, we explain the underlying physics of this giant electric field pulse-induced temperature change with the concept of internal energy redistribution: the electric field does work on amore » ferroelectric crystal and redistributes its internal energy, and the way the kinetic energy is redistributed determines the temperature change and strongly depends on the electric field temporal profile. This concept is supported by our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of PbTiO 3 and BaTiO 3. Moreover, this internal energy redistribution concept can also be applied to understand electrocaloric effect. We further propose new strategies for inducing giant cooling effect with ultrafast electric field pulse. This Letter offers a general framework to understand electric-field-induced temperature change and highlights the opportunities of electric field engineering for controlled design of fast and efficient cooling technology.« less

  9. Ultrafast Electric Field Pulse Control of Giant Temperature Change in Ferroelectrics

    DOE PAGES

    Qi, Y.; Liu, S.; Lindenberg, A. M.; ...

    2018-01-30

    There is a surge of interest in developing environmentally friendly solid-state-based cooling technology. Here, we point out that a fast cooling rate (≈ 10 11 K/s) can be achieved by driving solid crystals to a high-temperature phase with a properly designed electric field pulse. Specifically, we predict that an ultrafast electric field pulse can cause a giant temperature decrease up to 32 K in PbTiO 3 occurring on few picosecond time scales. Here, we explain the underlying physics of this giant electric field pulse-induced temperature change with the concept of internal energy redistribution: the electric field does work on amore » ferroelectric crystal and redistributes its internal energy, and the way the kinetic energy is redistributed determines the temperature change and strongly depends on the electric field temporal profile. This concept is supported by our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of PbTiO 3 and BaTiO 3. Moreover, this internal energy redistribution concept can also be applied to understand electrocaloric effect. We further propose new strategies for inducing giant cooling effect with ultrafast electric field pulse. This Letter offers a general framework to understand electric-field-induced temperature change and highlights the opportunities of electric field engineering for controlled design of fast and efficient cooling technology.« less

  10. Ultrafast Electric Field Pulse Control of Giant Temperature Change in Ferroelectrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qi, Y.; Liu, S.; Lindenberg, A. M.; Rappe, A. M.

    2018-01-01

    There is a surge of interest in developing environmentally friendly solid-state-based cooling technology. Here, we point out that a fast cooling rate (≈1011 K /s ) can be achieved by driving solid crystals to a high-temperature phase with a properly designed electric field pulse. Specifically, we predict that an ultrafast electric field pulse can cause a giant temperature decrease up to 32 K in PbTiO3 occurring on few picosecond time scales. We explain the underlying physics of this giant electric field pulse-induced temperature change with the concept of internal energy redistribution: the electric field does work on a ferroelectric crystal and redistributes its internal energy, and the way the kinetic energy is redistributed determines the temperature change and strongly depends on the electric field temporal profile. This concept is supported by our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of PbTiO3 and BaTiO3 . Moreover, this internal energy redistribution concept can also be applied to understand electrocaloric effect. We further propose new strategies for inducing giant cooling effect with ultrafast electric field pulse. This Letter offers a general framework to understand electric-field-induced temperature change and highlights the opportunities of electric field engineering for controlled design of fast and efficient cooling technology.

  11. Effects of an electric field on white sharks: in situ testing of an electric deterrent.

    PubMed

    Huveneers, Charlie; Rogers, Paul J; Semmens, Jayson M; Beckmann, Crystal; Kock, Alison A; Page, Brad; Goldsworthy, Simon D

    2013-01-01

    Elasmobranchs can detect minute electromagnetic fields, <1 nV cm(-1), using their ampullae of Lorenzini. Behavioural responses to electric fields have been investigated in various species, sometimes with the aim to develop shark deterrents to improve human safety. The present study tested the effects of the Shark Shield Freedom7™ electric deterrent on (1) the behaviour of 18 white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) near a static bait, and (2) the rates of attacks on a towed seal decoy. In the first experiment, 116 trials using a static bait were performed at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. The proportion of baits taken during static bait trials was not affected by the electric field. The electric field, however, increased the time it took them to consume the bait, the number of interactions per approach, and decreased the proportion of interactions within two metres of the field source. The effect of the electric field was not uniform across all sharks. In the second experiment, 189 tows using a seal decoy were conducted near Seal Island, South Africa. No breaches and only two surface interactions were observed during the tows when the electric field was activated, compared with 16 breaches and 27 surface interactions without the electric field. The present study suggests that the behavioural response of white sharks and the level of risk reduction resulting from the electric field is contextually specific, and depends on the motivational state of sharks.

  12. 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.

  13. Effect of multilayer structure, stacking order and external electric field on the electrical properties of few-layer boron-phosphide.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xianping; Tan, Chunjian; Yang, Qun; Meng, Ruishen; Liang, Qiuhua; Jiang, Junke; Sun, Xiang; Yang, D Q; Ren, Tianling

    2016-06-28

    Development of nanoelectronics requires two-dimensional (2D) systems with both direct-bandgap and tunable electronic properties as they act in response to the external electric field (E-field). Here, we present a detailed theoretical investigation to predict the effect of atomic structure, stacking order and external electric field on the electrical properties of few-layer boron-phosphide (BP). We demonstrate that the splitting of bands and bandgap of BP depends on the number of layers and the stacking order. The values for the bandgap show a monotonically decreasing relationship with increasing layer number. We also show that AB-stacking BP has a direct-bandgap, while ABA-stacking BP has an indirect-bandgap when the number of layers n > 2. In addition, for a bilayer and a trilayer, the bandgap increases (decreases) as the electric field increases along the positive direction of the external electric field (E-field) (negative direction). In the case of four-layer BP, the bandgap exhibits a nonlinearly decreasing behavior as the increase in the electric field is independent of the electric field direction. The tunable mechanism of the bandgap can be attributed to a giant Stark effect. Interestingly, the investigation also shows that a semiconductor-to-metal transition may occur for the four-layer case or more layers beyond the critical electric field. Our findings may inspire more efforts in fabricating new nanoelectronics devices based on few-layer BP.

  14. Effects of an Electric Field on White Sharks: In Situ Testing of an Electric Deterrent

    PubMed Central

    Huveneers, Charlie; Rogers, Paul J.; Semmens, Jayson M.; Beckmann, Crystal; Kock, Alison A.; Page, Brad; Goldsworthy, Simon D.

    2013-01-01

    Elasmobranchs can detect minute electromagnetic fields, <1 nVcm–1, using their ampullae of Lorenzini. Behavioural responses to electric fields have been investigated in various species, sometimes with the aim to develop shark deterrents to improve human safety. The present study tested the effects of the Shark Shield Freedom7™ electric deterrent on (1) the behaviour of 18 white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) near a static bait, and (2) the rates of attacks on a towed seal decoy. In the first experiment, 116 trials using a static bait were performed at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. The proportion of baits taken during static bait trials was not affected by the electric field. The electric field, however, increased the time it took them to consume the bait, the number of interactions per approach, and decreased the proportion of interactions within two metres of the field source. The effect of the electric field was not uniform across all sharks. In the second experiment, 189 tows using a seal decoy were conducted near Seal Island, South Africa. No breaches and only two surface interactions were observed during the tows when the electric field was activated, compared with 16 breaches and 27 surface interactions without the electric field. The present study suggests that the behavioural response of white sharks and the level of risk reduction resulting from the electric field is contextually specific, and depends on the motivational state of sharks. PMID:23658766

  15. Cryosurgery with pulsed electric fields.

    PubMed

    Daniels, Charlotte S; Rubinsky, Boris

    2011-01-01

    This study explores the hypothesis that combining the minimally invasive surgical techniques of cryosurgery and pulsed electric fields will eliminate some of the major disadvantages of these techniques while retaining their advantages. Cryosurgery, tissue ablation by freezing, is a well-established minimally invasive surgical technique. One disadvantage of cryosurgery concerns the mechanism of cell death; cells at high subzero temperature on the outer rim of the frozen lesion can survive. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) are another minimally invasive surgical technique in which high strength and very rapid electric pulses are delivered across cells to permeabilize the cell membrane for applications such as gene delivery, electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation. The very short time scale of the electric pulses is disadvantageous because it does not facilitate real time control over the procedure. We hypothesize that applying the electric pulses during the cryosurgical procedure in such a way that the electric field vector is parallel to the heat flux vector will have the effect of confining the electric fields to the frozen/cold region of tissue, thereby ablating the cells that survive freezing while facilitating controlled use of the PEF in the cold confined region. A finite element analysis of the electric field and heat conduction equations during simultaneous tissue treatment with cryosurgery and PEF (cryosurgery/PEF) was used to study the effect of tissue freezing on electric fields. The study yielded motivating results. Because of decreased electrical conductivity in the frozen/cooled tissue, it experienced temperature induced magnified electric fields in comparison to PEF delivered to the unfrozen tissue control. This suggests that freezing/cooling confines and magnifies the electric fields to those regions; a targeting capability unattainable in traditional PEF. This analysis shows how temperature induced magnified and focused PEFs could be used to ablate cells in the high subzero freezing region of a cryosurgical lesion.

  16. Local and Average Structures in Ferroelectrics under Perturbing Fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Usher, Tedi-Marie

    Ferroelectric and dielectric ceramics are used in a multitude of applications including sonar, micro-positioning, actuators, transducers, and capacitors. The most widely used compositions are lead (Pb)-based, however there is an ongoing effort to reduce lead-based materials in consumer applications. Many lead-free compositions are under investigation; some are already in production and others have been identified as suitable for certain applications. For any such material system, there is a need to thoroughly characterize the structure in order to develop robust structure-property relationships, particularly during in situ application of different stimuli (e.g. electric field and mechanical stress). This work investigates two lead-free material systems of interest, (1-x)Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 - (x)BaTiO3 (NBT-xBT) and (1-x)BaTiO3 - (x)Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 (BT-xBZT), as well as the constituent compounds Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 and BaTiO3. Both systems exhibit compositional boundaries between unique phases exhibiting different functional properties. Advanced scattering techniques are used to characterize the atomic structures and how they change during in situ application of different stimuli. The long-range, average structures are probed using high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and neutron diffraction (ND) and local scale structures are probed using X-ray or neutron total scattering, which are converted to pair distribution functions (PDFs). First, two in situ ND experiments which investigate structural changes to NBT-xBT in response to uniaxial stresses and electric fields are presented. In response to stresses, different crystallographic directions strain differently. The elastic anisotropy, (i.e., the orientation-dependence of elastic stiffness) for the studied compositions is characterized. A general inverse relationship between elastic anisotropy and piezoelectric anisotropy is demonstrated for three common ferroelectric point groups. In response to electric fields, different crystallographic directions respond by either domain reorientation or lattice strain, as governed by the material's symmetry. The composition at the phase boundary responds at a lower field and undergoes a phase transition. Next, the PDF method is described and then applied to a structural study of BT-xBZT in combination with HRXRD and ND studies. For BZT >9%, the structure is pseudocubic at the long-range with short-range tetragonal distortions. This structural length-scale dependence is characterized with a box-car fitting method and suggests that with sufficient BZT content, local tetragonal distortions are disrupted at length scales > 40 A. By combining long- and short-range studies, structural variations from the sub-nm to long-range are characterized and enhance the understanding of this and similar material systems. In the final chapters, the local-scale responses of ferroelectric and dielectric materials to electric fields are investigated by PDFs. The novel methodology of measuring X-ray total scattering during in situ application of electric fields is presented and results are shown for piezoelectric (BT), relaxor-ferroelectric (NBT), and dielectric materials (SrTiO3 and HfO2), as well as for NBT-xBT. Local-scale cation reorientation in NBT is evidenced and corresponds to an electric-field-induced phase transition. The ability to quantify local-scale atomic rearrangements during field application is unique to in situ PDF studies; it is not possible through in situ diffraction methods like those presented earlier. This method is extended to neutron-PDFs and ex situ results for NBT are shown. In order to interpret the local scale-changes observed in the in situ PDF studies, the local structures of a series of models with different real, physical effects (strains, polarization, changes in thermal motion, etc) are analyzed and characterized. Finally, the samples used are characterized in terms of grain size/appearance and piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties. In summary, this research demonstrates the use of detailed and in situ structural studies that contribute new knowledge to structure-property relationships for several ferroelectric and dielectric material systems. Additionally, the novel technique of in situ PDFs with electric fields is evidenced to provide unique information on atomic rearrangements caused by in situ stimuli.

  17. Development of a New Apparatus for Investigating Acoustic Effects on Hydraulic Properties of Low-Permeability Geo-Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakajima, H.; Sawada, A.; Sugita, H.; Takeda, M.; Komai, T.; Zhang, M.

    2006-12-01

    Remediation of polluted soils and groundwater contaminated by heavy metals and non-aqueous phase liquids has been one of the challenging issues in the field of geo-environments. In-situ removal of the contaminants from low permeable soils, such as clay strata, is particularly difficult because of the low mobility, strong adsorption, and/or other various interactions within soils. Thus current remediation techniques, such as pump- and-treat method and even eletrokinetic method, generally suffer from low recovery rates and/or economically unacceptable long remediation periods. A perspective improvement in remediation technology is to couple the electrokinetic method with an application of acoustic waves. This so-called Electro-Acoustic Soil Decontamination (EASD) method has been proposed by Battelle Columbus Labs.(Muralidhara et al. 1990). Simultaneous application of an electric field and an acoustic field may produce a synergistic effect and result in further enhancement of water transport by electro-osmosis in principle, but there is still no fundamental data for the design of EASD method in practical applications. A number of investigations have shown that an application of acoustic waves can increase hydraulic conductivity and mobility of non-aqueous phase liquids in porous media. Most of the prior and ongoing researches in this area have been focused on increasing production from declining oil and gas reservoirs. During several field tests by the oil and gas industries, increases in oil production rates by 20% or more have been reported. However, underlying physical mechanisms for acoustically enhanced fluid transport are not adequately understood. In addition, majority of the past investigations has dealt with applications of large amplitude of acoustic waves to relatively permeable soils or fractured rocks, and there is little information if acoustic wave effectively enhances flow and contaminant transport for less permeable clayey soils. To evaluate the feasibility of the EASD method and to obtain the fundamental but important knowledge for the design of this method, it is first necessary to understand the effects of acoustic wave application on pore water flow behavior. A new apparatus is developed to investigate the effects of acoustic wave on hydraulic properties of soil sample. This test apparatus enables to confine a cylindrical specimen under hydrostatic pressure conditions and to apply acoustic wave simultaneously. Preliminary results associated with the effects of acoustic wave frequency on changes of permeability of kaolin clay samples are illustrated in this report. A program investigating the effects of electricity and pore water chemistry on efficiency of decontamination using the same samples is also ongoing and briefly presented. The two strategies for enhancing the efficiency of remediation for low permeable soils will be combined in the near future

  18. Electric-field-induced structural changes in multilayer piezoelectric actuators during electrical and mechanical loading

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

    Esteves, Giovanni; Fancher, Chris M.; Röhrig, Sören

    The effects of electrical and mechanical loading on the behavior of domains and phases in Multilayer Piezoelectric Actuators (MAs) is studied using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (XRD) and macroscopic property measurements. Rietveld refinement is carried out on measured diffraction patterns using a two-phase tetragonal (P4mm) and rhombohedral (R3m) model. Applying an electric field promotes the rhombohedral phase, while increasing compressive uniaxial pre-stress prior to electric field application favors the tetragonal phase. The competition between electrical and mechanical energy leads to a maximal difference between electric-field-induced phase fractions at 70 MPa pre-stress. Additionally, the available volume fraction of non-180° domainmore » reorientation that can be accessed during electric field application increases with compressive pre-stress up to 70 MPa. The origin for enhanced strain and polarization with applied pre-stress is attributed to a combination of enhanced non-180° domain reorientation and electric-field-induced phase transitions. The suppression of both the electric-field-induced phase transitions and domain reorientation at high pre-stresses (>70 MPa) is attributed to a large mechanical energy barrier, and alludes to the competition of the electrical and mechanical energy within the MA during applied stimuli.« less

  19. Electric-field-induced structural changes in multilayer piezoelectric actuators during electrical and mechanical loading

    DOE PAGES

    Esteves, Giovanni; Fancher, Chris M.; Röhrig, Sören; ...

    2017-04-08

    The effects of electrical and mechanical loading on the behavior of domains and phases in Multilayer Piezoelectric Actuators (MAs) is studied using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (XRD) and macroscopic property measurements. Rietveld refinement is carried out on measured diffraction patterns using a two-phase tetragonal (P4mm) and rhombohedral (R3m) model. Applying an electric field promotes the rhombohedral phase, while increasing compressive uniaxial pre-stress prior to electric field application favors the tetragonal phase. The competition between electrical and mechanical energy leads to a maximal difference between electric-field-induced phase fractions at 70 MPa pre-stress. Additionally, the available volume fraction of non-180° domainmore » reorientation that can be accessed during electric field application increases with compressive pre-stress up to 70 MPa. The origin for enhanced strain and polarization with applied pre-stress is attributed to a combination of enhanced non-180° domain reorientation and electric-field-induced phase transitions. The suppression of both the electric-field-induced phase transitions and domain reorientation at high pre-stresses (>70 MPa) is attributed to a large mechanical energy barrier, and alludes to the competition of the electrical and mechanical energy within the MA during applied stimuli.« less

  20. The coil orientation dependency of the electric field induced by TMS for M1 and other brain areas.

    PubMed

    Janssen, Arno M; Oostendorp, Thom F; Stegeman, Dick F

    2015-05-17

    The effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) depends highly on the coil orientation relative to the subject's head. This implies that the direction of the induced electric field has a large effect on the efficiency of TMS. To improve future protocols, knowledge about the relationship between the coil orientation and the direction of the induced electric field on the one hand, and the head and brain anatomy on the other hand, seems crucial. Therefore, the induced electric field in the cortex as a function of the coil orientation has been examined in this study. The effect of changing the coil orientation on the induced electric field was evaluated for fourteen cortical targets. We used a finite element model to calculate the induced electric fields for thirty-six coil orientations (10 degrees resolution) per target location. The effects on the electric field due to coil rotation, in combination with target site anatomy, have been quantified. The results confirm that the electric field perpendicular to the anterior sulcal wall of the central sulcus is highly susceptible to coil orientation changes and has to be maximized for an optimal stimulation effect of the motor cortex. In order to obtain maximum stimulation effect in areas other than the motor cortex, the electric field perpendicular to the cortical surface in those areas has to be maximized as well. Small orientation changes (10 degrees) do not alter the induced electric field drastically. The results suggest that for all cortical targets, maximizing the strength of the electric field perpendicular to the targeted cortical surface area (and inward directed) optimizes the effect of TMS. Orienting the TMS coil based on anatomical information (anatomical magnetic resonance imaging data) about the targeted brain area can improve future results. The standard coil orientations, used in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, induce (near) optimal electric fields in the subject-specific head model in most cases.

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. Manipulation of a neutral and nonpolar nanoparticle in water using a nonuniform electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Zhen; Wang, Chunlei; Sheng, Nan; Hu, Guohui; Zhou, Zhewei; Fang, Haiping

    2016-01-01

    The manipulation of nanoparticles in water is of essential importance in chemical physics, nanotechnology, medical technology, and biotechnology applications. Generally, a particle with net charges or charge polarity can be driven by an electric field. However, many practical particles only have weak and even negligible charge and polarity, which hinders the electric field to exert a force large enough to drive these nanoparticles directly. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to show that a neutral and nonpolar nanoparticle in liquid water can be driven directionally by an external electric field. The directed motion benefits from a nonuniform water environment produced by a nonuniform external electric field, since lower water energies exist under a higher intensity electric field. The nanoparticle spontaneously moves toward locations with a weaker electric field intensity to minimize the energy of the whole system. Considering that the distance between adjacent regions of nonuniform field intensity can reach the micrometer scale, this finding provides a new mechanism of manipulating nanoparticles from the nanoscale to the microscale.

  5. General Matrix Inversion for the Calibration of Electric Field Sensor Arrays on Aircraft Platforms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mach, D. M.; Koshak, W. J.

    2006-01-01

    We have developed a matrix calibration procedure that uniquely relates the electric fields measured at the aircraft with the external vector electric field and net aircraft charge. Our calibration method is being used with all of our aircraft/electric field sensing combinations and can be generalized to any reasonable combination of electric field measurements and aircraft. We determine a calibration matrix that represents the individual instrument responses to the external electric field. The aircraft geometry and configuration of field mills (FMs) uniquely define the matrix. The matrix can then be inverted to determine the external electric field and net aircraft charge from the FM outputs. A distinct advantage of the method is that if one or more FMs need to be eliminated or de-emphasized (for example, due to a malfunction), it is a simple matter to reinvert the matrix without the malfunctioning FMs. To demonstrate our calibration technique, we present data from several of our aircraft programs (ER-2, DC-8, Altus, Citation).

  6. Exposure assessment of extremely low frequency electric fields in Tehran, Iran, 2010.

    PubMed

    Nassiri, Parvin; Esmaeilpour, Mohammad Reza Monazzam; Gharachahi, Ehsan; Haghighat, Gholamali; Yunesian, Masoud; Zaredar, Narges

    2013-01-01

    Extremely Low-Frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields belonging to the nonionizing electromagnetic radiation spectrum have a frequency of 50 - 60 Hz. All people are exposed to a complex set of electric and magnetic fields that spread throughout the environment. The current study was carried out to assess people's exposure to an ELF electric field in the Tehran metropolitan area in 2010. The measurement of the electronic fields was performed using an HI-3604 power frequency field strength measurement device. A total number of 2,753 measurements were performed. Afterward, the data obtained were transferred to the base map using Arc View Version 3.2 and Arc Map Version 9.3. Finally, an interpolation method was applied to expand the intensity of the electric field to the entire city. Based on the results obtained, the electric field was divided into three parts with various intensities including 0-5 V m, 5-15 V m, and >15 V m. It should be noted that the status of high voltage transmission lines, electric substations, and specific points including schools and hospitals were also marked on the map. Minimum and maximum electric field intensities were measured tantamount to 0.31 V m and 19.80 V m, respectively. In all measurements, the electric field was much less than the amount provided in the ICNIRP Guide. The results revealed that 141 hospitals and 6,905 schools are situated in an area with electric field intensity equal to 0-5 V m, while 15 hospitals and 95 schools are located in zones of 5-15 V m and more than 15 V m. Examining high voltage transmission lines and electric substations in Tehran and its suburbs suggested that the impact of the lines on the background electric field of the city was low. Accordingly, 0.97 km of Tehran located on the city border adjacent to the high voltage transmission lines have an electric field in the range of 5 to 15 V m. The noted range is much lower than the available standards. In summary, it can be concluded that the public is not exposed to a risky background electric field in metropolitan Tehran. The result of comparing sensitive recipients showed that the schools have a more desirable status than the hospitals. Nonetheless, epidemiologic studies can lead to more understanding of the impact on public health.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Microscopic Investigation into the Electric Field Effect on Proximity-Induced Magnetism in Pt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamada, K. T.; Suzuki, M.; Pradipto, A.-M.; Koyama, T.; Kim, S.; Kim, K.-J.; Ono, S.; Taniguchi, T.; Mizuno, H.; Ando, F.; Oda, K.; Kakizakai, H.; Moriyama, T.; Nakamura, K.; Chiba, D.; Ono, T.

    2018-04-01

    Electric field effects on magnetism in metals have attracted widespread attention, but the microscopic mechanism is still controversial. We experimentally show the relevancy between the electric field effect on magnetism and on the electronic structure in Pt in a ferromagnetic state using element-specific measurements: x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Electric fields are applied to the surface of ultrathin metallic Pt, in which a magnetic moment is induced by the ferromagnetic proximity effect resulting from a Co underlayer. XMCD and XAS measurements performed under the application of electric fields reveal that both the spin and orbital magnetic moments of Pt atoms are electrically modulated, which can be explained not only by the electric-field-induced shift of the Fermi level but also by the change in the orbital hybridizations.

  10. Modelling and assessment of the electric field strength caused by mobile phone to the human head.

    PubMed

    Buckus, Raimondas; Strukcinskiene, Birute; Raistenskis, Juozas; Stukas, Rimantas

    2016-06-01

    Electromagnetic field exposure is the one of the most important physical agents that actively affects live organisms and environment. Active use of mobile phones influences the increase of electromagnetic field radiation. The aim of the study was to measure and assess the electric field strength caused by mobile phones to the human head. In this paper the software "COMSOL Multiphysics" was used to establish the electric field strength created by mobile phones around the head. The second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile (GSM) phones that operate in the frequency band of 900 MHz and reach the power of 2 W have a stronger electric field than (2G) GSM mobile phones that operate in the higher frequency band of 1,800 MHz and reach the power up to 1 W during conversation. The third generation of (3G) UMTS smart phones that effectively use high (2,100 MHz) radio frequency band emit the smallest electric field strength values during conversation. The highest electric field strength created by mobile phones is around the ear, i.e. the mobile phone location. The strength of mobile phone electric field on the phantom head decreases exponentially while moving sidewards from the center of the effect zone (the ear), and constitutes 1-12% of the artificial head's surface. The highest electric field strength values of mobile phones are associated with their higher power, bigger specific energy absorption rate (SAR) and lower frequency of mobile phone. The stronger electric field emitted by the more powerful mobile phones takes a higher percentage of the head surface. The highest electric field strength created by mobile phones is distributed over the user's ear.

  11. Linear electric field time-of-flight ion mass spectrometer

    DOEpatents

    Funsten, Herbert O [Los Alamos, NM; Feldman, William C [Los Alamos, NM

    2008-06-10

    A linear electric field ion mass spectrometer having an evacuated enclosure with means for generating a linear electric field located in the evacuated enclosure and means for injecting a sample material into the linear electric field. A source of pulsed ionizing radiation injects ionizing radiation into the linear electric field to ionize atoms or molecules of the sample material, and timing means determine the time elapsed between ionization of atoms or molecules and arrival of an ion out of the ionized atoms or molecules at a predetermined position.

  12. Electric field effects on the optical properties of buckled GaAs monolayer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bahuguna, Bhagwati Prasad; Saini, L. K.; Sharma, Rajesh O.

    2018-04-01

    Buckled GaAs monolayer has a direct band gap semiconductor with energy gap of 1.31 eV in the absence of electric field. When we applied transverse electric field, the value of band gap decreases with increasing of electric field strength. In our previous work [1], it is observed that the buckled GaAs monolayer becomes metallic at 1.3 V/Å. In the present work, we investigate the optical properties such as photon energy-dependent dielectric functions, extinction coefficient, refractive index, absorption spectrum and reflectivity of buckled GaAs monolayer in the semiconducting phase i.e. absence of external electric field and metallic phase i.e. presence of external electric field using density functional theory.

  13. 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.

  14. Multipactor susceptibility on a dielectric with a bias dc electric field and a background gas

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

    Zhang Peng; Lau, Y. Y.; Franzi, Matthew

    2011-05-15

    We use Monte Carlo simulations and analytical calculations to derive the condition for the onset of multipactor discharge on a dielectric surface at various combinations of the bias dc electric field, rf electric field, and background pressures of noble gases, such as Argon. It is found that the presence of a tangential bias dc electric field on the dielectric surface lowers the magnitude of rf electric field threshold to initiate multipactor, therefore plausibly offering robust protection against high power microwaves. The presence of low pressure gases may lead to a lower multipactor saturation level, however. The combined effects of tangentialmore » dc electric field and external gases on multipactor susceptibility are presented.« less

  15. Electric field control of magnetic properties in FeRh/PMN-PT heterostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Yali; Zhan, Qingfeng; Shang, Tian; Yang, Huali; Liu, Yiwei; Wang, Baomin; Li, Run-Wei

    2018-05-01

    We investigated electric control of magnetic properties in FeRh/PMN-PT heterostructures. An electric field of 1 kV/cm applied on the PMN-PT substrate could increase the coercivity of FeRh film from 60 to 161 Oe at 360 K where the FeRh antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition occurs. The electric field dependent coercive field reveals a butterfly shape, indicating a strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling across the FeRh/PMN-PT interface. However, the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of FeRh is almost unchanged with the applied electric field on the PMN-PT substrate, which suggests the change of coercivity in FeRh films is mainly due to the shift of the magnetic transition temperature under the electric field.

  16. Measured electric field in the vicinity of a thunderstorm system at an altitude of 37 km

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benbrook, J. R.; Kern, J. W.; Sheldon, W. R.

    1974-01-01

    A balloon-borne experiment to measure the atmospheric electric field was flown from the National Scientific Balloon Facility at Palestine, Texas, on July 10, 1973. The electric field and atmospheric conductivity were measured during ascent and for a 4-hour float period at 37-km altitude. Termination of the flight occurred near a thunderstorm line in west Texas. The perturbing influence of the thunderstorms on the electric field was observed at least 100 km from the storm line. The measured electric field is in reasonable agreement with calculations based on simple models of cloud structure and atmospheric conductivity. Large pulses in the measured electric field are interpreted as being the result of intracloud lightning.

  17. Spontaneous pre-stimulus fluctuations in the activity of right fronto-parietal areas influence inhibitory control performance

    PubMed Central

    Chavan, Camille F.; Manuel, Aurelie L.; Mouthon, Michael; Spierer, Lucas

    2013-01-01

    Inhibitory control refers to the ability to suppress planned or ongoing cognitive or motor processes. Electrophysiological indices of inhibitory control failure have been found to manifest even before the presentation of the stimuli triggering the inhibition, suggesting that pre-stimulus brain-states modulate inhibition performance. However, previous electrophysiological investigations on the state-dependency of inhibitory control were based on averaged event-related potentials (ERPs), a method eliminating the variability in the ongoing brain activity not time-locked to the event of interest. These studies thus left unresolved whether spontaneous variations in the brain-state immediately preceding unpredictable inhibition-triggering stimuli also influence inhibitory control performance. To address this question, we applied single-trial EEG topographic analyses on the time interval immediately preceding NoGo stimuli in conditions where the responses to NoGo trials were correctly inhibited [correct rejection (CR)] vs. committed [false alarms (FAs)] during an auditory spatial Go/NoGo task. We found a specific configuration of the EEG voltage field manifesting more frequently before correctly inhibited responses to NoGo stimuli than before FAs. There was no evidence for an EEG topography occurring more frequently before FAs than before CR. The visualization of distributed electrical source estimations of the EEG topography preceding successful response inhibition suggested that it resulted from the activity of a right fronto-parietal brain network. Our results suggest that the fluctuations in the ongoing brain activity immediately preceding stimulus presentation contribute to the behavioral outcomes during an inhibitory control task. Our results further suggest that the state-dependency of sensory-cognitive processing might not only concern perceptual processes, but also high-order, top-down inhibitory control mechanisms. PMID:23761747

  18. Characteristics of DC electric fields at dipolarization fronts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laakso, Harri; Escoubet, Philippe; Masson, Arnaud

    2016-04-01

    We investigate the characteristics of DC electric field at dipolarization fronts and BBF's using multi-point Cluster observations. There are plenty of important issues that are considered, such as what kind of DC electric fields exist in such events and what are their spatial scales. One can also recognize if electrons and ions perform ExB drift motions in these events. To investigate this, we take an advantage of five different DC electric field measurements in the plasma sheet available from the EFW double probe experiment, EDI electron drift instrument, CODIF and HIA ion spectrometers, and PEACE electron spectrometer. The calibrated observations of the three spectrometers are used to determine the proton and electron drift velocity and furthermore the DC electric field, assuming that the electron and proton velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field is dominated by the ExB drift motion. Naturally when ions and electrons do not perform a proper drift motion, which can happen in the plasma sheet, the estimated DC electric field from ion and electron motion is not correct. However, surprisingly often the DC electric fields estimated from electron and ion motions are identical suggesting that this field is a real DC electric field around the measurement point. This investigation also helps understand how well different measurements are calibrated.

  19. Gate control of quantum dot-based electron spin-orbit qubits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Shudong; Cheng, Liwen; Yu, Huaguang; Wang, Qiang

    2018-07-01

    We investigate theoretically the coherent spin dynamics of gate control of quantum dot-based electron spin-orbit qubits subjected to a tilted magnetic field under electric-dipole spin resonance (EDSR). Our results reveal that Rabi oscillation of qubit states can be manipulated electrically based on rapid gate control of SOC strength. The Rabi frequency is strongly dependent on the gate-induced electric field, the strength and orientation of the applied magnetic field. There are two major EDSR mechanisms. One arises from electric field-induced spin-orbit hybridization, and the other arises from magnetic field-induced energy-level crossing. The SOC introduced by the gate-induced electric field allows AC electric fields to drive coherent Rabi oscillations between spin-up and -down states. After the crossing of the energy-levels with the magnetic field, the spin-transfer crossing results in Rabi oscillation irrespective of whether or not the external electric field is present. The spin-orbit qubit is transferred into the orbit qubit. Rabi oscillation is anisotropic and periodic with respect to the tilted and in-plane orientation of the magnetic field originating from the interplay of the SOC, orbital, and Zeeman effects. The strong electrically-controlled SOC strength suggests the possibility for scalable applications of gate-controllable spin-orbit qubits.

  20. Mars Atmospheric Chemistry in Electrified Dust Devils and Storms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Farrell, W. M.; Delory, G. T.; Atreya, S. K.; Wong, A.-S.; Renno, N. O.; Sentmann, D. D.; Marshall, J. G.; Cummer, S. A.; Rafkin, S.; Catling, D.

    2005-01-01

    Laboratory studies, simulations and desert field tests all indicate that aeolian mixing dust can generate electricity via contact electrification or "triboelectricity". In convective structures like dust devils or storms, grain stratification (or charge separation) occurs giving rise to an overall electric dipole moment to the aeolian feature, similar in nature to the dipolar electric field generated in terrestrial thunderstorms. Previous simulation studies [1] indicate that this storm electric field on Mars can approach atmospheric breakdown field strength of 20 kV/m. In terrestrial dust devils, coherent dipolar electric fields exceeding 20 kV/m have been measured directly via electric field instrumentation. Given the expected electrostatic fields in Martian dust devils and storms, electrons in the low pressure CO2 gas can be energized via the electric field to values exceeding the electron dissociative attachment energy of both CO2 and H2O, resulting in the formation of new chemical products CO and O- and OH and H- within the storm. Using a collisional plasma physics model we present a calculation of the CO/O- and OH/H- reaction and production rates. We demonstrate that these rates vary geometrically with ambient electric field, with substantial production of dissociative products when fields approach breakdown levels of 20-30 kV/m.

  1. In-situ electric field in human body model in different postures for wireless power transfer system in an electrical vehicle.

    PubMed

    Shimamoto, Takuya; Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa

    2015-01-07

    The in-situ electric field of an adult male model in different postures is evaluated for exposure to the magnetic field leaked from a wireless power transfer system in an electrical vehicle. The transfer system is located below the centre of the vehicle body and the transferred power and frequency are 7 kW and 85 kHz, respectively. The in-situ electric field is evaluated for a human model (i) crouching near the vehicle, (ii) lying on the ground with or without his arm stretched, (iii) sitting in the driver's seat, and (iv) standing on a transmitting coil without a receiving coil. In each scenario, the maximum in-situ electric fields are lower than the allowable limit prescribed by international guidelines, although the local magnetic field strength in regions of the human body is higher than the allowable external magnetic field strength. The highest in-situ electric field is observed when the human body model is placed on the ground with his arm extended toward the coils, because of a higher magnetic field around the arm.

  2. RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE CITY OF RAMALLAH-PALESTINE.

    PubMed

    Abuasbi, Falastine; Lahham, Adnan; Abdel-Raziq, Issam Rashid

    2018-04-01

    This study was focused on the measurement of residential exposure to power frequency (50-Hz) electric and magnetic fields in the city of Ramallah-Palestine. A group of 32 semi-randomly selected residences distributed amongst the city were under investigations of fields variations. Measurements were performed with the Spectrum Analyzer NF-5035 and were carried out at one meter above ground level in the residence's bedroom or living room under both zero and normal-power conditions. Fields' variations were recorded over 6-min and some times over few hours. Electric fields under normal-power use were relatively low; ~59% of residences experienced mean electric fields <10 V/m. The highest mean electric field of 66.9 V/m was found at residence R27. However, electric field values were log-normally distributed with geometric mean and geometric standard deviation of 9.6 and 3.5 V/m, respectively. Background electric fields measured under zero-power use, were very low; ~80% of residences experienced background electric fields <1 V/m. Under normal-power use, the highest mean magnetic field (0.45 μT) was found at residence R26 where an indoor power substation exists. However, ~81% of residences experienced mean magnetic fields <0.1 μT. Magnetic fields measured inside the 32 residences showed also a log-normal distribution with geometric mean and geometric standard deviation of 0.04 and 3.14 μT, respectively. Under zero-power conditions, ~7% of residences experienced average background magnetic field >0.1 μT. Fields from appliances showed a maximum mean electric field of 67.4 V/m from hair dryer, and maximum mean magnetic field of 13.7 μT from microwave oven. However, no single result surpassed the ICNIRP limits for general public exposures to ELF fields, but still, the interval 0.3-0.4 μT for possible non-thermal health impacts of exposure to ELF magnetic fields, was experienced in 13% of the residences.

  3. Electrorotation of a metal sphere immersed in an electrolyte of finite Debye length.

    PubMed

    García-Sánchez, Pablo; Ramos, Antonio

    2015-11-01

    We theoretically study the rotation induced on a metal sphere immersed in an electrolyte and subjected to a rotating electric field. The rotation arises from the interaction of the field with the electric charges induced at the metal-electrolyte interface, i.e., the induced electrical double layer (EDL). Particle rotation is due to the torque on the induced dipole, and also from induced-charge electro-osmostic flow (ICEO). The interaction of the electric field with the induced dipole on the system gives rise to counterfield rotation, i.e., the direction opposite to the rotation of the electric field. ICEO generates co-field rotation of the sphere. For thin EDL, ICEO generates negligible rotation. For increasing size of EDL, co-field rotation appears and, in the limit of very thick EDL, it compensates the counter-field rotation induced by the electrical torque. We also report computations of the rotating fluid velocity field around the sphere.

  4. Consistency restrictions on maximal electric-field strength in quantum field theory.

    PubMed

    Gavrilov, S P; Gitman, D M

    2008-09-26

    Quantum field theory with an external background can be considered as a consistent model only if backreaction is relatively small with respect to the background. To find the corresponding consistency restrictions on an external electric field and its duration in QED and QCD, we analyze the mean-energy density of quantized fields for an arbitrary constant electric field E, acting during a large but finite time T. Using the corresponding asymptotics with respect to the dimensionless parameter eET2, one can see that the leading contributions to the energy are due to the creation of particles by the electric field. Assuming that these contributions are small in comparison with the energy density of the electric background, we establish the above-mentioned restrictions, which determine, in fact, the time scales from above of depletion of an electric field due to the backreaction.

  5. An investigation into electromagnetic force models: differences in global and local effects demonstrated by selected problems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reich, Felix A.; Rickert, Wilhelm; Müller, Wolfgang H.

    2018-03-01

    This study investigates the implications of various electromagnetic force models in macroscopic situations. There is an ongoing academic discussion which model is "correct," i.e., generally applicable. Often, gedankenexperiments with light waves or photons are used in order to motivate certain models. In this work, three problems with bodies at the macroscopic scale are used for computing theoretical model-dependent predictions. Two aspects are considered, total forces between bodies and local deformations. By comparing with experimental data, insight is gained regarding the applicability of the models. First, the total force between two cylindrical magnets is computed. Then a spherical magnetostriction problem is considered to show different deformation predictions. As a third example focusing on local deformations, a droplet of silicone oil in castor oil is considered, placed in a homogeneous electric field. By using experimental data, some conclusions are drawn and further work is motivated.

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

    Wilder, Todd; Moragne, Corliss L.

    The City of Tallahassee's Innovative Energy Initiatives program sought, first, to evaluate customer response and acceptance to in-home Smart Meter-enabled technologies that allow customers intelligent control of their energy usage. Additionally, this project is in furtherance of the City of Tallahassee's ongoing efforts to expand and enhance the City's Smart Grid capacity and give consumers more tools with which to effectively manage their energy consumption. This enhancement would become possible by establishing an "operations or command center" environment that would be designed as a dual use facility for the City's employees - field and network staff - and systems responsiblemore » for a Smart Grid network. A command center would also support the City's Office of Electric Delivery and Energy Reliability's objective to overcome barriers to the deployment of new technologies that will ensure a truly modern and robust grid capable of meeting the demands of the 2151 century.« less

  7. Low-power polling mode of the next-generation IMES2 implantable wireless EMG sensor.

    PubMed

    DeMichele, Glenn A; Hu, Zhe; Troyk, Philip R; Chen, Hongnan; Weir, Richard F ff

    2014-01-01

    The IMES1 Implantable MyoElectric Sensor device is currently in human clinical trials led by the Alfred Mann Foundation. The IMES is implanted in a residual limb and is powered wirelessly using a magnetic field. EMG signals resulting from the amputee's voluntary movement are amplified and transmitted wirelessly by the IMES to an external controller which controls movement of an external motorized prosthesis. Development of the IMES technology is on-going, producing the next-generation IMES2. Among various improvements, a new feature of the IMES2 is a low-power polling mode. In this low-power mode, the IMES2 power consumption can be dramatically reduced when the limb is inactive through the use of a polled sampling. With the onset of EMG activity, the IMES2 system can switch to the normal higher sample rate to allow the acquisition of high-fidelity EMG data for prosthesis control.

  8. Low-Power Polling Mode of the Next-Generation IMES2 Implantable Wireless EMG Sensor

    PubMed Central

    DeMichele, Glenn A.; Hu, Zhe; Troyk, Philip R.; Chen, Hongnan; Weir, Richard F. ff.

    2015-01-01

    The IMES1 Implantable MyoElectric Sensor device is currently in human clinical trials led by the Alfred Mann Foundation. The IMES is implanted in a residual limb and is powered wirelessly using a magnetic field. EMG signals resulting from the amputee’s voluntary movement are amplified and transmitted wirelessly by the IMES to an external controller which controls movement of an external motorized prosthesis. Development of the IMES technology is on-going, producing the next-generation IMES2. Among various improvements, a new feature of the IMES2 is a lowpower polling mode. In this low-power mode, the IMES2 power consumption can be dramatically reduced when the limb is inactive through the use of a polled sampling. With the onset of EMG activity, the IMES2 system can switch to the normal higher sample rate to allow the acquisition of high-fidelity EMG data for prosthesis control. PMID:25570642

  9. MPD Thruster Performance Analytic Models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gilland, James; Johnston, Geoffrey

    2003-01-01

    Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters are capable of accelerating quasi-neutral plasmas to high exhaust velocities using Megawatts (MW) of electric power. These characteristics make such devices worthy of consideration for demanding, far-term missions such as the human exploration of Mars or beyond. Assessment of MPD thrusters at the system and mission level is often difficult due to their status as ongoing experimental research topics rather than developed thrusters. However, in order to assess MPD thrusters utility in later missions, some adequate characterization of performance, or more exactly, projected performance, and system level definition are required for use in analyses. The most recent physical models of self-field MPD thrusters have been examined, assessed, and reconfigured for use by systems and mission analysts. The physical models allow for rational projections of thruster performance based on physical parameters that can be measured in the laboratory. The models and their implications for the design of future MPD thrusters are presented.

  10. MPD Thruster Performance Analytic Models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gilland, James; Johnston, Geoffrey

    2007-01-01

    Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters are capable of accelerating quasi-neutral plasmas to high exhaust velocities using Megawatts (MW) of electric power. These characteristics make such devices worthy of consideration for demanding, far-term missions such as the human exploration of Mars or beyond. Assessment of MPD thrusters at the system and mission level is often difficult due to their status as ongoing experimental research topics rather than developed thrusters. However, in order to assess MPD thrusters utility in later missions, some adequate characterization of performance, or more exactly, projected performance, and system level definition are required for use in analyses. The most recent physical models of self-field MPD thrusters have been examined, assessed, and reconfigured for use by systems and mission analysts. The physical models allow for rational projections of thruster performance based on physical parameters that can be measured in the laboratory. The models and their implications for the design of future MPD thrusters are presented.

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

    Staliulionis, Ž.; Jabbari, M.; Hattel, J. H.

    The number of electronics used in outdoor environment is constantly growing. The humidity causes about 19 % of all electronics failures and, especially, moisture increases these problems due to the ongoing process of miniaturization and lower power consumption of electronic components. Moisture loads are still not understood well by design engineers, therefore this field has become one of the bottlenecks in the electronics system design. The objective of this paper is to model moisture ingress into an electronics enclosure under isothermal conditions. The moisture diffusion model is based on a 1D quasi-steady state (QSS) approximation for Fick’s second law. Thismore » QSS approach is also described with an electrical analogy which gives a fast tool in modelling of the moisture response. The same QSS method is applied to ambient water vapour variations. The obtained results are compared to an analytical solution and very good agreement is found.« less

  12. Achievement and improvement of the JT-60U negative ion source for JT-60 Super Advanced (invited)

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

    Kojima, A.; Hanada, M.; Tanaka, Y.

    2010-02-15

    Developments of the large negative ion source have been progressed in the high-energy, high-power, and long-pulse neutral beam injector for JT-60 Super Advanced. Countermeasures have been studied and tested for critical issues of grid heat load and voltage holding capability. As for the heat load of the acceleration grids, direct interception of D{sup -} ions was reduced by adjusting the beamlet steering. As a result, the heat load was reduced below an allowable level for long-pulse injections. As for the voltage holding capability, local electric field was mitigated by tuning gap lengths between large-area acceleration grids in the accelerator. Asmore » a result, the voltage holding capability was improved up to the rated value of 500 kV. To investigate the voltage holding capability during beam acceleration, the beam acceleration test is ongoing with new extended gap.« less

  13. A percolation approach to study the high electric field effect on electrical conductivity of insulating polymer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benallou, Amina; Hadri, Baghdad; Martinez-Vega, Juan; El Islam Boukortt, Nour

    2018-04-01

    The effect of percolation threshold on the behaviour of electrical conductivity at high electric field of insulating polymers has been briefly investigated in literature. Sometimes the dead ends links are not taken into account in the study of the electric field effect on the electrical properties. In this work, we present a theoretical framework and Monte Carlo simulation of the behaviour of the electric conductivity at high electric field based on the percolation theory using the traps energies levels which are distributed according to distribution law (uniform, Gaussian, and power-law). When a solid insulating material is subjected to a high electric field, and during trapping mechanism the dead ends of traps affect with decreasing the electric conductivity according to the traps energies levels, the correlation length of the clusters, the length of the dead ends, and the concentration of the accessible positions for the electrons. A reasonably good agreement is obtained between simulation results and the theoretical framework.

  14. Contribution of storm time substorms to the prompt electric field disturbances in the equatorial ionosphere

    DOE PAGES

    Hui, Debrup; Chakrabarty, D.; Sekar, R.; ...

    2017-05-08

    This study tries to bring out the fact that storm time substorms can compete and at times significantly contribute to the geomagnetically disturbed time prompt penetration electric field effects on low and equatorial latitudes. Observations of unusual equatorial plasma drift data from Jicamarca Unattended Long-term Investigations of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere during two space weather events show that substorms can induce both eastward and westward penetration electric fields under steady southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF B z) conditions. During the first event on 2 January 2005, the enhancement of the daytime eastward electric field over Jicamarca due to substorm ismore » found to be comparable with the Sq and interplanetary electric field (IEFy) generated electric fields combined. During the second event on 19 August 2006, the substorm is seen to weaken the daytime eastward field thereby inducing a westward field in spite of the absence of northward turning of IMF B z (overshielding). The westward electric field perturbation in the absence of any overshielding events is observationally sparse and contrary to the earlier results. Further, the substorm-induced field is found to be strong enough to compete or almost nullify the effects of storm time IEFy fields. This study also shows quantitatively that at times substorm contribution to the disturbed time prompt electric fields can be significant and thus should be taken into consideration in evaluating penetration events over low latitudes.« less

  15. Contribution of storm time substorms to the prompt electric field disturbances in the equatorial ionosphere

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

    Hui, Debrup; Chakrabarty, D.; Sekar, R.

    This study tries to bring out the fact that storm time substorms can compete and at times significantly contribute to the geomagnetically disturbed time prompt penetration electric field effects on low and equatorial latitudes. Observations of unusual equatorial plasma drift data from Jicamarca Unattended Long-term Investigations of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere during two space weather events show that substorms can induce both eastward and westward penetration electric fields under steady southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF B z) conditions. During the first event on 2 January 2005, the enhancement of the daytime eastward electric field over Jicamarca due to substorm ismore » found to be comparable with the Sq and interplanetary electric field (IEFy) generated electric fields combined. During the second event on 19 August 2006, the substorm is seen to weaken the daytime eastward field thereby inducing a westward field in spite of the absence of northward turning of IMF B z (overshielding). The westward electric field perturbation in the absence of any overshielding events is observationally sparse and contrary to the earlier results. Further, the substorm-induced field is found to be strong enough to compete or almost nullify the effects of storm time IEFy fields. This study also shows quantitatively that at times substorm contribution to the disturbed time prompt electric fields can be significant and thus should be taken into consideration in evaluating penetration events over low latitudes.« less

  16. Relationship Between the Global Electric Circuit and Electrified Cloud Parameters at Diurnal, Seasonal and Interannual Timescales

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lavigne, Thomas

    In the early 1900's, J.W. Whipple began validating C.R. Wilson's Global Electric Circuit (GEC) hypothesis by correlating diurnal variations of global thunder days with diurnal variations of the fair weather electric field. This study applies 16+ years of Precipitation Feature (PF) data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), including lightning data from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), alongside 12-years of electric field measurements from Vostok, Antarctica to further examine this relationship. Joint diurnal-seasonal variations of the electric field are compared with PF parameters that are potentially related to the GEC. The flash rate and volume of 30 dBZ between -5°C and -35°C variables are shown to have the best direct relationship to the electric field, with r2 values of 0.67 and 0.62, respectively. However, the Coefficient of Variation (COV) of the flash rate (28%) and the electric field (12%), display relatively large differences in the spread of the variables. The volume of 30 dBZ between -5°C and -35°C shows a closer amplitude agreement to the variance of the electric field (COV=17%). Furthermore, these relationships are analyzed during two different phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Results show different seasonal-diurnal variations of the electric field during ENSO phases, with enhancements in the electric field between January through April at 16-24 UTC in La Nina years. In all, similar variations have been found in the fair weather electric field, and the variation of properties of global PFs with high potential of electrification at diurnal, seasonal, and interannual timescales. These confirm the dominant role of the global thunderclouds and electrified clouds in the global electric circuit.

  17. Electronic Properties of SiNTs Under External Electric and Magnetic Fields Using the Tight-Binding Method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh

    2014-02-01

    We investigated the electronic properties of silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) under external transverse electric fields and axial magnetic fields using the tight-binding approximation. It was found that, after switching on the electric and magnetic fields, band modifications such as distortion of degeneracy, change in energy dispersion and subband spacing, and bandgap size reduction occur. The bandgap of silicon gear-like nanotubes (Si g-NTs) decreases linearly with increasing electric field strength, but the bandgap for silicon hexagonal nanotubes (Si h-NTs) first increases and then decreases (metallic) or first remains constant and then decreases (semiconducting). Our results show that the bandgap of Si h-NTs is very sensitive to both electric and magnetic fields, unlike Si g-NTs, which are more sensitive to electric than magnetic fields.

  18. High-frequency electric field measurement using a toroidal antenna

    DOEpatents

    Lee, Ki Ha

    2002-01-01

    A simple and compact method and apparatus for detecting high frequency electric fields, particularly in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz, uses a compact toroidal antenna. For typical geophysical applications the sensor will be used to detect electric fields for a wide range of spectrum starting from about 1 MHz, in particular in the frequency range between 1 to 100 MHz, to detect small objects in the upper few meters of the ground. Time-varying magnetic fields associated with time-varying electric fields induce an emf (voltage) in a toroidal coil. The electric field at the center of (and perpendicular to the plane of) the toroid is shown to be linearly related to this induced voltage. By measuring the voltage across a toroidal coil one can easily and accurately determine the electric field.

  19. Vector electric field measurement via position-modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dwyer, Ryan P.; Smieska, Louisa M.; Tirmzi, Ali Moeed; Marohn, John A.

    2017-10-01

    High-quality spatially resolved measurements of electric fields are critical to understanding charge injection, charge transport, and charge trapping in semiconducting materials. Here, we report a variation of frequency-modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy that enables spatially resolved measurements of the electric field. We measure electric field components along multiple directions simultaneously by employing position modulation and lock-in detection in addition to numeric differentiation of the surface potential. We demonstrate the technique by recording linescans of the in-plane electric field vector in the vicinity of a patch of trapped charge in a 2,7-diphenyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (DPh-BTBT) organic field-effect transistor. This technique is simple to implement and should be especially useful for studying electric fields in spatially inhomogeneous samples like organic transistors and photovoltaic blends.

  20. Externally applied electric fields up to 1.6 × 10(5) V/m do not affect the homogeneous nucleation of ice in supercooled water.

    PubMed

    Stan, Claudiu A; Tang, Sindy K Y; Bishop, Kyle J M; Whitesides, George M

    2011-02-10

    The freezing of water can initiate at electrically conducting electrodes kept at a high electric potential or at charged electrically insulating surfaces. The microscopic mechanisms of these phenomena are unknown, but they must involve interactions between water molecules and electric fields. This paper investigates the effect of uniform electric fields on the homogeneous nucleation of ice in supercooled water. Electric fields were applied across drops of water immersed in a perfluorinated liquid using a parallel-plate capacitor; the drops traveled in a microchannel and were supercooled until they froze due to the homogeneous nucleation of ice. The distribution of freezing temperatures of drops depended on the rate of nucleation of ice, and the sensitivity of measurements allowed detection of changes by a factor of 1.5 in the rate of nucleation. Sinusoidal alternation of the electric field at frequencies from 3 to 100 kHz prevented free ions present in water from screening the electric field in the bulk of drops. Uniform electric fields in water with amplitudes up to (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10(5) V/m neither enhanced nor suppressed the homogeneous nucleation of ice. Estimations based on thermodynamic models suggest that fields in the range of 10(7)-10(8) V/m might cause an observable increase in the rate of nucleation.

  1. Laser-assisted electron tunneling in a STM junction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Shunhua Thomas

    2000-10-01

    Since its introduction in 1981, the Nobel prize-winning scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has been developed into a powerful yet conceptually simple instrument, replacing traditional scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM/TEM) in many of the microscopic surface phenomenon studies. The strength of the STM stems from the sensitive tunneling current-potential barrier width relationship of the electron tunneling process, and has been used to re-examine the frequency-mixing and harmonic generation properties of an non-linear metal- oxide-metal (MOM) tunneling junction. In this research, electron-tunneling events under polarized laser radiation at 514.5-nm argon and 10.6-μm carbon dioxide laser wavelengths were investigated. The objective is to understand the underlying interactive mechanisms between the tunneling junction and the external laser excitation. A commercial scanning tunneling microscope head and controller were incorporated into the experimental setup. Operation characteristics and the electrical properties of the STM junction were determined. Tunneling current and distance responses with respect to different laser polarization, modulation frequency, incident power, and tunneling distance were also conducted. From the experimental results it is shown that thermal expansion effect was the dominant source of response for laser modulation frequency up to about 100 kHz, in quantitative agreement with theoretical calculations. Different laser polarizations as the experiments demonstrated did not contribute significantly to the STM response in the investigated frequency range. The electric field induced by the laser beam was calculated to be one to two order of magnitudes lower than the field required to initiate field emission where the tunneling junction I- V curve is most non-linear. Also, the electrical coupling of the incident laser at the STM junction was determined to be non-critical at visible laser wavelength, and the reflected laser energy from the sample re-entering the junction was shown to be weak and did not influence the ongoing electron tunneling process. In conclusion, the thermal expansion of the physical tunneling junction was found to be responsible to the tunneling current modulation in a laser - STM setup for laser modulation frequencies in the lower frequency range.

  2. Modelling Near-Surface Metallic Clutter Without the Excruciating Pain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Downs, C. M.; Weiss, C. J.; Bach, J.; Williams, J. T.

    2016-12-01

    An ongoing problem in modeling electromagnetic (EM) interactions with the near-surface and related anthropogenic metal clutter is the large difference in length scale between the clutter dimensions and their resulting EM response. For example, observational evidence shows that cables, pipes and rail lines can have a strong influence far from where they are located, even in situations where these artefacts are volumetrically insignificant over the scale of the model. This poses a significant modeling problem for understanding geohazards in urban environments, for example, because of the very fine numerical discretization required for accurate representation of an artefact embedded in a larger computational domain. We adopt a sub-grid approximation and impose a boundary condition along grid edges to capture the vanishing fields of a perfect conductor. We work in a Cartesian system where the EM fields are solved via finite volumes in the frequency domain in terms of the Lorenz gauged magnetic vector (A) and electric scalar (Phi) potentials. The electric fied is given simply by A-grad(Phi), and set identically to zero along edges of the mesh that coincide with the center of long, slender metallic conductors. A simple extension to bulky artefacts like blocks or slabs involves endowing all such edges in their interior with the same "internal" boundary condition. In essence, we apply the "perfect electric conductor" boundary condition to select edges interior to the modeling domain. We note a few minor numerical consequences of this approach, namely: the zero-E field internal boundary condition destroys the symmetry of the finite volume coefficient matrix; and, the accuracy of the representation of the conducting artefact is restricted by the relatively coarse discretization mesh. The former is overcome with the use of preconditioned bi-conjugate gradient methods instead of the quasi-minimal-residual method. Both are matrix-free iterative solvers - thus avoiding unnecessary storage- and both exhibit generally good convergence for well-posed problems. The latter is more difficult to overcome without either modifying the mesh (potentially degrading the condition number of the coefficient matrix) or with novel mesh sub-gridding. Initial results show qualitative agreement with the expected physics.

  3. Electric field generated by longitudinal axial microtubule vibration modes with high spatial resolution microtubule model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cifra, M.; Havelka, D.; Deriu, M. A.

    2011-12-01

    Microtubules are electrically polar structures fulfilling prerequisites for generation of oscillatory electric field in the kHz to GHz region. Energy supply for excitation of elasto-electrical vibrations in microtubules may be provided from GTP-hydrolysis; motor protein-microtubule interactions; and energy efflux from mitochondria. It recently was determined from anisotropic elastic network modeling of entire microtubules that the frequencies of microtubule longitudinal axial eigenmodes lie in the region of tens of GHz for the physiologically common microtubule lengths. We calculated electric field generated by axial longitudinal vibration modes of microtubule, which model is based on subnanometer precision of charge distribution. Due to elastoelectric nature of the vibrations, the vibration wavelength is million-fold shorter than that of the electromagnetic field in free space and the electric field around the microtubule manifests rich spatial structure with multiple minima. The dielectrophoretic force exerted by electric field on the surrounding molecules will influence the kinetics of reactions via change in the probability of the transport of charge and mass particles. The electric field generated by vibrations of electrically polar cellular structures is expected to play a role in biological self-organization.

  4. Separation of Electric Fields Into Potential and Inductive Parts, and Implications for Radial Diffusion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, A. A.; Ilie, R.; Elkington, S. R.; Albert, J.; Huie, W.

    2017-12-01

    It has been traditional to separate radiation belt radial-diffusion coefficients into two contributions: an "electrostatic" diffusion coefficient, which is assumed to be due to a potential (non-inductive) electric field, and an "electromagnetic" diffusion coefficient , which is assumed to be due to the combined effect of an inductive electric field and the corresponding time-dependent magnetic field. One difficulty in implementing this separation when using magnetospheric fields obtained from measurements, or from MHD simulations, is that only the total electric field is given; the separation of the electric field into potential and inductive parts is not readily available. In this work we separate the electric field using a numerical method based on the Helmholtz decomposition of the total motional electric field calculated by the BATS-R-US MHD code. The inner boundary for the electric potential is based on the Ridley Ionospheric Model solution and we assume floating boundary conditions in the solar wind. Using different idealized solar wind drivers, including a solar wind density that is oscillating at a single frequency or with a broad spectrum of frequencies, we calculate potential and inductive electric fields, electric and magnetic power spectral densities, and corresponding radial diffusion coefficients. Simulations driven by idealized solar wind conditions show a clear separation of the potential and inductive contributions to the power spectral densities and diffusion coefficients. Simulations with more realistic solar wind drivers are underway to better assess the use of electrostatic and electromagnetic diffusion coefficients in understanding ULF wave-particle interactions in Earth's radiation belts.

  5. Porous stabilized beds, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same

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

    Klausner, James F.; Mei, Renwei; Momen, Ayyoub Mehdizadeh

    Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a first particle in a reactor; the first particle being a magnetic particle or a particle that can be influenced by a magnetic field, an electric field or a combination of an electrical field and a magnetic field; fluidizing the first particle in the reactor; applying a uniform magnetic field, a uniform electrical field or a combination of a uniform magnetic field and a uniform electrical field to the reactor; elevating the temperature of the reactor; and fusing the first particles to form a monolithic solid.

  6. One-dimensional nonlinear instability study of a slightly viscoelastic, perfectly conducting liquid jet under a radial electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Fang; Yin, Xie-Yuan; Yin, Xie-Zhen

    2016-05-01

    A one-dimensional electrified viscoelastic model is built to study the nonlinear behavior of a slightly viscoelastic, perfectly conducting liquid jet under a radial electric field. The equations are solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme together with a boundary element method. The electrified viscoelastic jet is found to evolve into a beads-on-string structure in the presence of the radial electric field. Although the radial electric field greatly enhances the linear instability of the jet, its influence on the decay of the filament thickness is limited during the nonlinear evolution of the jet. On the other hand, the radial electric field induces axial non-uniformity of the first normal stress difference within the filament. The first normal stress difference in the center region of the filament may be greatly decreased by the radial electric field. The regions with/without satellite droplets are illuminated on the χ (the electrical Bond number)-k (the dimensionless wave number) plane. Satellite droplets may be formed for larger wave numbers at larger radial electric fields.

  7. Interaction of excitable waves emitted from two defects by pulsed electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Jiang-Xing; Zhang, Han; Qiao, Li-Yan; Liang, Hong; Sun, Wei-Gang

    2018-01-01

    In response to a pulsed electric field, spatial distributed heterogeneities in excitable media can serve as nucleation sites for the generation of intramural electrical waves, a phenomenon called as ;wave emission from heterogeneities; (WEH effect). Heterogeneities in cardiac tissue strongly influence each other in the WEH effect. We study the WEH effect in a medium possessing two defects. The role of two defects and their interaction by pulsed DC electric fields (DEF) and rotating electric fields (REF) are investigated. The direction of the applied electric field plays a major role not only in the minimum electrical field necessary to originate wave propagation, but also in the degree of influences of nearby defects. The distance between two defects, i.e. the density of defects, also play an important role in the WEH effect. Generally, the REF is better than the DEF when pulsed electric fields are applied. These results may contribute to the improved application of WEH, especially in older patients with fibrosis and scarring, which are accompanied by a higher incidence of conductivity discontinuities.

  8. Formation of Organized Protein Thin Films with External Electric Field.

    PubMed

    Ferreira, Cecília Fabiana da G; Camargo, Paulo C; Benelli, Elaine M

    2015-10-01

    The effect of an external electric field on the formation of protein GlnB-Hs films and on its buffer solution on siliconized glass slides has been analyzed by current versus electric field curves and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Herbaspirillum seropedicae GlnB protein (GlnB-Hs) is a globular, soluble homotrimer (36 kDa) with its 3-D structure previously determined. Concentrations of 10 nM native denatured GlnB-Hs protein were deposited on siliconized glass slides under ambient conditions. Immediately after solution deposition a maximum electric field of 30 kV/m was applied with rates of 3 V/s. The measured currents were surface currents and were analyzed as transport current. Electric current started to flow only after a minimum electric field (critical value) for the systems analyzed. The AFM images showed films with a high degree of directional organization only when the proteins were present in the solution. These results showed that the applied electric field favored directional organization of the protein GlnB-Hs films and may contribute to understand the formation of protein films under applied electric fields.

  9. Evaluation of DC electric field distribution of PPLP specimen based on the measurement of electrical conductivity in LN2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hwang, Jae-Sang; Seong, Jae-Kyu; Shin, Woo-Ju; Lee, Jong-Geon; Cho, Jeon-Wook; Ryoo, Hee-Suk; Lee, Bang-Wook

    2013-11-01

    High temperature superconducting (HTS) cable has been paid much attention due to its high efficiency and high current transportation capability, and it is also regarded as eco-friendly power cable for the next generation. Especially for DC HTS cable, it has more sustainable and stable properties compared to AC HTS cable due to the absence of AC loss in DC HTS cable. Recently, DC HTS cable has been investigated competitively all over the world, and one of the key components of DC HTS cable to be developed is a cable joint box considering HVDC environment. In order to achieve the optimum insulation design of the joint box, analysis of DC electric field distribution of the joint box is a fundamental process to develop DC HTS cable. Generally, AC electric field distribution depends on relative permittivity of dielectric materials but in case of DC, electrical conductivity of dielectric material is a dominant factor which determines electric field distribution. In this study, in order to evaluate DC electric field characteristics of the joint box for DC HTS cable, polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP) specimen has been prepared and its DC electric field distribution was analyzed based on the measurement of electrical conductivity of PPLP in liquid nitrogen (LN2). Electrical conductivity of PPLP in LN2 has not been reported yet but it should be measured for DC electric field analysis. The experimental works for measuring electrical conductivity of PPLP in LN2 were presented in this paper. Based on the experimental works, DC electric field distribution of PPLP specimen was fully analyzed considering the steady state and the transient state of DC. Consequently, it was possible to determine the electric field distribution characteristics considering different DC applying stages including DC switching on, DC switching off and polarity reversal conditions.

  10. Analysis of DE-1 PWI electric field data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Weimer, Daniel

    1994-01-01

    The measurement of low frequency electric field oscillations may be accomplished with the Plasma Wave Instrument (PWI) on DE 1. Oscillations at a frequency around 1 Hz are below the range of the conventional plasma wave receivers, but they can be detected by using a special processing of the quasi-static electric field data. With this processing it is also possible to determine if the electric field oscillations are predominately parallel or perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. The quasi-static electric field in the DE 1 spin/orbit plane is measured with a long-wire 'double probe'. This antenna is perpendicular to the satellite spin axis, which in turn is approximately perpendicular to the geomagnetic field in the polar magnetosphere. The electric field data are digitally sampled at a frequency of 16 Hz. The measured electric field signal, which has had phase reversals introduced by the rotating antenna, is multiplied by the sine of the rotation angle between the antenna and the magnetic field. This is called the 'perpendicular' signal. The measured time series is also multiplied with the cosine of the angle to produce a separate 'parallel' signal. These two separate time series are then processed to determine the frequency power spectrum.

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. Method of sustaining a radial electric field and poloidal plasma rotation over most of the cross-section of a tokamak

    DOEpatents

    Darrow, Douglass S.; Ono, Masayuki

    1990-03-06

    A radial electric field of a desired magnitude and configuration is created throughout a substantial portion of the cross-section of the plasma of a tokamak. The radial electric field is created by injection of a unidirectional electron beam. The magnitude and configuration of the radial electric field may be controlled by the strength of the toroidal magnetic field of the tokamak.

  15. Method of sustaining a radial electric field and poloidal plasma rotation over most of the cross-section of a tokamak

    DOEpatents

    Darrow, Douglass S.; Ono, Masayuki

    1990-01-01

    A radial electric field of a desired magnitude and configuration is created hroughout a substantial portion of the cross-section of the plasma of a tokamak. The radial electric field is created by injection of a unidirectional electron beam. The magnitude and configuration of the radial electric field may be controlled by the strength of the toroidal magnetic field of the tokamak.

  16. 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.

  17. Electric Field-Controlled Ion Transport In TiO2 Nanochannel.

    PubMed

    Li, Dan; Jing, Wenheng; Li, Shuaiqiang; Shen, Hao; Xing, Weihong

    2015-06-03

    On the basis of biological ion channels, we constructed TiO2 membranes with rigid channels of 2.3 nm to mimic biomembranes with flexible channels; an external electric field was employed to regulate ion transport in the confined channels at a high ionic strength in the absence of electrical double layer overlap. Results show that transport rates for both Na+ and Mg2+ were decreased irrespective of the direction of the electric field. Furthermore, a voltage-gated selective ion channel was formed, the Mg2+ channel closed at -2 V, and a reversed relative electric field gradient was at the same order of the concentration gradient, whereas the Na+ with smaller Stokes radius and lower valence was less sensitive to the electric field and thus preferentially occupied and passed the channel. Thus, when an external electric field is applied, membranes with larger nanochannels have promising applications in selective separation of mixture salts at a high concentration.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. Numerically simulated exposure of children and adults to pulsed gradient fields in MRI.

    PubMed

    Samoudi, Amine M; Vermeeren, Gunter; Tanghe, Emmeric; Van Holen, Roel; Martens, Luc; Josephs, Wout

    2016-11-01

    To determine exposure to gradient switching fields of adults and children in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner by evaluating internal electric fields within realistic models of adult male, adult female, and child inside transverse and longitudinal gradient coils, and to compare these results with compliance guidelines. Patients inside x-, y-, and z-gradient coils were simulated using anatomically realistic models of adult male, adult female, and child. The induced electric fields were computed for 1 kHz sinusoidal current with a magnitude of 1 A in the gradient coils. Rheobase electric fields were then calculated and compared to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2004 and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 2010 guidelines. The effect of the human body, coil type, and skin conductivity on the induced electric field was also investigated. The internal electric fields are within the first level controlled operating mode of the guidelines and range from 2.7V m -1 to 4.5V m -1 , except for the adult male inside the y-gradient coil (induced field reaches 5.4V m -1 ).The induced electric field is sensitive to the coil type (electric field in the skin of adult male: 4V m -1 , 4.6V m -1 , and 3.8V m -1 for x-, y-, and z-gradient coils, respectively), the human body model (electric field in the skin inside y-gradient coil: 4.6V m -1 , 4.2V m -1 , and 3V m -1 for adult male, adult female, and child, respectively), and the skin conductivity (electric field 2.35-4.29% higher for 0.1S m -1 skin conductivity compared to 0.2S m -1 ). The y-gradient coil induced the largest fields in the patients. The highest levels of internal electric fields occurred for the adult male model. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:1360-1367. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  1. Wireless Open-Circuit In-Plane Strain and Displacement Sensor Requiring No Electrical Connections

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor)

    2014-01-01

    A wireless in-plane strain and displacement sensor includes an electrical conductor fixedly coupled to a substrate subject to strain conditions. The electrical conductor is shaped between its ends for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field, and remains electrically unconnected to define an unconnected open-circuit having inductance and capacitance. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The sensor also includes at least one electrically unconnected electrode having an end and a free portion extending from the end thereof. The end of each electrode is fixedly coupled to the substrate and the free portion thereof remains unencumbered and spaced apart from a portion of the electrical conductor so-shaped. More specifically, at least some of the free portion is disposed at a location lying within the magnetic field response generated by the electrical conductor. A motion guidance structure is slidingly engaged with each electrode's free portion in order to maintain each free portion parallel to the electrical conductor so-shaped.

  2. Nanosecond liquid crystalline optical modulator

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

    Borshch, Volodymyr; Shiyanovskii, Sergij V.; Lavrentovich, Oleg D.

    2016-07-26

    An optical modulator includes a liquid crystal cell containing liquid crystal material having liquid crystal molecules oriented along a quiescent director direction in the unbiased state, and a voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material wherein the direction of the applied electric field does not cause the quiescent director direction to change. An optical source is arranged to transmit light through or reflect light off the liquid crystal cell with the light passing through the liquid crystal material at an angle effective to undergo phase retardation in response to the voltage source applying themore » electric field. The liquid crystal material may have negative dielectric anisotropy, and the voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material whose electric field vector is transverse to the quiescent director direction. Alternatively, the liquid crystal material may have positive dielectric anisotropy and the voltage source configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal material whose electric field vector is parallel with the quiescent director direction.« less

  3. Wetting and motion behaviors of water droplet on graphene under thermal-electric coupling field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhong-Qiang; Dong, Xin; Ye, Hong-Fei; Cheng, Guang-Gui; Ding, Jian-Ning; Ling, Zhi-Yong

    2015-02-01

    Wetting dynamics and motion behaviors of a water droplet on graphene are characterized under the electric-thermal coupling field using classical molecular dynamics simulation method. The water droplet on graphene can be driven by the temperature gradient, while the moving direction is dependent on the electric field intensity. Concretely, the water droplet on graphene moves from the low temperature region to the high temperature region for the relatively weak electric field intensity. The motion acceleration increases with the electric field intensity on graphene, whereas the moving direction switches when the electric field intensity increases up to a threshold. The essence is the change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic for the water droplet on graphene at a threshold of the electric field intensity. Moreover, the driven force of the water droplet caused by the overall oscillation of graphene has important influence on the motion behaviors. The results are helpful to control the wettability of graphene and further develop the graphene-based fluidic nanodevices.

  4. Electrically-induced polarization selection rules of a graphene quantum dot

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, Qing-Rui; Li, Yan; Jia, Chen; Wang, Fu-Li; Zhang, Ya-Ting; Liu, Chun-Xiang

    2018-05-01

    We study theoretically the single-electron triangular zigzag graphene quantum dot in uniform in-plane electric fields. The absorption spectra of the dot are calculated by the tight-binding method. The energy spectra and the distribution of wave functions are also presented to analyse the absorption spectra. The orthogonal zero-energy eigenstates are arranged along to the direction of the external field. The remarkable result is that all intraband transitions and some interband transitions are forbidden when the absorbed light is polarized along the direction of the electric field. With x-direction electric field, all intraband absorption is y polarized due to the electric-field-direction-polarization selection rule. Moreover, with y-direction electric field, all absorption is either x or y polarized due to the parity selection rule as well as to the electric-field-direction-polarization selection rule. Our calculation shows that the formation of the absorption spectra is co-decided by the polarization selection rules and the overlap between the eigenstates of the transition.

  5. Imaging electric field dynamics with graphene optoelectronics

    DOE PAGES

    Horng, Jason; Balch, Halleh B.; McGuire, Allister F.; ...

    2016-12-16

    The use of electric fields for signalling and control in liquids is widespread, spanning bioelectric activity in cells to electrical manipulation of microstructures in lab-on-a-chip devices. However, an appropriate tool to resolve the spatio-temporal distribution of electric fields over a large dynamic range has yet to be developed. Here we present a label-free method to image local electric fields in real time and under ambient conditions. Our technique combines the unique gate-variable optical transitions of graphene with a critically coupled planar waveguide platform that enables highly sensitive detection of local electric fields with a voltage sensitivity of a few microvolts,more » a spatial resolution of tens of micrometres and a frequency response over tens of kilohertz. Our imaging platform enables parallel detection of electric fields over a large field of view and can be tailored to broad applications spanning lab-on-a-chip device engineering to analysis of bioelectric phenomena.« less

  6. Imaging electric field dynamics with graphene optoelectronics

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

    Horng, Jason; Balch, Halleh B.; McGuire, Allister F.

    The use of electric fields for signalling and control in liquids is widespread, spanning bioelectric activity in cells to electrical manipulation of microstructures in lab-on-a-chip devices. However, an appropriate tool to resolve the spatio-temporal distribution of electric fields over a large dynamic range has yet to be developed. Here we present a label-free method to image local electric fields in real time and under ambient conditions. Our technique combines the unique gate-variable optical transitions of graphene with a critically coupled planar waveguide platform that enables highly sensitive detection of local electric fields with a voltage sensitivity of a few microvolts,more » a spatial resolution of tens of micrometres and a frequency response over tens of kilohertz. Our imaging platform enables parallel detection of electric fields over a large field of view and can be tailored to broad applications spanning lab-on-a-chip device engineering to analysis of bioelectric phenomena.« less

  7. Numerical investigation of the effect of net charge injection on the electric field deviation in a TE CO2 laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jahanianl, Nahid; Aram, Majid; Morshedian, Nader; Mehramiz, Ahmad

    2018-03-01

    In this report, the distribution of and deviation in the electric field were investigated in the active medium of a TE CO2 laser. The variation in the electric field is due to injection of net electron and proton charges as a plasma generator. The charged-particles beam density is assumed to be Gaussian. The electric potential and electric field distribution were simulated by solving Poisson’s equation using the SOR numerical method. The minimum deviation of the electric field obtained was about 2.2% and 6% for the electrons and protons beams, respectively, for a charged-particles beam-density of 106 cm-3. This result was obtained for a system geometry ensuring a mean-free-path of the particles beam of 15 mm. It was also found that the field deviation increases for a the mean-free-path smaller than that or larger than 25 mm. Moreover, the electric field deviation decreases when the electrons beam density exceeds 106 cm-3.

  8. Application of integral equation theory to analyze stability of electric field in multimode microwave heating cavity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tang, Zhengming; Hong, Tao; Chen, Fangyuan; Zhu, Huacheng; Huang, Kama

    2017-10-01

    Microwave heating uniformity is mainly dependent on and affected by electric field. However, little study has paid attention to its stability characteristics in multimode cavity. In this paper, this problem is studied by the theory of Freedholm integral equation. Firstly, Helmholtz equation and the electric dyadic Green's function are used to derive the electric field integral equation. Then, the stability of electric field is demonstrated as the characteristics of solutions to Freedholm integral equation. Finally, the stability characteristics are obtained and verified by finite element calculation. This study not only can provide a comprehensive interpretation of electric field in multimode cavity but also help us make better use of microwave energy.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Characterization of X-ray fields at the center for devices and radiological health

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

    Cerra, F.

    This talk summarizes the process undertaken by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) for establishing reference x-ray fields in its accredited calibration laboratory. The main considerations and their effects on the calibration parameters are discussed. The characterization of fields may be broken down into two parts: (1) the initial setup of the calibration beam spectra and (2) the ongoing measurements and controls which ensure consistency of the reference fields. The methods employed by CDRH for both these stages and underlying considerations are presented. Uncertainties associated with the various parameters are discussed. Finally, the laboratory`s performance, as evidenced bymore » ongoing measurement quality assurance results, is reported.« less

  12. Experimental realization of gate controlled topological conducting channels in bilayer graphene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, J.; McFaul, K. J.; Zern, Z.; Zhu, J.; Wang, K.; Ren, Y. F.; Qiao, Z. H.; Watanabe, K.; Taniguchi, T.

    Manipulating the valley degree of freedom in two-dimensional honeycomb lattices can potentially lead to a new type of electronics called valleytronics. In electrically gapped bilayer graphene, the broken inversion symmetry leads to non-zero and asymmetric Berry curvature Ω in the K and K' valleys of the Brillouin zone. Reversing the sign of Ω at the internal line junction of two oppositely gated bilayer graphene is predicted to yield counter-propagating edge modes, the so-called kink states, with quantized conductance of 4e2 / h in the absence of valley mixing. We have overcome fabrication challenges to implement high-quality hBN encapsulated, dual-split-gates structures necessary to observe the kink states. Here I present experimental evidences of the kink states. In the absence of a magnetic field, the kink states have a mean free path of a few hundred nm. Ballistic conductance of 4e2 / h is achieved in a perpendicular magnetic field. We discuss the potential valley-mixing mechanisms and the role of the magnetic field. Experimental results are supported by numerical studies. We will also discuss ongoing efforts in realizing valley-controlled transmission and guiding of the kink states, which is a significant step towards the development of valleytronics.

  13. Open Boundary Particle-in-Cell Simulation of Dipolarization Front Propagation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Klimas, Alex; Hwang, Kyoung-Joo; Vinas, Adolfo F.; Goldstein, Melvyn L.

    2014-01-01

    First results are presented from an ongoing open boundary 2-1/2D particle-in-cell simulation study of dipolarization front (DF) propagation in Earth's magnetotail. At this stage, this study is focused on the compression, or pileup, region preceding the DF current sheet. We find that the earthward acceleration of the plasma in this region is in general agreement with a recent DF force balance model. A gyrophase bunched reflected ion population at the leading edge of the pileup region is reflected by a normal electric field in the pileup region itself, rather than through an interaction with the current sheet. We discuss plasma wave activity at the leading edge of the pileup region that may be driven by gradients, or by reflected ions, or both; the mode has not been identified. The waves oscillate near but above the ion cyclotron frequency with wavelength several ion inertial lengths. We show that the waves oscillate primarily in the perpendicular magnetic field components, do not propagate along the background magnetic field, are right handed elliptically (close to circularly) polarized, exist in a region of high electron and ion beta, and are stationary in the plasma frame moving earthward. We discuss the possibility that the waves are present in plasma sheet data, but have not, thus far, been discovered.

  14. Design and Implementation of a Thermal Load Reduction System for a Hyundai Sonata PHEV for Improved Range

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

    Rugh, John P; Kreutzer, Cory J; Scott, Matthew

    Increased adoption of electric-drive vehicles requires overcoming hurdles including limited vehicle range. Vehicle cabin heating and cooling demand for occupant climate control requires energy from the main battery and has been shown to significantly degrade vehicle range. During peak cooling and heating conditions, climate control can require as much as or more energy than propulsion. As part of an ongoing project, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and project partners Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., Gentherm, Pittsburgh Glass Works, PPG Industries, Sekisui, 3 M, and Hanon Systems developed a thermal load reduction system to reduce the range penalty associated with electricmore » vehicle climate control. Solar reflective paint, solar control glass, heated and cooled/ventilated seats, heated surfaces, and a heated windshield with door demisters were integrated into a Hyundai Sonata plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Cold weather field-testing was conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska, and warm weather testing was conducted in Death Valley, California, to assess the system performance in comparison to the baseline production vehicle. In addition, environmental chamber testing at peak heating and cooling conditions was performed to assess the performance of the system in standardized conditions compared to the baseline. Experimental results are presented in this paper, providing quantitative data to automobile manufacturers on the impact of climate control thermal load reduction technologies to increase the advanced thermal technology adoption and market penetration of electric drive vehicles.« less

  15. Performance Evaluation of a Thermal Load Reduction System in a Hyundai Sonata PHEV

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

    Kreutzer, Cory J; Rugh, John P; Titov, Eugene V

    Increased adoption of electric-drive vehicles (EDVs) requires overcoming hurdles including limited vehicle range. Vehicle cabin heating and cooling demand for occupant climate control requires energy from the main battery and has been shown to significantly degrade vehicle range. During peak cooling and heating conditions, climate control can require as much or more energy as propulsion. As part of an ongoing project, NREL and project partners Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI), Gentherm , Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), PPG Industries, Sekisui, 3M, and Hanon Systems developed a thermal load reduction system in order to reduce the range penalty associated with electricmore » vehicle climate control. Solar reflective paint, solar control glass, heated and cooled/ventilated seats, heated surfaces, and heated windshield with door demisters were integrated into a Hyundai Sonata plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Cold weather field-testing was conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska while warm weather testing was conducted in Death Valley, California to assess the system performance in comparison to the baseline production vehicle. In addition, environmental chamber testing at peak heating and cooling conditions was performed to assess the performance of the system in standardized conditions compared to the baseline. Experimental results are presented in this paper providing quantitative data to automobile manufacturers on the impact of climate control thermal load reduction technologies to increase the advanced thermal technology adoption and market penetration of electric drive vehicles.« less

  16. 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.

  17. Controlling the anomalous Hall effect by electric-field-induced piezo-strain in Fe40Pt60/(001)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.67Ti0.33O3 multiferroic heterostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Yuanjun; Yao, Yingxue; Chen, Lei; Huang, Haoliang; Zhang, Benjian; Lin, Hui; Luo, Zhenlin; Gao, Chen; Lu, Y. L.; Li, Xiaoguang; Xiao, Gang; Feng, Ce; Zhao, Y. G.

    2018-01-01

    Electric-field control of the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) was investigated in Fe40Pt60/(001)-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.67Ti0.33O3 (FePt/PMN-PT) multiferroic heterostructures at room temperature. It was observed that a very large Hall resistivity change of up to 23.9% was produced using electric fields under a magnetic field bias of 100 Oe. A pulsed electric field sequence was used to generate nonvolatile strain to manipulate the Hall resistivity. Two corresponding nonvolatile states with distinct Hall resistivities were achieved after the electric fields were removed, thus enabling the encoding of binary information for memory applications. These results demonstrate that the Hall resistivity can be reversibly switched in a nonvolatile manner using programmable electric fields. Two remanent magnetic states that were created by electric-field-induced piezo-strain from the PMN-PT were attributed to the nonvolatile and reversible properties of the AHE. This work suggests that a low-energy-consumption-based approach can be used to create nonvolatile resistance states for spintronic devices based on electric-field control of the AHE.

  18. Effects of the reconnection electric field on crescent electron distribution functions in asymmetric guide field reconnection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bessho, N.; Chen, L. J.; Hesse, M.; Wang, S.

    2017-12-01

    In asymmetric reconnection with a guide field in the Earth's magnetopause, electron motion in the electron diffusion region (EDR) is largely affected by the guide field, the Hall electric field, and the reconnection electric field. The electron motion in the EDR is neither simple gyration around the guide field nor simple meandering motion across the current sheet. The combined meandering motion and gyration has essential effects on particle acceleration by the in-plane Hall electric field (existing only in the magnetospheric side) and the out-of-plane reconnection electric field. We analyze electron motion and crescent-shaped electron distribution functions in the EDR in asymmetric guide field reconnection, and perform 2-D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to elucidate the effect of reconnection electric field on electron distribution functions. Recently, we have analytically expressed the acceleration effect due to the reconnection electric field on electron crescent distribution functions in asymmetric reconnection without a guide field (Bessho et al., Phys. Plasmas, 24, 072903, 2017). We extend the theory to asymmetric guide field reconnection, and predict the crescent bulge in distribution functions. Assuming 1D approximation of field variations in the EDR, we derive the time period of oscillatory electron motion (meandering + gyration) in the EDR. The time period is expressed as a hybrid of the meandering period and the gyro period. Due to the guide field, electrons not only oscillate along crescent-shaped trajectories in the velocity plane perpendicular to the antiparallel magnetic fields, but also move along parabolic trajectories in the velocity plane coplanar with magnetic field. The trajectory in the velocity space gradually shifts to the acceleration direction by the reconnection electric field as multiple bounces continue. Due to the guide field, electron distributions for meandering particles are bounded by two paraboloids (or hyperboloids) in the velocity space. We compare theory and PIC simulation results of the velocity shift of crescent distribution functions based on the derived time period of bounce motion in a guide field. Theoretical predictions are applied to electron distributions observed by MMS in magnetopause reconnection to estimate the reconnection electric field.

  19. Step-wise potential development across the lipid bilayer under external electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Majhi, Amit Kumar

    2018-04-01

    Pore formation across the bilayers under external electric field is an important phenomenon, which has numerous applications in biology and bio-engineering fields. However, it is not a ubiquitous event under all field applications. To initiate a pore in the bilayer a particular threshold electric field is required. The electric field alters the intrinsic potential distribution across the bilayer as we as it enhances total potential drop across the bilayer, which causes the pore formation. The intrinsic potential profile has a maximum peak value, which is 0.8 V and it gets enhanced under application of external field, 0.43 V/nm. The peak value becomes 1.4 V when a pore appears in the bilayer and it continues to evolve as along as the external electric field remains switched on.

  20. Electric field distribution and current emission in a miniaturized geometrical diode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Jinpu; Wong, Patrick Y.; Yang, Penglu; Lau, Y. Y.; Tang, W.; Zhang, Peng

    2017-06-01

    We study the electric field distribution and current emission in a miniaturized geometrical diode. Using Schwarz-Christoffel transformation, we calculate exactly the electric field inside a finite vacuum cathode-anode (A-K) gap with a single trapezoid protrusion on one of the electrode surfaces. It is found that there is a strong field enhancement on both electrodes near the protrusion, when the ratio of the A-K gap distance to the protrusion height d /h <2. The calculations are spot checked against COMSOL simulations. We calculate the effective field enhancement factor for the field emission current, by integrating the local Fowler-Nordheim current density along the electrode surfaces. We systematically examine the electric field enhancement and the current rectification of the miniaturized geometrical diode for various geometric dimensions and applied electric fields.

  1. Electric field induced optical gain of a hydrogenic impurity in a Cd{sub 0.8}Zn{sub 0.2}Se/ZnSe parabolic quantum dot

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

    Jasmine, P. Christina Lily; Peter, A. John, E-mail: a.john.peter@gmail.com

    The dependence of electric field on the electronic and optical properties is investigated in a Cd{sub 0.8}Zn{sub 0.2}Se/ZnSe quantum dot. The hydrogenic binding energy, in the presence of electric field, is calculated with the spatial confinement effect. The electric field dependent optical gain with the photon energy is found using compact density matrix method. The results show that the electric field has a great influence on the optical properties of II-VI semiconductor quantum dot.

  2. Electrophoretic mobilities of counterions and a polymer in cylindrical pores

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Sunil P.; Muthukumar, M.

    2014-01-01

    We have simulated the transport properties of a uniformly charged flexible polymer chain and its counterions confined inside cylindrical nanopores under an external electric field. The hydrodynamic interaction is treated by describing the solvent molecules explicitly with the multiparticle collision dynamics method. The chain consisting of charged monomers and the counterions interact electrostatically with themselves and with the external electric field. We find rich behavior of the counterions around the polymer under confinement in the presence of the external electric field. The mobility of the counterions is heterogeneous depending on their location relative to the polymer. The adsorption isotherm of the counterions on the polymer depends nonlinearly on the electric field. As a result, the effective charge of the polymer exhibits a sigmoidal dependence on the electric field. This in turn leads to a nascent nonlinearity in the chain stretching and electrophoretic mobility of the polymer in terms of their dependence on the electric field. The product of the electric field and the effective polymer charge is found to be the key variable to unify our simulation data for various polymer lengths. Chain extension and the electrophoretic mobility show sigmoidal dependence on the electric field, with crossovers from the linear response regime to the nonlinear regime and then to the saturation regime. The mobility of adsorbed counterions is nonmonotonic with the electric field. For weaker and moderate fields, the adsorbed counterions move with the polymer and at higher fields they move opposite to the polymer's direction. We find that the effective charge and the mobility of the polymer decrease with a decrease in the pore radius. PMID:25240366

  3. Electric Fields, Cloud Microphysics, and Reflectivity in Anvils of Florida Thunderstorms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dye, J. E.; Bateman, M. G.; Christian, H. J.; Grainger, C. A.; Hall, W. D.; Krider, E. P.; Lewis, S. A.; Mach, D. M.; Merceret, F. J.; Willett, J. C.; hide

    2006-01-01

    A coordinated aircraft - radar project that investigated the electric fields, cloud microphysics and radar reflectivity of thunderstorm anvils near Kennedy Space Center is described. Measurements from two cases illustrate the extensive nature of the microphysics and electric field observations. As the aircraft flew from the edges of anvils into the interior, electric fields very frequently increased abruptly from approx.1 to >10 kV/m even though the particle concentrations and radar reflectivity increased smoothly. The abrupt increase in field usually occurred when the aircraft entered regions with a reflectivity of 10 to 15 dBZ. It is suggested that the abrupt increase in electric field may be because the charge advection from the storm core did not occur across the entire breadth of the anvil and was not constant in time. Screening layers were not detected near the edges of the anvils. Some long-lived anvils showed subsequent enhancement of electric field and reflectivity and growth of particles, which if localized, might be a factor in explaining the abrupt change of field in some cases. Comparisons of electric field magnitude with particle concentration or reflectivity for a combined data set that included all anvil measurements showed a threshold behavior. When the average reflectivity, such as in a 3-km cube, was less than approximately 5 dBZ, the electric field magnitude was <3 kV/m. Based on these findings, the Volume Averaged Height Integrated Radar Reflectivity (VAHIRR) is now being used by NASA, the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration in new Lightning Launch Commit Criteria as a diagnostic for high electric fields in anvils.

  4. Influence of thermodynamic mechanism of inter- facial adsorption on purifying air-conditioning engineering under intensification of electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Yun-Yu

    2016-12-01

    As a kind of mass transfer process as well as the basis of separating and purifying mixtures, interfacial adsorption has been widely applied to fields like chemical industry, medical industry and purification engineering in recent years. Influencing factors of interfacial adsorption, in addition to the traditional temperature, intensity of pressure, amount of substance and concentration, also include external fields, such as magnetic field, electric field and electromagnetic field, etc. Starting from the point of thermodynamics and taking the Gibbs adsorption as the model, the combination of energy axiom and the first law of thermodynamics was applied to boundary phase, and thus the theoretical expression for the volume of interface absorption under electric field as well as the mathematical relationship between surface tension and electric field intensity was obtained. In addition, according to the obtained theoretical expression, the volume of interface absorption of ethanol solution under different electric field intensities and concentrations was calculated. Moreover, the mechanism of interfacial adsorption was described from the perspective of thermodynamics and the influence of electric field on interfacial adsorption was explained reasonably, aiming to further discuss the influence of thermodynamic mechanism of interfacial adsorption on purifying air-conditioning engineering under intensification of electric field.

  5. 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.

  6. Geometric properties-dependent neural synchrony modulated by extracellular subthreshold electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Xile; Si, Kaili; Yi, Guosheng; Wang, Jiang; Lu, Meili

    2016-07-01

    In this paper, we use a reduced two-compartment neuron model to investigate the interaction between extracellular subthreshold electric field and synchrony in small world networks. It is observed that network synchronization is closely related to the strength of electric field and geometric properties of the two-compartment model. Specifically, increasing the electric field induces a gradual improvement in network synchrony, while increasing the geometric factor results in an abrupt decrease in synchronization of network. In addition, increasing electric field can make the network become synchronous from asynchronous when the geometric parameter is set to a given value. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that network synchrony can also be affected by the firing frequency and dynamical bifurcation feature of single neuron. These results highlight the effect of weak field on network synchrony from the view of biophysical model, which may contribute to further understanding the effect of electric field on network activity.

  7. General Matrix Inversion Technique for the Calibration of Electric Field Sensor Arrays on Aircraft Platforms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mach, D. M.; Koshak, W. J.

    2007-01-01

    A matrix calibration procedure has been developed that uniquely relates the electric fields measured at the aircraft with the external vector electric field and net aircraft charge. The calibration method can be generalized to any reasonable combination of electric field measurements and aircraft. A calibration matrix is determined for each aircraft that represents the individual instrument responses to the external electric field. The aircraft geometry and configuration of field mills (FMs) uniquely define the matrix. The matrix can then be inverted to determine the external electric field and net aircraft charge from the FM outputs. A distinct advantage of the method is that if one or more FMs need to be eliminated or deemphasized [e.g., due to a malfunction), it is a simple matter to reinvert the matrix without the malfunctioning FMs. To demonstrate the calibration technique, data are presented from several aircraft programs (ER-2, DC-8, Altus, and Citation).

  8. 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.

  9. Electric field around a dielectric elastomer actuator in proximity to the human body

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKenzie, Anita C.; Calius, Emilio P.; Anderson, Iain A.

    2008-03-01

    Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are a promising artificial muscle technology that will enable new kinds of prostheses and wearable rehabilitation devices. DEAs are driven by electric fields in the MV/m range and the dielectric elastomer itself is typically 30μm in thickness or more. Large operating voltages, in the order of several kilovolts, are then required to produce useful strains and these large voltages and the resulting electric fields could potentially pose problems when DEAs are used in close proximity to the human body. The fringing electric fields of a DEA in close association with the skin were modelled using finite element methods. The model was verified against a known analytic solution describing the electric field surrounding a capacitor in air. The agreement between the two is good, as the difference is less than 10% unless within 4.5mm of the DEA's lateral edges. As expected, it was found that for a DEA constructed with thinner dielectric layers, the fringe field strength dropped in direct proportion to the reduction in applied voltage, despite the internal field being maintained at the same level. More interestingly, modelling the electric field around stacked DEAs showed that for an even number of layers the electric field is an order of magnitude less than for an odd number of layers, due to the cancelling of opposing electric fields.

  10. Stepwise formation of H3O(+)(H2O)n in an ion drift tube: Empirical effective temperature of association/dissociation reaction equilibrium in an electric field.

    PubMed

    Nakai, Yoichi; Hidaka, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Naoki; Kojima, Takao M

    2016-06-14

    We measured equilibrium constants for H3O(+)(H2O)n-1 + H2O↔H3O(+)(H2O)n (n = 4-9) reactions taking place in an ion drift tube with various applied electric fields at gas temperatures of 238-330 K. The zero-field reaction equilibrium constants were determined by extrapolation of those obtained at non-zero electric fields. From the zero-field reaction equilibrium constants, the standard enthalpy and entropy changes, ΔHn,n-1 (0) and ΔSn,n-1 (0), of stepwise association for n = 4-8 were derived and were in reasonable agreement with those measured in previous studies. We also examined the electric field dependence of the reaction equilibrium constants at non-zero electric fields for n = 4-8. An effective temperature for the reaction equilibrium constants at non-zero electric field was empirically obtained using a parameter describing the electric field dependence of the reaction equilibrium constants. Furthermore, the size dependence of the parameter was thought to reflect the evolution of the hydrogen-bond structure of H3O(+)(H2O)n with the cluster size. The reflection of structural information in the electric field dependence of the reaction equilibria is particularly noteworthy.

  11. 76 FR 56745 - Notice of Availability of Government-Owned Inventions; Available for Licensing

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-14

    ... No. 12/175262: Coupled Electric Field Sensors for DC Target Electric Field Detection; U.S. Patent Application No. 12/732023: Coupled Bi-Stable Microcircuit System for Ultra-Sensitive Electrical and Magnetic... Electric Field Sensing Utilizing Differential Transistors Pairs. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Suh...

  12. Cryosurgery with Pulsed Electric Fields

    PubMed Central

    Daniels, Charlotte S.; Rubinsky, Boris

    2011-01-01

    This study explores the hypothesis that combining the minimally invasive surgical techniques of cryosurgery and pulsed electric fields will eliminate some of the major disadvantages of these techniques while retaining their advantages. Cryosurgery, tissue ablation by freezing, is a well-established minimally invasive surgical technique. One disadvantage of cryosurgery concerns the mechanism of cell death; cells at high subzero temperature on the outer rim of the frozen lesion can survive. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) are another minimally invasive surgical technique in which high strength and very rapid electric pulses are delivered across cells to permeabilize the cell membrane for applications such as gene delivery, electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation. The very short time scale of the electric pulses is disadvantageous because it does not facilitate real time control over the procedure. We hypothesize that applying the electric pulses during the cryosurgical procedure in such a way that the electric field vector is parallel to the heat flux vector will have the effect of confining the electric fields to the frozen/cold region of tissue, thereby ablating the cells that survive freezing while facilitating controlled use of the PEF in the cold confined region. A finite element analysis of the electric field and heat conduction equations during simultaneous tissue treatment with cryosurgery and PEF (cryosurgery/PEF) was used to study the effect of tissue freezing on electric fields. The study yielded motivating results. Because of decreased electrical conductivity in the frozen/cooled tissue, it experienced temperature induced magnified electric fields in comparison to PEF delivered to the unfrozen tissue control. This suggests that freezing/cooling confines and magnifies the electric fields to those regions; a targeting capability unattainable in traditional PEF. This analysis shows how temperature induced magnified and focused PEFs could be used to ablate cells in the high subzero freezing region of a cryosurgical lesion. PMID:22087224

  13. 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.

  14. Electromagnetic coupling of spins and pseudospins in bilayer graphene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Winkler, R.; Zülicke, U.

    2015-03-01

    We present a theoretical study of bilayer-graphene's electronic properties in the presence of electric and magnetic fields. In contrast to known materials, including single-layer graphene, any possible coupling of physical quantities to components of the electric field has a counterpart where the analogous component of the magnetic field couples to exactly the same quantities. For example, a purely electric spin splitting appears as the magneto-electric analogue of the magnetic Zeeman spin splitting. The measurable thermodynamic response induced by magnetic and electric fields is thus completely symmetric. The Pauli magnetization induced by a magnetic field takes exactly the same functional form as the polarization induced by an electric field. Although they seem counterintuitive, our findings are consistent with fundamental principles such as time reversal symmetry. For example, only a magnetic field can give rise to a macroscopic spin polarization, whereas only a perpendicular electric field can induce a macroscopic polarization of the sublattice-related pseudospin in bilayer graphene. These rules enforced by symmetry for the matter-field interactions clarify the nature of spins versus pseudospins. We have obtained numerical values of prefactors for relevant terms. NSF Grant DMR-1310199 and Marsden Fund Contract No. VUW0719.

  15. 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.

  16. Multi-point Measurements of Relativistic Electrons in the Magnetosphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, X.; Selesnick, R.; Baker, D. N.; Blake, J. B.; Schiller, Q.; Blum, L. W.; Zhao, H.; Jaynes, A. N.; Kanekal, S.

    2014-12-01

    We take an advantage of five different DC electric field measurements in the plasma sheet available from the EFW double probe experiment, EDI electron drift instrument, CODIF and HIA ion spectrometers, and PEACE electron spectrometer on the four Cluster spacecraft. The calibrated observations of the three spectrometers are used to determine the proton and electron velocity moments. The velocity moments can be used to estimate the proton and electron drift velocity and furthermore the DC electric field, assuming that the electron and proton velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field is dominated by the ExB drift motion. Naturally when ions and electrons do not perform a proper drift motion, which can happen in the plasma sheet, the estimated DC electric field from ion and electron motion is not correct. However, surprisingly often the DC electric fields estimated from electron and ion motions are identical suggesting that this field is a real DC electric field around the measurement point. As the measurement techniques are so different, it is quite plausible that when two different measurements yield the same DC electric field, it is the correct field. All five measurements of the DC electric field are usually not simultaneously available, especially on Cluster 2 where CODIF and HIA are not operational, or on Cluster 4 where EDI is off. In this presentation we investigate DC electric field in various transient plasma sheet events such as dipolarization events and BBF's and how the five measurements agree or disagree. There are plenty of important issues that are considered, e.g., (1) what kind of DC electric fields exist in such events and what are their spatial scales, (2) do electrons and ions perform ExB drift motions in these events, and (3) how well the instruments have been calibrated.

  17. On the electric field model for an open magnetosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, Zhi; Ashour-Abdalla, Maha; Walker, Raymond J.

    1993-01-01

    We have developed a new canonical separator line type magnetospheric magnetic field and electric field model for use in magnetospheric calculations, we determine the magnetic and electric field by controlling the reconnection rate at the subsolar magnetopause. The model is applicable only for purely southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We have obtained a more realistic magnetotail configuration by applying a stretch transformation to an axially symmetric field solution. We also discuss the Stern singularity in which there is an electric field singlarity in the canonical separate line models for B(sub y) not = to 0 by using a new technique that solves for the electric field along a field line directly instead of determining it by a potential mapping. The singularity not only causes an infinite electric field on the polar cap, but also causes the boundary conditions at plus infinity and minus infinity in the solar wind to contradict each other. This means that the canonical separator line models do not represent the open magnetosphere well, except for the case of purely southward IMF.

  18. Manipulation of positron orbits in a dipole magnetic field with fluctuating electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saitoh, H.; Horn-Stanja, J.; Nißl, S.; Stenson, E. V.; Hergenhahn, U.; Pedersen, T. Sunn; Singer, M.; Dickmann, M.; Hugenschmidt, C.; Stoneking, M. R.; Danielson, J. R.; Surko, C. M.

    2018-01-01

    We report the manipulation of positron orbits in a toroidal dipole magnetic field configuration realized with electric fields generated by segmented electrodes. When the toroidal circulation motion of positrons in the dipole field is coupled with time-varying electric fields generated by azimuthally segmented outer electrodes, positrons undergo oscillations of their radial positions. This enables quick manipulation of the spatial profiles of positrons in a dipole field trap by choosing appropriate frequency, amplitude, phase, and gating time of the electric fields. According to numerical orbit analysis, we applied these electric fields to positrons injected from the NEPOMUC slow positron facility into a prototype dipole field trap experiment with a permanent magnet. Measurements with annihilation γ-rays clearly demonstrated the efficient compression effects of positrons into the strong magnetic field region of the dipole field configuration. This positron manipulation technique can be used as one of essential tools for future experiments on the formation of electron-positron plasmas.

  19. On The Design and Implementation of a New Electric-Field Meter with Reciprocating Shutter and Field-Change-Antenna Option

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Swenson, J.; Byerley, L. G.; Bogoev, I.; Hinckley, A.; Beasley, W. H.

    2003-12-01

    The atmospheric electric field is a unique indicator of locally disturbed weather, local thunderstorms and local atmospheric electrical hazards. Yet, surprisingly, routine observations of ambient electric field have never been included in the canonical suite of measured meteorological variables. This notable omission may be a result of the historically high costs to acquire, install, and maintain conventional electric-field mills. To reduce costs and overcome limitations of traditional field meters, Campbell Scientific, Inc. has developed an electric-field meter (patent pending) with a reciprocating shutter that eliminates the problem of making electrical contact with a rotating shaft. The reciprocating action is under microprocessor control, so the sample rate can be varied in response to measured conditions. Between samples of electric field, the shutter can even be left open indefinitely, allowing the instrument to function as a field-change antenna. Since the shutter is closed before and after each measurement in field-meter mode, it is relatively easy to account for drift and offsets automatically, so that measurements can be made even if the electrode insulator becomes degraded by conductive deposits of the types likely to be encountered in severe outdoor environments. Because the motor is energized for only a small fraction of each measurement cycle, average power consumption is exceptionally low, making the new field meter especially suitable for solar-powered applications such as automated remote meteorological stations. Some preliminary observations demonstrate the capabilities of the instrument.

  20. Nongyrotropic Electrons in Guide Field Reconnection

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wendel, D. E.; Hesse, M.; Bessho, N.; Adrian, M. L.; Kuznetsova, M.

    2016-01-01

    We apply a scalar measure of nongyrotropy to the electron pressure tensor in a 2D particle-in-cell simulation of guide field reconnection and assess the corresponding electron distributions and the forces that account for the nongyrotropy. The scalar measure reveals that the nongyrotropy lies in bands that straddle the electron diffusion region and the separatrices, in the same regions where there are parallel electric fields. Analysis of electron distributions and fields shows that the nongyrotropy along the inflow and outflow separatrices emerges as a result of multiple populations of electrons influenced differently by large and small-scale parallel electric fields and by gradients in the electric field. The relevant parallel electric fields include large-scale potential ramps emanating from the x-line and sub-ion inertial scale bipolar electron holes. Gradients in the perpendicular electric field modify electrons differently depending on their phase, thus producing nongyrotropy. Magnetic flux violation occurs along portions of the separatrices that coincide with the parallel electric fields. An inductive electric field in the electron EB drift frame thus develops, which has the effect of enhancing nongyrotropies already produced by other mechanisms and under certain conditions producing their own nongyrotropy. Particle tracing of electrons from nongyrotropic populations along the inflows and outflows shows that the striated structure of nongyrotropy corresponds to electrons arriving from different source regions. We also show that the relevant parallel electric fields receive important contributions not only from the nongyrotropic portion of the electron pressure tensor but from electron spatial and temporal inertial terms as well.

  1. Towards more Global Coordination of Atmospheric Electricity Measurements (GloCAEM)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nicoll, Keri; Harrison, Giles

    2017-04-01

    Earth's atmospheric electrical environment has been studied since the 1750s but its more recent applications to science questions around clouds and climate highlight the incompleteness of our understanding, in part due to lack of suitable global measurements. The Global Electric Circuit (GEC) sustains the near-surface fair weather (FW) electric field, which is present globally in regions which are not strongly electrically disturbed by weather or pollution. It can be measured routinely at the surface using well established instrumentation such as electric field mills. Despite the central role of lightning as a weather hazard and the potentially widespread importance of charge for atmospheric processes, research is hampered by the fragmented nature of surface atmospheric electricity measurements. This makes anything other than local studies in fortuitous fair weather conditions difficult. In contrast to detection of global lightning using satellite measurements and ground-based radio networks, the FW electric field and GEC cannot be measured by remote sensing and no similar measurement networks exist for its study. This presents an opportunity as many researchers worldwide now make high temporal resolution measurements of the FW electric field routinely, which is neither coordinated nor exploited. The GLOCAEM (Global Coordination of Atmospheric Electricity Measurements) project is currently bringing some of these experts together to make the first steps towards an effective global network for FW atmospheric electricity monitoring. A specific objective of the project is to establish the first modern archive of international FW atmospheric electric field data in close to real time to allow global studies of atmospheric electricity to be straightforwardly and robustly performed. Data will be archived through the UK Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) and will be available for download by users from early 2018. Both 1 second and 1 minute electric field data will be archived, along with meteorological measurements (if available) for ease of interpretation of electrical measurements. Although the primary aim of the project is to provide a close to real time electric field database, archiving of existing historical electric field datasets is also planned to extend the range of studies possible. This presentation will provide a summary of progress with the GLOCAEM project.

  2. A study of the glow discharge plasma jet of the novel Hamburger-electrode

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

    Liu, Wenzheng, E-mail: wzhliu@bjtu.edu.cn; Ma, Chuanlong, E-mail: 15121452@bjtu.edu.cn; Yang, Xiao

    2016-08-15

    To generate atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma jets (APGDPJs), a novel Hamburger-electrode was proposed. Through the study on electric field distributions, flow field distributions, and characteristics of the discharge and jet, we found that adopting the mode of dielectric barrier discharge with non-uniform thickness of dielectric, it was easy to form the strong electric field areas which were conducive to generate discharge and electric field distributions with large electric field intensity in the narrow gap and weak electric field intensity in the wide gap that were not inclined to form a filament discharge. Using the structure of evenly distributed innermore » electrodes, it was easy to weaken the pressure of strong electric field areas and form flow field distributions which is beneficial for taking out the high density charged particles and generating APGDPJs. Stable APGDPJs in nitrogen with 3.5 mm in diameter and 9 mm in length were formed by using the novel Hamburger-electrode.« less

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. A sensor for vector electric field measurements through a nonlinear anisotropic optical crystal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barbieri, Luca; Gondola, Marco; Potenza, Marco; Villa, Andrea; Malgesini, Roberto

    2017-11-01

    Electrical applications require the development of electric field sensors that can reproduce vector electric field waveforms with a very large spectral width ranging from 50 Hz to at least 70 MHz. This makes it possible to measure both the normal operation modes of electrical components and abnormal behaviors such as the corona emission and partial discharges. In this work, we aim to develop a fully dielectric sensor capable of measuring two components of the electric field using a wide class of optical crystals including anisotropic ones, whereas most of the efforts in this field have been devoted to isotropic crystals. We report the results of the measurements performed at 50 Hz and with a lightning impulse, to validate the sensor.

  6. Current densities in a pregnant woman model induced by simultaneous ELF electric and magnetic field exposure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2008-01-01

    The pregnant woman model SILVY was studied to ascertain to what extent the electric current densities induced by 50 Hz homogeneous electric and magnetic fields increase in the case of simultaneous exposure. By vectorial addition of the electric current densities, it could be shown that under worst case conditions the basic restrictions recommended by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines are exceeded within the central nervous system (CNS) of the mother, whereas in sole field exposure they are not. However, within the foetus the induced current densities do not comply with basic restrictions, either from single reference-level electric fields or from simultaneous exposure to electric and magnetic fields. Basic limits were considerably exceeded.

  7. 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.

  8. Low- and mid-latitude ionospheric electric fields during the January 1984 GISMOS campaign

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fejer, B. G.; Kelley, M. C.; Senior, C.; De La Beaujardiere, O.; Lepping, R.

    1990-01-01

    The electrical coupling between the high-, middle-, and low-latitude ionospheres during January 17-19, 1984 is examined, using interplanetary and high-latitude magnetic field data together with F region plasma drift measurements from the EISCAT, Sondre Stromfjord, Millstone Hill, Saint-Santin, Arecibo, and Jicamarca incoherent scatter radars. The penetration both the zonal and meridional electric field components of high-latitude origin into the low-latitude and the equatorial ionospheres are studied. The observations in the postmidnight sector are used to compare the longitudinal variations of the zonal perturbation electric field with predictions made from global convection models. The results show that the meridional electric field perturbations are considerably more attenuated with decreasing latitude than the zonal fluctuations. It is concluded that variations in the meridional electric field at low latitudes are largely due to dynamo effects.

  9. Electric Field Simulation of Surge Capacitors with Typical Defects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Chenmeng; Mao, Yuxiang; Xie, Shijun; Zhang, Yu

    2018-03-01

    The electric field of power capacitors with different typical defects in DC working condition and impulse oscillation working condition is studied in this paper. According to the type and location of defects and considering the influence of space charge, two-dimensional models of surge capacitors with different typical defects are simulated based on ANSYS. The distribution of the electric field inside the capacitor is analyzed, and the concentration of electric field and its influence on the insulation performance are obtained. The results show that the type of defects, the location of defects and the space charge all affect the electric field distribution inside the capacitor in varying degrees. Especially the electric field distortion in the local area such as sharp corners and burrs is relatively larger, which increases the probability of partial discharge inside the surge capacitor.

  10. Photodetachment dynamics in a time-dependent oscillating electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, De-hua; Xu, Qin-feng; Du, Jie

    2017-03-01

    Using the time-dependent form of closed orbit theory, as developed by Haggerty and Delos [M.R. Haggerty, J.B. Delos, Phys. Rev. A 61, 053406 (2000)], and by Yang and Robicheaux [B.C. Yang, F. Robicheaux, Phys. Rev. A 93, 053413 (2016)], we study the photodetachment dynamics of a hydrogen negative ion in a time-dependent oscillating electric field. Compared to the photodetachment in a static electric field, the photodetachment dynamics of a negative ion in the time-dependent oscillating electric field become much more complicated but more interesting. Since the applied electric field is oscillating with time, the photodetachment cross section of the negative ion in the oscillating electric field is time-dependent. In a time-dependent framework, we put forward an analytical formula for calculating the instantaneous photodetachment cross section of this system. Our study suggests that the instantaneous photodetachment cross section exhibits oscillatory structure, which depends sensitively on the frequency of the oscillating electric field. With increasing frequency of the oscillating electric field, the number of closed orbits increases and the oscillatory structure in the photodetachment cross section becomes much more complicated. The connection between the detached electron's closed orbit with the oscillating cross section is analyzed quantitatively. This study provides a clear and intuitive picture for the photodetachment processes of a negative ion in the presence of an oscillating electric field. We hope that our work will be useful in guiding future experimental research.

  11. 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.

  12. Electron Demagnetization and Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in βe ≪ 1 Plasmas: Theory and Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scudder, J. D.; Mozer, F. S.

    2005-05-01

    Abrupt, intense bipolar and unipolar electric spikes with E > 100mV/m surveyed over 3 years of Polar data (Mozer et al 2005) have been organized to answer the limited question: can they be involved in the local demagnetization of thermal electrons? We determine a lower bound on the electric strength sufficient to cause non-gyrotropic effects on the electron pressure tensor of the form E>E*=B{we}/{8c Im}, where B is the ambient magnetic field strength, we=√2kTe/me, c is the speed of light, and Im is an electron velocity space weighted average displacement along the electric field while transiting the layer (assumed localized with a scale Δ x=a ρe, where ρe is the electron thermal gyroradius). The variation of Im as a function of a for equal mean energy Maxwellian and more typical κ distributions seen in the Earth's magnetosphere provides strong evidence that the surveyed electric field spikes are generally smaller than E* (assuming ≍ 1), although 23% (n=57) exceed E* . Only 11% (n=6) of the bipolar class exceed E* ; the frequency of occurrence distribution for the bipolar class of spikes is peaked at 0.1E*. The unipolar occurrence is flat below E*, but has a significant 26% subgroup (n=51) that exceed E* . While E* does not depend on the ambient density, the occurrence distribution of all demagnetizing events is well organized by the ratio ℜ=λDe/ρe=&Omegace/ωpe, residing almost exclusively in the regime ℜ <1. Spikes with E < E* generally occur with ℜ >1 . All the electrostatic spike events surveyed occur in the regime 10-8≤βe≤3×10-2. The demagnetizing events of either class occupy the more restricted low beta regime 10-3≤βe≤3×10-2. Because these demagnetizing events occur in βe ≪ 1 they would not, however, be considered unmagnetized at current channels as thin as the electron skin depth, de, since for such current channels ρe ≡ βe-1/2de ≪ de. As a group the subset of unipolar events with E > E* are consistently understood as sites where the electron pressure tensor could become deformed from cylindrical symmetry by electric field enhancement in layers with scale sizes up to the local thermal electron's gyroradius. Such a deformation is critical for a viable mechanism that supports collisionless reconnection. After selecting events as demagnetizing based on the size of the relevant forces and work done, the geophysical locale of their detection has been investigated. Previously, all E spikes in this survey were found near the invariant latitudes Λ of the earth's magnetic cusps but at all magnetic local times. The demagnetizing events identified here via E* are strongly organized at magnetic local noon (with a secondary, much shallower maximum at local magnetic midnight), occur preferentially at orbit apogee, and without significant preference for the magnetic latitude of the spacecraft. These geophysical organizations are consistent with the demagnetizing E spikes as indices of ongoing, collisionless reconnection in low βe regimes at the earth's subsolar magnetopause. The identification of this sub-class of electric spikes at low βe with E>E* widens the observed venues in the E and B fields where topology changing departures from ideal MHD should be anticipated in collisionless astrophysical plasmas.

  13. Electric field variations measured continuously in free air over a conductive thin zone in the tilted Lias-epsilon black shales near Osnabrück, Northwest Germany

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gurk, M.; Bosch, F. P.; Tougiannidis, N.

    2013-04-01

    Common studies on the static electric field distribution over a conductivity anomaly use the self-potential method. However, this method is time consuming and requires nonpolarizable electrodes to be placed in the ground. Moreover, the information gained by this method is restricted to the horizontal variations of the electric field. To overcome the limitation in the self-potential technique, we conducted a field experiment using a non conventional technique to assess the static electric field over a conductivity anomaly. We use two metallic potential probes arranged on an insulated boom with a separation of 126 cm. When placed into the electric field of the free air, a surface charge will be induced on each probe trying to equalize with the potential of the surrounding atmosphere. The use of a plasma source at both probes facilitated continuous and quicker measurement of the electric field in the air. The present study shows first experimental measurements with a modified potential probe technique (MPP) along a 600-meter-long transect to demonstrate the general feasibility of this method for studying the static electric field distribution over shallow conductivity anomalies. Field measurements were carried out on a test site on top of the Bramsche Massif near Osnabrück (Northwest Germany) to benefit from a variety of available near surface data over an almost vertical conductivity anomaly. High resolution self-potential data served in a numerical analysis to estimate the expected individual components of the electric field vector. During the experiment we found more anomalies in the vertical and horizontal components of the electric field than self-potential anomalies. These contrasting findings are successfully cross-validated with conventional near surface geophysical methods. Among these methods, we used self-potential, radiomagnetotelluric, electric resistivity tomography and induced polarization data to derive 2D conductivity models of the subsurface in order to infer the geometrical properties and the origin of the conductivity anomaly in the survey area. The presented study demonstrates the feasibility of electric field measurements in free air to detect and study near surface conductivity anomalies. Variations in Ez correlate well with the conductivity distribution obtained from resistivity methods. Compared to the self-potential technique, continuously free air measurements of the electric field are more rapid and of better lateral resolution combined with the unique ability to analyze vertical components of the electric field which are of particular importance to detect lateral conductivity contrasts. Mapping Ez in free air is a good tool to precisely map lateral changes of the electric field distribution in areas where SP generation fails. MPP offers interesting application in other geophysical techniques e.g. in time domain electromagnetics, DC and IP. With this method we were able to reveal a ca. 150 m broad zone of enhanced electric field strength.

  14. Temperature Modulation of Electric Fields in Biological Matter

    PubMed Central

    Daniels, Charlotte S.; Rubinsky, Boris

    2011-01-01

    Pulsed electric fields (PEF) have become an important minimally invasive surgical technology for various applications including genetic engineering, electrochemotherapy and tissue ablation. This study explores the hypothesis that temperature dependent electrical parameters of tissue can be used to modulate the outcome of PEF protocols, providing a new means for controlling and optimizing this minimally invasive surgical procedure. This study investigates two different applications of cooling temperatures applied during PEF. The first case utilizes an electrode which simultaneously delivers pulsed electric fields and cooling temperatures. The subsequent results demonstrate that changes in electrical properties due to temperature produced by this configuration can substantially magnify and confine the electric fields in the cooled regions while almost eliminating electric fields in surrounding regions. This method can be used to increase precision in the PEF procedure, and eliminate muscle contractions and damage to adjacent tissues. The second configuration considered introduces a third probe that is not electrically active and only applies cooling boundary conditions. This second study demonstrates that in this probe configuration the temperature induced changes in electrical properties of tissue substantially reduce the electric fields in the cooled regions. This novel treatment can potentially be used to protect sensitive tissues from the effect of the PEF. Perhaps the most important conclusion of this investigation is that temperature is a powerful and accessible mechanism to modulate and control electric fields in biological tissues and can therefore be used to optimize and control PEF treatments. PMID:21695144

  15. Measurement of large parallel and perpendicular electric fields on electron spatial scales in the terrestrial bow shock.

    PubMed

    Bale, S D; Mozer, F S

    2007-05-18

    Large parallel (

  16. 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.

  17. Asymptotic expansion of pair production probability in a time-dependent electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arai, Takashi

    2015-12-01

    We study particle creation in a single pulse of an electric field in scalar quantum electrodynamics. We investigate the parameter condition for the case where the dynamical pair creation and Schwinger mechanism respectively dominate. Then, an asymptotic expansion for the particle distribution in terms of the time interval of the applied electric field is derived. We compare our result with particle creation in a constant electric field with a finite-time interval. These results coincide in an extremely strong field, however they differ in general field strength. We interpret the reason of this difference as a nonperturbative effect of high-frequency photons in external electric fields. Moreover, we find that the next-to-leading-order term in our asymptotic expansion coincides with the derivative expansion of the effective action.

  18. Nanomechanical electric and electromagnetic field sensor

    DOEpatents

    Datskos, Panagiotis George; Lavrik, Nickolay

    2015-03-24

    The present invention provides a system for detecting and analyzing at least one of an electric field and an electromagnetic field. The system includes a micro/nanomechanical oscillator which oscillates in the presence of at least one of the electric field and the electromagnetic field. The micro/nanomechanical oscillator includes a dense array of cantilevers mounted to a substrate. A charge localized on a tip of each cantilever interacts with and oscillates in the presence of the electric and/or electromagnetic field. The system further includes a subsystem for recording the movement of the cantilever to extract information from the electric and/or electromagnetic field. The system further includes a means of adjusting a stiffness of the cantilever to heterodyne tune an operating frequency of the system over a frequency range.

  19. 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.

  20. Electric Field Distribution in High Voltage Power Modules Using Finite Element Simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Zhao; Liu, Yaoning

    2018-03-01

    With the development of the high voltage insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power module, it leads to serious problems concerning the electric field insulation. The electric field capabilities of the silicone gels used in the power module encapsulation directly affect the module insulation. Some solutions have been developed to optimize the electric field and reliability. In this letter, the finite element simulation was used to analyze and localize the maximum electric field position; solutions were proposed to improve the module insulation. It’s demonstrated that BaTiO3 silicone composite is a promising insulation material for high voltage power device.

  1. [Research advances of anti-tumor immune response induced by pulse electric field ablation].

    PubMed

    Cui, Guang-ying; Diao, Hong-yan

    2015-11-01

    As a novel tumor therapy, pulse electric field has shown a clinical perspective. This paper reviews the characteristics of tumor ablation by microsecond pulse and nanosecond pulse electric field, and the research advances of anti-tumor immune response induced by pulse electric field ablation. Recent researches indicate that the pulse electric field not only leads to a complete ablation of local tumor, but also stimulates a protective immune response, thereby inhibiting tumor recurrence and metastasis. These unique advantages will show an extensive clinical application in the future. However, the mechanism of anti-tumor immune response and the development of related tumor vaccine need further studies.

  2. Controllable deformation of salt water-filled carbon nanotubes using an electric field with application to molecular sieving

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Hongfei; Zheng, Yonggang; Zhang, Zhongqiang; Zhang, Hongwu; Chen, Zhen

    2016-08-01

    Precisely controlling the deformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has practical application in the development of nanoscale functional devices, although it is a challenging task. Here, we propose a novel method to guide the deformation of CNTs through filling them with salt water and applying an electric field. With the electric field along the axial direction, the height of CNTs is enlarged by the axial electric force due to the internal ions and polar water molecules. Under an electric field with two mutually orthogonal components, the transverse electric force could further induce the bending deformation of CNTs. Based on the classical rod and beam theories, two mechanical models are constructed to verify and quantitatively describe the relationships between the tension and bending deformations of CNTs and the electric field intensity. Moreover, by means of the electric field-driven tension behavior of CNTs, we design a stretchable molecular sieve to control the flow rate of mixed gas and collect a single high-purity gas. The present work opens up new avenues in the design and fabrication of nanoscale controlling units.

  3. 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

  4. Consequences of ongoing civil conflict in Somalia: evidence for public health responses.

    PubMed

    Guha-Sapir, Debarati; Ratnayake, Ruwan

    2009-08-01

    Debarati Guha-Sapir and Ruwan Ratnayake use field data to demonstrate the severe vulnerability faced by much of the Somalian population due to ongoing conflict, and call for concerted public health interventions and access to food aid especially in southern Somalia.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. Electric Fields, Cloud Microphysics, and Reflectivity in Anvils of Florida Thunderstorms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dye, J. E.; Bateman, M. G.; Christian, H. J.; Defer, E.; Grainger, C. A.; Hall, W. D.; Krider, E. P.; Lewis, S. A.; Mach, D. M.; Merceret, F. J.; hide

    2007-01-01

    A coordinated aircraft - radar project that investigated the electric fields, cloud microphysics and radar reflectivity of thunderstorm anvils near Kennedy Space Center is described. Measurements from two cases illustrate the extensive nature of the microphysics and electric field observations. As the aircraft flew from the edges of anvils into the interior, electric fields very frequently increased abruptly from approximately 1 to more than 10 kV m(exp -1) even though the particle concentration and radar reflectivity increased smoothly. The abrupt increase in field usually occurred when the aircraft entered regions with a reflectivity of 10 to 15 dBZ. It is suggested that the abrupt increase in electric field may be because the charge advection from the storm core did not occur across the entire breadth of the anvil and was not constant in time. Screening layers were not detected near the edges of the anvils. Some long-lived anvils showed subsequent enhancement of electric field and reflectivity and growth of particles, which if localized, might be a factor in explaining the abrupt change of field in some cases. Comparisons of electric field magnitude with particle concentration or reflectivity for a combined data set that included all anvil measurements showed a threshold behavior. When the average reflectivity, such as in a 3-km cube, was less than approximately 5 dBZ, the electric field magnitude was les than kV m(exp -1). Based on these findings, the Volume Averaged Height Integrated Radar Reflectivity (VAHIRR) is now being used by NASA, the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration in new Lightning Launch Commit Criteria as a diagnostic for high electric fields in anvils.

  8. 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.

  9. Unbalanced field RF electron gun

    DOEpatents

    Hofler, Alicia

    2013-11-12

    A design for an RF electron gun having a gun cavity utilizing an unbalanced electric field arrangement. Essentially, the electric field in the first (partial) cell has higher field strength than the electric field in the second (full) cell of the electron gun. The accompanying method discloses the use of the unbalanced field arrangement in the operation of an RF electron gun in order to accelerate an electron beam.

  10. Electrical service reliability: the customer perspective

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

    Samsa, M.E.; Hub, K.A.; Krohm, G.C.

    1978-09-01

    Electric-utility-system reliability criteria have traditionally been established as a matter of utility policy or through long-term engineering practice, generally with no supportive customer cost/benefit analysis as justification. This report presents results of an initial study of the customer perspective toward electric-utility-system reliability, based on critical review of over 20 previous and ongoing efforts to quantify the customer's value of reliable electric service. A possible structure of customer classifications is suggested as a reasonable level of disaggregation for further investigation of customer value, and these groups are characterized in terms of their electricity use patterns. The values that customers assign tomore » reliability are discussed in terms of internal and external cost components. A list of options for effecting changes in customer service reliability is set forth, and some of the many policy issues that could alter customer-service reliability are identified.« less

  11. In-channel electrochemical detection in the middle of microchannel under high electric field.

    PubMed

    Kang, Chung Mu; Joo, Segyeong; Bae, Je Hyun; Kim, Yang-Rae; Kim, Yongseong; Chung, Taek Dong

    2012-01-17

    We propose a new method for performing in-channel electrochemical detection under a high electric field using a polyelectrolytic gel salt bridge (PGSB) integrated in the middle of the electrophoretic separation channel. The finely tuned placement of a gold working electrode and the PGSB on an equipotential surface in the microchannel provided highly sensitive electrochemical detection without any deterioration in the separation efficiency or interference of the applied electric field. To assess the working principle, the open circuit potentials between gold working electrodes and the reference electrode at varying distances were measured in the microchannel under electrophoretic fields using an electrically isolated potentiostat. In addition, "in-channel" cyclic voltammetry confirmed the feasibility of electrochemical detection under various strengths of electric fields (∼400 V/cm). Effective separation on a microchip equipped with a PGSB under high electric fields was demonstrated for the electrochemical detection of biological compounds such as dopamine and catechol. The proposed "in-channel" electrochemical detection under a high electric field enables wider electrochemical detection applications in microchip electrophoresis.

  12. The tunable mechanical property of water-filled carbon nanotubes under an electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Hongfei; Zhang, Zhongqiang; Zhang, Hongwu; Chen, Zhen; Zong, Zhi; Zheng, Yonggang

    2014-03-01

    The spring-induced compression of water-filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under an electric field is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Due to the incompressibility and polarity of water, the mechanical property of CNTs can be tuned through filling with water molecules and applying an electric field. To explore the variation of the mechanical property of water-filled CNTs, the effects of the CNT length, the filling density and the electric field intensity are examined. The simulation results indicate that the water filling and electric field can result in a slight change in the elastic property (the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio) of water-filled CNTs. However, the yield stress and average post-buckling stress exhibit a significant response to the water density and electric field intensity. As compared to hollow CNTs, the increment in yield stress of the water-filled CNTs under an electric field of 2.0 V Å-1 is up to 35.29%, which is even higher than that resulting from metal filling. The findings from this study provide a valuable theoretical basis for designing and fabricating the controlling units at the nanoscale.

  13. Electric Field Fluctuations in Water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thorpe, Dayton; Limmer, David; Chandler, David

    2013-03-01

    Charge transfer in solution, such as autoionization and ion pair dissociation in water, is governed by rare electric field fluctuations of the solvent. Knowing the statistics of such fluctuations can help explain the dynamics of these rare events. Trajectories short enough to be tractable by computer simulation are virtually certain not to sample the large fluctuations that promote rare events. Here, we employ importance sampling techniques with classical molecular dynamics simulations of liquid water to study statistics of electric field fluctuations far from their means. We find that the distributions of electric fields located on individual water molecules are not in general gaussian. Near the mean this non-gaussianity is due to the internal charge distribution of the water molecule. Further from the mean, however, there is a previously unreported Bjerrum-like defect that stabilizes certain large fluctuations out of equilibrium. As expected, differences in electric fields acting between molecules are gaussian to a remarkable degree. By studying these differences, though, we are able to determine what configurations result not only in large electric fields, but also in electric fields with long spatial correlations that may be needed to promote charge separation.

  14. Electric Mars: A Large Trans-Terminator Electric Potential Drop on Closed Magnetic Field Lines Above Utopia Planitia

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Collinson, Glyn; Mitchell, David; Xu, Shaosui; Glocer, Alex; Grebowsky, Joseph; Hara, Takuya; Lillis, Robert; Espley, Jared; Mazelle, Christian; Sauvaud, Jean-Andre

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Parallel electric fields and their associated electric potential structures play a crucial role inionospheric-magnetospheric interactions at any planet. Although there is abundant evidence that parallel electric fields play key roles in Martian ionospheric outflow and auroral electron acceleration, the fields themselves are challenging to directly measure due to their relatively weak nature. Using measurements by the Solar Wind Electron Analyzer instrument aboard the NASA Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN(MAVEN) Mars Scout, we present the discovery and measurement of a substantial (Phi) Mars 7.7 +/-0.6 V) parallel electric potential drop on closed magnetic field lines spanning the terminator from day to night above the great impact basin of Utopia Planitia, a region largely free of crustal magnetic fields. A survey of the previous 26 orbits passing over a range of longitudes revealed similar signatures on seven orbits, with a mean potential drop (Phi) Mars of 10.9 +/- 0.8 V, suggestive that although trans-terminator electric fields of comparable strength are not ubiquitous, they may be common, at least at these northerly latitudes.

  15. Electric field measurement in the dielectric tube of helium atmospheric pressure plasma jet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sretenović, Goran B.; Guaitella, Olivier; Sobota, Ana; Krstić, Ivan B.; Kovačević, Vesna V.; Obradović, Bratislav M.; Kuraica, Milorad M.

    2017-03-01

    The results of the electric field measurements in the capillary of the helium plasma jet are presented in this article. Distributions of the electric field for the streamers are determined for different gas flow rates. It is found that electric field strength in front of the ionization wave decreases as it approaches to the exit of the tube. The values obtained under presented experimental conditions are in the range of 5-11 kV/cm. It was found that the increase in gas flow above 1500 SCCM could induce substantial changes in the discharge operation. This is reflected through the formation of the brighter discharge region and appearance of the electric field maxima. Furthermore, using the measured values of the electric field strength in the streamer head, it was possible to estimate electron densities in the streamer channel. Maximal density of 4 × 1011 cm-3 is obtained in the vicinity of the grounded ring electrode. Similar behaviors of the electron density distributions to the distributions of the electric field strength are found under the studied experimental conditions.

  16. Influence of an external electric field on the potential-energy surface of alkali-metal-decorated C60

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De, Deb Sankar; Saha, Santanu; Genovese, Luigi; Goedecker, Stefan

    2018-06-01

    We present a fully ab initio, unbiased structure search of the configurational space of decorated C60 fullerenes in the presence of an electric field. We observed that the potential-energy surface is significantly perturbed by an external electric field and that the energetic ordering of low-energy isomers differs with and without electric field. We identify the energetically lowest configuration for a varying number of decorating atoms (1 ≤n ≤12 ) for Li and (1 ≤n ≤6 ) for K on the C60 surface at different electric-field strengths. Using the correct geometric ground state in the electric field for the calculation of the dipole we obtain better agreement with the experimentally measured values than previous calculations based on the ground state in absence of an electric field. Since the lowest-energy structures are typically nearly degenerate in energy, a combination of different structures is expected to be found at room temperature. The experimentally measured dipole is therefore also expected to contain significant contributions from several low-energy structures.

  17. The Vector Electric Field Instrument on the C/NOFS Satellite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pfaff, R.; Kujawski, J.; Uribe, P.; Bromund, K.; Fourre, R.; Acuna, M.; Le, G.; Farrell, W.; Holzworth, R.; McCarthy, M.; hide

    2008-01-01

    We provide an overview of the Vector Electric Field Instrument (VEFI) on the Air Force Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, a mission designed to understand, model, and forecast the presence of equatorial ionospheric irregularities. VEFI is a NASA GSFC instrument designed 1) to investigate the role of the ambient electric fields in initiating nighttime ionospheric density depletions and turbulence; 2) to determine the electric fields associated with abrupt, large amplitude, density depletions and 3) to quantify the spectrum of the wave electric fields and plasma densities (irregularities) associated with density depletions or Equatorial Spread-F. The VEFI instrument includes a vector electric field double probe detector, a Langmuir trigger probe, a flux gate magnetometer, a lightning detector and associated electronics. The heart of the instrument is the set of double probe detectors designed to measure DC and AC electric fields using 6 identical, mutually orthogonal, deployable 9.5 m booms tipped with 10 cm diameter spheres containing embedded preamplifiers. A description of the instrument and its sensors will be presented. If available, representative measurements will be provided.

  18. The Electric Field of a Weakly Electric Fish

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rasnow, Brian K.

    Freshwater fish of the genus Apteronotus (family Gymnotidae) generate a weak, high frequency electric field (<100 mV/cm, 0.5-10 kHz) which permeates their local environment. These nocturnal fish are acutely sensitive to perturbations in their electric field caused by other electric fish, and nearby objects whose impedance is different from the surrounding water. This thesis presents high temporal and spatial resolution maps of the electric potential and field on and near Apteronotus. The fish's electric field is a complicated and highly stable function of space and time. Its characteristics, such as spectral composition, timing, and rate of attenuation, are examined in terms of physical constraints, and their possible functional roles in electroreception. Temporal jitter of the periodic field is less than 1 musec. However, electrocyte activity is not globally synchronous along the fish's electric organ. The propagation of electrocyte activation down the fish's body produces a rotation of the electric field vector in the caudal part of the fish. This may assist the fish in identifying nonsymmetrical objects, and could also confuse electrosensory predators that try to locate Apteronotus by following its fieldlines. The propagation also results in a complex spatiotemporal pattern of the EOD potential near the fish. Visualizing the potential on the same and different fish over timescales of several months suggests that it is stable and could serve as a unique signature for individual fish. Measurements of the electric field were used to calculate the effects of simple objects on the fish's electric field. The shape of the perturbation or "electric image" on the fish's skin is relatively independent of a simple object's size, conductivity, and rostrocaudal location, and therefore could unambiguously determine object distance. The range of electrolocation may depend on both the size of objects and their rostrocaudal location. Only objects with very large dielectric constants cause appreciable phase shifts, and these are strongly dependent on the water conductivity.

  19. Electrical stimulation of rhesus monkey nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis. II. Effects on metrics and kinematics of ongoing gaze shifts to visual targets.

    PubMed

    Freedman, Edward G; Quessy, Stephan

    2004-06-01

    Saccade kinematics are altered by ongoing head movements. The hypothesis that a head movement command signal, proportional to head velocity, transiently reduces the gain of the saccadic burst generator (Freedman 2001, Biol Cybern 84:453-462) can account for this observation. Using electrical stimulation of the rhesus monkey nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRG) to alter the head contribution to ongoing gaze shifts, two critical predictions of this gaze control hypothesis were tested. First, this hypothesis predicts that activation of the head command pathway will cause a transient reduction in the gain of the saccadic burst generator. This should alter saccade kinematics by initially reducing velocity without altering saccade amplitude. Second, because this hypothesis does not assume that gaze amplitude is controlled via feedback, the added head contribution (produced by NRG stimulation on the side ipsilateral to the direction of an ongoing gaze shift) should lead to hypermetric gaze shifts. At every stimulation site tested, saccade kinematics were systematically altered in a way that was consistent with transient reduction of the gain of the saccadic burst generator. In addition, gaze shifts produced during NRG stimulation were hypermetric compared with control movements. For example, when targets were briefly flashed 30 degrees from an initial fixation location, gaze shifts during NRG stimulation were on average 140% larger than control movements. These data are consistent with the predictions of the tested hypothesis, and may be problematic for gaze control models that rely on feedback control of gaze amplitude, as well as for models that do not posit an interaction between head commands and the saccade burst generator.

  20. Dynamical Generation of Quasi-Stationary Alfvenic Double Layers and Charge Holes and Unified Theory of Quasi-Static and Alfvenic Auroral Arc Formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Song, Y.; Lysak, R. L.

    2015-12-01

    Parallel E-fields play a crucial role for the acceleration of charged particles, creating discrete aurorae. However, once the parallel electric fields are produced, they will disappear right away, unless the electric fields can be continuously generated and sustained for a fairly long time. Thus, the crucial question in auroral physics is how to generate such a powerful and self-sustained parallel electric fields which can effectively accelerate charge particles to high energy during a fairly long time. We propose that nonlinear interaction of incident and reflected Alfven wave packets in inhomogeneous auroral acceleration region can produce quasi-stationary non-propagating electromagnetic plasma structures, such as Alfvenic double layers (DLs) and Charge Holes. Such Alfvenic quasi-static structures often constitute powerful high energy particle accelerators. The Alfvenic DL consists of localized self-sustained powerful electrostatic electric fields nested in a low density cavity and surrounded by enhanced magnetic and mechanical stresses. The enhanced magnetic and velocity fields carrying the free energy serve as a local dynamo, which continuously create the electrostatic parallel electric field for a fairly long time. The generated parallel electric fields will deepen the seed low density cavity, which then further quickly boosts the stronger parallel electric fields creating both Alfvenic and quasi-static discrete aurorae. The parallel electrostatic electric field can also cause ion outflow, perpendicular ion acceleration and heating, and may excite Auroral Kilometric Radiation.

  1. 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.

  2. Electrostatic risk to reticles in the nanolithography era

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rider, Gavin C.

    2016-04-01

    Reticles can be damaged by electric field as well as by the conductive transfer of charge. As device feature sizes have moved from the micro- into the nano-regime, reticle sensitivity to electric field has been increasing owing to the physics of field induction. Hence, the predominant risk to production reticles today is from exposure to electric field. Measurements of electric field that illustrate the extreme risk faced by today's production reticles are presented. It is shown that some of the standard methods used for prevention of electrostatic discharge in semiconductor manufacturing, being based on controlling static charge and voltage, do not offer reticles adequate protection against electric field. In some cases, they actually increase the risk of reticle damage. Methodology developed specifically to protect reticles against electric field is required, which is described in SEMI Standard E163. Measurements are also presented showing that static dissipative plastic is not an ideal material to use for the construction of reticle pods as it both generates and transmits transient electric field. An appropriate combination of insulating material and metallic shielding is shown to provide the best electrostatic protection for reticles, with fail-safe protection only being possible if the reticle is fully shielded within a metal Faraday cage.

  3. Calculations of low-frequency radio emission by cosmic-ray-induced particle showers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    García-Fernández, Daniel; Revenu, Benoît; Charrier, Didier; Dallier, Richard; Escudie, Antony; Martin, Lilian

    2018-05-01

    The radio technique for the detection of high-energy cosmic rays consists in measuring the electric field created by the particle showers created inside a medium by the primary cosmic ray. The electric field is then used to infer the properties of the primary particle. Nowadays, the radio technique is a standard, well-established technique. While most current experiments measure the field at frequencies above 20 MHz, several experiments have reported a large emission at low frequencies, below 10 MHz. The EXTASIS experiment aims at measuring again and understanding this low-frequency electric field. Since at low frequencies the standard far-field approximation for the calculation of the electric field does not necessarily hold, in order to comprehend the low-frequency emission we need to go beyond the far-field approximation. We present in this work a formula for the electric field created by a particle track inside a dielectric medium that is valid for all frequencies. We then implement this formula in the SELFAS Monte Carlo code and calculate the low-frequency electric field of the extensive air shower (EAS). We also study the electric field of a special case of the transition radiation mechanism when the EAS particles cross the air-soil boundary. We introduce the sudden death pulse, the direct emission caused by the coherent deceleration of the shower front at the boundary, as a first approximation to the whole electric field for the air-soil transition, and study its properties. We show that at frequencies larger than 20 MHz and distances larger than 100 m, the standard far-field approximation for the horizontal polarizations of the field is always accurate at the 1% level.

  4. Wireless Data Acquisition of Transient Signals for Mobile Spectrometry Applications.

    PubMed

    Trzcinski, Peter; Weagant, Scott; Karanassios, Vassili

    2016-05-01

    Wireless data acquisition using smartphones or handhelds offers increased mobility, it provides reduced size and weight, it has low electrical power requirements, and (in some cases) it has an ability to access the internet. Thus, it is well suited for mobile spectrometry applications using miniaturized, field-portable spectrometers, or detectors for chemical analysis in the field (i.e., on-site). There are four main wireless communications standards that can be used for wireless data acquisition, namely ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB (ultra-wide band). These are briefly reviewed and are evaluated for applicability to data acquisition of transient signals (i.e., time-domain) in the field (i.e., on-site) from a miniaturized, field-portable photomultiplier tube detector and from a photodiode array detector installed in a miniaturized, field-portable fiber optic spectrometer. These are two of the most widely used detectors for optical measurements in the ultraviolet-visible range of the spectrum. A miniaturized, 3D-printed, battery-operated microplasma-on-a-chip was used for generation of transient optical emission signals. Elemental analysis from liquid microsamples, a microplasma, and a handheld or a smartphone will be used as examples. Development and potential applicability of wireless data acquisition of transient optical emission signals for taking part of the lab to the sample types of mobile, field-portable spectrometry applications will be discussed. The examples presented are drawn from past and ongoing work in the authors' laboratory. A handheld or a smartphone were used as the mobile computing devices of choice. © The Author(s) 2016.

  5. 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.

  6. Flexible gas insulated transmission line having regions of reduced electric field

    DOEpatents

    Cookson, Alan H.; Fischer, William H.; Yoon, Kue H.; Meyer, Jeffry R.

    1983-01-01

    A gas insulated transmission line having radially flexible field control means for reducing the electric field along the periphery of the inner conductor at predetermined locations wherein the support insulators are located. The radially flexible field control means of the invention includes several structural variations of the inner conductor, wherein careful controlling of the length to depth of surface depressions produces regions of reduced electric field. Several embodiments of the invention dispose a flexible connector at the predetermined location along the inner conductor where the surface depressions that control the reduced electric field are located.

  7. Simultaneous electric-field measurements on nearby balloons.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mozer, F. S.

    1972-01-01

    Electric-field payloads were flown simultaneously on two balloons from Great Whale River, Canada, on September 21, 1971, to provide data at two points in the upper atmosphere that differed in altitude by more than one atmospheric density scale height and in horizontal position by 30-140 km. The altitude dependences in the two sets of data prove conclusively that the vertical electric field at balloon altitudes stems from fair-weather atmospheric electricity sources and that the horizontal fields are mapped down ionospheric fields, since the weather-associated horizontal fields were smaller than 2 mV/m.

  8. COMSOL based Simulation on the Effect of Electric Field changes due to Lightning on Ground

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Premlet, B.; Joby, N. E.; Sabu, S.

    2017-12-01

    The phenomenon of lightning is accompanied by localised changes in atmospheric electric fields. In cloud-to-ground strike locations, changes in atmospheric electric fields can even be observed at the ground a few minutes prior to a strike. A lot of research has been done already on the electrostatic changes prior to lightning in the region above ground. Through this work, we investigate into the effects of lightning electric fields on/under ground with the aid of simulations done in COMSOL Multiphysics. Horizontal and vertical profiles of voltage gradient, electric field, polarisation etc. are investigated. Simulation experiments were conducted using a general model of lightning electric fields formed using data recorded by the Electric Field Mills(EFMs) from three diverse parts of the world- Kennedy Space Centre (KSC),Florida (Using GHRC datasets),Sonnblick Observatory, Austria and National Centre for Earth Science Studies Trivandrum (NCESS),India. COMSOL models of the global electric circuit were developed using Sandstone as the base model for ground. Similar works in literature have only dealt with lightning electric fields above the ground. This work is the first step towards a high-level simulation on the effects of atmospheric electric field on/below ground. The results of this simulation work can aid lightning forecasting and preparedness by opening new doors for voltage based prediction methods at ground. It is also a tool to understand phenomena such as fulgurites, corona effect etc. It also helps in the design of buried cables and improved grounding systems. This work can also be a first step towards understanding localised potential variations at the ground during lightning.

  9. Organic magnetic field sensor

    DOEpatents

    McCamey, Dane; Boehme, Christoph

    2017-01-24

    An organic, spin-dependent magnetic field sensor (10) includes an active stack (12) having an organic material with a spin-dependence. The sensor (10) also includes a back electrical contact (14) electrically coupled to a back of the active stack (12) and a front electrical contact (16) electrically coupled to a front of the active stack (12). A magnetic field generator (18) is oriented so as to provide an oscillating magnetic field which penetrates the active stack (12).

  10. Electric field numerical simulation of disc type electrostatic spinning spinneret

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, L.; Deng, ZL; Qin, XH; Liang, ZY

    2018-01-01

    Electrospinning is a new type of free-end spinning built on electric field. Different from traditional single needle spinneret, in this study, a new disc type free surface spinneret is used to produce multiple jets, this will greatly improve production efficiency of nanofiber. The electric-field distribution of spinneret is the crux of the formation and trajectory of jets. In order to probe the electric field intensity of the disc type spinneret, computational software of Ansoft Maxwell 12 is adopted for a precise and intuitive analysis. The results showed that the whole round cambered surface of the spinning solution at edge of each layer of the spinneret with the maximum curvature has the highest electric field intensity, and through the simulation of the electric field distribution of different spinneret parameters such as layer, the height and radius of the spinneret. Influences of various parameters on the electrostatic spinning are obtained.

  11. Acceleration of metal-atom diffusion in electric field at metal/insulator interfaces: First-principles study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nagasawa, Riki; Asayama, Yoshihiro; Nakayama, Takashi

    2018-04-01

    Metal-atom diffusion from metal electrodes into SiO2 in electric fields was studied using first-principles calculations. It was shown in the case without electric field that the diffusion barrier of a metal atom is mainly made of the cohesive energy of bulk metal layers, while the shape of the diffusion potential reflects the hybridization of the metal-atom state with metal-induced gap states (MIGSs) and the electron transfer between the metal atom and the electrode. We found that the metal-atom diffusion is markedly accelerated by the applied electric field, such that the diffusion barrier ϕB(E) decreases almost linearly with increasing electric field strength E. By analyzing the physical origins of the metal-atom diffusion, we derived the universal formula to estimate the diffusion barrier in the electric field, which is closely related to MIGSs.

  12. Electro-optical properties of zigzag and armchair boron nitride nanotubes under a transverse electric field: Tight binding calculations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh

    2012-02-01

    The electro-optical properties of zigzag and armchair BNNTs in a uniform transverse electric field are investigated within tight binding approximation. It is found that the electric field modifies the band structure and splits band degeneracy where these effects reflect in the DOS and JDOS spectra. A decrease in the band gap, as a function of the electric field, is observed. This gap reduction increases with the diameter and it is independent of chirality. An analytic function to estimate the electric field needed for band gap closing is proposed which is in good agreement with DFT results. In additional, we show that the larger diameter tubes are more sensitive than small ones. Number and position of peaks in DOS and JDOS spectra for armchair and zigzag tubes with similar radius are dependent on electric field strength.

  13. Electric fields in the plasma sheet and plasma sheet boundary layer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pedersen, A.; Knott, K.; Cattell, C. A.; Mozer, F. S.; Falthammar, C.-G.; Lindqvist, P.-A.; Manka, R. H.

    1985-01-01

    Results obtained by Forbes et al. (1981) on the basis of time delay measurements between ISEE 1 and ISEE 2 imply that the plasma flow and the boundary contracting velocity were nearly the same, whereas the expanding boundary velocity was not accompanied by any significant plasma sheet plasma motion. In the present study, this observation is discussed in conjunction with electric field data. The study is based on electric field data from the spherical double probe experiment on ISEE 1. Electric field data from GEOS 2 are used to some extent to monitor the electric fields near the geostationary orbit during the considered eve nts. Electric field data during CDAW 6 events are discussed, taking into account positions of ISEE 1/ISEE 2 and GEOS 2; March 22, 0600-1300 UT; and March 22, UT; and March 31, 1400-2400 UT.

  14. Effects of electric field and light polarization on the electromagnetically induced transparency in an impurity doped quantum ring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bejan, D.; Stan, C.; Niculescu, E. C.

    2018-01-01

    We theoretically investigated the effects of the impurity position, in-plane electric field, intensity and polarization of the probe and control lasers on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in GaAs/GaAlAs disc shaped quantum ring. Our study reveals that, depending on the impurity position, the quantum system presents two specific configurations for the EIT occurrence even in the absence of the external electric field, i.e. ladder-configuration or V-configuration, and changes the configuration from ladder to V for specific electric field values. The polarization of the probe and control lasers plays a crucial role in obtaining a good transparency. The electric field controls the red-shift (blue-shift) of the transparency window and modifies its width. The system exhibits birefringence for the probe light in a limited interval of electric field values.

  15. Indirect determination of the electric field in plasma discharges using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

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

    Vaudolon, J., E-mail: julien.vaudolon@cnrs-orleans.fr; Mazouffre, S., E-mail: stephane.mazouffre@cnrs-orleans.fr

    2014-09-15

    The evaluation of electric fields is of prime interest for the description of plasma characteristics. In this work, different methods for determining the electric field profile in low-pressure discharges using one- and two-dimensional Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) measurements are presented and discussed. The energy conservation, fluid, and kinetic approaches appear to be well-suited for the electric field evaluation in this region of the plasma flow. However, the numerical complexity of a two-dimensional kinetic model is penalizing due to the limited signal-to-noise ratio that can be achieved, making the computation of the electric field subject to large error bars. The ionization contributionmore » which appears in the fluid model makes it unattractive on an experimental viewpoint. The energy conservation and 1D1V kinetic approaches should therefore be preferred for the determination of the electric field when LIF data are used.« less

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. Effects of electric and magnetic fields on the electronic properties of zigzag carbon and boron nitride nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh; Ahmadi, Eghbal

    2012-04-01

    We have investigated the electronic properties of zigzag CNTs and BNNTs under the external transverse electric field and axial magnetic field, using tight binding approximation. It was found that after switching on the electric and magnetic fields, the band modification such as distortion of the degeneracy, change in energy dispersion, subband spacing and band gap size reduction occurs. The band gap of zigzag BNNTs decreases linearly with increasing the electric field strength but the band gap variation for CNTs increases first and later decreases (Metallic) or first hold constant and then decreases (semiconductor). For type (II) CNTs, at a weak magnetic field, by increasing the electric field strength, the band gap remains constant first and then decreases and in a stronger magnetic field the band gap reduction becomes parabolic. For type (III) CNTs, in any magnetic field, the band gap increases slowly until reaches a maximum value and then decreases linearly. Unlike to CNTs, the magnetic field has less effects on the BNNTs band gap variation.

  19. Generalized theoretical method for the interaction between arbitrary nonuniform electric field and molecular vibrations: Toward near-field infrared spectroscopy and microscopy

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

    Iwasa, Takeshi, E-mail: tiwasa@mail.sci.hokudai.ac.jp; Takenaka, Masato; Taketsugu, Tetsuya

    A theoretical method to compute infrared absorption spectra when a molecule is interacting with an arbitrary nonuniform electric field such as near-fields is developed and numerically applied to simple model systems. The method is based on the multipolar Hamiltonian where the light-matter interaction is described by a spatial integral of the inner product of the molecular polarization and applied electric field. The computation scheme is developed under the harmonic approximation for the molecular vibrations and the framework of modern electronic structure calculations such as the density functional theory. Infrared reflection absorption and near-field infrared absorption are considered as model systems.more » The obtained IR spectra successfully reflect the spatial structure of the applied electric field and corresponding vibrational modes, demonstrating applicability of the present method to analyze modern nanovibrational spectroscopy using near-fields. The present method can use arbitral electric fields and thus can integrate two fields such as computational chemistry and electromagnetics.« less

  20. Generalized theoretical method for the interaction between arbitrary nonuniform electric field and molecular vibrations: Toward near-field infrared spectroscopy and microscopy.

    PubMed

    Iwasa, Takeshi; Takenaka, Masato; Taketsugu, Tetsuya

    2016-03-28

    A theoretical method to compute infrared absorption spectra when a molecule is interacting with an arbitrary nonuniform electric field such as near-fields is developed and numerically applied to simple model systems. The method is based on the multipolar Hamiltonian where the light-matter interaction is described by a spatial integral of the inner product of the molecular polarization and applied electric field. The computation scheme is developed under the harmonic approximation for the molecular vibrations and the framework of modern electronic structure calculations such as the density functional theory. Infrared reflection absorption and near-field infrared absorption are considered as model systems. The obtained IR spectra successfully reflect the spatial structure of the applied electric field and corresponding vibrational modes, demonstrating applicability of the present method to analyze modern nanovibrational spectroscopy using near-fields. The present method can use arbitral electric fields and thus can integrate two fields such as computational chemistry and electromagnetics.

  1. Electro- and Magneto-Modulated Ion Transport through Graphene Oxide Membranes

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Pengzhan; Zheng, Feng; Wang, Kunlin; Zhong, Minlin; Wu, Dehai; Zhu, Hongwei

    2014-01-01

    The control of ion trans-membrane transport through graphene oxide (GO) membranes is achieved by electric and magnetic fields. Electric field can either increase or decrease the ion transport through GO membranes depending on its direction, and magnetic field can enhance the ion penetration monotonically. When electric field is applied across GO membrane, excellent control of ion fluidic flows can be done. With the magnetic field, the effective anchoring of ions is demonstrated but the modulation of the ion flowing directions does not occur. The mechanism of the electro- and magneto-modulated ion trans-membrane transport is investigated, indicating that the electric fields dominate the ion migration process while the magnetic fields tune the structure of nanocapillaries within GO membranes. Results also show that the ion selectivity of GO membranes can be tuned with the electric fields while the transport of ions can be enhanced synchronously with the magnetic fields. These excellent properties make GO membranes promising in areas such as field-induced mass transport control and membrane separation. PMID:25347969

  2. Analysis of electric field distribution in GaAs metal-semiconductor field effect transistor with a field-modulating plate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hori, Yasuko; Kuzuhara, Masaaki; Ando, Yuji; Mizuta, Masashi

    2000-04-01

    Electric field distribution in the channel of a field effect transistor (FET) with a field-modulating plate (FP) has been theoretically investigated using a two-dimensional ensemble Monte Carlo simulation. This analysis revealed that the introduction of FP is effective in canceling the influence of surface traps under forward bias conditions and in reducing the electric field intensity at the drain side of the gate edge under pinch-off bias conditions. This study also found that a partial overlap of the high-field region under the gate and that at the FP electrode is important for reducing the electric field intensity. The optimized metal-semiconductor FET with FP (FPFET) (LGF˜0.2 μm) exhibited a much lower peak electric field intensity than a conventional metal-semiconductor FET. Based on these numerically calculated results, we have proposed a design procedure to optimize the power FPFET structure with extremely high breakdown voltages while maintaining reasonable gain performance.

  3. 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.

  4. High-frequency thermal-electrical cycles for pyroelectric energy conversion

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

    Bhatia, Bikram; Damodaran, Anoop R.; Cho, Hanna

    2014-11-21

    We report thermal to electrical energy conversion from a 150 nm thick BaTiO{sub 3} film using pyroelectric cycles at 1 kHz. A microfabricated platform enables temperature and electric field control with temporal resolution near 1 μs. The rapid electric field changes as high as 11 × 10{sup 5 }kV/cm-s, and temperature change rates as high as 6 × 10{sup 5 }K/s allow exploration of pyroelectric cycles in a previously unexplored operating regime. We investigated the effect of phase difference between electric field and temperature cycles, and electric field and temperature change rates on the electrical energy generated from thermal-electrical cycles based on the pyroelectric Ericsson cycle. Complete thermodynamic cyclesmore » are possible up to the highest cycle rates tested here, and the energy density varies significantly with phase shifts between temperature and electric field waveforms. This work could facilitate the design and operation of pyroelectric cycles at high cycle rates, and aid in the design of new pyroelectric systems.« less

  5. 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

  6. Measuring the vertical electrical field above an oceanic convection system using a meteorological sounding balloon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, A. B.; Chiu, C.; Lai, S.; Chen, C.; Kuo, C.; Su, H.; Hsu, R.

    2012-12-01

    The vertical electric field above thundercloud plays an important role in the generation and modeling of transient luminous events. For example, Pasko [1995] proposed that the high quasi-static E-field following the positive cloud-to-ground lightning could accelerate and input energy to ambient electrons; as they collide and excite nitrogen and oxygen molecules in upper atmosphere, sprites may be induced. A series of balloon experiments led by Holzworth have investigated the temporal and spatial fluctuations of the electric field and conductivity in the upper atmosphere at different sites [Holzworth 2005, and references in]. But the strength and variation of the vertical electric field above thundercloud, especially oceanic ones, are not well documented so far. A lightweight, low-cost measurement system including an electric field meter and the associated aviation electronics are developed to carry out the in-situ measurement of the vertical electric field and the inter-cloud charge distribution. Our measuring system was first deployed using a meteorological sounding balloon from Taitung, Taiwan in May 2012. The measured electric field below 3km height shows an exponential decay and it is consistent with the expected potential gradient variation between ionosphere and the Earth surface. But the background strength of the measured E-field grows up exponentially and a violent fluctuations is also observed when the balloon flew over a developing oceanic convection cell. The preliminary results from this flight will be reported and discussed. This low-cost electric field meter is developed within one year. In the coming months, more flights will be performed with the aim to measure the rapid variation of the electric field above thundercloud as well as the E-field that may induce transient luminous events. Our ground campaigns show that the occurrence rates of blue and gigantic jet are relatively high in the vicinity of Taiwan. Our experiment can be used to diagnose the dynamics of the E-field associated with blue and gigantic jets.

  7. 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.

  8. Bandstructure modulation for Si-h and Si-g nanotubes in a transverse electric field: Tight binding approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh

    2013-11-01

    We have investigated the electronic properties of SiNTs, under the external electric field, using Tight Binding (TB) approximation. It was found that the energy levels, energy gaps, and density of states (DOS) strongly depend on the electric field strength. The large electric strength leads to coupling the neighbor subbands and induce destruction of subband degeneracy, increase of low-energy states, and strong modulation of energy gap which these effects reflect in the DOS spectrum. It has been shown that, the band gap reduction of Si g-NTs is linearly proportional to the electric field strength. The band gap variation for Si h-NTs increases first and later decreases (Metallic) or first remains constant and then decreases (semiconductor). Also we show that the larger diameter tubes are more sensitive to the field strength than smaller ones. The semiconducting metallic transition or vice versa can be achieved through an increasing of applied fields. Number and position of peaks in DOS spectrum are dependent on electric field strength.

  9. 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.

  10. Relationship of the interplanetary electric field to the high-latitude ionospheric electric field and currents Observations and model simulation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clauer, C. R.; Banks, P. M.

    1986-01-01

    The electrical coupling between the solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere is studied. The coupling is analyzed using observations of high-latitude ion convection measured by the Sondre Stromfjord radar in Greenland and a computer simulation. The computer simulation calculates the ionospheric electric potential distribution for a given configuration of field-aligned currents and conductivity distribution. The technique for measuring F-region in velocities at high time resolution over a large range of latitudes is described. Variations in the currents on ionospheric plasma convection are examined using a model of field-aligned currents linking the solar wind with the dayside, high-latitude ionosphere. The data reveal that high-latitude ionospheric convection patterns, electric fields, and field-aligned currents are dependent on IMF orientation; it is observed that the electric field, which drives the F-region plasma curve, responds within about 14 minutes to IMF variations in the magnetopause. Comparisons of the simulated plasma convection with the ion velocity measurements reveal good correlation between the data.

  11. New Effects of the Interaction of Electric and Gravitational Fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krechet, V. G.; Oshurko, V. B.; Ivanova, S. D.

    2018-06-01

    The properties of stationary distributions of self-gravitating electric fields are considered within the framework of GRT with the presence of a vortex component in the gravitational field taken into account. It is shown that under the indicated conditions, cylindrically symmetric configurations of the gravitational field and electric fields can lead to the formation of "wormholes" and other remarkable effects.

  12. 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.

  13. Effects of a parallel electric field and the geomagnetic field in the topside ionosphere on auroral and photoelectron energy distributions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Min, Q.-L.; Lummerzheim, D.; Rees, M. H.; Stamnes, K.

    1993-01-01

    The consequences of electric field acceleration and an inhomogeneous magnetic field on auroral electron energy distributions in the topside ionosphere are investigated. The one-dimensional, steady state electron transport equation includes elastic and inelastic collisions, an inhomogeneous magnetic field, and a field-aligned electric field. The case of a self-consistent polarization electric field is considered first. The self-consistent field is derived by solving the continuity equation for all ions of importance, including diffusion of O(+) and H(+), and the electron and ion energy equations to derive the electron and ion temperatures. The system of coupled electron transport, continuity, and energy equations is solved numerically. Recognizing observations of parallel electric fields of larger magnitude than the baseline case of the polarization field, the effect of two model fields on the electron distribution function is investigated. In one case the field is increased from the polarization field magnitude at 300 km to a maximum at the upper boundary of 800 km, and in another case a uniform field is added to the polarization field. Substantial perturbations of the low energy portion of the electron flux are produced: an upward directed electric field accelerates the downward directed flux of low-energy secondary electrons and decelerates the upward directed component. Above about 400 km the inhomogeneous magnetic field produces anisotropies in the angular distribution of the electron flux. The effects of the perturbed energy distributions on auroral spectral emission features are noted.

  14. Effects of a Parallel Electric Field and the Geomagnetic Field in the Topside Ionosphere on Auroral and Photoelectron Energy Distributions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Min, Q.-L.; Lummerzheim, D.; Rees, M. H.; Stamnes, K.

    1993-01-01

    The consequences of electric field acceleration and an inhomogencous magnetic field on auroral electron energy distributions in the topside ionosphere are investigated. The one- dimensional, steady state electron transport equation includes elastic and inelastic collisions, an inhomogencous magnetic field, and a field-aligned electric field. The case of a self-consistent polarization electric field is considered first. The self-consistent field is derived by solving the continuity equation for all ions of importance, including diffusion of 0(+) and H(+), and the electron and ion energy equations to derive the electron and ion temperatures. The system of coupled electron transport, continuity, and energy equations is solved numerically. Recognizing observations of parallel electric fields of larger magnitude than the baseline case of the polarization field, the effect of two model fields on the electron distribution function in investigated. In one case the field is increased from the polarization field magnitude at 300 km to a maximum at the upper boundary of 800 km, and in another case a uniform field is added to the polarization field. Substantial perturbations of the low energy portion of the electron flux are produced: an upward directed electric field accelerates the downward directed flux of low-energy secondary electrons and decelerates the upward directed component. Above about 400 km the inhomogencous magnetic field produces anisotropies in the angular distribution of the electron flux. The effects of the perturbed energy distributions on auroral spectral emission features are noted.

  15. A New Electric Field in Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Malakit, K.; Shay, M. A.; Cassak, P.; Ruffolo, D. J.

    2013-12-01

    Magnetic reconnection is an important plasma process that drives the dynamics of the plasma in the magnetosphere and plays a crucial role in the interaction between magnetospheric and magnetosheath plasma. It has been shown that when a reconnection occurs in a collisionless plasma, it exhibits the Hall electric field, an in-plane electric field structure pointing toward the X-line. In this work, we show that when the reconnection has asymmetric inflow conditions such as the reconnection at the day-side magnetopause, a new in-plane electric field structure can exist. This electric field points away from the X-line and is distinct from the known Hall electric field. We argue that the origin of the electric field is associated with the physics of finite Larmor radius. A theory and predictions of the electric field properties are presented and backed up by results from fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of asymmetric reconnection with various inflow conditions. Under normal day-side reconnection inflow conditions, the electric field is expected to occur on the magnetospheric side of the X-line pointing Earthward. Hence, it has a potential to be used as a signature for satellites, such as the upcoming Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) mission, to locate the reconnection sites at the day-side magnetopause. This research was supported by the postdoctoral research sponsorship of Mahidol University (KM), NSF grants ATM-0645271 - Career Award (MAS) and AGS-0953463 (PAC), NASA grants NNX08A083G - MMS IDS, NNX11AD69G, and NNX13AD72G (MAS) and NNX10AN08A (PAC), and the Thailand Research Fund (DR).

  16. Effects Of Electric Field On Hydrocarbon-Fueled Flames

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

    2003-01-01

    It has been observed that flames are susceptible to electric fields that are much weaker than the breakdown field strength of the flame gases. When an external electric field is imposed on a flame, the ions generated in the flame reaction zone drift in the direction of the electric forces exerted on them. The moving ions collide with the neutral species and change the velocity distribution in the affected region. This is often referred to as ionic wind effect. In addition, the removal of ions from the flame reaction zone can alter the chemical reaction pathway of the flame. On the other hand, the presence of space charges carried by moving ions affects the electric field distribution. As a result, the flame often changes its shape, location and color once an external electric field is applied. The interplay between the flame movement and the change of electric field makes it difficult to determine the flame location for a given configuration of electrodes and fuel source. In normal gravity, the buoyancy-induced flow often complicates the problem and hinders detailed study of the interaction between the flame and the electric field. In this work, the microgravity environment established at the 2.2 Second Drop Tower at the NASA Glenn Research Center is utilized to effectively remove the buoyant acceleration. The interaction between the flame and the electric field is studied in a one-dimensional domain. A specially designed electrode makes flame current measurements possible; thus, the mobility of ions, ion density, and ionic wind effect can be evaluated.

  17. 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.

  18. Electric fields measured by ISEE-1 within and near the neutral sheet during quiet and active times

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cattell, C. A.; Mozer, F. S.

    1982-01-01

    An understanding of the physical processes occurring in the magnetotail and plasmasheet during different interplanetary magnetic field orientations and differing levels of ground magnetic activity is crucial for the development of a theory of energy transfer from the solar wind to the particles which produce auroral arcs. In the present investigation, the first observations of electric fields during neutral sheet crossings are presented, taking into account the statistical correlations of the interplanetary magnetic field direction and ground activity with the character of the electric field. The electric field data used in the study were obtained from a double probe experiment on the ISEE-1 satellite. The observations suggest that turbulent electric and magnetic fields are intimately related to plasma acceleration in the neutral sheet and to the processes which create auroral particles.

  19. 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.

  20. Piezoelectric and optical setup to measure an electrical field: application to the longitudinal near-field generated by a tapered coax.

    PubMed

    Euphrasie, S; Vairac, P; Cretin, B; Lengaigne, G

    2008-03-01

    We propose a new setup to measure an electrical field in one direction. This setup is made of a piezoelectric sintered lead zinconate titanate film and an optical interferometric probe. We used this setup to investigate how the shape of the extremity of a coaxial cable influences the longitudinal electrical near-field generated by it. For this application, we designed our setup to have a spatial resolution of 100 microm in the direction of the electrical field. Simulations and experiments are presented.

  1. Effect of electric field on RbCl quantum pseudodot qubit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Zhi-Hui; Xiao, Jing-Lin

    2018-04-01

    By employing the variational method of Pekar type, we study the effects of electric field on RbCl quantum pseudodot (QPD) qubits. Our results confirm that (1) the electron oscillates in the RbCl QPD with a certain period; (2) the electron's probability density is a raising function of electric field; (3) the oscillating frequency is an increasing one of the electric field and the two-dimensional electron gas chemical potential. Two ways are found for prolonging the lifetime of the qubit and suppressing the decoherence in the quantum information field.

  2. A rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields inside electrified clouds

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ruhnke, L. H.

    1971-01-01

    The development of a rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields in thunderstorms is described. Corona currents from a sharp needle atop a small rocket are used to sense the electric field. A high ohm resistor in series with the corona needle linearizes the relationship between corona current and electric field. The corona current feeds a relaxation oscillator, whose pulses trigger a transmitter which operates in the 395 to 410 MHz meteorological band. The instrument senses fields between 5 kV/m and 100 kV/m.

  3. Effectiveness of a worker-worn electric-field sensor to detect power-line proximity and electrical-contact.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Shengke; Powers, John R; Newbraugh, Bradley H

    2010-06-01

    Construction workers suffer the most electrocutions among all industries. Currently, there are no electrical contact warning devices on the market to protect workers. This paper proposes a worker-worn electric-field sensor. As the worker is in proximity to, or in contact with, a live power-circuit, the sensor sets off an audible/visual warning alarm. The sensor also has the potential to wirelessly trip a wireless-capable circuit breaker, and to trigger a wireless transmitter to notify emergency response of an electrical contact. An experiment was conducted to measure electric-field variation on simulated human-wrists (10 defrosted hog-legs) in various proximities and in electrical-contact to a simulated power-circuit. The purpose of these tests was to determine the feasibility of developing a worker-worn electric-field detection sensor for use in protecting workers from contact with energized electrical conductors. This study observed a significant electric-field-magnitude increase as a hog-leg approaches the live-circuit, and the distinct electric-field-magnitude jump as the leg contacts with the live-circuit. The observation indicates that this sensor can be an effective device to warn the workers of electrical hazards. Additionally, the sensor has the potential to wirelessly trip a wireless-capable circuit-breaker and trigger a wireless transmitter (such as a cell phone) to notify an emergency response. The prompt notification prevents the worker from further injury caused by postponed medical-care. Widespread use of this sensor could lower electrocution and electrically related injury rates in the construction industry. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Engineering of electric field distribution in GaN(cap)/AlGaN/GaN heterostructures: theoretical and experimental studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gladysiewicz, M.; Janicki, L.; Misiewicz, J.; Sobanska, M.; Klosek, K.; Zytkiewicz, Z. R.; Kudrawiec, R.

    2016-09-01

    Polarization engineering of GaN-based heterostructures opens a way to develop advanced transistor heterostructures, although measurement of the electric field in such heterostructures is not a simple task. In this work, contactless electroreflectance (CER) spectroscopy has been applied to measure the electric field in GaN-based heterostructures. For a set of GaN(d  =  0, 5, 15, and 30 nm)/AlGaN(20 nm)/GaN(buffer) heterostructures a decrease of electric field in the GaN(cap) layer from 0.66 MV cm-1 to 0.27 MV cm-1 and an increase of the electric field in the AlGaN layer from 0.57 MV cm-1 to 0.99 MV cm-1 have been observed with the increase in the GaN(cap) thickness from 5-30 nm. For a set of GaN(20 nm)/AlGaN(d  =  10, 20, 30, and 40 nm)/GaN(buffer) heterostructures a decrease of the electric field in the AlGaN layer from 1.77 MV cm-1 to 0.64 MV cm-1 and an increase of the electric field in the GaN layer from 0.57 MV cm-1 to 0.99 MV cm-1 were observed with the increase in the AlGaN thickness from 10-40 nm. To determine the distribution of the electric field in these heterostructures the Schrödinger and Poisson equations are solved in a self-consistent manner and matched with experimental data. It is shown that the built-in electric field in the GaN(cap) and AlGaN layers obtained from measurements does not reach values of electric field resulting only from polarization effects. The measured electric fields are smaller due to a screening of polarization effects by free carriers, which are inhomogeneously distributed across the heterostructure and accumulate at interfaces. The results clearly demonstrate that CER measurements supported by theoretical calculations are able to determine the electric field distribution in GaN-based heterostructures quantitatively, which is very important for polarization engineering in this material system.

  5. Dielectric-spectroscopy approach to ferrofluid nanoparticle clustering induced by an external electric field.

    PubMed

    Rajnak, Michal; Kurimsky, Juraj; Dolnik, Bystrik; Kopcansky, Peter; Tomasovicova, Natalia; Taculescu-Moaca, Elena Alina; Timko, Milan

    2014-09-01

    An experimental study of magnetic colloidal particles cluster formation induced by an external electric field in a ferrofluid based on transformer oil is presented. Using frequency domain isothermal dielectric spectroscopy, we study the influence of a test cell electrode separation distance on a low-frequency relaxation process. We consider the relaxation process to be associated with an electric double layer polarization taking place on the particle surface. It has been found that the relaxation maximum considerably shifts towards lower frequencies when conducting the measurements in the test cells with greater electrode separation distances. As the electric field intensity was always kept at a constant value, we propose that the particle cluster formation induced by the external ac electric field accounts for that phenomenon. The increase in the relaxation time is in accordance with the Schwarz theory of electric double layer polarization. In addition, we analyze the influence of a static electric field generated by dc bias voltage on a similar shift in the relaxation maximum position. The variation of the dc electric field for the hysteresis measurements purpose provides understanding of the development of the particle clusters and their decay. Following our results, we emphasize the utility of dielectric spectroscopy as a simple, complementary method for detection and study of clusters of colloidal particles induced by external electric field.

  6. 78 FR 38851 - Electric Reliability Organization Proposal To Retire Requirements in Reliability Standards

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-28

    ... 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Commission proposes to approve the retirement of 34 requirements... of the Reliability Standards. In addition, the Commission proposes to withdraw 41 outstanding...-Power System. This proposal is part of the Commission's ongoing effort to review its requirements and...

  7. MHD--Developing New Technology to Meet the Energy Crisis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fitch, Sandra S.

    1978-01-01

    Magnetohydrodynamics is a technology that could utilize the nation's most abundant fossil fuel and produce electrical energy more efficiently and cleanly than present-day turbines. A national research and development program is ongoing in Butte, Montana at the Montana Energy and MHD Research and Development Institute (MERDI). (Author/RK)

  8. AGOR 28: SIO Shipyard Representative Bi-Weekly Progress Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-02-26

    2 • Pilot House – Electrical and joiner work is ongoing, however carpenters are waiting for HVAC to finish before Norac...STD Report - TEST REPORT ( 320-001-2 MCCS Design Verification Test Report)(R/ASR) 108/0 AGOR27 A059 STD Report - STUDENT GUIDES ( DI-059 (Student

  9. Fabrication and electrorotation of a novel epoxy based micromotor working in a uniform DC electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bauer, Rita A.; Kelemen, Lóránd; Nakano, Masami; Totsuka, Atsushi; Zrínyi, Miklós

    2015-10-01

    We have presented the first direct observation of electric field induced rotation of epoxy based polymer rotors. Polymer disks, hollow cylinders and gears were prepared in few micrometer dimensions as rotors. Electrorotation of these sub-millimeter sized tools was studied under uniform dc electric field. The effects of shape, size and thickness were investigated. The novel epoxy based micro devices show intensive spinning in a uniform dc electric field. The rotational speed of micron-sized polymer rotors can be conveniently tuned in a wide range (between 300 and 3000 rpm) by the electric field intensity, opening new perspectives for their use in several MEMS applications.

  10. Measuring of the pitch variation of cholesteric liquid crystals under electric field using wavelength-swept laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ko, Myeong Ock; Kim, Sung-Jo; Kim, Jong-Hyun; Jeon, Min Yong

    2017-04-01

    We measure the pitch variation of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) according to the applied electric field using a wavelength-swept laser. While the electric field is applied to the CLC, the pitch of the CLC is elongated normal to the direction of electric field. Therefore, the reflection band is shifted to the longer wavelength. When the applied electric field to the CLC cell was over 1.52 V/μm, the reflection band was changed to the longer wavelength of about 75.1 nm. We believe that the dynamic behavior of the CLC can be analyzed if a high-speed wavelength-swept laser is used as an optical source.

  11. Electronic structure and its external electric field modulation of PbPdO2 ultrathin slabs with (002) and (211) preferred orientations.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yanmin; Zhong, Kehua; Xu, Guigui; Zhang, Jian-Min; Huang, Zhigao

    2017-07-31

    The Electronic structure of PbPdO 2 with (002) and (211) preferred orientations were investigated using first-principles calculation. The calculated results indicate that, (002) and (211) orientations exhibit different electric field dependence of band-gap and carrier concentration. The small band gap and more sensitive electric field modulation of band gap were found in (002) orientation. Moreover, the electric field modulation of the resistivity up to 3-4 orders of magnitude is also observed in (002) slab, which reveals that origin of colossal electroresistance. Lastly, electric field modulation of band gap is well explained. This work should be significant for repeating the colossal electroresistance.

  12. Electric field-induced ferromagnetic resonance in a CoFeB/MgO magnetic tunnel junction under dc bias voltages

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanai, Shun; Gajek, Martin; Worledge, D. C.; Matsukura, Fumihiro; Ohno, Hideo

    2014-12-01

    We measure homodyne-detected ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) induced by the electric-field effect in a CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with perpendicular magnetic easy axis under dc bias voltages up to 0.1 V. From the bias dependence of the resonant frequency, we find that the first order perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is modulated by the applied electric field, whereas the second order component is virtually independent of the electric field. The lineshapes of the FMR spectra are bias dependent, which are explained by the combination of electric-field effect and reflection of the bias voltage from the MTJ.

  13. Stripe formation in an immiscible polymer blend under electric and shear-flow fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Na, Yang-Ho; Shibuya, Tetsunori; Ujiie, Seiji; Nagaya, Tomoyuki; Orihara, Hiroshi

    2008-04-01

    We found a stripe formation in an emulsion of a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and a machine oil (OIL) in electric and shear fields. Through the simultaneous measurement with a confocal scanning laser microscope and a rheometer, it was clearly shown that the formation of stripes, which are periodically arrayed, leads to the increase of the shear stress. The droplets, which are one component of the emulsion, start to be connected at low electric fields and then change into the stripes with the increase of electric field. Finally, a three-dimensional network is formed at high electric fields. The period and fluctuation of the stripe structure were also investigated in detail.

  14. Enhanced Fair-Weather Electric Fields Soon After Sunrise

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Marshall, T. C.; Rust, W. D.; Stolzenburg, M.; Roeder, W.; Krehbiel, P. R.

    1999-01-01

    The typical fair weather electric field at the ground is between -100 and -300 V/m. At the NASA Kennedy Space Center and US Air Force Cape Canaveral Air Station (KSC) the electric field at the ground sometimes reaches -400 to -1200 V/m within an hour or two after sunrise on days that otherwise seem to be fair weather. We refer to the enhanced negative electric fields as the "sunrise enhancement." To investigate the sunrise enhancement at KSC we measured the electric field (E) in the first few hundred meters above the ground before and during several sunrise enhancements. From these E soundings we can infer the presence of charge layers and determine their thickness and charge density.

  15. Polymer-Polymer Bilayer Actuator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Su, Ji (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor); St.Clair, Terry L. (Inventor)

    2003-01-01

    A device for providing an electromechanical response includes two polymeric webs bonded to each other along their lengths. At least one polymeric web is activated upon application thereto of an electric field and exhibits electrostriction by rotation of polar graft moieties within the polymeric web. In one embodiment, one of the two polymeric webs in an active web upon application thereto of the electric field, and the other polymeric web is a non-active web upon application thereto of the electric field. In another embodiment, both of the two polymeric webs are capable of being active webs upon application thereto of the electric field. However, these two polymeric webs are alternately activated and non-activated by the electric field.

  16. Large plasmaspheric electric fields at L approximately 2 measured by the S3-3 satellite during strong geomagnetic activity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gonzalez, W. D.; Pinto, O., Jr.; Mendes, O., Jr.; Mozer, F. S.

    1986-01-01

    Large plasmaspheric electric fields at L is approximately 2 measured by the S3-3 satellite during strong geomagnetic activity are reported. Since these measurements have amplitudes comparable to those of the local corotation electric field, during such events the plasmasphere is expected to get strongly altered event at such low L-values. Furthermore, those measurements could contribute to the understanding of the physics of the convection/electric field penetration to the low latitude plasmaphere as well as the disturbed dynamo, during strong geomagnetic activity. For this purpose, critical parameters related to geomagnetic activity are also presented for the reported electric field events.

  17. Multipactor susceptibility on a dielectric with two carrier frequencies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iqbal, Asif; Verboncoeur, John; Zhang, Peng

    2018-04-01

    This work investigates multipactor discharge on a single dielectric surface with two carrier frequencies of an rf electric field. We use Monte Carlo simulations and analytical calculations to obtain susceptibility diagrams in terms of the rf electric field and normal electric field due to the residual charge on the dielectric. It is found that in contrast to the single frequency case, in general, the presence of a second carrier frequency of the rf electric field increases the threshold of the magnitude of the rf electric field to initiate multipactor. The effects of the relative strength and phase, and the frequency separation of the two carrier frequencies are examined. The conditions to minimize mulitpactor are derived.

  18. Vector optical fields with polarization distributions similar to electric and magnetic field lines.

    PubMed

    Pan, Yue; Li, Si-Min; Mao, Lei; Kong, Ling-Jun; Li, Yongnan; Tu, Chenghou; Wang, Pei; Wang, Hui-Tian

    2013-07-01

    We present, design and generate a new kind of vector optical fields with linear polarization distributions modeling to electric and magnetic field lines. The geometric configurations of "electric charges" and "magnetic charges" can engineer the spatial structure and symmetry of polarizations of vector optical field, providing additional degrees of freedom assisting in controlling the field symmetry at the focus and allowing engineering of the field distribution at the focus to the specific applications.

  19. GROUNDWATER AND SOIL REMEDIATION USING ELECTRICAL FIELD

    EPA Science Inventory

    Enhancements of contaminants removal and degradation in low permeability soils by electrical fields are achieved by the processes of electrical heating, electrokinetics, and electrochemical reactions. Electrical heating increases soil temperature resulting in the increase of cont...

  20. Effects of coil orientation on the electric field induced by TMS over the hand motor area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa; Ugawa, Yoshikazu

    2014-01-01

    Responses elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the hand motor area depend on the position and orientation of the stimulating coil. In this work, we computationally investigate the induced electric field for multiple coil orientations and locations in order to determine which parts of the brain are affected and how the sensitivity of motor cortical activation depends on the direction of the electric field. The finite element method is used for calculating the electric field induced by TMS in two individual anatomical models of the head and brain. The orientation of the coil affects both the strength and depth of penetration of the electric field, and the field strongly depends on the direction of the sulcus, where the target neurons are located. The coil position that gives the strongest electric field in the target cortical region may deviate from the closest scalp location by a distance on the order of 1 cm. Together with previous experimental data, the results support the hypothesis that the cortex is most sensitive to fields oriented perpendicular to the cortical layers, while it is relatively insensitive to fields parallel to them. This has important implications for targeting of TMS. To determine the most effective coil position and orientation, it is essential to consider both biological (the direction of the targeted axons) and physical factors (the strength and direction of the electric field).

  1. Short perturbations of cosmic ray intensity and electric field in atmosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Alexeyenko, V. V.; Chudakov, A. E.; Sborshikov, V. G.; Tizengauzen, V. A.

    1985-01-01

    Short perturbations of cosmic ray intensity were found to be a common phenomenon. Its meteorological origin and correlation with electric field is established. The phenomenon can be explained by the electric field if the strength of this field at high altitudes is much bigger than the measured one at surface.

  2. An investigation into the induced electric fields from transcranial magnetic stimulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hadimani, Ravi; Lee, Erik; Duffy, Walter; Waris, Mohammed; Siddiqui, Waquar; Islam, Faisal; Rajamani, Mahesh; Nathan, Ryan; Jiles, David; David C Jiles Team; Walter Duffy Collaboration

    Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a promising tool for noninvasive brain stimulation that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder. To stimulate the brain, TMS uses large, transient pulses of magnetic field to induce an electric field in the head. This transient magnetic field is large enough to cause the depolarization of cortical neurons and initiate a synaptic signal transmission. For this study, 50 unique head models were created from MRI images. Previous simulation studies have primarily used a single head model, and thus give a limited image of the induced electric field from TMS. This study uses finite element analysis simulations on 50 unique, heterogeneous head models to better investigate the relationship between TMS and the electric field induced in brain tissues. Results showed a significant variation in the strength of the induced electric field in the brain, which can be reasonably predicted by the distance from the TMS coil to the stimulated brain. Further, it was seen that some models had high electric field intensities in over five times as much brain volume as other models.

  3. 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.

  4. PALM-3000: EXOPLANET ADAPTIVE OPTICS FOR THE 5 m HALE TELESCOPE

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

    Dekany, Richard; Bouchez, Antonin; Baranec, Christoph

    2013-10-20

    We describe and report first results from PALM-3000, the second-generation astronomical adaptive optics (AO) facility for the 5.1 m Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory. PALM-3000 has been engineered for high-contrast imaging and emission spectroscopy of brown dwarfs and large planetary mass bodies at near-infrared wavelengths around bright stars, but also supports general natural guide star use to V ≈ 17. Using its unique 66 × 66 actuator deformable mirror, PALM-3000 has thus far demonstrated residual wavefront errors of 141 nm rms under ∼1'' seeing conditions. PALM-3000 can provide phase conjugation correction over a 6.''4 × 6.''4 working region at λmore » = 2.2 μm, or full electric field (amplitude and phase) correction over approximately one-half of this field. With optimized back-end instrumentation, PALM-3000 is designed to enable 10{sup –7} contrast at 1'' angular separation, including post-observation speckle suppression processing. While continued optimization of the AO system is ongoing, we have already successfully commissioned five back-end instruments and begun a major exoplanet characterization survey, Project 1640.« less

  5. Surface cleaning techniques and efficient B-field profiles for lithium ion sources on extraction ion diodes

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

    Cuneo, M.E.; Menge, P.R.; Hanson, D.L.

    Application of ion beams to Inertial Confinement Fusion requires efficient production, transport and focusing of an intense, low microdivergence beam of an appropriate range ion. At Sandia, the authors are studying the production of lithium ion beams in extraction applied-B ion diodes on the SABRE accelerator (5 MV, 250 kA). Evidence on both SABRE (1 TW) and PBFA-II (20 TW) indicates that the lithium beam turns off and is replaced by a beam of mostly protons and carbon, possibly due to electron thermal and stimulated desorption of hydrocarbon surface contamination with subsequent avalanche ionization. Turn-off of the lithium beam ismore » accompanied by rapid impedance collapse. Surface cleaning techniques are being developed to reduce beam contamination, increase the total lithium energy and reduce the rate of diode impedance collapse. Application of surface cleaning techniques has increased the production of lithium from passive LiF sources by a factor of 2. Improved diode electric and magnetic field profiles have increased the diode efficiency and production of lithium by a factor of 5, without surface cleaning. Work is ongoing to combine these two advances which are discussed here.« less

  6. Measurements of neutral and ion velocity distribution functions in a Hall thruster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Svarnas, Panagiotis; Romadanov, Iavn; Diallo, Ahmed; Raitses, Yevgeny

    2015-11-01

    Hall thruster is a plasma device for space propulsion. It utilizes a cross-field discharge to generate a partially ionized weakly collisional plasma with magnetized electrons and non-magnetized ions. The ions are accelerated by the electric field to produce the thrust. There is a relatively large number of studies devoted to characterization of accelerated ions, including measurements of ion velocity distribution function using laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic. Interactions of these accelerated ions with neutral atoms in the thruster and the thruster plume is a subject of on-going studies, which require combined monitoring of ion and neutral velocity distributions. Herein, laser-induced fluorescence technique has been employed to study neutral and single-charged ion velocity distribution functions in a 200 W cylindrical Hall thruster operating with xenon propellant. An optical system is installed in the vacuum chamber enabling spatially resolved axial velocity measurements. The fluorescence signals are well separated from the plasma background emission by modulating the laser beam and using lock-in detectors. Measured velocity distribution functions of neutral atoms and ions at different operating parameters of the thruster are reported and analyzed. This work was supported by DOE contract DE-AC02-09CH11466.

  7. Method of electric field flow fractionation wherein the polarity of the electric field is periodically reversed

    DOEpatents

    Stevens, Fred J.

    1992-01-01

    A novel method of electric field flow fractionation for separating solute molecules from a carrier solution is disclosed. The method of the invention utilizes an electric field that is periodically reversed in polarity, in a time-dependent, wave-like manner. The parameters of the waveform, including amplitude, frequency and wave shape may be varied to optimize separation of solute species. The waveform may further include discontinuities to enhance separation.

  8. Electric-Field-Induced Magnetization Reversal in a Ferromagnet-Multiferroic Heterostructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heron, J. T.; Trassin, M.; Ashraf, K.; Gajek, M.; He, Q.; Yang, S. Y.; Nikonov, D. E.; Chu, Y.-H.; Salahuddin, S.; Ramesh, R.

    2011-11-01

    A reversal of magnetization requiring only the application of an electric field can lead to low-power spintronic devices by eliminating conventional magnetic switching methods. Here we show a nonvolatile, room temperature magnetization reversal determined by an electric field in a ferromagnet-multiferroic system. The effect is reversible and mediated by an interfacial magnetic coupling dictated by the multiferroic. Such electric-field control of a magnetoelectric device demonstrates an avenue for next-generation, low-energy consumption spintronics.

  9. Electric-field-induced magnetization reversal in a ferromagnet-multiferroic heterostructure.

    PubMed

    Heron, J T; Trassin, M; Ashraf, K; Gajek, M; He, Q; Yang, S Y; Nikonov, D E; Chu, Y-H; Salahuddin, S; Ramesh, R

    2011-11-18

    A reversal of magnetization requiring only the application of an electric field can lead to low-power spintronic devices by eliminating conventional magnetic switching methods. Here we show a nonvolatile, room temperature magnetization reversal determined by an electric field in a ferromagnet-multiferroic system. The effect is reversible and mediated by an interfacial magnetic coupling dictated by the multiferroic. Such electric-field control of a magnetoelectric device demonstrates an avenue for next-generation, low-energy consumption spintronics.

  10. Nanoscale electron manipulation in metals with intense THz electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takeda, Jun; Yoshioka, Katsumasa; Minami, Yasuo; Katayama, Ikufumi

    2018-03-01

    Improved control over the electromagnetic properties of metals on a nanoscale is crucial for the development of next-generation nanoelectronics and plasmonic devices. Harnessing the terahertz (THz)-electric-field-induced nonlinearity for the motion of electrons is a promising method of manipulating the local electromagnetic properties of metals, while avoiding undesirable thermal effects and electronic transitions. In this review, we demonstrate the manipulation of electron delocalization in ultrathin gold (Au) films with nanostructures, by intense THz electric-field transients. On increasing the electric-field strength of the THz pulses, the transmittance in the THz-frequency region abruptly decreases around the percolation threshold. The observed THz-electric-field-induced nonlinearity is analysed, based on the Drude-Smith model. The results suggest that ultrafast electron delocalization occurs by electron tunnelling across the narrow insulating bridge between the Au nanostructures, without material breakdown. In order to quantitatively discuss the tunnelling process, we perform scanning tunnelling microscopy with carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-controlled single-cycle THz electric fields. By applying CEP-controlled THz electric fields to the 1 nm nanogap between a metal nanotip and graphite sample, many electrons could be coherently driven through the quantum tunnelling process, either from the nanotip to the sample or vice versa. The presented concept, namely, electron tunnelling mediated by CEP-controlled single-cycle THz electric fields, can facilitate the development of nanoscale electron manipulation, applicable to next-generation ultrafast nanoelectronics and plasmonic devices.

  11. Optical properties of an elliptic quantum ring: Eccentricity and electric field effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bejan, Doina; Stan, Cristina; Niculescu, Ecaterina C.

    2018-04-01

    We have theoretically studied the electronic and optical properties of a GaAs/AlGaAs elliptic quantum ring under in-plane electric field. The effects of an eccentric internal barrier -placed along the electric field direction, chosen as x-axis- and incident light polarization are particularly taken into account. The one-electron energy spectrum and wave functions are found using the adiabatic approximation and the finite element method within the effective-mass model. We show that it is possible to repair the structural distortion by applying an appropriate in-plane electric field, and the compensation is almost complete for all electronic states under study. For both concentric and eccentric quantum ring the intraband optical properties are very sensitive to the electric field and probe laser polarization. As expected, in the systems with eccentricity distortions the energy spectrum, as well as the optical response, strongly depends on the direction of the externally applied electric field, an effect that can be used as a signature of ring eccentricity. We demonstrated the possibility of generating second harmonic response at double resonance condition for incident light polarized along the x-axis if the electric field or/and eccentric barrier break the inversion symmetry. Also, strong third harmonic signal can be generated at triple resonance condition for a specific interval of electric field values when using y-polarized light.

  12. Fast electric control of the droplet size in a microfluidic T-junction droplet generator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shojaeian, Mostafa; Hardt, Steffen

    2018-05-01

    The effect of DC electric fields on the generation of droplets of water and xanthan gum solutions in sunflower oil at a microfluidic T-junction is experimentally studied. The electric field leads to a significant reduction of the droplet diameter, by about a factor of 2 in the case of water droplets. The droplet size can be tuned by varying the electric field strength, an effect that can be employed to produce a stream of droplets with a tailor-made size sequence. Compared to the case of purely hydrodynamic droplet production without electric fields, the electric control has about the same effect on the droplet size if the electric stress at the liquid/liquid interface is the same as the hydrodynamic stress.

  13. Influence and Correction from the Human Body on the Measurement of a Power-Frequency Electric Field Sensor

    PubMed Central

    Xiao, Dongping; Liu, Huaitong; Zhou, Qiang; Xie, Yutong; Ma, Qichao

    2016-01-01

    According to the operating specifications of existing electric field measuring instruments, measuring technicians must be located far from the instruments to eliminate the influence of the human body occupancy on a spatial electric field. Nevertheless, in order to develop a portable safety protection instrument with an effective electric field warning function for working staff in a high-voltage environment, it is necessary to study the influence of an approaching human body on the measurement of an electric field and to correct the measurement results. A single-shaft electric field measuring instrument called the Type LP-2000, which was developed by our research team, is used as the research object in this study. First, we explain the principle of electric field measurement and describe the capacitance effect produced by the human body. Through a theoretical analysis, we show that the measured electric field value decreases as a human body approaches. Their relationship is linearly proportional. Then, the ratio is identified as a correction coefficient to correct for the influence of human body proximity. The conclusion drawn from the theoretical analysis is proved via simulation. The correction coefficient kb = 1.8010 is obtained on the basis of the linear fitting of simulated data. Finally, a physical experiment is performed. When no human is present, we compare the results from the Type LP-2000 measured with Narda EFA-300 and the simulated value to verify the accuracy of the Type LP-2000. For the case of an approaching human body, the correction coefficient kb* = 1.9094 is obtained by comparing the data measured with the Type LP-2000 to the simulated value. The correction coefficient obtained from the experiment (i.e., kb*) is highly consistent with that obtained from the simulation (i.e., kb). Two experimental programs are set; under these programs, the excitation voltages and distance measuring points are regulated to produce different electric field intensities. Using kb = 1.9094, the corrected measurement of electric field intensity can accurately reflect the original environmental electric field intensity, and the maximal error is less than 6% in all the data comparisons. These results verify the effectiveness of our proposed method. PMID:27294936

  14. Transmission of the electric fields to the low latitude ionosphere in the magnetosphere-ionosphere current circuit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kikuchi, Takashi; Hashimoto, Kumiko K.

    2016-12-01

    The solar wind energy is transmitted to low latitude ionosphere in a current circuit from a dynamo in the magnetosphere to the equatorial ionosphere via the polar ionosphere. During the substorm growth phase and storm main phase, the dawn-to-dusk convection electric field is intensified by the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), driving the ionospheric DP2 currents composed of two-cell Hall current vortices in high latitudes and Pedersen currents amplified at the dayside equator (EEJ). The EEJ-Region-1 field-aligned current (R1 FAC) circuit is completed via the Pedersen currents in midlatitude. On the other hand, the shielding electric field and the Region-2 FACs develop in the inner magnetosphere, tending to cancel the convection electric field at the mid-equatorial latitudes. The shielding often causes overshielding when the convection electric field reduces substantially and the EEJ is overcome by the counter electrojet (CEJ), leading to that even the quasi-periodic DP2 fluctuations are contributed by the overshielding as being composed of the EEJ and CEJ. The overshielding develop significantly during substorms and storms, leading to that the mid and low latitude ionosphere is under strong influence of the overshielding as well as the convection electric fields. The electric fields on the day- and night sides are in opposite direction to each other, but the electric fields in the evening are anomalously enhanced in the same direction as in the day. The evening anomaly is a unique feature of the electric potential distribution in the global ionosphere. DP2-type electric field and currents develop during the transient/short-term geomagnetic disturbances like the geomagnetic sudden commencements (SC), which appear simultaneously at high latitude and equator within the temporal resolution of 10 s. Using the SC, we can confirm that the electric potential and currents are transmitted near-instantaneously to low latitude ionosphere on both day- and night sides, which is explained by means of the light speed propagation of the TM0 mode waves in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide.

  15. Transmission of the Magnetospheric Electric Fields to the Low Latitude Ionosphere during Storm and Substorms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kikuchi, T.; Hashimoto, K. K.; Ebihara, Y.; Tanaka, T.; Tomizawa, I.; Nagatsuma, T.

    2016-12-01

    The solar wind energy is transmitted to the low latitude ionosphere in a current circuit from a dynamo in the magnetosphere to the equatorial ionosphere via the polar ionosphere. During the substorm growth phase and storm main phase, the dawn-to-dusk convection electric field is intensified by the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), driving the ionospheric DP2 currents composed of two-cell Hall current vortices in high latitudes and Pedersen currents amplified at the dayside equator (EEJ). The EEJ-Region-1 field-aligned current (R1 FAC) circuit is completed via the Pedersen currents in midlatitude. On the other hand, the shielding electric field and the Region-2 FACs develop in the inner magnetosphere, tending to cancel the convection electric field at the mid-equatorial latitudes. The shielding often causes overshielding when the convection electric field reduces substantially and the EEJ is overcome by the counter-electrojet (CEJ), leading to that even the quasi-periodic DP2 fluctuations are contributed by the overshielding. The overshielding develop significantly during substorms and storms, leading to that the mid and low latitude ionosphere is under strong influence of the overshielding as well as the convection electric fields. The electric fields on the day- and night-sides are in opposite direction to each other, but the electric fields in the evening are anomalously enhanced in the same direction as in the day. The evening anomaly is a unique feature of the electric potential distribution in the global ionosphere. DP2-type electric field and currents also develop during the transient/short-term geomagnetic disturbances like the geomagnetic sudden commencements (SC) and ULF pulsations, which appear simultaneously at high latitude and equator within the temporal resolution of 10 sec. Using the SC, we can confirm that the electric potential and currents are transmitted near-instantaneously to low latitude ionosphere on both the day- and night-sides, which is explained by means of the light speed propagation of the TM0 mode waves in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide.

  16. Influence and Correction from the Human Body on the Measurement of a Power-Frequency Electric Field Sensor.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Dongping; Liu, Huaitong; Zhou, Qiang; Xie, Yutong; Ma, Qichao

    2016-06-10

    According to the operating specifications of existing electric field measuring instruments, measuring technicians must be located far from the instruments to eliminate the influence of the human body occupancy on a spatial electric field. Nevertheless, in order to develop a portable safety protection instrument with an effective electric field warning function for working staff in a high-voltage environment, it is necessary to study the influence of an approaching human body on the measurement of an electric field and to correct the measurement results. A single-shaft electric field measuring instrument called the Type LP-2000, which was developed by our research team, is used as the research object in this study. First, we explain the principle of electric field measurement and describe the capacitance effect produced by the human body. Through a theoretical analysis, we show that the measured electric field value decreases as a human body approaches. Their relationship is linearly proportional. Then, the ratio is identified as a correction coefficient to correct for the influence of human body proximity. The conclusion drawn from the theoretical analysis is proved via simulation. The correction coefficient kb = 1.8010 is obtained on the basis of the linear fitting of simulated data. Finally, a physical experiment is performed. When no human is present, we compare the results from the Type LP-2000 measured with Narda EFA-300 and the simulated value to verify the accuracy of the Type LP-2000. For the case of an approaching human body, the correction coefficient kb* = 1.9094 is obtained by comparing the data measured with the Type LP-2000 to the simulated value. The correction coefficient obtained from the experiment (i.e., kb*) is highly consistent with that obtained from the simulation (i.e., kb). Two experimental programs are set; under these programs, the excitation voltages and distance measuring points are regulated to produce different electric field intensities. Using kb = 1.9094, the corrected measurement of electric field intensity can accurately reflect the original environmental electric field intensity, and the maximal error is less than 6% in all the data comparisons. These results verify the effectiveness of our proposed method.

  17. Inward transport of a toroidally confined plasma subject to strong radial electric fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roth, J. R.; Krawczonek, W. M.; Powers, E. J.; Hong, J.; Kim, Y.

    1977-01-01

    The paper aims at showing that the density and confinement time of a toroidal plasma can be enhanced by radial electric fields far stronger than the ambipolar values, and that, if such electric fields point into the plasma, radially inward transport can result. The investigation deals with low-frequency fluctuation-induced transport using digitally implemented spectral analysis techniques and with the role of strong applied radial electric fields and weak vertical magnetic fields on plasma density and particle confinement times in a Bumpy Torus geometry. Results indicate that application of sufficiently strong radially inward electric fields results in radially inward fluctuation-induced transport into the toroidal electrostatic potential well; this inward transport gives rise to higher average electron densities and longer particle confinement times in the toroidal plasma.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. The Relation between Reconnected Flux, the Parallel Electric Field, and the Reconnection Rate in a Three-Dimensional Kinetic Simulation of Magnetic Reconnection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wendel, D. E.; Olson, D. K.; Hesse, M.; Karimabadi, H.; Daughton, W. S.

    2013-12-01

    We investigate the distribution of parallel electric fields and their relationship to the location and rate of magnetic reconnection of a large particle-in-cell simulation of 3D turbulent magnetic reconnection with open boundary conditions. The simulation's guide field geometry inhibits the formation of topological features such as separators and null points. Therefore, we derive the location of potential changes in magnetic connectivity by finding the field lines that experience a large relative change between their endpoints, i.e., the quasi-separatrix layer. We find a correspondence between the locus of changes in magnetic connectivity, or the quasi-separatrix layer, and the map of large gradients in the integrated parallel electric field (or quasi-potential). Furthermore, we compare the distribution of parallel electric fields along field lines with the reconnection rate. We find the reconnection rate is controlled by only the low-amplitude, zeroth and first-order trends in the parallel electric field, while the contribution from high amplitude parallel fluctuations, such as electron holes, is negligible. The results impact the determination of reconnection sites within models of 3D turbulent reconnection as well as the inference of reconnection rates from in situ spacecraft measurements. It is difficult through direct observation to isolate the locus of the reconnection parallel electric field amidst the large amplitude fluctuations. However, we demonstrate that a positive slope of the partial sum of the parallel electric field along the field line as a function of field line length indicates where reconnection is occurring along the field line.

  1. Piezostrain tuning exchange bias mediated by electric field in composite heterostructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Pingping; Zhou, Cai; Wang, Wenqiang; Cao, Cuimei; Yao, Jinli; Jiang, Changjun

    2017-12-01

    The change of unidirectional anisotropy and uniaxial anisotropy field turned by piezostrain in an IrMn/Co/Ta/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 heterostructure with an exchange bias was investigated by ferromagnetic resonance at room temperature. The curve of the magnetic resonance field versus the electric fields showed an asymmetric butterfly-like behavior, which was consistent with the result of strain versus electric field curves. This butterfly-like behavior can be attributed to the piezostrain effect. Specifically, the non-volatile uniaxial anisotropy field and unidirectional anisotropy field behavior under different electric fields induced by piezostrain effect were obtained. Our result is crucial for further application of future multiferroic devices.

  2. ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS <100 KHZ IN ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLES.

    PubMed

    Tell, Richard A; Kavet, Robert

    2016-12-01

    Measurements were conducted to investigate electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) from 120 Hz to 10 kHz and 1.2 to 100 kHz in 9 electric or hybrid vehicles and 4 gasoline vehicles, all while being driven. The range of fields in the electric vehicles enclosed the range observed in the gasoline vehicles. Mean magnetic fields ranged from nominally 0.6 to 3.5 µT for electric/hybrids depending on the measurement band compared with nominally 0.4 to 0.6 µT for gasoline vehicles. Mean values of electric fields ranged from nominally 2 to 3 V m -1 for electric/hybrid vehicles depending on the band, compared with 0.9 to 3 V m -1 for gasoline vehicles. In all cases, the fields were well within published exposure limits for the general population. The measurements were performed with Narda model EHP-50C/EHP-50D EMF analysers that revealed the presence of spurious signals in the EHP-50C unit, which were resolved with the EHP-50D model. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  3. Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) detect weak electric fields

    PubMed Central

    Sutton, Gregory P.; Clarke, Dominic; Morley, Erica L.; Robert, Daniel

    2016-01-01

    Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use information from surrounding electric fields to make foraging decisions. Electroreception in air, a nonconductive medium, is a recently discovered sensory capacity of insects, yet the sensory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate two putative electric field sensors: antennae and mechanosensory hairs. Examining their mechanical and neural response, we show that electric fields cause deflections in both antennae and hairs. Hairs respond with a greater median velocity, displacement, and angular displacement than antennae. Extracellular recordings from the antennae do not show any electrophysiological correlates to these mechanical deflections. In contrast, hair deflections in response to an electric field elicited neural activity. Mechanical deflections of both hairs and antennae increase with the electric charge carried by the bumblebee. From this evidence, we conclude that sensory hairs are a site of electroreception in the bumblebee. PMID:27247399

  4. Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) detect weak electric fields.

    PubMed

    Sutton, Gregory P; Clarke, Dominic; Morley, Erica L; Robert, Daniel

    2016-06-28

    Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use information from surrounding electric fields to make foraging decisions. Electroreception in air, a nonconductive medium, is a recently discovered sensory capacity of insects, yet the sensory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate two putative electric field sensors: antennae and mechanosensory hairs. Examining their mechanical and neural response, we show that electric fields cause deflections in both antennae and hairs. Hairs respond with a greater median velocity, displacement, and angular displacement than antennae. Extracellular recordings from the antennae do not show any electrophysiological correlates to these mechanical deflections. In contrast, hair deflections in response to an electric field elicited neural activity. Mechanical deflections of both hairs and antennae increase with the electric charge carried by the bumblebee. From this evidence, we conclude that sensory hairs are a site of electroreception in the bumblebee.

  5. 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.

  6. Method of Mapping Anomalies in Homogenous Material

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, Bryant D. (Inventor); Woodard, Stanley E. (Inventor)

    2016-01-01

    An electrical conductor and antenna are positioned in a fixed relationship to one another. Relative lateral movement is generated between the electrical conductor and a homogenous material while maintaining the electrical conductor at a fixed distance from the homogenous material. The antenna supplies a time-varying magnetic field that causes the electrical conductor to resonate and generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. Disruptions in at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses during this lateral movement are indicative of a lateral location of a subsurface anomaly. Next, relative out-of-plane movement is generated between the electrical conductor and the homogenous material in the vicinity of the anomaly's lateral location. Disruptions in at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses during this out-of-plane movement are indicative of a depth location of the subsurface anomaly. A recording of the disruptions provides a mapping of the anomaly.

  7. Estimation of the Lyman-α signal of the EFILE diagnostic under static or radiofrequency electric field in vacuum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carlo, POGGI; Théo, GUILLAUME; Fabrice, DOVEIL; Laurence, CHÉRIGIER-KOVACIC

    2018-07-01

    The electric field induced Lyman-α emission diagnostic aims to provide a non intrusive and precise measurement of the electric field in plasma, using a beam of hydrogen atoms prepared in the metastable 2s state. The metastable particles are obtained by means of a proton beam extracted from a hydrogen plasma source, and neutralised by interaction with vaporised caesium. When a 2s atom enters a region where an electric field is present, it undergoes a transition to the 2p state (Stark mixing). It then quickly decays to the ground level, emitting Lyman-α radiation, which is collected by a photomultiplier. The 2s\\to 2p transition rate is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the electric field, and depends on the field oscillation frequency (with peaks around 1 GHz). By measuring the intensity of the Lyman-α radiation emitted by the beam it is possible to determine the magnitude of the field in a defined region. In this work, an analysis of the behaviour of the diagnostic under static or radiofrequency electric field is presented. Electric field simulations obtained with a finite element solver of Maxwell equations, combined with theoretical calculations of the Stark mixing transition rate, are used to develop a model for the interpretation of photomultiplier data. This method shows good agreement with experimental results for the static field case, and allows to measure the field magnitude for the oscillating case.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Conductivity of molten sodium chloride in an arbitrarily weak dc electric field.

    PubMed

    Delhommelle, Jerome; Cummings, Peter T; Petravic, Janka

    2005-09-15

    We use nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics (NEMD) simulations to characterize the response of a fluid subjected to an electric field. We focus on the response for very weak fields. Fields accessible by conventional NEMD methods are typically of the order of 10(9) V m(-1), i.e., several orders of magnitude larger than those typically used in experiments. Using the transient time-correlation function, we show how NEMD simulations can be extended to study systems subjected to a realistic dc electric field. We then apply this approach to study the response of molten sodium chloride for a wide range of dc electric fields.

  13. Inner Magnetospheric Electric Fields Derived from IMAGE EUV

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gallagher, D. L.; Adrian, M. L.

    2007-01-01

    The local and global patterns of plasmaspheric plasma transport reflect the influence of electric fields imposed by all sources in the inner magnetosphere. Image sequences of thermal plasma G:istribution obtained from the IMAGE Mission Extreme Ultraviolet Imager can be used to derive plasma motions and, using a magnetic field model, the corresponding electric fields. These motions and fields directly reflect the dynamic coupling of injected plasmasheet plasma and the ionosphere, in addition to solar wind and atmospheric drivers. What is being learned about the morphology of inner magnetospheric electric fields during storm and quite conditions from this new empirical tool will be presented and discussed.

  14. Effect of external electric and magnetic field on propagation of atmospheric pressure plasma jet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Ping; Meng, Zhaozhong; Hu, Haixin; Ouyang, Jiting

    2017-10-01

    The behaviors of atmospheric pressure plasma jet produced by a coplanar dielectric barrier discharge (CDBD) in helium in external electrostatic and magnetic field are investigated experimentally. Time-resolved ICCD images of jet in electric field, magnetic field, and floating metal ring are recorded, respectively. The results show that the jet dynamics is affected significantly by a metal ring, an electric, and/or a magnetic field. In a transverse electric field, the jet shows behavior of deflection, broadening, and shortening according to the structure of electric field. In a transverse magnetic field, the jet deflects to up or down depending on the magnetic direction. The jet can be slowed down or obstructed by a floating metal ring on the jet path, but will still pass through the tube at higher applied voltages of DBD, without significant change in jet length or shape out of the tube compared with that without metal ring. A positive DC voltage on the metal ring helps to improve the jet length, but a negative voltage will reduce the length or completely stop the jet. The electric field to sustain the jet in helium is estimated to be about 24 ± 15 kV/cm from this experiment.

  15. Bubble Detachment in Variable Gravity Under the Influence of a Non-Uniform Electric Field

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chang, Shinan; Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle

    2002-01-01

    The objective of the study reported in this paper is to investigate the effects of variable, reduced gravity on the formation and detachment behavior of individual air bubbles under the influence of a non-uniform electric field. For this purpose, variable gravity experiments were carried out in parabolic nights. The non-uniform electric field was generated by a spherical electrode and a plate electrode. The effect of the magnitude of the non-uniform electric field and gravity level on bubble formation, development and detachment at an orifice was investigated. An image processing code was developed that allows the measurement of bubble volume, dimensions and contact angle at detachment. The results of this research can be used to explore the possibility of enhancing boiling heat transfer in the variable and low gravity environments by substituting the buoyancy force with a force induced by the electric field. The results of experiments and measurements indicate that the level of gravity significantly affects bubble shape, size and frequency. The electric field magnitude also influences bubble detachment, however, its impact is not as profound as that of variable gravity for the range of electric field magnitudes investigated in the present study.

  16. Statistical analysis of electric field parameters for negative lightning in Malaysia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wooi, Chin-Leong; Abdul-Malek, Zulkurnain; Ahmad, Noor-Azlinda; El Gayar, Ali I.

    2016-08-01

    This paper presents a comparative study on the electric field and its derivative parameters of negative lightning in Malaysia and other regions. This study is the first in Malaysia where the parameters of negative electric field and its derivative are thoroughly analyzed. 104 negative lightning flashes containing 277 negative return strokes occurring within 10-100 km from the measuring station and recorded during monsoon period in the state of Johor, Malaysia had been analyzed. It was found that 73% of the recorded flashes are multiple strokes with an average multiplicity of 2.6 strokes per flash. For first return strokes, the arithmetic mean (AM) of initial peak electric field and the AM of initial peak electric field derivative are 21.8 V/m and 11.3 V/m/μs, respectively. The initial peaks of electric field and its derivative for first return strokes are larger than those for the subsequent return strokes. Comparison of overall results with those obtained earlier in Sri Lanka, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Florida indicates that several electric field and its derivative parameters are affected by propagation media and geographical region. Similarity of results with other countries having the same climatic condition is also observed.

  17. Electric field strength determination in filamentary DBDs by CARS-based four-wave mixing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boehm, Patrick; Kettlitz, Manfred; Brandenburg, Ronny; Hoeft, Hans; Czarnetzki, Uwe

    2016-09-01

    The electric field strength is a basic parameter of non-thermal plasmas. Therefore, a profound knowledge of the electric field distribution is crucial. In this contribution a four wave mixing technique based on Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is used to measure electric field strengths in filamentary dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs). The discharges are operated with a pulsed voltage in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. Small amounts hydrogen (10 vol%) are admixed as tracer gas to evaluate the electric field strength in the 1 mm discharge gap. Absolute values of the electric field strength are determined by calibration of the CARS setup with high voltage amplitudes below the ignition threshold of the arrangement. Alteration of the electric field strength has been observed during the internal polarity reversal and the breakdown process. In this case the major advantage over emission based methods is that this technique can be used independently from emission, e.g. in the pre-phase and in between two consecutive, opposite discharge pulses where no emission occurs at all. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Forschergruppe FOR 1123 and Sonderforschungsbereich TRR 24 ``Fundamentals of complex plasmas''.

  18. Electrohydrodynamics in nanochannels coated by mixed polymer brushes: effects of electric field strength and solvent quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Qianqian; Tian, Xiu; You, Hao

    2018-04-01

    We examine the electrohydrodynamics in mixed polymer brush-coated nanochannels and the conformational dynamics of grafted polymers using molecular dynamics simulations. Charged (A) and neutral polymers (B) are alternately grafted on the channel surfaces. The effects of the electric field strength and solvent quality are addressed in detail. The dependence of electroosmotic flow characteristics and polymer conformational behavior on the solvent quality is influenced due to the change of the electric field strength. The enhanced electric field induces a collapse of the neutral polymer chains which adopt a highly extended conformation along the flow direction. However, the thickness of the charged polymer layer is affected weakly by the electric field, and even a slight swelling is identified for the A-B attraction case, implying the conformational coupling between two polymer species. Furthermore, the charged polymer chains incline entirely towards the electric field direction oppositely to the flow direction. More importantly, unlike the neutral polymer chains, the shape factor of the charged polymer chains, which is used to describe the overall shape of polymer chains, is reduced significantly with increasing the electric field strength, corresponding to a more coiled structure.

  19. External electric field driven modification of the anomalous and spin Hall conductivities in Fe thin films on MgO(001)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pradipto, Abdul-Muizz; Akiyama, Toru; Ito, Tomonori; Nakamura, Kohji

    2018-01-01

    The effects of applying external electric fields to the anomalous and spin Hall conductivities in Fe thin-film models with different layer thicknesses on MgO(001) are investigated by using first-principles calculations. We observe that, for the considered systems, the application of positive electric field associated with the accumulation of negative charges on the Fe side generally decreases (increases) the anomalous (spin) Hall conductivities. The mapping of the Hall conductivities within the two-dimensional Brillouin zone shows that the electric-field-induced modifications are related to the modification of the band structures of the atoms at the interface with the MgO substrate. In particular, the external electric field affects the Hall conductivities via the modifications of the dx z,dy z orbitals, in which the application of positive electric field pushes the minority-spin states of the dx z,dy z bands closer to the Fermi level. Better agreement with the anomalous Hall conductivity for bulk Fe and a more realistic scenario for the electric field modification of Hall conductivities are obtained by using the thicker layers of Fe on MgO (Fe3/MgO and Fe5/MgO).

  20. Analysis of the contributions of ring current and electric field effects to the chemical shifts of RNA bases.

    PubMed

    Sahakyan, Aleksandr B; Vendruscolo, Michele

    2013-02-21

    Ring current and electric field effects can considerably influence NMR chemical shifts in biomolecules. Understanding such effects is particularly important for the development of accurate mappings between chemical shifts and the structures of nucleic acids. In this work, we first analyzed the Pople and the Haigh-Mallion models in terms of their ability to describe nitrogen base conjugated ring effects. We then created a database (DiBaseRNA) of three-dimensional arrangements of RNA base pairs from X-ray structures, calculated the corresponding chemical shifts via a hybrid density functional theory approach and used the results to parametrize the ring current and electric field effects in RNA bases. Next, we studied the coupling of the electric field and ring current effects for different inter-ring arrangements found in RNA bases using linear model fitting, with joint electric field and ring current, as well as only electric field and only ring current approximations. Taken together, our results provide a characterization of the interdependence of ring current and electric field geometric factors, which is shown to be especially important for the chemical shifts of non-hydrogen atoms in RNA bases.

  1. Influence of Electric Fields and Conductivity on Pollen Tube Growth assessed via Electrical Lab-on-Chip

    PubMed Central

    Agudelo, Carlos; Packirisamy, Muthukumaran; Geitmann, Anja

    2016-01-01

    Pollen tubes are polarly growing plant cells that are able to rapidly respond to a combination of chemical, mechanical, and electrical cues. This behavioural feature allows them to invade the flower pistil and deliver the sperm cells in highly targeted manner to receptive ovules in order to accomplish fertilization. How signals are perceived and processed in the pollen tube is still poorly understood. Evidence for electrical guidance in particular is vague and highly contradictory. To generate reproducible experimental conditions for the investigation of the effect of electric fields on pollen tube growth we developed an Electrical Lab-on-Chip (ELoC). Pollen from the species Camellia displayed differential sensitivity to electric fields depending on whether the entire cell or only its growing tip was exposed. The response to DC fields was dramatically higher than that to AC fields of the same strength. However, AC fields were found to restore and even promote pollen growth. Surprisingly, the pollen tube response correlated with the conductivity of the growth medium under different AC frequencies—consistent with the notion that the effect of the field on pollen tube growth may be mediated via its effect on the motion of ions. PMID:26804186

  2. Comparison of cardiac and 60 Hz magnetically induced electric fields measured in anesthetized rats

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

    Miller, D.L.; Creim, J.A.

    1997-06-01

    Extremely low frequency magnetic fields interact with an animal by inducing internal electric fields, which are in addition to the normal endogenous fields present in living animals. Male rats weighing about 560 g each were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. Small incisions were made in the ventral body wall at the chest and upper abdomen to position a miniature probe for measuring internal electric fields. The calibration constant for the probe size was 5.7 mm, with a flat response from at least 12 Hz to 20 kHz. A cardiac signal, similar to the normal electrocardiogram with a heart rate ofmore » about 250 bpm, was readily obtained at the chest. Upon analysis of its spectrum, the cardiac field detected by the probe had a broad maximum at 32--95 Hz. When the rates were exposed to a 1 mT, 60 Hz magnetic field, a spike appeared in the spectrum at 60 Hz. The peak-to-peak magnitudes of electric fields associated with normal heart function were comparable to fields induced by a 1 mT magnetic field at 60 Hz for those positions measured on the body surface. Within the body, or in different directions relative to the applied field, the induced fields were reduced. The cardiac field increased near the heart, becoming much larger than the induced field. Thus, the cardiac electric field, together with the other endogenous fields, combine with induced electric fields and help to provide reference levels for the induced-field dosimetry of ELF magnetic field exposures of living animals.« less

  3. Modeling the Adsorbate Coverage Distribution Over a Multi-Faceted Catalytic Grain in the Presence of an Electric Field: O/Fe from First Principles

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

    Bray, Jacob; Hensley, Alyssa J. R.; Collinge, Greg

    The impact of an external electric field on the concerted behavior of oxygen over a multi-faceted catalytic Fe grain is determined via the interpolation of ab initio models of oxygen adsorption on Fe(100), Fe(110), and Fe(111) in the presence of an external electric field. The application of both negative and positive electric fields weaken the adsorption strength for oxygen on all three surface facets, with Fe(110) experiencing the greatest effect. Kinetic models of a multi-faceted catalytic Fe grain show that the average oxygen coverage over the grain surface is reduced under the influence of both a negative and positive electricmore » field, which are consistent with phase diagram results at comparable pressures. Furthermore, we show that there is a weak synergistic effect between a Pd promoter and a positive electric field on the oxygen adsorption energy, i.e. the Pd promoter and electric field combination weaken the oxygen adsorption energy to a greater degree than the simple addition of both components separately. In conclusion, the work shows that the application of an applied external electric field may be a useful tool in fine-tuning chemical properties of Fe-based catalysts in hydrodeoxygenation applications.« less

  4. Modeling the Adsorbate Coverage Distribution Over a Multi-Faceted Catalytic Grain in the Presence of an Electric Field: O/Fe from First Principles

    DOE PAGES

    Bray, Jacob; Hensley, Alyssa J. R.; Collinge, Greg; ...

    2018-04-15

    The impact of an external electric field on the concerted behavior of oxygen over a multi-faceted catalytic Fe grain is determined via the interpolation of ab initio models of oxygen adsorption on Fe(100), Fe(110), and Fe(111) in the presence of an external electric field. The application of both negative and positive electric fields weaken the adsorption strength for oxygen on all three surface facets, with Fe(110) experiencing the greatest effect. Kinetic models of a multi-faceted catalytic Fe grain show that the average oxygen coverage over the grain surface is reduced under the influence of both a negative and positive electricmore » field, which are consistent with phase diagram results at comparable pressures. Furthermore, we show that there is a weak synergistic effect between a Pd promoter and a positive electric field on the oxygen adsorption energy, i.e. the Pd promoter and electric field combination weaken the oxygen adsorption energy to a greater degree than the simple addition of both components separately. In conclusion, the work shows that the application of an applied external electric field may be a useful tool in fine-tuning chemical properties of Fe-based catalysts in hydrodeoxygenation applications.« less

  5. Comparison of in-situ Electric Field and Radar Derived Parameters for Stratiform Clouds in Central Florida

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bateman, M.; Mach, D.; Lewis, S.; Dye, J.; Defer, E.; Grainger, C.; Willis, P.; Christian, H.; Merceret, F.

    2003-12-01

    Airborne measurements of electric fields and particle microphysics were made during a field program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The aircraft, a Cessna Citation II jet operated by the University of North Dakota, carried six rotating-vane style electric field mills, several microphysics instruments, and thermodynamic instruments. In addition to the aircraft measurements, we also have data from both the Eastern Test Range WSR-74C (Patrick AFB) and the U.S. National Weather Service WSR-88D radars (primarily Melbourne, FL). One specific goal of this program was to try to develop a radar-based rule for estimating the hazard that an in-cloud electric field would present to a vehicle launched into the cloud. Based on past experience, and our desire to quantify the mixed-phase region of the cloud in question, we have assessed several algorithms for integrating radar reflectivity data in and above the mixed-phase region as a proxy for electric field. A successful radar proxy is one that can accurately predict the presence or absence of significant electric fields. We have compared various proxies with the measured in-cloud electric field strength in an attempt to develop a radar rule for assessing launch hazard. Assessment of the best proxy is presented.

  6. Communication: Influence of external static and alternating electric fields on water from long-time non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Futera, Zdenek; English, Niall J.

    2017-07-01

    The response of water to externally applied electric fields is of central relevance in the modern world, where many extraneous electric fields are ubiquitous. Historically, the application of external fields in non-equilibrium molecular dynamics has been restricted, by and large, to relatively inexpensive, more or less sophisticated, empirical models. Here, we report long-time non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics in both static and oscillating (time-dependent) external electric fields, therefore opening up a new vista in rigorous studies of electric-field effects on dynamical systems with the full arsenal of electronic-structure methods. In so doing, we apply this to liquid water with state-of-the-art non-local treatment of dispersion, and we compute a range of field effects on structural and dynamical properties, such as diffusivities and hydrogen-bond kinetics.

  7. MEASUREMENT OF SMALL MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF BRAIN TISSUE EXPOSED TO EXTREMELY-LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC FIELDS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Electromagnetic fields can interact with biological tissue both electrically and mechanically. This study investigated the mechanical interaction between brain tissue and an extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electric field by measuring the resultant vibrational amplitude. The exposur...

  8. Comparison of fast electric field changes from subsequent return strokes of natural and triggered lightning

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Le Vine, D. M.; Willett, J.

    1988-01-01

    Fast electric field changes from subsequent return strokes of natural and triggered lightning with propagation paths almost entirely over water are compared. Data were collected at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Comparisons have been made of the average shape, the rise time and the spectrum of the electric field changes. The electric field changes from the triggered flashes tend to rise to peak faster and decay faster than do their counterparts in natural cloud-to-ground flashes.

  9. Effect of electric field on the magnetic characteristics of a ferromagnetic nanosemiconductor

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

    Kozhushner, M. A., E-mail: kozhushner@gmail.com; Lidskii, B. V.; Posvyanskii, V. S.

    A theory is developed to describe the effect of an electric field on the magnetization of a thin ferromagnetic semiconductor plate. It is shown that the magnetic moment density is nonuniform under these conditions and that the total magnetic moment and its density depend on the electric field and the temperature. An electric field is found to increase the Curie temperature, and an inflection point is detected in the temperature dependence of the derivative of the total magnetic moment with respect to temperature.

  10. High dynamic range electric field sensor for electromagnetic pulse detection.

    PubMed

    Lin, Che-Yun; Wang, Alan X; Lee, Beom Suk; Zhang, Xingyu; Chen, Ray T

    2011-08-29

    We design a high dynamic range electric field sensor based on domain inverted electro-optic (E-O) polymer Y-fed directional coupler for electromagnetic wave detection. This electrode-less, all optical, wideband electrical field sensor is fabricated using standard processing for E-O polymer photonic devices. Experimental results demonstrate effective detection of electric field from 16.7V/m to 750KV/m at a frequency of 1GHz, and spurious free measurement range of 70dB.

  11. The Study for Shortening the Process Time at Soy Food Production by using the Pulsed Electric Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saito, Tsukasa; Jinushi, Makoto; Minamitani, Yasushi

    We investigated method to osmose water and seasoner to dried soybeans fast by pulsed electric field, in order to make soybeans a processed food fast. By applying the pulsed electric field to the dried soybeans in water, osmosis time of water to the soybean became approximately half. Then the emission of the discharge was observed on dried soybean. The color of coffee permeated more into the soybean treated than no-treated by the pulsed electric field.

  12. 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.

  13. International Conference on Quantum Chemical Calculations of NMR and EPR Parameters Held in Castle Smolenice, Slovak Republic on September 14-18 1998

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-10-21

    site. The electric-field- induced linear shift is also observed in the hyperfine splitting of nuclear quadrupole resonance ( NQR ) spectrum of a nucleus...located at a noncentrosymmetric site in a molecule or in crystal lattice. Thus, the linear electric field effect on the ESR and NQR hyperfine splitting...the electric field effects on ESR and NQR hyperfine couplings. Theoretical methods to calculate the electric field effects within Hartree-Fock

  14. Simulation study on electric field intensity above train roof

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fan, Yizhe; Li, Huawei; Yang, Shasha

    2018-04-01

    In order to understand the distribution of electric field in the space above the train roof accurately and select the installation position of the detection device reasonably, in this paper, the 3D model of pantograph-catenary is established by using SolidWorks software, and the spatial electric field distribution of pantograph-catenary model is simulated based on Comsol software. According to the electric field intensity analysis within the 0.4m space above train roof, we give a reasonable installation of the detection device.

  15. ROCSAT and HF Doppler sounder observations of the DP2-type electric field during the global Pc5 magnetic pulsation event

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hashimoto, K. K.; Kikuchi, T.; Nagatsuma, T.; Tomizawa, I.

    2016-12-01

    During the stormtime Pc5 magnetic pulsations on 31 October 2003, we detected large amplitude oscillations in the ionospheric electric field with the HF Doppler sounders at midlatitude for 10 hours from 11 to 21 LT. Similar oscillations were recorded on the magnetometer data at high-to-equatorial latitudes with significant amplitude enhancement at the dayside equator. We deduced the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) by subtracting the low latitude Pc5 from the equatorial Pc5 and found that the midlatitude electric field (EF) is well correlated with the EEJ with correlation coefficients (0.80-0.95) and that the EEJ to EF ratio reached maximum at 11 LT and dramatically decreased until 18 LT in a function of cos0.6(solar zenith angle). With these observations, we suggest that the midlatitude electric field (EF) is associated with the DP2 type ionospheric currents transmitted from high latitude to the equator. It is to be noted that the EF is well correlated with the EEJ during the night after 18 LT, indicating that the Pc5 electric field is so strong as to drive equatorial electrojet in the nighttime ionosphere. Using the electric field measured by ROCSAT-1/IPEI, we confirmed that the Pc5 electric field in the mid- and low-latitude ionosphere is comparable to or even stronger than those observed by the HF Doppler sounders. High correlations between the ground- and satellite-based observations over 15 minutes indicate that the Pc5 electric field distribute uniform over 6500 km along the ROCSAT orbit which is consistent with the large-scale DP2 electric field.

  16. Electro-aerodynamic field aided needleless electrospinning.

    PubMed

    Yan, Guilong; Niu, Haitao; Zhou, Hua; Wang, Hongxia; Shao, Hao; Zhao, Xueting; Lin, Tong

    2018-06-08

    Auxiliary fields have been used to enhance the performance of needle electrospinning. However, much less has been reported on how auxiliary fields affect needleless electrospinning. Herein, we report a novel needleless electrospinning technique that consists of an aerodynamic field and a second electric field. The second electric field is generated by setting two grounded inductive electrodes near the spinneret. The two auxiliary fields have to be applied simultaneously to ensure working of the electrospinning process. A synergistic effect was observed between inductive electrode and airflow. The aerodynamic-electric auxiliary field was found to significantly increase fiber production rate (4.5 g h -1 ), by 350% in comparison to the setup without auxiliary field (1.0 g h -1 ), whereas it had little effect on fiber diameter. The auxiliary fields allow running needleless electrospinning at an applied voltage equivalent to that in needle electrospinning (e.g. 10-30 kV). The finite element analyses of electric field and airflow field verify that the inductive electrodes increase electric field strength near the spinneret, and the airflow assists in fiber deposition. This novel needleless electrospinning may be useful for development of high-efficiency, low energy-consumption nanofiber production systems.

  17. Electro-aerodynamic field aided needleless electrospinning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Guilong; Niu, Haitao; Zhou, Hua; Wang, Hongxia; Shao, Hao; Zhao, Xueting; Lin, Tong

    2018-06-01

    Auxiliary fields have been used to enhance the performance of needle electrospinning. However, much less has been reported on how auxiliary fields affect needleless electrospinning. Herein, we report a novel needleless electrospinning technique that consists of an aerodynamic field and a second electric field. The second electric field is generated by setting two grounded inductive electrodes near the spinneret. The two auxiliary fields have to be applied simultaneously to ensure working of the electrospinning process. A synergistic effect was observed between inductive electrode and airflow. The aerodynamic-electric auxiliary field was found to significantly increase fiber production rate (4.5 g h‑1), by 350% in comparison to the setup without auxiliary field (1.0 g h‑1), whereas it had little effect on fiber diameter. The auxiliary fields allow running needleless electrospinning at an applied voltage equivalent to that in needle electrospinning (e.g. 10–30 kV). The finite element analyses of electric field and airflow field verify that the inductive electrodes increase electric field strength near the spinneret, and the airflow assists in fiber deposition. This novel needleless electrospinning may be useful for development of high-efficiency, low energy-consumption nanofiber production systems.

  18. Electroosmotic Flow Driven by DC and AC Electric Fields in Curved Microchannels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Jia-Kun; Luo, Win-Jet; Yang, Ruey-Jen

    2006-10-01

    The purpose of this study is to investigate electroosmotic flows driven by externally applied DC and AC electric fields in curved microchannels. For the DC electric driving field, the velocity distribution and secondary flow patterns are investigated in microchannels with various curvature ratios. We use the Dean number to describe the curvature effect of the flow field in DC electric field. The result implies that the effect of curvatures and the strength of the secondary flows become get stronger when the curvature ratio of C/A (where C is the radius of curvature of the microchannel and A is the half-height of rectangular curved tube.) is smaller. For the AC electric field, the velocity distribution and secondary flow patterns are investigated for driving frequencies in the range of 2.0 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=0.71) to 11 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=1.66). The numerical results reveal that the velocity at the center of the microchannel becomes lower at higher frequencies of the AC electric field and the strength of the secondary flow decreases. When the applied frequency exceeds 3.0 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=0.87), vortices are no longer observed at the corners of the microchannel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the secondary flow induced at higher AC electric field frequencies has virtually no effect on the axial flow field in the microchannel.

  19. 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.

  20. Propagation characteristics of a focused laser beam in a strontium barium niobate photorefractive crystal under reverse external electric field.

    PubMed

    Guo, Q L; Liang, B L; Wang, Y; Deng, G Y; Jiang, Y H; Zhang, S H; Fu, G S; Simmonds, P J

    2014-10-01

    The propagation characteristics of a focused laser beam in a SBN:75 photorefractive crystal strongly depend on the signal-to-background intensity ratio (R=Is/Ib) under reverse external electric field. In the range 20>R>0.05, the laser beam shows enhanced self-defocusing behavior with increasing external electric field, while it shows self-focusing in the range 0.03>R>0.01. Spatial solitons are observed under a suitable reverse external electric field for R=0.025. A theoretical model is proposed to explain the experimental observations, which suggest a new type of soliton formation due to "enhancement" not "screening" of the external electrical field.

  1. Simulations of electrically induced particle structuring on spherical drop surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Yi; Vlahovska, Petia; Miksis, Michael

    2016-11-01

    Recent experiments (Ouriemi and Vlahovska, 2014) show intriguing surface patterns when a uniform electric field is applied to a droplet covered with colloidal particles. Depending on the particle properties and the electrical field intensity, particles organize into an equatorial belt, pole-to-pole chains, or dynamic vortices. Here we present a model to simulate the collective particle dynamics, which accounts for the electrohydrodynamic flow and particle dielectrophoresis due to the non-uniformity of local electrical field. In stronger electric fields, particles are expected to undergo Quincke rotation, inducing rotating clusters through inter-particle hydrodynamical interaction. We discuss how the field intensity influences the width, orientation and periodicity of the particle clusters. Our results provide insight into the various particle assembles discovered in the experiments.

  2. Influence of bias electric field on elastic waves propagation in piezoelectric layered structures.

    PubMed

    Burkov, S I; Zolotova, O P; Sorokin, B P

    2013-08-01

    Theoretical and computer investigations of acoustic wave propagation in piezoelectric layered structures, subjected to the dc electric field influence have been fulfilled. Analysis of the dispersive parameters of elastic waves propagation in the BGO/fused silica and fused silica/LiNbO3 piezoelectric layered structures for a number of variants of dc electric field application has been executed. Transformation of bulk acoustic wave into SAW type mode under the dc electric field influence has been found. Possibility to control the permission or prohibition of the wave propagation by the dc electric field application and the appropriate choice of the layer and substrate materials has been discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Electrical tuning of spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aras, Mehmet; Kılıç, ćetin

    2018-01-01

    The effect of applying an external electric field on doping-induced spin-orbit splitting of the lowest conduction-band states in a bismuth-doped zinc oxide nanowire is studied by performing electronic structure calculations within the framework of density functional theory. It is demonstrated that spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires could be tuned and enhanced electrically via control of the strength and direction of the applied electric field, thanks to the nonuniform and anisotropic response of the ZnO:Bi nanowire to external electric fields. The results reported here indicate that a single ZnO nanowire doped with a low concentration of Bi could function as a spintronic device, the operation of which is controlled by applied lateral electric fields.

  4. Optical Limiting Using the Two-Photon Absorption Electrical Modulation Effect in HgCdTe Photodiode

    PubMed Central

    Cui, Haoyang; Yang, Junjie; Zeng, Jundong; Tang, Zhong

    2013-01-01

    The electrical modulation properties of the output intensity of two-photon absorption (TPA) pumping were analyzed in this paper. The frequency dispersion dependence of TPA and the electric field dependence of TPA were calculated using Wherrett theory model and Garcia theory model, respectively. Both predicted a dramatic variation of TPA coefficient which was attributed into the increasing of the transition rate. The output intensity of the laser pulse propagation in the pn junction device was calculated by using function-transfer method. It shows that the output intensity increases nonlinearly with increasing intensity of incident light and eventually reaches saturation. The output saturation intensity depends on the electric field strength; the greater the electric field, the smaller the output intensity. Consequently, the clamped saturation intensity can be controlled by the electric field. The prior advantage of electrical modulation is that the TPA can be varied extremely continuously, thus adjusting the output intensity in a wide range. This large change provides a manipulate method to control steady output intensity of TPA by adjusting electric field. PMID:24198721

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. Computational estimation of magnetically induced electric fields in a rotating head

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ilvonen, Sami; Laakso, Ilkka

    2009-01-01

    Change in a magnetic field, or similarly, movement in a strong static magnetic field induces electric fields in human tissues, which could potentially cause harmful effects. In this paper, the fields induced by different rotational movements of a head in a strong homogeneous magnetic field are computed numerically. Average field magnitudes near the retinas and inner ears are studied in order to gain insight into the causes of phosphenes and vertigo-like effects, which are associated with extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields. The induced electric fields are calculated in four different anatomically realistic head models using an efficient finite-element method (FEM) solver. The results are compared with basic restriction limits by IEEE and ICNIRP. Under rotational movement of the head, with a magnetic flux rate of change of 1 T s-1, the maximum IEEE-averaged electric field and maximum ICNIRP-averaged current density were 337 mV m-1 and 8.84 mA m-2, respectively. The limits by IEEE seem significantly stricter than those by ICNIRP. The results show that a magnetic flux rate of change of 1 T s-1 may induce electric field in the range of 50 mV m-1 near retinas, and possibly even larger values near the inner ears. These results provide information for approximating the threshold electric field values of phosphenes and vertigo-like effects.

  8. Dielectrics for long term space exposure and spacecraft charging: A briefing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frederickson, A. R.

    1989-01-01

    Charging of dielectrics is a bulk, not a surface property. Radiation driven charge stops within the bulk and is not quickly conducted to the surface. Very large electric fields develop in the bulk due to this stopped charge. At space radiation levels, it typically requires hours or days for the internal electric fields to reach steady state. The resulting electric fields are large enough to produce electrical failure within the insulator. This type failure is thought to produce nearly all electric discharge anomalies. Radiation also induces bond breakage, creates reactive radicals, displaces atoms and, in general, severely changes the chemistry of the solid state material. Electric fields can alter this process by reacting with charged species, driving them through the solid. Irradiated polymers often lose as much as a percent of their mass, or more, at exposures typical in space. Very different aging or contaminant emission can be induced by the stopped charge electric fields. These radiation effects are detailed.

  9. Electric field replaces gravity in laboratory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gorgolewski, S.

    For several years experiments in physical laboratories and in the fitotron have shown that one can replace gravitational field with electrical fields for plants. First obvious experiments in strong electrical fields in the MV/m regi on show that any materials and living plants respond immediately to Coulomb forces. Such fields are found in nature during thunderstorms. One has to be very careful in handling such strong fields for safety reasons. The fair weather global electrical field is about 20,000 times weaker. The coulomb forces are proportional to the square of the field strength and are thus 400 milion times weaker for a field of the order of 100 V/m.Yet it was found that some plants respond to such "weak" fields. We must remember that the electrical field is a factor of 10 38 times stronger than gravitational interaction. In plants we have dissociated in water mineral salts and the ions are subject to such ernormous forces. It was shown and published that the positive charges in the air in fields of the order of 3kV/m enhance lettuce growth by a factor of four relative to fields about 30 times weaker (100V/m). Reversal of the field polarity reverses the direction of plant growth and retards the plant's growth. Such fields overpower the gravitropism in the laboratory. More so horizontal electrical field is othogonal to gravity, now the fields do not see each other. Lettuce now growth horizontally ignoring the gravitational field. We can thus select the plants whose electrotropism even in the laboratory overwhelms gravity. This is important for the long space flights that we must grow vegetarian food for the crew. The successful harvesting of wheat in orbit does not contradict our experimental findings because wheat is not electrotropic like all plants from the grass family. The results of fitotron experiments with kV/m electrical fields are richly illustrated with colour digital photographs. We also subjected the candle flame to very strong horizontal electrical fields. The flame splits into two horizontal flames, ignoring the gravitational field in the laboratory. This result is similar to the behaviour of ions in plants which are responsible for the transport of nutrients from the roots to leaves and opposite ions to roots from the leaves. It shows that we can control the transport phenomena in the process of growth in plants as well as of combustion in space with proper electrical fields.

  10. In-plane electric field controlled ferromagnetism and anisotropic magnetoresistance in an LSMO/PMN-PT heterostructure.

    PubMed

    Guo, Qi; Xu, Xiaoguang; Wang, Fang; Lu, Yunhao; Chen, Jikun; Wu, Yanjun; Meng, Kangkang; Wu, Yong; Miao, Jun; Jiang, Yong

    2018-06-01

    We report the in-plane electric field controlled ferromagnetism of La 2/3 Sr 1/3 MnO 3 (LSMO) films epitaxially deposited on [Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 ] 0.7 -(PbTiO 3 ) 0.3 (PMN-PT) (001), (011) and (111) single crystal substrates. The in-plane coercivities (H c∥ ) and remanences of the LSMO films greatly depend on the in-plane electric field applied on the PMN-PT (001) and (011) substrates. The experimental change of H c∥ is consistent with the Stoner-Wohlfarth model and first principle calculation with the electric field varying from -10 to 10 kV cm -1 . Moreover, the Curie temperature and anisotropic magnetoresistance of the LSMO films can also be manipulated by an in-plane electric field. Finally, the LSMO/PMN-PT (001) heterostructure is designed to be a new kind of magnetic signal generator with the source of electric field.

  11. Simulation of the effects of sub-breakdown electric fields on the chemical kinetics in nonpremixed counterflow methane/air flames

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belhi, Memdouh; Im, Hong; Computational Reacting Flows Laboratory, Clean Combustion Research Center Team

    2017-11-01

    The effects of an electric field on the combustion kinetics in nonpremixed counterflow methane/air flames were investigated via one-dimensional numerical simulations. A classical fluid model coupling Poison's equation with transport equations for combustion species and electric field-induced particles was used. A methane-air reaction mechanism accounting for the natural ionization in flames was combined with a set of reactions that describe the formation of active particles induced by the electric field. Kinetic parameters for electron-impact reactions and transport coefficients of electrons were modeled as functions of reduced electric field via solutions to the Boltzmann kinetic equation using the BOLSIG code. Mobility of ions was computed based on the (n,6,4) and coulomb interaction potentials, while the diffusion coefficient was approximated from the mobility using Einstein relation. Contributions of electron dissociation, excitation and ionization processes were characterized quantitatively. An analysis to identify the plasma regime where the electric field can alter the combustion kinetic was proposed.

  12. In-plane electric field controlled ferromagnetism and anisotropic magnetoresistance in an LSMO/PMN-PT heterostructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Qi; Xu, Xiaoguang; Wang, Fang; Lu, Yunhao; Chen, Jikun; Wu, Yanjun; Meng, Kangkang; Wu, Yong; Miao, Jun; Jiang, Yong

    2018-06-01

    We report the in-plane electric field controlled ferromagnetism of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO) films epitaxially deposited on [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.7-(PbTiO3)0.3 (PMN-PT) (001), (011) and (111) single crystal substrates. The in-plane coercivities (H c∥) and remanences of the LSMO films greatly depend on the in-plane electric field applied on the PMN-PT (001) and (011) substrates. The experimental change of H c∥ is consistent with the Stoner–Wohlfarth model and first principle calculation with the electric field varying from ‑10 to 10 kV cm‑1. Moreover, the Curie temperature and anisotropic magnetoresistance of the LSMO films can also be manipulated by an in-plane electric field. Finally, the LSMO/PMN-PT (001) heterostructure is designed to be a new kind of magnetic signal generator with the source of electric field.

  13. Theoretical study of the influence of the electric field on the electronic properties of armchair boron nitride nanoribbon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chegel, Raad; Behzad, Somayeh

    2014-11-01

    We have investigated the electronic properties of A-BNNRs in the external electric field using third nearest neighbor tight binding approximation including edge effects. We found that the dependence of on-site energy to the external electric field for edge atoms and center part atoms is different. By comparing the band structure in the different fields, several differences are clearly seen such as modification of energy dispersions, creation of additional band edge states and band gap reduction. By increasing the electric field the band gap reduces linearly until reaches zero and BNNRs with larger width are more sensitive than small ones. All changes in the band structure are directly reflected in the DOS spectrum. The numbers and the energies of the DOS peaks are dependent on the electric field strength.

  14. 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.

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

    Lin, Meng-Lin; Peng, J. S.; Lee, Sanboh, E-mail: sblee@mx.nthu.edu.tw

    We studied the digestive ripening of thiol-capped gold nanoparticles under simultaneous action of electric field and reflux heating in a silicone oil bath at 130 °C, using transmission electron microscopy. Observation revealed that a polydispersed gold nanoparticle system reached the state of nearly monodispersity under the action of an electric field and the thiol-capped gold nanoparticles carried negative charges. The electric field caused the increase of the particle size for the nearly monodispersed gold nanoparticle system. The self-assembly of the nearly monodisperse gold nanoparticles under the action of an electric field of a high field intensity was observed. The gold nanoparticlesmore » tended to form self-assembled nanostructures of six-fold symmetry. This study provides a new route for system engineering to control the particle size of metallic nanoparticles by electric field and digestive ripening.« less

  16. Experimental Measurements of the Dynamic Electric Field Topology Associated with Magnetized RF Sheaths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martin, E. H.; Caughman, J. B. O.; Shannon, S. C.; Klepper, C. C.; Isler, R. C.

    2013-10-01

    A major challenge facing magnetic fusion devices and the success of ITER is the design and implementation of reliable ICRH systems. The primary issue facing ICRH is the parasitic near-field which leads to an increased heat flux, sputtering, and arcing of the antenna/faraday screen. In order to aid the theoretical development of near-field physics and thus propel the design process experimental measurements are highly desired. In this work we have developed a diagnostic based on passive emission spectroscopy capable of measuring time periodic electric fields utilizing a generalized dynamic Stark effect model and a novel spectral line profile fitting package. The diagnostic was implemented on a small scale laboratory experiment designed to simulate the edge environment associated with ICRF antenna/faraday screen. The spatially and temporally resolved electric field associated with magnetized RF sheaths will be presented for two field configurations: magnetic field parallel to electric field and magnetic field perpendicular to electric field, both hydrogen and helium discharges where investigated. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LCC, for the US DOE under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725.

  17. Deep-subwavelength imaging of both electric and magnetic localized optical fields by plasmonic campanile nanoantenna

    DOE PAGES

    Caselli, Niccolò; La China, Federico; Bao, Wei; ...

    2015-06-05

    Tailoring the electromagnetic field at the nanoscale has led to artificial materials exhibiting fascinating optical properties unavailable in naturally occurring substances. Besides having fundamental implications for classical and quantum optics, nanoscale metamaterials provide a platform for developing disruptive novel technologies, in which a combination of both the electric and magnetic radiation field components at optical frequencies is relevant to engineer the light-matter interaction. Thus, an experimental investigation of the spatial distribution of the photonic states at the nanoscale for both field components is of crucial importance. Here we experimentally demonstrate a concomitant deep-subwavelength near-field imaging of the electric and magneticmore » intensities of the optical modes localized in a photonic crystal nanocavity. We take advantage of the “campanile tip”, a plasmonic near-field probe that efficiently combines broadband field enhancement with strong far-field to near-field coupling. In conclusion, by exploiting the electric and magnetic polarizability components of the campanile tip along with the perturbation imaging method, we are able to map in a single measurement both the electric and magnetic localized near-field distributions.« less

  18. Electrically tunable hole g factor of an optically active quantum dot for fast spin rotations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prechtel, Jonathan H.; Maier, Franziska; Houel, Julien; Kuhlmann, Andreas V.; Ludwig, Arne; Wieck, Andreas D.; Loss, Daniel; Warburton, Richard J.

    2015-04-01

    We report a large g factor tunability of a single hole spin in an InGaAs quantum dot via an electric field. The magnetic field lies in the in-plane direction x , the direction required for a coherent hole spin. The electrical field lies along the growth direction z and is changed over a large range, 100 kV/cm. Both electron and hole g factors are determined by high resolution laser spectroscopy with resonance fluorescence detection. This, along with the low electrical-noise environment, gives very high quality experimental results. The hole g factor ghx depends linearly on the electric field Fz,d ghx/d Fz=(8.3 ±1.2 ) ×10-4 cm/kV, whereas the electron g factor gex is independent of electric field d gex/d Fz=(0.1 ±0.3 ) ×10-4 cm/kV (results averaged over a number of quantum dots). The dependence of ghx on Fz is well reproduced by a 4 ×4 k .p model demonstrating that the electric field sensitivity arises from a combination of soft hole confining potential, an In concentration gradient, and a strong dependence of material parameters on In concentration. The electric field sensitivity of the hole spin can be exploited for electrically driven hole spin rotations via the g tensor modulation technique and based on these results, a hole spin coupling as large as ˜1 GHz can be envisaged.

  19. Wireless Temperature Sensor Having No Electrical Connections and Sensing Method for Use Therewith

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Woodard, Marie (Inventor)

    2014-01-01

    A wireless temperature sensor includes an electrical conductor and a dielectric material on the conductor. The conductor is electrically unconnected and is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency associated therewith. The material is selected such that it experiences changes in either dielectric or magnetic permeability attributes in the presence of a temperature change. Shifts from the sensor's baseline frequency response indicate that the material has experienced a temperature change.

  20. Electromagnetic wave energy converter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bailey, R. L. (Inventor)

    1973-01-01

    Electromagnetic wave energy is converted into electric power with an array of mutually insulated electromagnetic wave absorber elements each responsive to an electric field component of the wave as it impinges thereon. Each element includes a portion tapered in the direction of wave propagation to provide a relatively wideband response spectrum. Each element includes an output for deriving a voltage replica of the electric field variations intercepted by it. Adjacent elements are positioned relative to each other so that an electric field subsists between adjacent elements in response to the impinging wave. The electric field results in a voltage difference between adjacent elements that is fed to a rectifier to derive dc output power.

  1. Electric field effect on exchange interaction in ultrathin Co films with ionic liquids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishibashi, Mio; Yamada, Kihiro T.; Shiota, Yoichi; Ando, Fuyuki; Koyama, Tomohiro; Kakizakai, Haruka; Mizuno, Hayato; Miwa, Kazumoto; Ono, Shimpei; Moriyama, Takahiro; Chiba, Daichi; Ono, Teruo

    2018-06-01

    Electric-field modulations of magnetic properties have been extensively studied not only for practical applications but also for fundamental interest. In this study, we investigated the electric field effect on the exchange interaction in ultrathin Co films with ionic liquids. The exchange coupling J was characterized from the direct magnetization measurement as a function of temperature using Pt/ultrathin Co/MgO structures. The trend of the electric field effect on J is in good agreement with that of the theoretical prediction, and a large change in J by applying a gate voltage was observed by forming an electric double layer using ionic liquids.

  2. 30 CFR 18.90 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... PRODUCTS ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Field Approval of Electrically Operated... requirements for permissibility which must be met to obtain MSHA field approval of electrically operated...

  3. 30 CFR 18.90 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PRODUCTS ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Field Approval of Electrically Operated... requirements for permissibility which must be met to obtain MSHA field approval of electrically operated...

  4. Electro-optic response in thin smectic C* film with chevron structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kudreyko, Aleksey A.; Migranov, Nail G.; Migranova, Dana N.

    2016-12-01

    The effects in electrostatic models of chevron surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals are investigated through numerical modeling. To study smectic C* director distribution within the cell, we consider two nonlinear approaches: the chevron interface does not interplay with the electric field; the electric field interplays with the chevron interface. The obtained results of the director field distribution are compared with the earlier linearized studies. We find that whether or not the electric field interplays with the chevron interface, the electro-optic response requires a generalized approach for its description. The threshold electric field, which is necessary for switching between two stable director states in the chevron cell is evaluated. This study suggests that, in many cases of practical interest, electro-optic response to the electric field and the threshold electric field can be precisely estimated. We argue that, beside being numerically efficient, our approach provides a convenient and a novel standpoint for looking at the electro-optic response problem. Project supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) (Grant Nos. 16-32-00043 and 14-02-97026).

  5. Analysis of Electrokinetic Mixing Using AC Electric Field and Patchwise Surface Heterogeneities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Win-Jet; Yarn, Kao-Feng; Hsu, Shou-Ping

    2007-04-01

    In this paper, the authors investigate the use of an applied AC electric field and microchannel surface heterogeneities to carry out the microfluidic mixing of two-dimensional, time-dependent electroosmotic flows. The time-dependent flow fields within the microchannel are simulated using the backwards-Euler time-stepping numerical method. The mixing efficiencies obtained in microchannels with two different patchwise surface heterogeneity patterns are investigated. In general, the results show that the application of an AC electric field significantly reduces the required mixing length compared with the use of a DC electric field. Furthermore, the presence of oppositely charged surface heterogeneities on the microchannel walls results in the formation of localized flow circulation regions within the bulk flow. These circulation regions grow and decay periodically in accordance with the periodic variation of the AC electric field intensity and provide an effective means of enhancing species mixing in the microchannel. Consequently, the use of an AC electric field together with patchwise surface heterogeneities permits a significant reduction in both the mixing channel length and the retention time required to attain a homogeneous solution.

  6. Nonequilibrium electrophoresis of an ion-selective microgranule for weak and moderate external electric fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frants, E. A.; Ganchenko, G. S.; Shelistov, V. S.; Amiroudine, S.; Demekhin, E. A.

    2018-02-01

    Electrokinetics and the movement of charge-selective micro-granules in an electrolyte solution under the influence of an external electric field are investigated theoretically. Straightforward perturbation analysis is applied to a thin electric double layer and a weak external field, while a numerical solution is used for moderate electric fields. The asymptotic solution enables the determination of the salt concentration, electric charge distribution, and electro-osmotic velocity fields. It may also be used to obtain a simple analytical formula for the electrophoretic velocity in the case of quasi-equilibrium electrophoresis (electrophoresis of the first kind). This formula differs from the famous Helmholtz-Smoluchowski relation, which applies to dielectric microparticles, but not to ion-selective granules. Numerical calculations are used to validate the derived formula for weak external electric fields, but for moderate fields, nonlinear effects lead to a significant increase in electrophoretic mobility and to a transition from quasi-equilibrium electrophoresis of the first kind to nonequilibrium electrophoresis of the second kind. Theoretical results are successfully compared with experimental data.

  7. Communication: Polarizable polymer chain under external electric field in a dilute polymer solution.

    PubMed

    Budkov, Yu A; Kolesnikov, A L; Kiselev, M G

    2015-11-28

    We study the conformational behavior of polarizable polymer chain under an external homogeneous electric field within the Flory type self-consistent field theory. We consider the influence of electric field on the polymer coil as well as on the polymer globule. We show that when the polymer chain conformation is a coil, application of external electric field leads to its additional swelling. However, when the polymer conformation is a globule, a sufficiently strong field can induce a globule-coil transition. We show that such "field-induced" globule-coil transition at the sufficiently small monomer polarizabilities goes quite smoothly. On the contrary, when the monomer polarizability exceeds a certain threshold value, the globule-coil transition occurs as a dramatic expansion in the regime of first-order phase transition. The developed theoretical model can be applied to predicting polymer globule density change under external electric field in order to provide more efficient processes of polymer functionalization, such as sorption, dyeing, and chemical modification.

  8. On the Magnitude of the Electric Field Near Thunderstorm-Associated Clouds

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Merceret, Francis J.; Ward, Jennifer G.; Mach, Douglas M.; Bateman, Monte G.; Dye, James E.

    2007-01-01

    Electric field measurements made in and near clouds during two airborne field mill programs are presented. Aircraft equipped with multiple electric field mills and cloud physics sensors were flown near active convection and into thunderstorm anvil and debris clouds. The magnitude of the electric field was measured as a function of position with respect to the cloud edge in order to provide an observational basis for modifications to the lightning launch commit criteria (LLCC) used by the U.S. space program. These LLCC are used to reduce the risk that an ascending launch vehicle will trigger a lightning strike that could cause the loss of the mission or vehicle. The results suggest that even with fields of tens of kV/m inside electrically active convective clouds, the fields external to these clouds decay to less than 3 kV/m within fifteen kilometers of cloud edge. Fields exceeding 3 kV/m were not found external to anvil and debris clouds.

  9. ELECTRIC-FIELD-ENHANCED FABRIC FILTRATION OF ELECTRICALLY CHARGED FLYASH

    EPA Science Inventory

    The paper summarizes measurements in which both external electric field (applied by electrodes at the fabric surface) and flyash electrical charge (controlled by an upstream corona precharger) are independent variables in a factorial performance experiment carried out in a labora...

  10. Drop Migration and Demixing of Biphasic Aqueous Systems in an Applied Electric Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Todd, Paul; Raghavarao, Karumanchi S. M. S.

    1999-11-01

    Applying an electric field to a demixing emulsion of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) and dextran (or maltodextrin) in phosphate-buffered aqueous solution shortens the demixing time up to 6 fold. Phosphate ions partition into the dextran-rich phase imparting a small electrical potential between the phases. PEG-rich drops migrate cathodally, and their electrophoretic mobility is directly proportional to their radius and increases with increased ionization of phosphate. An electric field, either parallel or antiparallel to the gravity vector, can enhance demixing. A theory consistent with these observations states that drops move due to external and internal electroosmotic flow (tractor treading). Enhanced demixing in an electric field whose polarity opposes buoyancy is thought to be caused by initial increased drop growth during retardation by the electric field so that the drop becomes more buoyant. However, at infinite internal drop viscosity the theory does not extrapolate to the result for solid colloid particles.

  11. Bubble Formation and Detachment in Reduced Gravity Under the Influence of Electric Fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle; Chang, Shinan

    2002-01-01

    The objective of the study is to investigate the behavior of individual air bubbles injected through an orifice into an electrically insulating liquid under the influence of a static electric field. Both uniform and nonuniform electric field configurations were considered. Bubble formation and detachment were recorded and visualized in reduced gravity (corresponding to gravity levels on Mars, on the Moon as well as microgravity) using a high-speed video camera. Bubble volume, dimensions and contact angle at detachment were measured. In addition to the experimental studies, a simple model, predicting bubble characteristics at detachment was developed. The model, based on thermodynamic considerations, accounts for the level of gravity as well as the magnitude of the uniform electric field. Measured data and model predictions show good agreement and indicate that the level of gravity and the electric field magnitude significantly affect bubble shape, volume and dimensions.

  12. Strain-engineered inverse charge-funnelling in layered semiconductors.

    PubMed

    De Sanctis, Adolfo; Amit, Iddo; Hepplestone, Steven P; Craciun, Monica F; Russo, Saverio

    2018-04-25

    The control of charges in a circuit due to an external electric field is ubiquitous to the exchange, storage and manipulation of information in a wide range of applications. Conversely, the ability to grow clean interfaces between materials has been a stepping stone for engineering built-in electric fields largely exploited in modern photovoltaics and opto-electronics. The emergence of atomically thin semiconductors is now enabling new ways to attain electric fields and unveil novel charge transport mechanisms. Here, we report the first direct electrical observation of the inverse charge-funnel effect enabled by deterministic and spatially resolved strain-induced electric fields in a thin sheet of HfS 2 . We demonstrate that charges driven by these spatially varying electric fields in the channel of a phototransistor lead to a 350% enhancement in the responsivity. These findings could enable the informed design of highly efficient photovoltaic cells.

  13. Micro-resonator-based electric field sensors with long durations of sensitivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ali, Amir R.

    2017-05-01

    In this paper, we present a new fabrication method for the whispering gallery mode (WGM) micro-sphere based electric field sensor that which allows for longer time periods of sensitivity. Recently, a WGM-based photonic electric field sensor was proposed using a coupled dielectric microsphere-beam. The external electric field imposes an electrtrostriction force on the dielectric beam, deflecting it. The beam, in turn compresses the sphere causing a shift in its WGM. As part of the fabrication process, the PDMS micro-beams and the spheres are curied at high-temperature (100oC) and subsequently poled by exposing to strong external electric field ( 8 MV/m) for two hours. The poling process allows for the deposition of surface charges thereby increasing the electrostriction effect. This methodology is called curing-then-poling (CTP). Although the sensors do become sufficiently sensitive to electric field, they start de-poling after a short period (within 10 minutes) after poling, hence losing sensitivity. In an attempt to mitigate this problem and to lock the polarization for a longer period, we use an alternate methodology whereby the beam is poled and cured simultaneously (curing-while-poling or CWP). The new fabrication method allows for the retention of polarization (and hence, sensitivity to electric field) longer ( 1500 minutes). An analysis is carried out along with preliminary experiments. Results show that electric fields as small as 100 V/m can be detected with a 300 μm diameter sphere sensor a day after poling.

  14. Effects of static electric fields on growth and development of wheat aphid Sitobion aveanae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) through multiple generations.

    PubMed

    He, Juan; Cao, Zhu; Yang, Jie; Zhao, Hui-Yan; Pan, Wei-Dong

    2016-01-01

    Insects show a variety of responses to electric fields and most of them are associated with immediate effects. To investigate the long-term effects of static electric field on the wheat aphid Sitbion avenae, the insert was exposed to 4 min of a static electric field at intensities of 0, 2, 4, or 6 kV/cm. Development effects over 30 consecutive generations of the insect were studied. The results showed that the electric field could exert adverse effects on the developmental duration and total longevity of S. avenae nymphs regardless of exposure intensities or generations. The effects appeared to be more intense and fluctuated at higher electric field intensities and more insect generations. The most favorable exposure for development was 6 kV/cm for 4 min while the most detrimental electric fields were 2 kV/cm for 4 min and 4 kV/cm for 4 min. Among the treatments, the first instar duration was significantly prolonged while the adult longevities were significantly shortened in the sixth generation. The intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate in the sixth generation were also the lowest among the 30 consecutive generations studied. Based on the results, the adverse effects of electric fields on insects may be used in the bio-control of pest insects in terms of pest management.

  15. The Response of Starch/gelatin/glycerin Aqueous Electrorheological Elastomer to Applied Electric Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Lingxiang; Zhao, Xiaopeng

    The aqueous ER elastomers, containing crude organic starch particles which dispersed in gelatin/glycerin/water matrix, were prepared with or without the applied DC electric field. The responses of the composite systems to the electric field were tested by the compression modulus and resistance of the elastomers. The result shows that they are enhanced and controlled evidently under an applied DC electric field. The strongest responses appear at 25% weight fraction of starch. In addition, the increment modulus of the elastomer increases with the strength of the applied field within 0.5~1.5 kV/mm, while after the field is stronger than 1.5 kV/mm it doesn't increase with field, appearing "saturation".

  16. Modelling of a Double-Track Railway Contact System Electric Field Intensity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belinsky, Stanislav; Khanzhina, Olga; Sidorov, Alexander

    2017-12-01

    Working conditions of personnel that serves contact system (CS) are affected by factors including health and safety, security and working hours (danger of rolling stock accidents, danger of electric shock strokes, work at height, severity and tension of work, increased noise level, etc.) Low frequency electromagnetic fields as part of both electric and magnetic fields are among of the most dangerous and harmful factors. These factors can affect not only the working personnel, but also a lot of people, who do not work with the contact system itself, but could be influenced by electromagnetic field as the result of their professional activity. People, who use public transport or live not far from the electrified lines, are endangered by these factors as well. There are results of the theoretical researches in which low frequency electric fields of railway contact system were designed with the use of mathematical and computer modelling. Significant features of electric field distribution near double-track railway in presence or absence of human body were established. The studies showed the dependence of low frequency electric field parameters on the distance to the track axis, height, and presence or absence of human body. The obtained data were compared with permissible standards established in the Russian Federation and other countries with advanced electrified railway system. Evaluation of low frequency electric fields harmful effect on personnel is the main result of this work. It is also established, that location of personnel, voltage and current level, amount of tracks and other factors influence electric fields of contact systems.

  17. Modulation of hippocampal rhythms by subthreshold electric fields and network topology

    PubMed Central

    Berzhanskaya, Julia; Chernyy, Nick; Gluckman, Bruce J.; Schiff, Steven J.; Ascoli, Giorgio A.

    2012-01-01

    Theta (4–12 Hz) and gamma (30–80 Hz) rhythms are considered important for cortical and hippocampal function. Although several neuron types are implicated in rhythmogenesis, the exact cellular mechanisms remain unknown. Subthreshold electric fields provide a flexible, area-specific tool to modulate neural activity and directly test functional hypotheses. Here we present experimental and computational evidence of the interplay among hippocampal synaptic circuitry, neuronal morphology, external electric fields, and network activity. Electrophysiological data are used to constrain and validate an anatomically and biophysically realistic model of area CA1 containing pyramidal cells and two interneuron types: dendritic- and perisomatic-targeting. We report two lines of results: addressing the network structure capable of generating theta-modulated gamma rhythms, and demonstrating electric field effects on those rhythms. First, theta-modulated gamma rhythms require specific inhibitory connectivity. In one configuration, GABAergic axo-dendritic feedback on pyramidal cells is only effective in proximal but not distal layers. An alternative configuration requires two distinct perisomatic interneuron classes, one exclusively receiving excitatory contacts, the other additionally targeted by inhibition. These observations suggest novel roles for particular classes of oriens and basket cells. The second major finding is that subthreshold electric fields robustly alter the balance between different rhythms. Independent of network configuration, positive electric fields decrease, while negative fields increase the theta/gamma ratio. Moreover, electric fields differentially affect average theta frequency depending on specific synaptic connectivity. These results support the testable prediction that subthreshold electric fields can alter hippocampal rhythms, suggesting new approaches to explore their cognitive functions and underlying circuitry. PMID:23053863

  18. Field Evaluation of Advanced Methods of Subsurface Exploration for Transit Tunneling

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1980-06-01

    This report presents the results of a field evaluation of advanced methods of subsurface exploration on an ongoing urban rapid transit tunneling project. The objective of this study is to evaluate, through a field demonstration project, the feasibili...

  19. Artificial neural network application for space station power system fault diagnosis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Momoh, James A.; Oliver, Walter E.; Dias, Lakshman G.

    1995-01-01

    This study presents a methodology for fault diagnosis using a Two-Stage Artificial Neural Network Clustering Algorithm. Previously, SPICE models of a 5-bus DC power distribution system with assumed constant output power during contingencies from the DDCU were used to evaluate the ANN's fault diagnosis capabilities. This on-going study uses EMTP models of the components (distribution lines, SPDU, TPDU, loads) and power sources (DDCU) of Space Station Alpha's electrical Power Distribution System as a basis for the ANN fault diagnostic tool. The results from the two studies are contrasted. In the event of a major fault, ground controllers need the ability to identify the type of fault, isolate the fault to the orbital replaceable unit level and provide the necessary information for the power management expert system to optimally determine a degraded-mode load schedule. To accomplish these goals, the electrical power distribution system's architecture can be subdivided into three major classes: DC-DC converter to loads, DC Switching Unit (DCSU) to Main bus Switching Unit (MBSU), and Power Sources to DCSU. Each class which has its own electrical characteristics and operations, requires a unique fault analysis philosophy. This study identifies these philosophies as Riddles 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The results of the on-going study addresses Riddle-1. It is concluded in this study that the combination of the EMTP models of the DDCU, distribution cables and electrical loads yields a more accurate model of the behavior and in addition yielded more accurate fault diagnosis using ANN versus the results obtained with the SPICE models.

  20. Pressure, temperature, and electric field dependence of phase transformations in niobium modified 95/5 lead zirconate titanate

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

    Dong, Wen D.; Carlos Valadez, J.; Gallagher, John A.

    2015-06-28

    Ceramic niobium modified 95/5 lead zirconate-lead titanate (PZT) undergoes a pressure induced ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase transformation accompanied by an elimination of polarization and a volume reduction. Electric field and temperature drive the reverse transformation from the antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase. The phase transformation was monitored under pressure, temperature, and electric field loading. Pressures and temperatures were varied in discrete steps from 0 MPa to 500 MPa and 25 °C to 125 °C, respectively. Cyclic bipolar electric fields were applied with peak amplitudes of up to 6 MV m{sup −1} at each pressure and temperature combination. The resulting electric displacement–electric field hysteresis loops weremore » open “D” shaped at low pressure, characteristic of soft ferroelectric PZT. Just below the phase transformation pressure, the hysteresis loops took on an “S” shape, which split into a double hysteresis loop just above the phase transformation pressure. Far above the phase transformation pressure, when the applied electric field is insufficient to drive an antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transformation, the hysteresis loops collapse to linear dielectric behavior. Phase stability maps were generated from the experimental data at each of the temperature steps and used to form a three dimensional pressure–temperature–electric field phase diagram.« less

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