The persistent current and energy spectrum on a driven mesoscopic LC-circuit with Josephson junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pahlavanias, Hassan

2018-03-01

The quantum theory for a mesoscopic electric circuit including a Josephson junction with charge discreteness is studied. By considering coupling energy of the mesoscopic capacitor in Josephson junction device, a Hamiltonian describing the dynamics of a quantum mesoscopic electric LC-circuit with charge discreteness is introduced. We first calculate the persistent current on a quantum driven ring including Josephson junction. Then we obtain the persistent current and energy spectrum of a quantum mesoscopic electrical circuit which includes capacitor, inductor, time-dependent external source and Josephson junction.

Overhead electric power transmission line jumpering system for bundles of five or more subconductors

DOEpatents

Winkelman, Paul F.

1982-01-01

Jumpering of electric power transmission lines at a dead end tower. Two transmission line conductor bundles each contain five or more spaced apart subconductors (5) arranged in the shape of a cylinder having a circular cross section. The ends of each bundle of subconductors are attached with insulators to a dead end tower (1). Jumpering allows the electric current to flow between the two bundles of subconductors using jumper buses, internal jumper conductors, and external jumper conductors. One or more current collecting jumper buses (37) are located inside each bundle of subconductors with each jumper bus being attached to the end of a subconductor. Small-diameter internal jumper conductors (33) are located in the inherently electrically shielded area inside each bundle of subconductors with each subconductor (except ones having an attached jumper bus) having one internal jumper conductor connected between that subconductor's end and a jumper bus. Large-diameter external jumper conductors (9) are located outside each bundle of subconductors with one or more external jumper conductors being connected between the jumper buses in one bundle of subconductors and the jumper buses in the other bundle.

An Overview of the Efficacy of a Next Generation Electroceutical Wound Care Device.

PubMed

Kim, Hosan; Park, Soon; Housler, Greggory; Marcel, Vanessa; Cross, Sue; Izadjoo, Mina

2016-05-01

Novel approaches including nonpharmacological methodologies for prevention and control of microbial pathogens and emerging antibiotic resistance are urgently needed. Procellera is a wound care device consisting of a matrix of alternating silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn) dots held in position on a polyester substrate with a biocompatible binder. This electroceutical medical device is capable of generating a direct current voltage (0.5-0.9 Volts). Wound dressings containing metals such as Ag and/or Zn as active ingredients are being used for control of colonized and infected wounds. Reports on the presence of electric potential field across epithelium and wound current on wounding have shown that wound healing is enhanced in the presence of an external electrical field. However, majority of the electrical devices require an external power source for delivering pulsed or continuous electric power at the wound site. A microelectric potential-generating system without an external power source is an ideal treatment modality for application in both clinical and field settings. The research presented herein describes efficacy evaluation of a wireless bioelectric dressing against both planktonic and biofilm forms of wound pathogens including multidrug resistant organisms. Reprint & Copyright © 2016 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Room-temperature coupling between electrical current and nuclear spins in OLEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malissa, H.; Kavand, M.; Waters, D. P.; van Schooten, K. J.; Burn, P. L.; Vardeny, Z. V.; Saam, B.; Lupton, J. M.; Boehme, C.

2014-09-01

The effects of external magnetic fields on the electrical conductivity of organic semiconductors have been attributed to hyperfine coupling of the spins of the charge carriers and hydrogen nuclei. We studied this coupling directly by implementation of pulsed electrically detected nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The data revealed a fingerprint of the isotope (protium or deuterium) involved in the coherent spin precession observed in spin-echo envelope modulation. Furthermore, resonant control of the electric current by nuclear spin orientation was achieved with radiofrequency pulses in a double-resonance scheme, implying current control on energy scales one-millionth the magnitude of the thermal energy.

Universal Majorana thermoelectric noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smirnov, Sergey

2018-04-01

Thermoelectric phenomena resulting from an interplay between particle flows induced by electric fields and temperature inhomogeneities are extremely insightful as a tool providing substantial knowledge about the microscopic structure of a given system. By tuning, e.g., parameters of a nanoscopic system coupled via tunneling mechanisms to two contacts, one may achieve various situations where the electric current induced by an external bias voltage competes with the electric current excited by the temperature difference of the two contacts. Even more exciting physics emerges when the system's electronic degrees freedom split to form Majorana fermions which make the thermoelectric dynamics universal. Here, we propose revealing these unique universal signatures of Majorana fermions in strongly nonequilibrium quantum dots via noise of the thermoelectric transport beyond linear response. It is demonstrated that whereas mean thermoelectric quantities are only universal at large-bias voltages, the noise of the electric current excited by an external bias voltage and the temperature difference of the contacts is universal at any bias voltage. We provide truly universal, i.e., independent of the system's parameters, thermoelectric ratios between nonlinear response coefficients of the noise and mean current at large-bias voltages where experiments may easily be performed to uniquely detect these truly universal Majorana thermoelectric signatures.

Scale magnetic effect in quantum electrodynamics and the Wigner-Weyl formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernodub, M. N.; Zubkov, M. A.

2017-09-01

The scale magnetic effect (SME) is the generation of electric current due to a conformal anomaly in an external magnetic field in curved spacetime. The effect appears in a vacuum with electrically charged massless particles. Similarly to the Hall effect, the direction of the induced anomalous current is perpendicular to the direction of the external magnetic field B and to the gradient of the conformal factor τ , while the strength of the current is proportional to the beta function of the theory. In massive electrodynamics the SME remains valid, but the value of the induced current differs from the current generated in the system of massless fermions. In the present paper we use the Wigner-Weyl formalism to demonstrate that in accordance with the decoupling property of heavy fermions the corresponding anomalous conductivity vanishes in the large-mass limit with m2≫|e B | and m ≫|∇τ | .

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.

Robot gripper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, Winston S. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

An electronic force-detecting robot gripper for gripping objects and attaching to an external robot arm is disclosed. The gripper comprises motor apparatus, gripper jaws, and electrical circuits for driving the gripper motor and sensing the amount of force applied by the jaws. The force applied by the jaws is proportional to a threshold value of the motor current. When the motor current exceeds the threshold value, the electrical circuits supply a feedback signal to the electrical control circuit which, in turn, stops the gripper motor.

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.

Rectifying the output of vibrational piezoelectric energy harvester using quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Lijie

2017-03-01

Piezoelectric energy harvester scavenges mechanical vibrations and generates electricity. Researchers have strived to optimize the electromechanical structures and to design necessary external power management circuits, aiming to deliver high power and rectified outputs ready for serving as batteries. Complex deformation of the mechanical structure results in charges with opposite polarities appearing on same surface, leading to current loss in the attached metal electrode. External power management circuits such as rectifiers comprise diodes that consume power and have undesirable forward bias. To address the above issues, we devise a novel integrated piezoelectric energy harvesting device that is structured by stacking a layer of quantum dots (QDs) and a layer of piezoelectric material. We find that the QD can rectify electrical charges generated from the piezoelectric material because of its adaptable conductance to the electrochemical potentials of both sides of the QDs layer, so that electrical current causing energy loss on the same surface of the piezoelectric material can be minimized. The QDs layer has the potential to replace external rectification circuits providing a much more compact and less power-consumption solution.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-02-01

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

External control of the Drosophila melanogaster egg to imago development period by specific combinations of 3D low-frequency electric and magnetic fields.

PubMed

Makarov, Vladimir I; Khmelinskii, Igor

2016-01-01

We report that the duration of the egg-to-imago development period of the Drosophila melanogaster, and the imago longevity, are both controllable by combinations of external 3-dimensional (3D) low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (LFEMFs). Both these periods may be reduced or increased by applying an appropriate configuration of external 3D LFEMFs. We report that the longevity of D. melanogaster imagoes correlates with the duration of the egg-to-imago development period of the respective eggs. We infer that metabolic processes in both eggs and imago are either accelerated (resulting in reduced time periods) or slowed down (resulting in increased time periods). We propose that external 3D LFEMFs induce electric currents in live systems as well as mechanical vibrations on sub-cell, whole-cell and cell-group levels. These external fields induce media polarization due to ionic motion and orientation of electric dipoles that could moderate the observed effects. We found that the longevity of D. melanogaster imagoes is affected by action of 3D LFEMFs on the respective eggs in the embryonic development period (EDP). We interpret this effect as resulting from changes in the regulation mechanism of metabolic processes in D. melanogaster eggs, inherited by the resulting imagoes. We also tested separate effects of either 3D electric or 3D magnetic fields, which were significantly weaker.

Influence of external mechanical stress on electrical properties of single-crystal n-3C-SiC/p-Si heterojunction diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qamar, Afzaal; Veit Dao, Dzung; Tanner, Philip; Phan, Hoang-Phuong; Dinh, Toan; Dimitrijev, Sima

2015-06-01

This article reports for the first time the electrical properties of fabricated n-3C-SiC/p-Si heterojunction diodes under external mechanical stress in the [110] direction. An anisotype heterojunction diode of n-3C-SiC/p-Si was fabricated by depositing 3C-SiC onto the Si substrate by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The mechanical stress significantly affected the scaling current density of the heterojunction. The scaling current density increases with stress and is explained in terms of a band offset reduction at the SiC/Si interface under applied stress. A reduction in the barrier height across the junction owing to applied stress is also explained quantitatively.

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.

Soap-film flow induced by electric fields in asymmetric frames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-04-01

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

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

PubMed

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

2018-04-01

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

Modeling of the Electric Characteristics of Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Logan, Benjamin; Tzolov, Marian

The purpose of a solar cell is to covert solar energy, through means of photovoltaic action, into a sustainable electrical current that produces usable electricity. The electrical characteristics of solar cells can be modeled to better understand how they function. As an electrical device, solar cells can be conveniently represented as an equivalent electrical circuit with an ideal diode, ideal current source for the photovoltaic action, a shunt resistor for recombination, a resistor in series to account for contact resistance, and a resistor modeling external power consumption. The values of these elements have been modified to model dark and illumination states. Fitting the model to the experimental current voltage characteristics allows to determine the values of the equivalent circuit elements. Comparing values of open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and shunt resistor can determine factors such as the amount of recombination to diagnose problems in solar cells. The many measurable quantities of a solar cell's characteristics give guidance for the design when they are related with microscopic processes.

Ohmic model for electrodeposition of metallic ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gliozzi, A. S.; Alexe-Ionescu, A. L.; Barbero, G.

2015-10-01

An ohmic model to describe the electrodeposition of metallic ions on the electrodes is proposed. We assume that the ionic distribution is homogeneous across the electrolytic cell, and that the ionic current is due to the bulk electric field. The nucleation in the electrodeposition is supposed to be well described by a kinetic equation at the electrode, taking into account the neutralization of metallic ions on the electrodes. Two cases are considered. In the first case the characteristic time describing the neutralization of the ions is supposed to be negligible with respect to the flight time of the ions across the cell. In this framework the bulk electric field coincides with the external electric field, and our analysis gives analytical formulae for the surface density of deposited ions and for the electric current in the external circuit. The case where the two characteristic times are comparable, and the effective electric field in the bulk depends on the surface deposition, is considered too. In this case the ordinary differential equations describing the ionic distribution and the adsorption phenomenon have to be solved numerically. The agreement between the presented model and the experimental results published by several groups is reasonably good.

Electrical characteristics in reverse electrodialysis using nanoporous membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chanda, Sourayon; Tsai, Peichun Amy

2017-11-01

We experimentally and numerically investigate the effects of concentration difference and flow velocity on sustainable electricity generation and associated fluid dynamics using a single reverse electrodialysis (RED) cell. By exploiting the charge-selective nature of nanoporous interfaces, electrical energy is generated by reverse electrodialysis harnessing chemical Gibbs energy via a salinity gradient. Experimentally, a RED cell was designed with two reservoirs, which are separated by a nanoporous, cation-selective membrane. We injected deionized water through one reservoir, whereas a solution of high salt concentration through the other. The gradient of salt concentration primarily drives the flow in the charged nano-pores, due to the interplay between charge selectivity, diffusion processes, and electro-migration. The current-voltage characteristics of the single RED cell shows a linear current-voltage relationship, similar to an electrochemical cell. The membrane resistance is increased with increasing salt concentration difference and external flow rate. The present experimental work was further analyzed numerically to better understand the detailed electrical and flow fields under different concentration gradients and external flows. NSERC Discovery, Accelerator, and CRC Programs.

Electrical characterization of gold-DNA-gold structures in presence of an external magnetic field by means of I-V curve analysis.

PubMed

Khatir, Nadia Mahmoudi; Banihashemian, Seyedeh Maryam; Periasamy, Vengadesh; Ritikos, Richard; Abd Majid, Wan Haliza; Abdul Rahman, Saadah

2012-01-01

This work presents an experimental study of gold-DNA-gold structures in the presence and absence of external magnetic fields with strengths less than 1,200.00 mT. The DNA strands, extracted by standard method were used to fabricate a Metal-DNA-Metal (MDM) structure. Its electric behavior when subjected to a magnetic field was studied through its current-voltage (I-V) curve. Acquisition of the I-V curve demonstrated that DNA as a semiconductor exhibits diode behavior in the MDM structure. The current versus magnetic field strength followed a decreasing trend because of a diminished mobility in the presence of a low magnetic field. This made clear that an externally imposed magnetic field would boost resistance of the MDM structure up to 1,000.00 mT and for higher magnetic field strengths we can observe an increase in potential barrier in MDM junction. The magnetic sensitivity indicates the promise of using MDM structures as potential magnetic sensors.

Electrical Characterization of Gold-DNA-Gold Structures in Presence of an External Magnetic Field by Means of I–V Curve Analysis

PubMed Central

Khatir, Nadia Mahmoudi; Banihashemian, Seyedeh Maryam; Periasamy, Vengadesh; Ritikos, Richard; Majid, Wan Haliza Abd; Rahman, Saadah Abdul

2012-01-01

This work presents an experimental study of gold-DNA-gold structures in the presence and absence of external magnetic fields with strengths less than 1,200.00 mT. The DNA strands, extracted by standard method were used to fabricate a Metal-DNA-Metal (MDM) structure. Its electric behavior when subjected to a magnetic field was studied through its current-voltage (I–V) curve. Acquisition of the I–V curve demonstrated that DNA as a semiconductor exhibits diode behavior in the MDM structure. The current versus magnetic field strength followed a decreasing trend because of a diminished mobility in the presence of a low magnetic field. This made clear that an externally imposed magnetic field would boost resistance of the MDM structure up to 1,000.00 mT and for higher magnetic field strengths we can observe an increase in potential barrier in MDM junction. The magnetic sensitivity indicates the promise of using MDM structures as potential magnetic sensors. PMID:22737025

Controlled modulation of hard and soft X-ray induced tunneling currents utilizing coaxial metal-insulator-metal probe tips

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

Cummings, Marvin; Shirato, Nozomi; Kersell, Heath

Here, the effect of a local external electric field on the barrier potential of a tunneling gap is studied utilizing an emerging technique, synchrotron x-ray scanning tunneling microscopy. Here, we demonstrate that the shape of the potential barrier in the tunneling gap can be altered by a localized external electric field, generated by voltages placed on the metallic outer shield of a nanofabricated coaxial metal-insulator-metal tip, resulting in a controlled linear modulation of the tunneling current. Experiments at hard and soft x-ray synchrotron beamlines reveal that both the chemical contrast and magnetic contrast signals measured by the tip can bemore » drastically enhanced, resulting in improved local detection of chemistry and magnetization at the surface.« less

Controlled modulation of hard and soft X-ray induced tunneling currents utilizing coaxial metal-insulator-metal probe tips

DOE PAGES

Cummings, Marvin; Shirato, Nozomi; Kersell, Heath; ...

2017-01-05

Here, the effect of a local external electric field on the barrier potential of a tunneling gap is studied utilizing an emerging technique, synchrotron x-ray scanning tunneling microscopy. Here, we demonstrate that the shape of the potential barrier in the tunneling gap can be altered by a localized external electric field, generated by voltages placed on the metallic outer shield of a nanofabricated coaxial metal-insulator-metal tip, resulting in a controlled linear modulation of the tunneling current. Experiments at hard and soft x-ray synchrotron beamlines reveal that both the chemical contrast and magnetic contrast signals measured by the tip can bemore » drastically enhanced, resulting in improved local detection of chemistry and magnetization at the surface.« less

Onboard power line conditioning system for an electric or hybrid vehicle

DOEpatents

Kajouke, Lateef A.; Perisic, Milun

2016-06-14

A power line quality conditioning system for a vehicle includes an onboard rechargeable direct current (DC) energy storage system and an onboard electrical system coupled to the energy storage system. The energy storage system provides DC energy to drive an electric traction motor of the vehicle. The electrical system operates in a charging mode such that alternating current (AC) energy from a power grid external to the vehicle is converted to DC energy to charge the DC energy storage system. The electrical system also operates in a vehicle-to-grid power conditioning mode such that DC energy from the DC energy storage system is converted to AC energy to condition an AC voltage of the power grid.

Electrical controllable spin pump based on a zigzag silicene nanoribbon junction.

PubMed

Zhang, Lin; Tong, Peiqing

2017-12-13

We propose a possible electrical controllable spin pump based on a zigzag silicene nanoribbon ferromagnetic junction by applying two time-dependent perpendicular electric fields. By using the Keldysh Green's function method, we derive the analytic expression of the spin-resolved current at the adiabatic approximation and demonstrate that two asymmetric spin up and spin down currents can be pumped out in the device without an external bias. The pumped currents mainly come from the interplay between the photon-assisted spin pump effect and the electrically-modulated energy band structure of the tunneling junction. The spin valve phenomena are not only related to the energy gap opened by two perpendicular staggered potentials, but also dependent on the system parameters such as the pumping frequency, the pumping phase difference, the spin-orbit coupling and the Fermi level, which can be tuned by the electrical methods. The proposed device can also be used to produce a pure spin current and a 100% polarized spin current through the photon-assisted pumping process. Our investigations may provide an electrical manipulation of spin-polarized electrons in graphene-like pumping devices.

External electric field effects on Schottky barrier at Gd3N@C80/Au interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onishi, Koichi; Nakashima, Fumihiro; Jin, Ge; Eto, Daichi; Hattori, Hayami; Miyoshi, Noriko; Kirimoto, Kenta; Sun, Yong

2017-08-01

The effects of the external electric field on the height of the Schottky barrier at the Gd3N@C80/Au interface were studied by measuring current-voltage characteristics at various temperatures from 200 K to 450 K. The Gd3N@C80 sample with the conduction/forbidden/valence energy band structure had a face-centered cubic crystal structure with the average grain size of several nanometers. The height of the Gd3N@C80/Au Schottky barrier was confirmed to be 400 meV at a low electric field at room temperature. Moreover, the height decreases with the increasing external electric field through a change of permittivity in the Gd3N@C80 sample due to a polarization of the [Gd3] 9 +-[N3 -+("separators="|C80 ) 6 -] dipoles in the Gd3N@C80 molecule. The field-dependence of the barrier height can be described using a power math function of the electric field strength. The results of the field-dependent barrier height indicate that the reduction in the Schottky barrier is due to an image force effect of the transport charge carrier at the Gd3N@C80/Au interface.

External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries. Part II: an analysis of years of potential life lost.

PubMed

Bailer, A John; Bena, James F; Stayner, Leslie T; Halperin, William E; Park, Robert M

2003-03-01

Fatal injury surveillance data provide an opportunity to assess the impact of occupational injuries and may indicate which industries or occupations are appreciably more hazardous than others, and thus should be given priority in public health intervention. Fatalities from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality surveillance system served as the basis for examining external cause (E-code) specific impact summaries. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated for fatal injuries in the years 1983-1994. Industries and occupations were compared with respect to frequency of fatal injuries. In addition, injuries in categories of external causes are examined across all industries and occupations. Machinery, electric current, homicide, falls, and transportation-related are the external cause groups highlighted by high frequency/rate of occurrence. Electric current event groups are also characterized by high average YPLL. Poisoning, conflagration, and lightning were also identified in several occupations as having high associated average YPLL. The external-cause-specific analysis of average YPLL identified industries and occupations where, on average, younger workers were dying in fatal injuries. Noteworthy in this assessment were homicides and falls. The YPLL measure coupled with more commonly employed indices (e.g., rates) may provide a fuller description of the impact of occupational fatal injuries.

Anti-Le-Chatelet behavior driven by strong natural light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonyuk, B. P.

2007-01-01

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

Anomalous transport from holography. Part I

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Yanyan; Lublinsky, Michael; Sharon, Amir

2016-11-01

We revisit the transport properties induced by the chiral anomaly in a charged plasma holographically dual to anomalous U(1) V ×U(1) A Maxwell theory in Schwarzschild-AdS5. Off-shell constitutive relations for vector and axial currents are derived using various approximations generalising most of known in the literature anomaly-induced phenomena and revealing some new ones. In a weak external field approximation, the constitutive relations have all-order derivatives resummed into six momenta-dependent transport co-efficient functions: the diffusion, the electric/magnetic conductivity, and three anomaly induced functions. The latter generalise the chiral magnetic and chiral separation effects. Nonlinear transport is studied assuming presence of constant background external fields. The chiral magnetic effect, including all order nonlinearity in magnetic field, is proven to be exact when the magnetic field is the only external field that is turned on. Non-linear corrections to the constitutive relations due to electric and axial external fields are computed.

Hidden momentum and the Abraham-Minkowski debate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saldanha, Pablo L.; Filho, J. S. Oliveira

2017-04-01

We use an extended version of electrodynamics, which admits the existence of magnetic charges and currents, to discuss how different models for electric and magnetic dipoles do or do not carry hidden momentum under the influence of external electromagnetic fields. Based on that, we discuss how the models adopted for the electric and magnetic dipoles from the particles that compose a material medium influence the expression for the electromagnetic part of the light momentum in the medium. We show that Abraham expression is compatible with electric dipoles formed by electric charges and magnetic dipoles formed by magnetic charges, while Minkowski expression is compatible with electric dipoles formed by magnetic currents and magnetic dipoles formed by electric currents. The expression ɛ0E ×B , on the other hand, is shown to be compatible with electric dipoles formed by electric charges and magnetic dipoles formed by electric currents, which are much more natural models. So this expression has an interesting interpretation in the Abraham-Minkowski debate about the momentum of light in a medium: It is the expression compatible with the nonexistence of magnetic charges. We also provide a simple justification of why Abraham and Minkowski momenta can be associated with the kinetic and canonical momentum of light, respectively.

Current polarity-dependent manipulation of antiferromagnetic domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-05-01

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

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

PubMed Central

Hronik-Tupaj, Marie

2012-01-01

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

Exactly solvable relativistic model with the anomalous interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferraro, Elena; Messina, Antonino; Nikitin, A. G.

2010-04-01

A special class of Dirac-Pauli equations with time-like vector potentials of an external field is investigated. An exactly solvable relativistic model describing the anomalous interaction of a neutral Dirac fermion with a cylindrically symmetric external electromagnetic field is presented. The related external field is a superposition of the electric field generated by a charged infinite filament and the magnetic field generated by a straight line current. In the nonrelativistic approximation the considered model is reduced to the integrable Pron’ko-Stroganov model.

The use of electromagnetic body forces to enhance the quality of laser welds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrosy, Guenter; Berger, P.; Huegel, H.; Lindenau, D.

2003-11-01

The use of electromagnetic body forces in laser beam welding of aluminum alloys is a new method to shape the geometry and to enhance the quality of the weld seams. In this new approach, electromagnetic volume forces are utilized by applying magnetic fields and electric currents of various origins. Acting in the liquid metal, they directly affect the flow field and can lead to favourable conditions for the melt dynamics and energy coupling. Numerous welds with full and partial penetration using both CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers demonstrate that this method directly influences the seam geometry and top-bead topography as well as the penetration depth and the evolution of pores and cracks. In the case of full penetration, it is also possible to lift or to lower the weld pool. The method, therefore, can be used to shape the geometry and to enhance the quality of the weld seam. Depending on the orientation of an external magnetic field, significant impacts are achieved in CO2 welding, even without an external current: the shape of the cross-sectional area can be increased of up to 50% and also the seam width is changed. Whereas for such conditions with Nd:YAG lasers no significant effect could be observed, it turned out that, when an external electric current is applied, similar effects are present with both wavelengths. In further investigations, the effect of electromagnetic body forces resulting from the interaction of an external current and its self-induced magnetic field was studied. Hereby, the current was fed into the workpiece via a tungsten electrode or a filler wire. The resulting phenomena are the same independent from wavelength and means of current feed.

Harvesting dissipated energy with a mesoscopic ratchet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roche, B.; Roulleau, P.; Jullien, T.; Jompol, Y.; Farrer, I.; Ritchie, D. A.; Glattli, D. C.

2015-04-01

The search for new efficient thermoelectric devices converting waste heat into electrical energy is of major importance. The physics of mesoscopic electronic transport offers the possibility to develop a new generation of nanoengines with high efficiency. Here we describe an all-electrical heat engine harvesting and converting dissipated power into an electrical current. Two capacitively coupled mesoscopic conductors realized in a two-dimensional conductor form the hot source and the cold converter of our device. In the former, controlled Joule heating generated by a voltage-biased quantum point contact results in thermal voltage fluctuations. By capacitive coupling the latter creates electric potential fluctuations in a cold chaotic cavity connected to external leads by two quantum point contacts. For unequal quantum point contact transmissions, a net electrical current is observed proportional to the heat produced.

Inner ear damage following electric current and lightning injury: a literature review.

PubMed

Modayil, P C; Lloyd, G W; Mallik, A; Bowdler, D A

2014-05-01

Audiovestibular sequelae of electrical injury, due to lightning or electric current, are probably much more common than indicated in literature. The aim of the study was to review the impact of electrical injury on the cochleovestibular system. Studies were identified through Medline, Embase, CINAHL and eMedicine databases. Medical Subject Headings used were 'electrical injury', 'lightning', 'deafness' and 'vertigo'. All prospective and retrospective studies, case series and case reports of patients with cochlear or vestibular damage due to lightning or electrical current injury were included. Studies limited to external and middle ear injuries were excluded. Thirty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen reported audiovestibular damage following electric current injury (domestic or industrial); a further 15 reported lightning injuries and five concerned pathophysiology and management. There were no histological studies of electrical current injury to the human audiovestibular system. The commonest acoustic insult after lightning injury is conductive hearing loss secondary to tympanic membrane rupture and the most frequent vestibular symptom is transient vertigo. Electrical current injuries predominantly cause pure sensorineural hearing loss and may significantly increase a patient's lifetime risk of vertigo. Theories for cochleovestibular damage in electrical injury include disruption of inner ear anatomy, electrical conductance, hypoxia, vascular effects and stress response hypothesis. The pathophysiology of cochleovestibular damage following electrical injury is unresolved. The mechanism of injury following lightning strike is likely to be quite different from that following domestic or industrial electrical injury. The formulation of an audiovestibular management protocol for patients who have suffered electrical injuries and systematic reporting of all such events is recommended.

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.

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

PubMed

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

2015-09-01

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

Comparative investigation of vibration and current monitoring for prediction of mechanical and electrical faults in induction motor based on multiclass-support vector machine algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gangsar, Purushottam; Tiwari, Rajiv

2017-09-01

This paper presents an investigation of vibration and current monitoring for effective fault prediction in induction motor (IM) by using multiclass support vector machine (MSVM) algorithms. Failures of IM may occur due to propagation of a mechanical or electrical fault. Hence, for timely detection of these faults, the vibration as well as current signals was acquired after multiple experiments of varying speeds and external torques from an experimental test rig. Here, total ten different fault conditions that frequently encountered in IM (four mechanical fault, five electrical fault conditions and one no defect condition) have been considered. In the case of stator winding fault, and phase unbalance and single phasing fault, different level of severity were also considered for the prediction. In this study, the identification has been performed of the mechanical and electrical faults, individually and collectively. Fault predictions have been performed using vibration signal alone, current signal alone and vibration-current signal concurrently. The one-versus-one MSVM has been trained at various operating conditions of IM using the radial basis function (RBF) kernel and tested for same conditions, which gives the result in the form of percentage fault prediction. The prediction performance is investigated for the wide range of RBF kernel parameter, i.e. gamma, and selected the best result for one optimal value of gamma for each case. Fault predictions has been performed and investigated for the wide range of operational speeds of the IM as well as external torques on the IM.

Growing Neural PC-12 Cell on Crosslinked Silica Aerogels Increases Neurite Extension in the Presence of an Electric Field.

PubMed

Lynch, Kyle J; Skalli, Omar; Sabri, Firouzeh

2018-04-20

Externally applied electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to enhance the nerve regeneration process and to influence the directionality of neurite outgrowth. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of the substrate used for nerve-cell regeneration is critical in fostering regeneration. Previously, we have shown that polyurea-crosslinked silica aerogels (PCSA) exert a positive influence on the extension of neurites by PC-12 cells, a cell-line model widely used to study neurite extension and electrical excitability. In this work, we have examined how an externally applied electric field (EF) influences the extension of neurites in PC-12 cells grown on two substrates: collagen-coated dishes versus collagen-coated crosslinked silica aerogels. The externally applied direct current (DC) bias was applied in vitro using a custom-designed chamber containing polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) embedded copper electrodes to create an electric field across the substrate for the cultured PC-12 cells. Results suggest orientation preference towards the anode, and, on average, longer neurites in the presence of the applied DC bias than with 0 V DC bias. In addition, neurite length was increased in cells grown on silica-crosslinked aerogel when compared to cells grown on regular petri-dishes. These results further support the notion that PCSA is a promising material for nerve regeneration.

On the etiology of the electric activity of the external anal and urethral sphincters.

PubMed

Shafik, Ali A; Shafik, Ismail A; El Sibai, Olfat

2014-10-01

In a previous study, the external anal sphincter (EAS) in dogs, known to consist of skeletal muscle fibers, was proved to contain bundles of smooth muscle fibers in between as well. Cause of electric activity in the external anal and urethral sphincters is not known; the current study investigated this point. Slices from external anal and urethral sphincters of 21 cadavers (12 male, 9 female). Eighth were fully and mat wide neonates, 13 were adults, were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome and succinic dehydrogenase, and examined microscopically. Eighteen healthy volunteers, electromyography activity of their external anal and urethral sphincters was recorded at rest, on coughing, after pudendal nerve block and after drotaverine administration, (a smooth muscle relaxant). Anal and urethral pressures were also measured. Microscopic studies have shown that both external anal and urethral sphincters were formed of bundles of smooth muscle fibers present in between the skeletal muscle fibers. Bilateral pudendal nerve block did not abolish the external anal or the urethral sphincters electromyography activity at rest, or on coughing, and did not cause significant anal or urethral pressure changes (p > .05). Drotaverine administration lead to disappearance of the electromyography activity and significant decline of the anal and urethral pressures (p < .05). The results were reproducible when the tests were repeated in the same subject. Histologic examination revealed the presence of smooth muscle fibers, between the skeletal fibers of the external anal and urethral sphincters. Evidence suggests that the smooth muscle fibers are the source of the electric activity of the sphincters and might explain some physiologic phenomena such as the external anal contraction on rectal distension or on coughing.

Kirchhoff and Ohm in action: solving electric currents in continuous extended media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolinko, A. E.

2018-03-01

In this paper we show a simple and versatile computational simulation method for determining electric currents and electric potential in 2D and 3D media with arbitrary distribution of resistivity. One of the highlights of the proposed method is that the simulation space containing the distribution of resistivity and the points of external applied voltage are introduced by means of digital images or bitmaps, which easily allows simulating any phenomena involving distributions of resistivity. The simulation is based on the Kirchhoff’s laws of electric currents and it is solved by means of an iterative procedure. The method is also generalised to account for media with distributions of reactive impedance. At the end of this work, we show an example of application of the simulation, consisting in reproducing the response obtained with the geophysical method of electric resistivity tomography in presence of soil cracks. This paper is aimed at undergraduate or graduated students interested in computational physics and electricity and also researchers involved in the area of continuous electric media, which could find a simple and powerful tool for investigation.

Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current

DOEpatents

Lovley, Derek R; Nevin, Kelly

2015-11-03

The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to free molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, propanol, ethanol, and formate.

Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current

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

Lovley, Derek R.; Nevin, Kelly P.

The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to freemore » molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, propanol, ethanol, and formate.« less

Optimize out-of-core thermionic energy conversion for nuclear electric propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, J. F.

1977-01-01

Current designs for out of core thermionic energy conversion (TEC) to power nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) were evaluated. Approaches to improve out of core TEC are emphasized and probabilities for success are indicated. TEC gains are available with higher emitter temperatures and greater power densities. Good potentialities for accommodating external high temperature, high power density TEC with heat pipe cooled reactors exist.

Fuel magnetization without external field coils (AutoMag)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slutz, Stephen; Jennings, Christopher; Awe, Thomas; Shipley, Gabe; Lamppa, Derek; McBride, Ryan

2016-10-01

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) has produced fusion-relevant plasma conditions on the Z accelerator where the fuel was magnetized using external field coils. We present a novel concept that does not need external field coils. This concept (AutoMag) magnetizes the fuel during the early part of the drive current by using a composite liner with helical conduction paths separated by insulating material. The drive is designed so the current rises slowly enough to avoid electrical breakdown of the insulators until a sufficiently strong magnetic field is established. Then the current rises more quickly, which causes the insulators to break down allowing the drive current to follow an axial path and implode the liner. Low inductance magnetically insulated power feeds can be used with AutoMag to increase the drive current without interfering with diagnostic access. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Effects of Replacement of External Sodium Chloride with Sucrose on Membrane Currents of the Squid Giant Axon

PubMed Central

Adelman, William J.; Taylor, Robert E.

1964-01-01

It was observed that a reduction of the sodium chloride concentration in the external solution bathing a squid giant axon by replacement with sucrose resulted in marked decreases in the peak inward and steady-state outward currents through the axon membrane following a step decrease in membrane potential. These effects are quantitatively acounted for by the increase in series resistance resulting from the decreased conductivity of the sea water and the assumption that the sodium current obeys a relation of the form I = k1C1 - k2C2 where C1, C2 are internal and external ion activities and k1, k2 are independent of concentration. It is concluded that the potassium ion current is independent of the sodium concentration. That the inward current is carried by sodium ions has been confirmed. The electrical potential (or barrier height) profile in the membrane which drives sodium ions appears to be independent of sodium ion concentration or current. A specific effect of the sucrose on hyperpolarizing currents was observed and noted but not investigated in detail. PMID:14232131

Valuation of plug-in vehicle life-cycle air emissions and oil displacement benefits

PubMed Central

Michalek, Jeremy J.; Chester, Mikhail; Jaramillo, Paulina; Samaras, Constantine; Shiau, Ching-Shin Norman; Lave, Lester B.

2011-01-01

We assess the economic value of life-cycle air emissions and oil consumption from conventional vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles in the US. We find that plug-in vehicles may reduce or increase externality costs relative to grid-independent HEVs, depending largely on greenhouse gas and SO2 emissions produced during vehicle charging and battery manufacturing. However, even if future marginal damages from emissions of battery and electricity production drop dramatically, the damage reduction potential of plug-in vehicles remains small compared to ownership cost. As such, to offer a socially efficient approach to emissions and oil consumption reduction, lifetime cost of plug-in vehicles must be competitive with HEVs. Current subsidies intended to encourage sales of plug-in vehicles with large capacity battery packs exceed our externality estimates considerably, and taxes that optimally correct for externality damages would not close the gap in ownership cost. In contrast, HEVs and PHEVs with small battery packs reduce externality damages at low (or no) additional cost over their lifetime. Although large battery packs allow vehicles to travel longer distances using electricity instead of gasoline, large packs are more expensive, heavier, and more emissions intensive to produce, with lower utilization factors, greater charging infrastructure requirements, and life-cycle implications that are more sensitive to uncertain, time-sensitive, and location-specific factors. To reduce air emission and oil dependency impacts from passenger vehicles, strategies to promote adoption of HEVs and PHEVs with small battery packs offer more social benefits per dollar spent. PMID:21949359

Valuation of plug-in vehicle life-cycle air emissions and oil displacement benefits.

PubMed

Michalek, Jeremy J; Chester, Mikhail; Jaramillo, Paulina; Samaras, Constantine; Shiau, Ching-Shin Norman; Lave, Lester B

2011-10-04

We assess the economic value of life-cycle air emissions and oil consumption from conventional vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles in the US. We find that plug-in vehicles may reduce or increase externality costs relative to grid-independent HEVs, depending largely on greenhouse gas and SO(2) emissions produced during vehicle charging and battery manufacturing. However, even if future marginal damages from emissions of battery and electricity production drop dramatically, the damage reduction potential of plug-in vehicles remains small compared to ownership cost. As such, to offer a socially efficient approach to emissions and oil consumption reduction, lifetime cost of plug-in vehicles must be competitive with HEVs. Current subsidies intended to encourage sales of plug-in vehicles with large capacity battery packs exceed our externality estimates considerably, and taxes that optimally correct for externality damages would not close the gap in ownership cost. In contrast, HEVs and PHEVs with small battery packs reduce externality damages at low (or no) additional cost over their lifetime. Although large battery packs allow vehicles to travel longer distances using electricity instead of gasoline, large packs are more expensive, heavier, and more emissions intensive to produce, with lower utilization factors, greater charging infrastructure requirements, and life-cycle implications that are more sensitive to uncertain, time-sensitive, and location-specific factors. To reduce air emission and oil dependency impacts from passenger vehicles, strategies to promote adoption of HEVs and PHEVs with small battery packs offer more social benefits per dollar spent.

Atmosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamic Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

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

30 CFR 7.407 - Test for flame resistance of electric cables and cable splices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... midpoint of the splice. The specimen shall be free from external air currents during testing. (5) Adjust... persistence of yellow coloration. (6) Connect all power conductors of the test specimen to the current source. The connections shall be secure and compatible with the size of the cable's power conductors in order...

30 CFR 7.407 - Test for flame resistance of electric cables and cable splices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... midpoint of the splice. The specimen shall be free from external air currents during testing. (5) Adjust... persistence of yellow coloration. (6) Connect all power conductors of the test specimen to the current source. The connections shall be secure and compatible with the size of the cable's power conductors in order...

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-05-01

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

Mechanism of potassium ion uptake by the Na+/K+-ATPase

PubMed Central

Castillo, Juan P.; Rui, Huan; Basilio, Daniel; Das, Avisek; Roux, Benoît; Latorre, Ramon; Bezanilla, Francisco; Holmgren, Miguel

2015-01-01

The Na+/K+-ATPase restores sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) electrochemical gradients dissipated by action potentials and ion-coupled transport processes. As ions are transported, they become transiently trapped between intracellular and extracellular gates. Once the external gate opens, three Na+ ions are released, followed by the binding and occlusion of two K+ ions. While the mechanisms of Na+ release have been well characterized by the study of transient Na+ currents, smaller and faster transient currents mediated by external K+ have been more difficult to study. Here we show that external K+ ions travelling to their binding sites sense only a small fraction of the electric field as they rapidly and simultaneously become occluded. Consistent with these results, molecular dynamics simulations of a pump model show a wide water-filled access channel connecting the binding site to the external solution. These results suggest a mechanism of K+ gating different from that of Na+ occlusion. PMID:26205423

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.

Integrating Nano-patterned Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Thin Films for Electrically Tunable RF Applications

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

Wang, Tengxing; Peng, Yujia; Jiang, Wei

Tunable radio frequency (RF) components are pivotal elements in frequency-agile and multifunctional systems. However, there is a technical barrier to achieve miniaturized fully electrically tunable RF components. This paper provides and demonstrates the efficacy of a first unique design methodology in developing fully electrically tunable RF components by integrating ferromagnetic (e.g., Permalloy) and ferroelectric (e.g., Lead Zirconate Titanate: PZT) thin films patterns. Permalloy thin film has been patterned in nanometer scale to improve its ferromagnetic resonance frequency (FMR) for RF applications. Tunable inductors are developed with the utilization of different thickness of Permalloy thin film, which show over 50% incrementmore » in inductance and over 4% in tunability with DC current. More tunability can be achieved with multiple layers of Permalloy thin film and optimized thickness. A fully electrically tunable slow wave RF transmission line with simultaneously variable inductance and capacitance density has been implemented and thoroughly investigated for the first time. Measured results show that a fixed phase shift of 90° can be achieved from 1.5 GHz to 1.85 GHz continuously by applying external DC current from 0 to 200 mA and external DC voltage from 0 to 15 Volts, respectively.« less

Integrating Nano-patterned Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Thin Films for Electrically Tunable RF Applications

DOE PAGES

Wang, Tengxing; Peng, Yujia; Jiang, Wei; ...

2016-10-31

Tunable radio frequency (RF) components are pivotal elements in frequency-agile and multifunctional systems. However, there is a technical barrier to achieve miniaturized fully electrically tunable RF components. This paper provides and demonstrates the efficacy of a first unique design methodology in developing fully electrically tunable RF components by integrating ferromagnetic (e.g., Permalloy) and ferroelectric (e.g., Lead Zirconate Titanate: PZT) thin films patterns. Permalloy thin film has been patterned in nanometer scale to improve its ferromagnetic resonance frequency (FMR) for RF applications. Tunable inductors are developed with the utilization of different thickness of Permalloy thin film, which show over 50% incrementmore » in inductance and over 4% in tunability with DC current. More tunability can be achieved with multiple layers of Permalloy thin film and optimized thickness. A fully electrically tunable slow wave RF transmission line with simultaneously variable inductance and capacitance density has been implemented and thoroughly investigated for the first time. Measured results show that a fixed phase shift of 90° can be achieved from 1.5 GHz to 1.85 GHz continuously by applying external DC current from 0 to 200 mA and external DC voltage from 0 to 15 Volts, respectively.« less

Electrical description of N2 capacitively coupled plasmas with the global model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Ming-Lu; Lu, Yi-Jia; Cheng, Jia; Ji, Lin-Hong; Engineering Design Team

2016-10-01

N2 discharges in a commercial capacitively coupled plasma reactor are modelled by a combination of an equivalent circuit and the global model, for a range of gas pressure at 1 4 Torr. The ohmic and inductive plasma bulk and the capacitive sheath are represented as LCR elements, with electrical characteristics determined by plasma parameters. The electron density and electron temperature are obtained from the global model in which a Maxwellian electron distribution is assumed. Voltages and currents are recorded by a VI probe installed after the match network. Using the measured voltage as an input, the current flowing through the discharge volume is calculated from the electrical model and shows excellent agreement with the measurements. The experimentally verified electrical model provides a simple and accurate description for the relationship between the external electrical parameters and the plasma properties, which can serve as a guideline for process window planning in industrial applications.

Electric field assisted sintering to improve the performance of nanostructured dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shojaeifar, Mohsen; Mohajerani, Ezeddin; Fathollahi, Mohammadreza

2018-01-01

Herein, we report the application of electric field assisted sintering (EFAS) procedure in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The EFAS process improved DSSC performance by enhancing optical and electrical characteristics simultaneously. The EFAS procedure is shown to be capable of reducing the TiO2 nanoparticle aggregation leading to the higher surface area for dye molecules adsorbates. Lower nanoparticle aggregation can be evidently observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging. By applying an external electric field, the current density and conversion efficiency improved significantly about 30% and 45%, respectively. UV-Visible spectra of the desorbed dye molecules on the porous nanoparticles bedding confirm a higher amount of dye loading in the presence of an external electric field. Correspondingly, comprehensive J-V characteristics modeling reveals the enhancement of the diffusion coefficient by EFAS process. The proposed method can be applied to improve the efficiency of the mesostructured hybrid perovskite solar cells, photodetectors, and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, as well as reduction of the surface area loss in all porous media.

All-electrical production of spin-polarized currents in carbon nanotubes: Rashba spin-orbit interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Hernán; Latgé, A.; Alvarellos, J. E.; Chico, Leonor

2016-04-01

We study the effect of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction in the quantum transport of carbon nanotubes with arbitrary chiralities. For certain spin directions, we find a strong spin-polarized electrical current that depends on the diameter of the tube, the length of the Rashba region, and on the tube chirality. Predictions for the spin-dependent conductances are presented for different families of achiral and chiral tubes. We have found that different symmetries acting on spatial and spin variables have to be considered in order to explain the relations between spin-resolved conductances in carbon nanotubes. These symmetries are more general than those employed in planar graphene systems. Our results indicate the possibility of having stable spin-polarized electrical currents in absence of external magnetic fields or magnetic impurities in carbon nanotubes.

Pulsed plasmoid electric propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

1990-01-01

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

Characterization of structural and electrical properties of ZnO tetrapods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yu-Dong; Mai, Wen-Jie; Jiang, Peng

2011-12-01

ZnO tetrapods were synthesized by a typical thermal vapor-solid deposition method in a horizontal tube furnace. Structural characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and select-area electron diffraction (SAED), which shows the presence of zinc blende nucleus in the center of tetrapods while the four branches taking hexagonal wurtzite structure. The electrical transport property of ZnO tetrapods was investigated through an in-situ nanoprobe system. The three branches of a tetrapod serve as source, drain, and "gate", respectively; while the fourth branch pointing upward works as the force trigger by vertically applying external force downward. The conductivity of each branch of ZnO-tetrapods increases 3-4 times under pressure. In such situation, the electrical current through the branches of ZnO tetrapods can be tuned by external force, and therefore a simple force sensor based on ZnO tetrapods has been demonstrated for the first time.

[The induction current, an ideal resource for the smelting of dental alloys].

PubMed

Ionescu, G; Chiper, C; Teofănescu, L; Brezulianu, C

1996-01-01

The authors present an electrical furnace for melting dental alloys, made by the German company BEGO. This furnace uses electrical current of high frequency. The advantages of this melting method are the possibility of controlling the adequate melting temperature for a specific type of alloy, the fusion in a protective environment of rare gas and casting by associating the centrifugation with the vacuum. This leads to exact castings without any defects. The authors describe as a personal contribution an external cooling system capable of maintaining the furnace's parameters even when the water pressure is low.

Tunable electrical conductivity of individual graphene oxide sheets reduced at "low" temperatures.

PubMed

Jung, Inhwa; Dikin, Dmitriy A; Piner, Richard D; Ruoff, Rodney S

2008-12-01

Step-by-step controllable thermal reduction of individual graphene oxide sheets, incorporated into multiterminal field effect devices, was carried out at low temperatures (125-240 degrees C) with simultaneous electrical measurements. Symmetric hysteresis-free ambipolar (electron- and hole-type) gate dependences were observed as soon as the first measurable resistance was reached. The conductivity of each of the fabricated devices depended on the level of reduction (was increased more than 10(6) times as reduction progressed), strength of the external electrical field, density of the transport current, and temperature.

Effects of space weather on GOCE electrostatic gravity gradiometer measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ince, E. Sinem; Pagiatakis, Spiros D.

2016-12-01

We examine the presence of residual nongravitational signatures in gravitational gradients measured by GOCE electrostatic gravity gradiometer. These signatures are observed over the magnetic poles during geomagnetically active days and can contaminate the trace of the gravitational gradient tensor by up to three to five times the expected noise level of the instrument (˜ 11 mE). We investigate these anomalies in the gradiometer measurements along many satellite tracks and examine possible causes using external datasets, such as interplanetary electric field measurements from the ACE (advanced composition explorer) and WIND spacecraft, and Poynting vector (flux) estimated from equivalent ionospheric currents derived from spherical elementary current systems over North America and Greenland. We show that the variations in the east-west and vertical electrical currents and Poynting vector components at the satellite position are highly correlated with the disturbances observed in the gradiometer measurements. The results presented in this paper reveal that the disturbances are due to intense ionospheric current variations that are enhanced by increased solar activity that causes a very dynamic drag environment. Moreover, successful modelling and removal of a high percentage of these disturbances are possible using external geomagnetic field observations.

Theory of electrically controlled resonant tunneling spin devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ting, David Z. -Y.; Cartoixa, Xavier

2004-01-01

We report device concepts that exploit spin-orbit coupling for creating spin polarized current sources using nonmagnetic semiconductor resonant tunneling heterostructures, without external magnetic fields. The resonant interband tunneling psin filter exploits large valence band spin-orbit interaction to provide strong spin selectivity.

Features of current-voltage characteristic of nonequilibrium trench MOS barrier Schottky diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamedov, R. K.; Aslanova, A. R.

2018-06-01

The trench MOS barrier Schottky diodes (TMBS diode) under the influence of the voltage drop of the additional electric field (AEF) appearing in the near-contact region of the semiconductor are in a nonequilibrium state and their closed external circuit flows currents in the absence of an external voltage. When an external voltage is applied to the TMBS diode, the current transmission is described by the thermionic emission theory with a specific feature. Both forward and reverse I-V characteristics of the TMBS diode consist of two parts. In the initial first part of the forward I-V characteristic there are no forward currents, but reverse saturation currents flow, in its subsequent second part the currents increase exponentially with the voltage. In the initial first part of the reverse I-V characteristic, the currents increase in an abrupt way and in the subsequent second part the saturation currents flow under the action of the image force. The mathematical expressions for forward and reverse I-V characteristic of the TMBS diode and also narrow or nanostructure Schottky diode are proposed, which are in good agreement with the results of experimental and calculated I-V characteristics.

Time-dependent electrokinetic flows of non-Newtonian fluids in microchannel-array for energy conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chun, Myung-Suk; Chun, Byoungjin; Lee, Ji-Young; Complex Fluids Team

2016-11-01

We investigate the externally time-dependent pulsatile electrokinetic viscous flows by extending the previous simulations concerning the electrokinetic microfluidics for different geometries. The external body force originated from between the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann field and the flow-induced electric field is employed in the Cauchy momentum equation, and then the Nernst-Planck equation in connection with the net current conservation is coupled. Our explicit model allows one to quantify the effects of the oscillating frequency and conductance of the Stern layer, considering the shear thinning effect and the strong electric double layer interaction. This presentation reports the new results regarding the implication of optimum frequency pressure pulsations toward realizing mechanical to electrical energy transfer with high conversion efficiencies. These combined factors for different channel dimension are examined in depth to obtain possible enhancements of streaming current, with taking advantage of pulsating pressure field. From experimental verifications by using electrokinetic power chip, it is concluded that our theoretical framework can serve as a useful basis for micro/nanofluidics design and potential applications to the enhanced energy conversion. NRF of Korea (No.2015R1A2A1A15052979) and KIST (No.2E26490).

Enhanced performance of ZnO microballoon arrays for a triboelectric nanogenerator.

PubMed

Deng, Weili; Zhang, Binbin; Jin, Long; Chen, Yueqi; Chu, Wenjun; Zhang, Haitao; Zhu, Minhao; Yang, Weiqing

2017-03-01

In recent years, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), harvesting energy from the environment as a sustainable power source, have attracted great attention. Currently, many reports focus on the effect of surface modification on the electrical output performance of the TENG. In this work, we have fabricated vertically grown ZnO microballoon (ZnOMB) arrays on top of pyramid-featured PDMS patterned film, contacted with PTFE film to construct the TENG. The electrical output performances of the designed TENG are presented under external forces with different frequencies. The corresponding output open-circuit voltage with ZnOMBs could reach about 57 V the current density about 59 mA m -2 at 100 Hz, which was about 2.3 times higher than without any ZnO. The global maximum of the instantaneous peak power could reach 1.1 W m -2 when the external load resistance was about 2 MΩ. Furthermore, the electrical output of the fabricated device could light 30 commercial LED bulbs without any rectifier circuits or energy-storage elements. This clearly suggests that this kind of surface modification can dramatically enhance the output performance of the TENG. Moreover, the design of TENG demonstrated here can be applied to various energy harvesting applications.

Enhanced performance of ZnO microballoon arrays for a triboelectric nanogenerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Weili; Zhang, Binbin; Jin, Long; Chen, Yueqi; Chu, Wenjun; Zhang, Haitao; Zhu, Minhao; Yang, Weiqing

2017-03-01

In recent years, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), harvesting energy from the environment as a sustainable power source, have attracted great attention. Currently, many reports focus on the effect of surface modification on the electrical output performance of the TENG. In this work, we have fabricated vertically grown ZnO microballoon (ZnOMB) arrays on top of pyramid-featured PDMS patterned film, contacted with PTFE film to construct the TENG. The electrical output performances of the designed TENG are presented under external forces with different frequencies. The corresponding output open-circuit voltage with ZnOMBs could reach about 57 V the current density about 59 mA m-2 at 100 Hz, which was about 2.3 times higher than without any ZnO. The global maximum of the instantaneous peak power could reach 1.1 W m-2 when the external load resistance was about 2 MΩ. Furthermore, the electrical output of the fabricated device could light 30 commercial LED bulbs without any rectifier circuits or energy-storage elements. This clearly suggests that this kind of surface modification can dramatically enhance the output performance of the TENG. Moreover, the design of TENG demonstrated here can be applied to various energy harvesting applications.

Coincidence of features of emitted THz electromagnetic wave power form a single Josephson junction and different current components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamdipour, Mohammad

2017-12-01

By applying a voltage to a Josephson junction, the charge in superconducting layers (S-layers) will oscillate. Wavelength of the charge oscillations in S-layers is related to external current in junction, by increasing the external current, the wavelength will decrease which cause in some currents the wavelength be incommensurate with width of junction, so the CVC shows Fiske like steps. External current throwing along junction has some components, resistive, capacitive and superconducting current, beside these currents there is a current in lateral direction of junction, (x direction). On the other hand, the emitted electromagnetic wave power in THz region is related to AC component of electric field in junction, which itself is related to charge density in S-layers, which is related to currents in the system. So we expect that features of variation of current components reflect the features of emitted THz power form junction. Here we study in detail the superconductive current in a long Josephson junction (JJ), the current voltage characteristics (CVC) of junction and emitted THz power from the system. Then we compare the results. Comparing the results we see that there is a good qualitative coincidence in features of emitted THz power and supercurrent in junction.

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.

PLASMA DEVICE

DOEpatents

Baker, W.R.

1961-08-22

A device is described for establishing and maintaining a high-energy, rotational plasma for use as a fast discharge capacitor. A disc-shaped, current- conducting plasma is formed in an axinl magnetic field and a crossed electric field, thereby creating rotational kinetic enengy in the plasma. Such energy stored in the rotation of the plasma disc is substantial and is convertible tc electrical energy by generator action in an output line electrically coupled to the plasma volume. Means are then provided for discharging the electrical energy into an external circuit coupled to the output line to produce a very large pulse having an extremely rapid rise time in the waveform thereof. (AE C)

Static Measurements on HTS Coils of Fully Superconducting AC Electric Machines for Aircraft Electric Propulsion System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Benjamin B.; Hunker, Keith R.; Hartwig, Jason; Brown, Gerald V.

2017-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been developing the high efficiency and high-power density superconducting (SC) electric machines in full support of electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) systems for a future electric aircraft. A SC coil test rig has been designed and built to perform static and AC measurements on BSCCO, (RE)BCO, and YBCO high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire and coils at liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature. In this paper, DC measurements on five SC coil configurations of various geometry in zero external magnetic field are measured to develop good measurement technique and to determine the critical current (Ic) and the sharpness (n value) of the super-to-normal transition. Also, standard procedures for coil design, fabrication, coil mounting, micro-volt measurement, cryogenic testing, current control, and data acquisition technique were established. Experimentally measured critical currents are compared with theoretical predicted values based on an electric-field criterion (Ec). Data here are essential to quantify the SC electric machine operation limits where the SC begins to exhibit non-zero resistance. All test data will be utilized to assess the feasibility of using HTS coils for the fully superconducting AC electric machine development for an aircraft electric propulsion system.

Single-molecule designs for electric switches and rectifiers.

PubMed

Kornilovitch, Pavel; Bratkovsky, Alexander; Williams, Stanley

2003-12-01

A design for molecular rectifiers is proposed. Current rectification is based on the spatial asymmetry of a molecule and requires only one resonant conducting molecular orbital. Rectification is caused by asymmetric coupling of the orbital to the electrodes, which results in asymmetric movement of the two Fermi levels with respect to the orbital under external bias. Results from numerical studies of the family of suggested molecular rectifiers, HS-(CH(2))(n)-C(6)H(4)(CH(2))(m)SH, are presented. Current rectification ratios in excess of 100 are achievable for n = 2 and m > 6. A class of bistable stator-rotor molecules is proposed. The stationary part connects the two electrodes and facilitates electron transport between them. The rotary part, which has a large dipole moment, is attached to an atom of the stator via a single sigma bond. Electrostatic bonds formed between the oxygen atom of the rotor and hydrogen atoms of the stator make the symmetric orientation of the dipole unstable. The rotor has two potential minima with equal energy for rotation about the sigma bond. The dipole can be flipped between the two states by an external electric field. Both rotor-orientation states have asymmetric current-voltage characteristics that are the reverse of each other, so they are distinguishable electrically. Theoretical results on conformation, energy barriers, retention times, switching voltages, and current-voltage characteristics are presented for a particular stator-rotor molecule. Such molecules could be the base for single-molecule switches, reversible diodes, and other molecular electronic devices.

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=I_s/I_b) 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.

TEM Pump With External Heat Source And Sink

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nesmith, Bill J.

1991-01-01

Proposed thermoelectric/electromagnetic (TEM) pump driven by external source of heat and by two or more heat pipe radiator heat sink(s). Thermoelectrics generate electrical current to circulate liquid metal in secondary loop of two-fluid-loop system. Intended for use with space and terrestrial dual loop liquid metal nuclear reactors. Applications include spacecraft on long missions or terrestrial beacons or scientific instruments having to operate in remote areas for long times. Design modified to include multiple radiators, converters, and ducts, as dictated by particular application.

Exciton properties in zincblende InGaN-GaN quantum wells under the effects of intense laser fields

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

In this work, we study the exciton states in a zincblende InGaN/GaN quantum well using a variational technique. The system is considered under the action of intense laser fields with the incorporation of a direct current electric field as an additional external probe. The effects of these external influences as well as of the changes in the geometry of the heterostructure on the exciton binding energy are discussed in detail. PMID:22937963

Exciton properties in zincblende InGaN-GaN quantum wells under the effects of intense laser fields.

PubMed

Duque, Carlos M; Mora-Ramos, Miguel E; Duque, Carlos A

2012-08-31

: In this work, we study the exciton states in a zincblende InGaN/GaN quantum well using a variational technique. The system is considered under the action of intense laser fields with the incorporation of a direct current electric field as an additional external probe. The effects of these external influences as well as of the changes in the geometry of the heterostructure on the exciton binding energy are discussed in detail.

10 CFR Appendix Z to Subpart B of... - Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of External Power Supplies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... operation when the external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or... external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or “all outputs are... switches, in which the external power supply is (1) connected to the main electricity supply; (2) the...

10 CFR Appendix Z to Subpart B of... - Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of External Power Supplies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... operation when the external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or... external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or “all outputs are... switches, in which the external power supply is (1) connected to the main electricity supply; (2) the...

10 CFR Appendix Z to Subpart B of... - Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of External Power Supplies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... operation when the external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or... external power supply is connected to the main electricity supply and the output is (or “all outputs are... switches, in which the external power supply is (1) connected to the main electricity supply; (2) the...

Quantifying the Sensitivity of the Production of Environmental Externalities to Market-Based Interventions in the Power Sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peer, R.; Sanders, K.

2017-12-01

The optimization function that governs the dispatching of power generators to meet electricity demand minimizes the marginal cost of electricity generation without regard to the environmental or public health damages caused by power production. Although technologies exist for reducing the externalities resulting from electricity generation at power plants, current solutions typically raise the cost of power production or introduce operational challenges for the grid. This research quantifies the trade-offs and couplings between the cooling water, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality impacts of different power generating technologies under business as usual market conditions, as well as a series of market-based interventions aimed to reduce the production of those externalities. Using publicly available data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) for power plant water use and emissions, a unit commitment and dispatch power market simulation model is modified to evaluate the production of environmental externalities from power production. Scenarios are developed to apply a set of fees for cooling water, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide emissions, respectively. Trade-offs between environmental performance, overall generation costs, and shifts in the power plants dispatched to meet demand are quantified for each power market simulation. The results from this study will provide insight into the development of a novel market-based framework that modifies the optimization algorithms governing the dispatching of electricity onto the grid in efforts to achieve cost-effective improvements in its environmental performance without the need for new infrastructure investments.

49 CFR 192.467 - External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false External corrosion control: Electrical isolation... for Corrosion Control § 192.467 External corrosion control: Electrical isolation. (a) Each buried or... pipeline is necessary to facilitate the application of corrosion control. (c) Except for unprotected copper...

49 CFR 192.467 - External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false External corrosion control: Electrical isolation... for Corrosion Control § 192.467 External corrosion control: Electrical isolation. (a) Each buried or... pipeline is necessary to facilitate the application of corrosion control. (c) Except for unprotected copper...

Catalytically induced electrokinetics for motors and micropumps.

PubMed

Paxton, Walter F; Baker, Paul T; Kline, Timothy R; Wang, Yang; Mallouk, Thomas E; Sen, Ayusman

2006-11-22

We have explored the role of electrokinetics in the spontaneous motion of platinum-gold nanorods suspended in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solutions that may arise from the bimetallic electrochemical decomposition of H2O2. The electrochemical decomposition pathway was confirmed by measuring the steady-state short-circuit current between platinum and gold interdigitated microelectrodes (IMEs) in the presence of H2O2. The resulting ion flux from platinum to gold implies an electric field in the surrounding solution that can be estimated from Ohm's Law. This catalytically generated electric field could in principle bring about electrokinetic effects that scale with the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski equation. Accordingly, we observed a linear relationship between bimetallic rod speed and the resistivity of the bulk solution. Previous observations relating a decrease in speed to an increase in ethanol concentration can be explained in terms of a decrease in current density caused by the presence of ethanol. Furthermore, we found that the catalytically generated electric field in the solution near a Pt/Au IME in the presence of H2O2 is capable of inducing electroosmotic fluid flow that can be switched on and off externally. We demonstrate that the velocity of the fluid flow in the plane of the IME is a function of the electric field, whether catalytically generated or applied from an external current source. Our findings indicate that the motion of PtAu nanorods in H2O2 is primarily due to a catalytically induced electrokinetic phenomenon and that other mechanisms, such as those related to interfacial tension gradients, play at best a minor role.

Chiral current generation in QED by longitudinal photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acosta Avalo, J. L.; Pérez Rojas, H.

2016-08-01

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

A Comprehensive Model of Electric-Field-Enhanced Jumping-Droplet Condensation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

PubMed

Birbarah, Patrick; Li, Zhaoer; Pauls, Alexander; Miljkovic, Nenad

2015-07-21

Superhydrophobic micro/nanostructured surfaces for dropwise condensation have recently received significant attention due to their potential to enhance heat transfer performance by shedding positively charged water droplets via coalescence-induced droplet jumping at length scales below the capillary length and allowing the use of external electric fields to enhance droplet removal and heat transfer, in what has been termed electric-field-enhanced (EFE) jumping-droplet condensation. However, achieving optimal EFE conditions for enhanced heat transfer requires capturing the details of transport processes that is currently lacking. While a comprehensive model has been developed for condensation on micro/nanostructured surfaces, it cannot be applied for EFE condensation due to the dynamic droplet-vapor-electric field interactions. In this work, we developed a comprehensive physical model for EFE condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces by incorporating individual droplet motion, electrode geometry, jumping frequency, field strength, and condensate vapor-flow dynamics. As a first step toward our model, we simulated jumping droplet motion with no external electric field and validated our theoretical droplet trajectories to experimentally obtained trajectories, showing excellent temporal and spatial agreement. We then incorporated the external electric field into our model and considered the effects of jumping droplet size, electrode size and geometry, condensation heat flux, and droplet jumping direction. Our model suggests that smaller jumping droplet sizes and condensation heat fluxes require less work input to be removed by the external fields. Furthermore, the results suggest that EFE electrodes can be optimized such that the work input is minimized depending on the condensation heat flux. To analyze overall efficiency, we defined an incremental coefficient of performance and showed that it is very high (∼10(6)) for EFE condensation. We finally proposed mechanisms for condensate collection which would ensure continuous operation of the EFE system and which can scalably be applied to industrial condensers. This work provides a comprehensive physical model of the EFE condensation process and offers guidelines for the design of EFE systems to maximize heat transfer.

Integral electrical characteristics and local plasma parameters of a RF ion thruster

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

Masherov, P. E.; Riaby, V. A., E-mail: riaby2001@yahoo.com; Godyak, V. A.

2016-02-15

Comprehensive diagnostics has been carried out for a RF ion thruster based on inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source with an external flat antenna coil enhanced by ferrite core. The ICP was confined within a cylindrical chamber with low aspect ratio to minimize plasma loss to the chamber wall. Integral diagnostics of the ICP electrical parameters (RF power balance and coil current) allowed for evaluation of the antenna coils, matching networks, and eddy current loss and the true RF power deposited to plasma. Spatially resolved electron energy distribution functions, plasma density, electron temperatures, and plasma potentials were measured with movable Langmuirmore » probes.« less

Electric-Field-Directed Parallel Alignment Architecting 3D Lithium-Ion Pathways within Solid Composite Electrolyte.

PubMed

Liu, Xueqing; Peng, Sha; Gao, Shuyu; Cao, Yuancheng; You, Qingliang; Zhou, Liyong; Jin, Yongcheng; Liu, Zhihong; Liu, Jiyan

2018-05-09

It is of great significance to seek high-performance solid electrolytes via a facile chemistry and simple process for meeting the requirements of solid batteries. Previous reports revealed that ion conducting pathways within ceramic-polymer composite electrolytes mainly occur at ceramic particles and the ceramic-polymer interface. Herein, one facile strategy toward ceramic particles' alignment and assembly induced by an external alternating-current (AC) electric field is presented. It was manifested by an in situ optical microscope that Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4 ) 3 particles and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (LATP@PEGDA@PDMS) assembled into three-dimensional connected networks on applying an external AC electric field. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the ceramic LATP particles aligned into a necklacelike assembly. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed that the ionic conductivity of this necklacelike alignment was significantly enhanced compared to that of the random one. It was demonstrated that this facile strategy of applying an AC electric field can be a very effective approach for architecting three-dimensional lithium-ion conductive networks within solid composite electrolyte.

Externally controlled on-demand release of anti-HIV drug using magneto-electric nanoparticles as carriers.

PubMed

Nair, Madhavan; Guduru, Rakesh; Liang, Ping; Hong, Jeongmin; Sagar, Vidya; Khizroev, Sakhrat

2013-01-01

Although highly active anti-retroviral therapy has resulted in remarkable decline in the morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients, inadequately low delivery of anti-retroviral drugs across the blood-brain barrier results in virus persistence. The capability of high-efficacy-targeted drug delivery and on-demand release remains a formidable task. Here we report an in vitro study to demonstrate the on-demand release of azidothymidine 5'-triphosphate, an anti-human immunodeficiency virus drug, from 30 nm CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 magneto-electric nanoparticles by applying a low alternating current magnetic field. Magneto-electric nanoparticles as field-controlled drug carriers offer a unique capability of field-triggered release after crossing the blood-brain barrier. Owing to the intrinsic magnetoelectricity, these nanoparticles can couple external magnetic fields with the electric forces in drug-carrier bonds to enable remotely controlled delivery without exploiting heat. Functional and structural integrity of the drug after the release was confirmed in in vitro experiments with human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells and through atomic force microscopy, spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared and mass spectrometry studies.

Design and assembly considerations for Redox cells and stacks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stalnaker, D. K.; Lieberman, A.

1981-01-01

Individual redox flow cells are arranged electrically in series and hydraulically in parallel to form a single assembly called a stack. The hardware currently being tested in the laboratory has an active electrode area of either 310 sq cm or 929 sq cm. Four 310 sq cm stacks, each consisting of 39 active cells, were incorporated into a 1.0 kW preprototype system. The physical design of the stack is very critical to the performance and efficiency of the redox storage sytem. This report will discuss the mechanical aspects of the cell and stack design for the current Redox hardware, with regard to sealing the stack internally as well as externally, minimizing shunt currents and minimizing the electrical resistance of the stack.

A new theoretical formulation of coupling thermo-electric breakdown in LDPE film under dc high applied fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boughariou, F.; Chouikhi, S.; Kallel, A.; Belgaroui, E.

2015-12-01

In this paper, we present a new theoretical and numerical formulation for the electrical and thermal breakdown phenomena, induced by charge packet dynamics, in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) insulating film under dc high applied field. The theoretical physical formulation is composed by the equations of bipolar charge transport as well as by the thermo-electric coupled equation associated for the first time in modeling to the bipolar transport problem. This coupled equation is resolved by the finite-element numerical model. For the first time, all bipolar transport results are obtained under non-uniform temperature distributions in the sample bulk. The principal original results show the occurring of very sudden abrupt increase in local temperature associated to a very sharp increase in external and conduction current densities appearing during the steady state. The coupling between these electrical and thermal instabilities reflects physically the local coupling between electrical conduction and thermal joule effect. The results of non-uniform temperature distributions induced by non-uniform electrical conduction current are also presented for several times. According to our formulation, the strong injection current is the principal factor of the electrical and thermal breakdown of polymer insulating material. This result is shown in this work. Our formulation is also validated experimentally.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, Hasti; van Benthem, Klaus

2015-05-01

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

On the reliability of voltage and power as input parameters for the characterization of high power ultrasound applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haller, Julian; Wilkens, Volker

2012-11-01

For power levels up to 200 W and sonication times up to 60 s, the electrical power, the voltage and the electrical impedance (more exactly: the ratio of RMS voltage and RMS current) have been measured for a piezocomposite high intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) transducer with integrated matching network, two piezoceramic HITU transducers with external matching networks and for a passive dummy 50 Ω load. The electrical power and the voltage were measured during high power application with an inline power meter and an RMS voltage meter, respectively, and the complex electrical impedance was indirectly measured with a current probe, a 100:1 voltage probe and a digital scope. The results clearly show that the input RMS voltage and the input RMS power change unequally during the application. Hence, the indication of only the electrical input power or only the voltage as the input parameter may not be sufficient for reliable characterizations of ultrasound transducers for high power applications in some cases.

FES in Europe and Beyond: Current Translational Research

PubMed Central

Coste, Christine Azevedo; Mayr, Winfried; Bijak, Manfred; Musarò, Antonio; Carraro, Ugo

2016-01-01

Capacity of adult neural and muscle tissues to respond to external Electrical Stimulation (ES) is the biological basis for the development and implementation of mobility impairment physiotherapy protocols and of related assistive technologies, e.g, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). All body tissues, however, respond to electrical stimulation and, indeed, the most successful application of FES is electrical stimulation of the heart to revert or limit effects of arrhythmias (Pace-makers and Defibrillators). Here, we list and discuss results of FES current research activities, in particular those presented at 2016 Meetings: the PaduaMuscleDays, the Italian Institute of Myology Meeting, the 20th International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS) conference held in Montpellier and the Vienna Workshop on FES. Several papers were recently e-published in the European Journal of Translational Myology as reports of meeting presentations. All the events and publications clearly show that FES research in Europe and beyond is alive and promisses translation of results into clinical management of a very large population of persons with deficiencies. PMID:28078074

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

Zhang, Chao; Santhanagopalan, Shriram; Sprague, Michael A.

Lithium-ion batteries are currently the state-of-the-art power sources for a variety of applications, from consumer electronic devices to electric-drive vehicles (EDVs). Being an energized component, failure of the battery is an essential concern, which can result in rupture, smoke, fire, or venting. The failure of Lithium-ion batteries can be due to a number of external abusive conditions (impact/crush, overcharge, thermal ramp, etc.) or internal conditions (internal short circuits, excessive heating due to resistance build-up, etc.), of which the mechanical-abuse-induced short circuit is a very practical problem. In order to better understand the behavior of Lithium-ion batteries under mechanical abuse, amore » coupled modeling methodology encompassing the mechanical, thermal and electrical response has been developed for predicting short circuit under external crush.« less

RF power absorption by plasma of low pressure low power inductive discharge located in the external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kralkina, E. A.; Rukhadze, A. A.; Nekliudova, P. A.; Pavlov, V. B.; Petrov, A. K.; Vavilin, K. V.

2018-03-01

Present paper is aimed to reveal experimentally and theoretically the influence of magnetic field strength, antenna shape, pressure, operating frequency and geometrical size of plasma sources on the ability of plasma to absorb the RF power characterized by the equivalent plasma resistance for the case of low pressure RF inductive discharge located in the external magnetic field. The distinguishing feature of the present paper is the consideration of the antennas that generate not only current but charge on the external surface of plasma sources. It is shown that in the limited plasma source two linked waves can be excited. In case of antennas generating only azimuthal current the waves can be attributed as helicon and TG waves. In the case of an antenna with the longitudinal current there is a surface charge on the side surface of the plasma source, which gives rise to a significant increase of the longitudinal and radial components of the RF electric field as compared with the case of the azimuthal antenna current.

Simulating Chiral Magnetic and Separation Effects with Spin-Orbit Coupled Atomic Gases

PubMed Central

Huang, Xu-Guang

2016-01-01

The chiral magnetic and chiral separation effects—quantum-anomaly-induced electric current and chiral current along an external magnetic field in parity-odd quark-gluon plasma—have received intense studies in the community of heavy-ion collision physics. We show that analogous effects occur in rotating trapped Fermi gases with Weyl-Zeeman spin-orbit coupling where the rotation plays the role of an external magnetic field. These effects can induce a mass quadrupole in the atomic cloud along the rotation axis which may be tested in future experiments. Our results suggest that the spin-orbit coupled atomic gases are potential simulators of the chiral magnetic and separation effects. PMID:26868084

Dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles.

PubMed

Dolinsky, Yu; Elperin, T

2012-02-01

We study the behavior of particles having a finite electric permittivity and conductivity in a weakly conducting fluid under the action of the external electric field. We consider the case when the strength of the external electric field is above the threshold, and particles rotate due to the Quincke effect. We determine the magnitude of the dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles and the shift of frequency of the Quincke rotation caused by the dipole interaction between the particles. It is demonstrated that depending on the mutual orientation of the vectors of angular velocities of particles, vector-directed along the straight line between the centers of the particles and the external electric field strength vector, particles can attract or repel each other. In contrast to the case of nonrotating particles when the magnitude of the dipole interaction increases with the increase of the strength of the external electric field, the magnitude of the dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles either does not change or decreases with the increase of the strength of the external electric field depending on the strength of the external electric field and electrodynamic parameters of the particles.

Dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolinsky, Yu.; Elperin, T.

2012-02-01

We study the behavior of particles having a finite electric permittivity and conductivity in a weakly conducting fluid under the action of the external electric field. We consider the case when the strength of the external electric field is above the threshold, and particles rotate due to the Quincke effect. We determine the magnitude of the dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles and the shift of frequency of the Quincke rotation caused by the dipole interaction between the particles. It is demonstrated that depending on the mutual orientation of the vectors of angular velocities of particles, vector-directed along the straight line between the centers of the particles and the external electric field strength vector, particles can attract or repel each other. In contrast to the case of nonrotating particles when the magnitude of the dipole interaction increases with the increase of the strength of the external electric field, the magnitude of the dipole interaction of the Quincke rotating particles either does not change or decreases with the increase of the strength of the external electric field depending on the strength of the external electric field and electrodynamic parameters of the particles.

Cardiac pacemaker battery discharge after external electrical cardioversion for broad QRS Complex Tachycardia.

PubMed

Annamaria, Martino; Andrea, Scapigliati; Michela, Casella; Tommaso, Sanna; Gemma, Pelargonio; Antonio, Dello Russo; Roberto, Zamparelli; Stefano, De Paulis; Fulvio, Bellocci; Rocco, Schiavello

2008-08-01

External electrical cardioversion or defibrillation may be necessary in patients with implanted cardiac pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Sudden discharge of high electrical energy employed in direct current (DC) transthoracic countershock may damage the PM/ICD system resulting in a series of possible device malfunctions. For this reason, when defibrillation or cardioversion must be attempted in a patient with a PM or ICD, some precautions should be taken, particularly in PM dependent patients, in order to prevent damage to the device. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with a dual chamber PM implanted in the right subclavicular region, who received two consecutive transthoracic DC shocks to treat haemodynamically unstable broad QRS complex tachycardia after cardiac surgery performed with a standard sternotomic approach. Because of the sternal wound and thoracic drainage tubes together with the severe clinical compromise, the anterior paddle was positioned near the pulse generator. At the following PM test, a complete battery discharge was detected.

Thermoacoustically driven triboelectric nanogenerator: Combining thermoacoustics and nanoscience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Shunmin; Yu, Aifang; Yu, Guoyao; Liu, Yudong; Zhai, Junyi; Dai, Wei; Luo, Ercang

2017-10-01

A thermoacoustic heat engine (TAHE) is a type of regenerative heat engine that converts external heat into mechanical power in the form of an acoustic wave with no moving mechanical components. One significant application of the TAHE is the generation of electricity by coupling an acoustic-to-electric conversion unit such as a linear motor or a piezoelectric ceramic assembly. However, present-day conversion technologies have considerable drawbacks, including structural complexity, high cost, and low reliability. The advent of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offers an alternative means to overcoming these shortcomings. In this paper, we propose a thermoacoustically driven TENG (TA-TENG) that continuously harvests external heat. A test rig involving a standing-wave TAHE and a contact-separation mode TENG was fabricated to demonstrate this concept. Currently, the TA-TENG produces a maximum output voltage of 10 V and a corresponding output power of 0.008 μW with a load of 400 MΩ, demonstrating the viability of this hybrid combination for electricity generation.

Voltage- and current-activated metal-insulator transition in VO2-based electrical switches: a lifetime operation analysis.

PubMed

Crunteanu, Aurelian; Givernaud, Julien; Leroy, Jonathan; Mardivirin, David; Champeaux, Corinne; Orlianges, Jean-Christophe; Catherinot, Alain; Blondy, Pierre

2010-12-01

Vanadium dioxide is an intensively studied material that undergoes a temperature-induced metal-insulator phase transition accompanied by a large change in electrical resistivity. Electrical switches based on this material show promising properties in terms of speed and broadband operation. The exploration of the failure behavior and reliability of such devices is very important in view of their integration in practical electronic circuits. We performed systematic lifetime investigations of two-terminal switches based on the electrical activation of the metal-insulator transition in VO 2 thin films. The devices were integrated in coplanar microwave waveguides (CPWs) in series configuration. We detected the evolution of a 10 GHz microwave signal transmitted through the CPW, modulated by the activation of the VO 2 switches in both voltage- and current-controlled modes. We demonstrated enhanced lifetime operation of current-controlled VO 2 -based switching (more than 260 million cycles without failure) compared with the voltage-activated mode (breakdown at around 16 million activation cycles). The evolution of the electrical self-oscillations of a VO 2 -based switch induced in the current-operated mode is a subtle indicator of the material properties modification and can be used to monitor its behavior under various external stresses in sensor applications.

Gate-tunable gigantic changes in lattice parameters and optical properties in VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, Masaki; Okuyama, Daisuke; Shibuya, Keisuke; Ogawa, Naoki; Hatano, Takafumi; Kawasaki, Masashi; Arima, Taka-Hisa; Iwasa, Yoshihiro; Tokura, Yoshinori

2014-03-01

The field-effect transistor provides an electrical switching function of current flowing through a channel surface by external gate voltage (VG). We recently reported that an electric-double-layer transistor (EDLT) based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) enables electrical switching of the metal-insulator phase transition, where the low-temperature insulating state can be completely switched to the metallic state by application of VG. Here we demonstrate that VO2-EDLT enables electrical switching of lattice parameters and optical properties as well as electrical current. We performed in-situ x-ray diffraction and optical transmission spectroscopy measurements, and found that the c-axis length and the infrared transmittance of VO2 can be significantly modulated by more than 1% and 40%, respectively, by application of VG. We emphasize that these distinguished features originate from the electric-field induced bulk phase transition available with VO2-EDLT. This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) through its ``Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST Program).''

Shielding effectiveness of multiple-shield cables with arbitrary terminations via transmission line analysis

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

Campione, Salvatore; Basilio, Lorena I.; Warne, Larry Kevin

Our paper reports on a transmission-line model for calculating the shielding effectiveness of multiple-shield cables with arbitrary terminations. Since the shields are not perfect conductors and apertures in the shields permit external magnetic and electric fields to penetrate into the interior regions of the cable, we use this model to estimate the effects of the outer shield current and voltage (associated with the external excitation and boundary conditions associated with the external conductor) on the inner conductor current and voltage. It is commonly believed that increasing the number of shields of a cable will improve the shielding performance. But thismore » is not always the case, and a cable with multiple shields may perform similar to or worse than a cable with a single shield. Furthermore, we want to shed more light on these situations, which represent the main focus of this paper.« less

Shielding effectiveness of multiple-shield cables with arbitrary terminations via transmission line analysis

DOE PAGES

Campione, Salvatore; Basilio, Lorena I.; Warne, Larry Kevin; ...

2016-06-25

Our paper reports on a transmission-line model for calculating the shielding effectiveness of multiple-shield cables with arbitrary terminations. Since the shields are not perfect conductors and apertures in the shields permit external magnetic and electric fields to penetrate into the interior regions of the cable, we use this model to estimate the effects of the outer shield current and voltage (associated with the external excitation and boundary conditions associated with the external conductor) on the inner conductor current and voltage. It is commonly believed that increasing the number of shields of a cable will improve the shielding performance. But thismore » is not always the case, and a cable with multiple shields may perform similar to or worse than a cable with a single shield. Furthermore, we want to shed more light on these situations, which represent the main focus of this paper.« less

NASA Researcher Adjusts a Travelling Magnetic Wave Plasma Engine

NASA Image and Video Library

1964-02-21

Raymond Palmer, of the Electromagnetic Propulsion Division’s Plasma Flow Section, adjusts the traveling magnetic wave plasma engine being operated in the Electric Power Conversion at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. During the 1960s Lewis researchers were exploring several different methods of creating electric propulsion systems, including the traveling magnetic wave plasma engine. The device operated similarly to alternating-current motors, except that a gas, not a solid, was used to conduct the electricity. A magnetic wave induced a current as it passed through the plasma. The current and magnetic field pushed the plasma in one direction. Palmer and colleague Robert Jones explored a variety of engine configurations in the Electric Propulsion Research Building. The engine is seen here mounted externally on the facility’s 5-foot diameter and 16-foot long vacuum tank. The four magnetic coils are seen on the left end of the engine. The researchers conducted two-minute test runs with varying configurations and used of both argon and xenon as the propellant. The Electric Propulsion Research Building was built in 1942 as the Engine Propeller Research Building, often called the Prop House. It contained four test cells to study large reciprocating engines with their propellers. After World War II, the facility was modified to study turbojet engines. By the 1960s, the facility was modified again for electric propulsion research and given its current name.

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.

Equilibrium and magnetic properties of a rotating plasma annulus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhehui; Si, Jiahe; Liu, Wei; Li, Hui

2008-10-01

Local linear analysis shows that magneto-rotational instability can be excited in laboratory rotating plasmas with a density of 1019m-3, a temperature on the order of 10eV, and a magnetic field on the order of 100G. A laboratory plasma annulus experiment with a dimension of ˜1m, and rotation at ˜0.5 sound speed is described. Correspondingly, magnetic Reynolds number of these plasmas is ˜1000, and magnetic Prandtl number ranges from about one to a few hundred. A radial equilibrium, ρUθ2/r =d(p+Bz2/2μ0)/dr=K0, with K0 being a nonzero constant, is proposed for the experimental data. Plasma rotation is observed to drive a quasisteady diamagnetic electrical current (rotational current drive) in a high-β plasma annulus. The rotational energy depends on the direction and the magnitude of the externally applied magnetic field. Radial current (Jr) is produced through biasing the center rod at a negative electric potential relative to the outer wall. Jr×Bz torque generates and sustains the plasma rotation. Rotational current drive can reverse the direction of vacuum magnetic field, satisfying a necessary condition for self-generated closed magnetic flux surfaces inside plasmas. The Hall term is found to be substantial and therefore needs to be included in the Ohm's law for the plasmas. Azimuthal magnetic field (Bθ) is found to be comparable with the externally applied vacuum magnetic field Bz, and mainly caused by the electric current flowing in the center cylinder; thus, Bθ∝r-1. Magnetic fluctuations are anisotropic, radial-dependent, and contain many Fourier modes below the ion cyclotron frequency. Further theoretical analysis reflecting these observations is needed to interpret the magnetic fluctuations.

Alternate charging and discharging of capacitor to enhance the electron production of bioelectrochemical systems.

PubMed

Liang, Peng; Wu, Wenlong; Wei, Jincheng; Yuan, Lulu; Xia, Xue; Huang, Xia

2011-08-01

A bioelectrochemical system (BES) can be operated in both "microbial fuel cell" (MFC) and "microbial electrolysis cell" (MEC) modes, in which power is delivered and invested respectively. To enhance the electric current production, a BES was operated in MFC mode first and a capacitor was used to collect power from the system. Then the charged capacitor discharged electrons to the system itself, switching into MEC mode. This alternate charging and discharging (ACD) mode helped the system produce 22-32% higher average current compared to an intermittent charging (IC) mode, in which the capacitor was first charged from an MFC and then discharged to a resistor, at 21.6 Ω external resistance, 3.3 F capacitance and 300 mV charging voltage. The effects of external resistance, capacitance and charging voltage on average current were studied. The average current reduced as the external resistance and charging voltage increased and was slightly affected by the capacitance. Acquisition of higher average current in the ACD mode was attributed to the shorter discharging time compared to the charging time, as well as a higher anode potential caused by discharging the capacitor. Results from circuit analysis and quantitatively calculation were consistent with the experimental observations.

Hydrodynamic electron flow in a Weyl semimetal slab: Role of Chern-Simons terms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorbar, E. V.; Miransky, V. A.; Shovkovy, I. A.; Sukhachov, P. O.

2018-05-01

The hydrodynamic flow of the chiral electron fluid in a Weyl semimetal slab of finite thickness is studied by using the consistent hydrodynamic theory. The latter includes viscous, anomalous, and vortical effects, as well as accounts for dynamical electromagnetism. The energy and momentum separations between the Weyl nodes are taken into account via the topological Chern-Simons contributions in the electric current and charge densities in Maxwell's equations. When an external electric field is applied parallel to the slab, it is found that the electron fluid velocity has a nonuniform profile determined by the viscosity and the no-slip boundary conditions. Most remarkably, the fluid velocity field develops a nonzero component across the slab that gradually dissipates when approaching the surfaces. This abnormal component of the flow arises due to the anomalous Hall voltage induced by the topological Chern-Simons current. Another signature feature of the hydrodynamics in Weyl semimetals is a strong modification of the anomalous Hall current along the slab in the direction perpendicular to the applied electric field. Additionally, it is found that the topological current induces an electric potential difference between the surfaces of the slab that is strongly affected by the hydrodynamic flow.

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

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

1978-01-01

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

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boukhari, Hamed; Rogti, Fatiha

2016-10-01

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

A universal steady state I-V relationship for membrane current

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

1995-01-01

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

Regulation of Cell Cytoskeleton and Membrane Mechanics by Electric Field: Role of Linker Proteins

PubMed Central

Titushkin, Igor; Cho, Michael

2009-01-01

Abstract Cellular mechanics is known to play an important role in the cell homeostasis including proliferation, motility, and differentiation. Significant variation in the mechanical properties between different cell types suggests that control of the cell metabolism is feasible through manipulation of the cell mechanical parameters using external physical stimuli. We investigated the electrocoupling mechanisms of cellular biomechanics modulation by an electrical stimulation in two mechanically distinct cell types—human mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts. Application of a 2 V/cm direct current electric field resulted in approximately a twofold decrease in the cell elasticity and depleted intracellular ATP. Reduction in the ATP level led to inhibition of the linker proteins that are known to physically couple the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. The membrane separation from the cytoskeleton was confirmed by up to a twofold increase in the membrane tether length that was extracted from the cell membrane after an electrical stimulation. In comparison to human mesenchymal stem cells, the membrane-cytoskeleton attachment in osteoblasts was much stronger but, in response to the same electrical stimulation, the membrane detachment from the cytoskeleton was found to be more pronounced. The observed effects mediated by an electric field are cell type- and serum-dependent and can potentially be used for electrically assisted cell manipulation. An in-depth understanding and control of the mechanisms to regulate cell mechanics by external physical stimulus (e.g., electric field) may have great implications for stem cell-based tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. PMID:19167316

Electrostatic properties of graphene edges for electron emission under an external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yanlin; Okada, Susumu

2018-04-01

Electronic properties of graphene edges under a lateral electric field were theoretically studied in regard to their edge shapes and terminations to provide a theoretical insight into their field emission properties. The work function and potential barrier for the electron emission from the graphene edges are sensitive to their shape and termination. We also found that the hydrogenated armchair edge shows the largest emission current among all edges studied here. The electric field outside the chiral edges is spatially modulated along the edge because of the inhomogeneous charge density at the atomic sites of the edge arising from the bond alternation.

76 FR 57627 - Special Conditions: Cessna Aircraft Company Model M680 Airplane; Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-16

... currently approved for installation in transport-category airplanes. Large, high-capacity, rechargeable... electrolytes. The electrolyte can serve as a source of fuel for an external fire if the cell container is..., are established to ensure the availability of electrical power from the batteries when needed...

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.

Electrodeless RF Plasma Thruster Using m = 0 Coil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, Shuichi; Arai, Daisuke; Kuwahara, Daisuke; Shinohara, Shunjiro

2016-10-01

In order to realize a deep space exploration in the future, we have been developing a next generation electrodeless electric propulsion system by electromagnetic acceleration of high-density helicon plasma. A new proposed method by m = 0 coil plasma acceleration (m is an azimuthal mode number) is based on the Lorentz force: a product of the induced azimuthal current by supplying an AC current to the m = 0 coil and the radial component of the externally applied magnetic field (divergent field configuration). Here, we have investigated the dependences of an ion velocity and an electron density on the external parameters, leading to optimized conditions, using the SHD device. By increasing AC current on the order of 100 A, we could see the increase of ion velocity and electron density by a factor of 2.5 and 3, respectively.

Edge plasma boundary layer generated by kink modes in tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakharov, Leonid E.

2011-06-01

This paper describes the structure of the electric current generated by external wall touching and free boundary kink modes at the plasma edge using the ideally conducting plasma model. Both kinds of modes generate δ-functional surface current at the plasma edge. Free boundary kink modes also perturb the core plasma current, which in the plasma edge compensates the difference between the δ-functional surface currents of free boundary and wall touching kink modes. In addition, the resolution of an apparent paradox with the pressure balance across the plasma boundary in the presence of the surface currents is provided.

Solar wind: Internal parameters driven by external source

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chertkov, A. D.

1995-01-01

A new concept interpreting solar wind parameters is suggested. The process of increasing twofold of a moving volume in the solar wind (with energy transfer across its surface which is comparable with its whole internal energy) is a more rapid process than the relaxation for the pressure. Thus, the solar wind is unique from the point of view of thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The presumptive source of the solar wind creation - the induction electric field of the solar origin - has very low entropy. The state of interplanetary plasma must be very far from the thermodynamic equilibrium. Plasma internal energy is contained mainly in non-degenerate forms (plasma waves, resonant plasma oscillations, electric currents). Microscopic oscillating electric fields in the solar wind plasma should be about 1 V/m. It allows one to describe the solar wind by simple dissipative MHD equations with small effective mean free path (required for hydrodynamical description), low value of electrical conductivity combined with very big apparent thermal conductivity (required for observed solar wind acceleration). These internal parameters are interrelated only due to their origin: they are externally driven. Their relation can change during the interaction of solar wind plasma with an obstacle (planet, spacecraft). The concept proposed can be verified by the special electric field measurements, not ruining the primordial plasma state.

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.

Onset of 2D magnetic reconnection in the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and corona

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snow, B.; Botha, G. J. J.; McLaughlin, J. A.; Hillier, A.

2018-01-01

Aims: We aim to investigate the onset of 2D time-dependent magnetic reconnection that is triggered using an external (non-local) velocity driver located away from, and perpendicular to, an equilibrium Harris current sheet. Previous studies have typically utilised an internal trigger to initiate reconnection, for example initial conditions centred on the current sheet. Here, an external driver allows for a more naturalistic trigger as well as the study of the earlier stages of the reconnection start-up process. Methods: Numerical simulations solving the compressible, resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations were performed to investigate the reconnection onset within different atmospheric layers of the Sun, namely the corona, chromosphere and photosphere. Results: A reconnecting state is reached for all atmospheric heights considered, with the dominant physics being highly dependent on atmospheric conditions. The coronal case achieves a sharp rise in electric field (indicative of reconnection) for a range of velocity drivers. For the chromosphere, we find a larger velocity amplitude is required to trigger reconnection (compared to the corona). For the photospheric environment, the electric field is highly dependent on the inflow speed; a sharp increase in electric field is obtained only as the velocity entering the reconnection region approaches the Alfvén speed. Additionally, the role of ambipolar diffusion is investigated for the chromospheric case and we find that the ambipolar diffusion alters the structure of the current density in the inflow region. Conclusions: The rate at which flux enters the reconnection region is controlled by the inflow velocity. This determines all aspects of the reconnection start-up process, that is, the early onset of reconnection is dominated by the advection term in Ohm's law in all atmospheric layers. A lower plasma-β enhances reconnection and creates a large change in the electric field. A high plasma-β hinders the reconnection, yielding a sharp rise in the electric field only when the velocity flowing into the reconnection region approaches the local Alfvén speed.

Simple Pixel Structure Using Video Data Correction Method for Nonuniform Electrical Characteristics of Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors and Differential Aging Phenomenon of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hai-Jung In,; Oh-Kyong Kwon,

2010-03-01

A simple pixel structure using a video data correction method is proposed to compensate for electrical characteristic variations of driving thin-film transistors (TFTs) and the degradation of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays. The proposed method senses the electrical characteristic variations of TFTs and OLEDs and stores them in external memory. The nonuniform emission current of TFTs and the aging of OLEDs are corrected by modulating video data using the stored data. Experimental results show that the emission current error due to electrical characteristic variation of driving TFTs is in the range from -63.1 to 61.4% without compensation, but is decreased to the range from -1.9 to 1.9% with the proposed correction method. The luminance error due to the degradation of an OLED is less than 1.8% when the proposed correction method is used for a 50% degraded OLED.

Electrical Tuning of Valley-Polarized Circular Photogalvanic Current in a Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lei; Lenferink, Erik J.; Stanev, Teodor K.; Stern, Nathaniel P.; Wei, Guohua

In a monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide that lacks structural inversion symmetry, the valley contrasting properties, particularly the magnetic moment and Berry curvature, offer the possibility to create a population imbalance between the two valleys simply with an external optical field. With the circular photogalvanic effect, the generation of the spin-valley-coupled photocurrent has been demonstrated in chalcogenides. Continuously tuning the valley-polarized current so far has remained largely unexplored in monolayer devices. Here we show the voltage-tunable photocurrent polarization can be achieved in monolayer MoS2 where electric field facilitates the disassociation of excitons and the carrier drift. Gating that modulates the contact barrier and carrier density can switch the monolayer photocurrent polarization on and off with a large valley-polarized current on-off ratio greater than 103. The efficient electrical tuning of valley-polarized photocurrent opens new possibilities for exploiting polarized currents in monolayer semiconductor devices. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation MRSEC program (DMR-1121262) and the U.S. Department of Energy (BES DE-SC0012130). N.P.S. is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

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.

The role of extracellular conductivity profiles in compartmental models for neurons: particulars for layer 5 pyramidal cells.

PubMed

Wang, Kai; Riera, Jorge; Enjieu-Kadji, Herve; Kawashima, Ryuta

2013-07-01

With the rapid increase in the number of technologies aimed at observing electric activity inside the brain, scientists have felt the urge to create proper links between intracellular- and extracellular-based experimental approaches. Biophysical models at both physical scales have been formalized under assumptions that impede the creation of such links. In this work, we address this issue by proposing a multicompartment model that allows the introduction of complex extracellular and intracellular resistivity profiles. This model accounts for the geometrical and electrotonic properties of any type of neuron through the combination of four devices: the integrator, the propagator, the 3D connector, and the collector. In particular, we applied this framework to model the tufted pyramidal cells of layer 5 (PCL5) in the neocortex. Our model was able to reproduce the decay and delay curves of backpropagating action potentials (APs) in this type of cell with better agreement with experimental data. We used the voltage drops of the extracellular resistances at each compartment to approximate the local field potentials generated by a PCL5 located in close proximity to linear microelectrode arrays. Based on the voltage drops produced by backpropagating APs, we were able to estimate the current multipolar moments generated by a PCL5. By adding external current sources in parallel to the extracellular resistances, we were able to create a sensitivity profile of PCL5 to electric current injections from nearby microelectrodes. In our model for PCL5, the kinetics and spatial profile of each ionic current were determined based on a literature survey, and the geometrical properties of these cells were evaluated experimentally. We concluded that the inclusion of the extracellular space in the compartmental models of neurons as an extra electrotonic medium is crucial for the accurate simulation of both the propagation of the electric potentials along the neuronal dendrites and the neuronal reactivity to an electrical stimulation using external microelectrodes.

An investigation of the generation and properties of laboratory-produced ball lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oreshko, A. G.

2015-06-01

The experiments revealed that ball lightning is a self-confining quasi-neutral in a whole plasma system that rotates around its axis. Ball lightning has a structure of a spherical electric domain, consisting of a kernel with excess negative charge and an external spherical layer with excess positive charge. The excess of charges of one sort and the lack of charges of the other sort in the kernel or in the external spherical layer significantly reduces the possibility of electron capture by means of an electric field, created by the nearest ions and leads to a drastic slowdown of recombination process. Direct proof has been obtained that inside of ball lightning - in an external spherical layer that rotates around the axis - there is a circular current of sub-relativistic particles. This current creates and maintains its own poloidal magnetic field of ball lightning, i.e. it carries out the function of magnetic dynamo. The kernel of ball lightning is situated in a region with minimum values of induction of the magnetic field. The inequality of positive and negative charges in elements of ball lightning also significantly reduces losses of the charged plasma on bremsstrahlung. Ball lightning generation occurs in a plasmic vortex. The ball lightning energy in the region of its generation significantly differs from the ball lightning energy, which is drifting in space. The axial component of kinetic energy of particles slightly exceeds 100 keV and the rotational component of the ions energy is a bit greater than 1 MeV. Ball lightning is `embedded' in atmosphere autonomous accelerator of charged particles of a cyclotron type due to self-generation of strong crossed electric and magnetic fields. A discussion of the conditions of stability and long-term existence of ball lightning is given.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-02-01

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

From Chemical Gardens to Fuel Cells: Generation of Electrical Potential and Current Across Self-Assembling Iron Mineral Membranes.

PubMed

Barge, Laura M; Abedian, Yeghegis; Russell, Michael J; Doloboff, Ivria J; Cartwright, Julyan H E; Kidd, Richard D; Kanik, Isik

2015-07-06

We examine the electrochemical gradients that form across chemical garden membranes and investigate how self-assembling, out-of-equilibrium inorganic precipitates-mimicking in some ways those generated in far-from-equilibrium natural systems-can generate electrochemical energy. Measurements of electrical potential and current were made across membranes precipitated both by injection and solution interface methods in iron-sulfide and iron-hydroxide reaction systems. The battery-like nature of chemical gardens was demonstrated by linking multiple experiments in series which produced sufficient electrical energy to light an external light-emitting diode (LED). This work paves the way for determining relevant properties of geological precipitates that may have played a role in hydrothermal redox chemistry at the origin of life, and materials applications that utilize the electrochemical properties of self-organizing chemical systems. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Non-electrolytic synthesis of copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite by surface plasma in super-dehydrated ethanol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozak, Dmytro S.; Sergiienko, Ruslan A.; Shibata, Etsuro; Iizuka, Atsushi; Nakamura, Takashi

2016-02-01

Electrolytic processes are widely used to synthesize different nanomaterials and it does not depend on what kind of the method has been applied (wet-chemistry, sonochemistry, plasma chemistry, electrolysis and so on). Generally, the reactions in the electrolyte are considered to be reduction/oxidation (REDOX) reactions between chemical reagents or the deposition of matter on the electrodes, in line with Faraday’s law. Due to the presence of electroconductive additives in any electrolyte, the polarization effect of polar molecules conducting an electrical current disappears, when external high-strength electric field is induced. Because initially of the charge transfer always belongs of electroconductive additive and it does not depend on applied voltage. The polarization of ethanol molecules has been applied to conduct an electric current by surface plasma interaction for the synthesis of a copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite material.

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

Shi, Zhemin; Department of Physical Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552; Taguchi, Dai

The details of turnover process of spontaneous polarization and associated carrier motions in indium-tin oxide/poly-(vinylidene-trifluoroethylene)/pentacene/Au capacitor were analyzed by coupling displacement current measurement (DCM) and electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) measurement. A model was set up from DCM results to depict the relationship between electric field in semiconductor layer and applied external voltage, proving that photo illumination effect on the spontaneous polarization process lied in variation of semiconductor conductivity. The EFISHG measurement directly and selectively probed the electric field distribution in semiconductor layer, modifying the model and revealing detailed carrier behaviors involving photo illumination effect, dipole reversal, and interfacial chargingmore » in the device. A further decrease of DCM current in the low voltage region under illumination was found as the result of illumination effect, and the result was argued based on the changing of the total capacitance of the double-layer capacitors.« less

Effect of phase advance on the brushless dc motor torque speed respond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohd, M. S.; Karsiti, M. N.; Mohd, M. S.

2015-12-01

Brushless direct current (BLDC) motor is widely used in small and medium sized electric vehicles as it exhibit highest specific power and thermal efficiency as compared to the induction motor. Permanent magnets BLDC rotor create a constant magnetic flux, which limit the motor top speed. As the back electromotive force (EMF) voltage increases proportionally with motor rotational speed and it approaches the amplitude of the input voltage, the phase current amplitude will reach zero. By advancing the phase current, it is possible to extend the maximum speed of the BLDC motor beyond the rated top speed. This will allow smaller BLDC motor to be used in small electric vehicles (EV) and in larger applications will allow the use of BLDC motor without the use of multispeed transmission unit for high speed operation. However, increasing the speed of BLDC will affect the torque speed response. The torque output will decrease as speed increases. Adjusting the phase angle will affect the speed of the motor as each coil is energized earlier than the corresponding rise in the back emf of the coil. This paper discusses the phase advance strategy of Brushless DC motor by phase angle manipulation approaches using external hall sensors. Tests have been performed at different phase advance angles in advance and retard positions for different voltage levels applied. The objective is to create the external hall sensor system to commutate the BLDC motor, to establish the phase advance of the BLDC by varying the phase angle through external hall sensor manipulation, observe the respond of the motor while applying the phase advance by hall sensor adjustment.

Contribution of ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) insulation to the electrical performance of Riata® silicone leads having externalized conductors.

PubMed

Fischer, Avi; Klehn, Russell

2013-08-01

The insulation of St. Jude Medical Riata® leads contains a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) liner, silicone tubing, and ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) coating on individual cable conductors. ETFE has sufficient dielectric strength to assure electrical function. This investigation intended to analyze performance of leads with and without externalized conductors and with intact and breached ETFE. Testing was performed on ETFE-coated conductors to determine their ability to deliver high-voltage therapy. Tests were performed on samples under different conditions and current leakage was measured. A high-voltage test and a cyclic pulse test were performed, and the effect of lead modifications on the potential gradient from a high-voltage shock was used to determine functionality. Measurements from modified Riata® leads were compared with a control lead with all insulation and conducting elements intact. Current leakage for all conditions tested, was within the acceptance criteria for the high-voltage test and the cyclic pulse test. In conductors that underwent cyclic testing, the highest value of current leakage was within the limit of acceptability for both phases of the test. Testing of leads with externalized conductors and breached ETFE showed similar potential gradients compared with a control lead. Testing of ETFE-coated conductors following multiple preconditioning steps showed that ETFE serves as a redundant layer of insulation. In the event that the ETFE coating is breached, the potential gradient seen resulting from a high-voltage defibrillation shock was similar to a lead with no breach to the ETFE, even after 100 shocks.

Fluidic Active Transducer for Electricity Generation

PubMed Central

Yang, YoungJun; Park, Junwoo; Kwon, Soon-Hyung; Kim, Youn Sang

2015-01-01

Flows in small size channels have been studied for a long time over multidisciplinary field such as chemistry, biology and medical through the various topics. Recently, the attempts of electricity generation from the small flows as a new area for energy harvesting in microfluidics have been reported. Here, we propose for the first time a new fluidic electricity generator (FEG) by modulating the electric double layer (EDL) with two phase flows of water and air without external power sources. We find that an electric current flowed by the forming/deforming of the EDL with a simple separated phase flow of water and air at the surface of the FEG. Electric signals between two electrodes of the FEG are checked from various water/air passing conditions. Moreover, we verify the possibility of a self-powered air slug sensor by applying the FEG in the detection of an air slug. PMID:26511626

Carbon neutral electricity production by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 in a microbial fuel cell.

PubMed

Madiraju, Kartik S; Lyew, Darwin; Kok, Robert; Raghavan, Vijaya

2012-04-01

The aim of this work was to illustrate the use of photosynthetic microbes in a microbial fuel cell to produce electricity without the requirement of an external carbon source. This research here describes the use of a cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803, to produce electricity without any net CO(2) production in a two-chambered MFC. Conditions for optimum electricity production were determined through standardizing operating parameters. A maximum power density of 6.7mWm(-3)(anode chamber volume) was achieved under high intensity lighting (10,000lux). Light intensity and wavelength directly affected electricity production, indicating the pivotal role played by photosynthesis. The maximum removal of CO(2) was 625mmolm(-3) over 20h under high intensity light. The results presented here will contribute to the understanding of how cyanobacteria can be exploited for the direct conversion of CO(2) to electric current. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Megawatt level electric propulsion perspectives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jahn, Robert G.; Kelly, Arnold J.

1987-01-01

For long range space missions, deliverable payload fraction is an inverse exponential function of the propellant exhaust velocity or specific impulse of the propulsion system. The exhaust velocity of chemical systems are limited by their combustion chemistry and heat transfer to a few km/s. Nuclear rockets may achieve double this range, but are still heat transfer limited and ponderous to develop. Various electric propulsion systems can achieve exhaust velocities in the 10 km/s range, at considerably lower thrust densities, but require an external electrical power source. A general overview is provided of the currently available electric propulsion systems from the perspective of their characteristics as a terminal load for space nuclear systems. A summary of the available electric propulsion options is shown and generally characterized in the power vs. exhaust velocity plot. There are 3 general classes of electric thruster devices: neutral gas heaters, plasma devices, and space charge limited electrostatic or ion thrusters.

Electromagnetic interference from welding and motors on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators as tested in the electrically hostile work site.

PubMed

Fetter, J G; Benditt, D G; Stanton, M S

1996-08-01

This study was designed to determine the susceptibility of an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator to electromagnetic interference in an electrically hostile work site environment, with the ultimate goal of allowing the patient to return to work. Normal operation of an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator depends on reliable sensing of the heart's electrical activity. Consequently, there is concern that external electromagnetic interference from external sources in the work place, especially welding equipment or motor-generator systems, may be sensed and produce inappropriate shocks or abnormal reed switch operation, temporarily suspending detection of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The effects of electromagnetic interference on the operation of one type of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (Medtronic models 7217 and 7219) was measured by using internal event counter monitoring in 10 patients operating arc welders at up to 900 A or working near 200-hp motors and 1 patient close to a locomotive starter drawing up to 400 A. The electromagnetic interference produced two sources of potential interference on the sensing circuit or reed switch operation, respectively: 1) electrical fields with measured frequencies up to 50 MHz produced by the high currents during welding electrode activation, and 2) magnetic fields produced by the current in the welding electrode and cable. The defibrillator sensitivity was programmed to the highest (most sensitive) value: 0.15 mV (model 7219) or 0.3 mV (model 7217). The ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation therapies were temporarily turned off but the detection circuits left on. None of the implanted defibrillators tested were affected by oversensing of the electric field as verified by telemetry from the detection circuits. The magnetic field from 225-A welding current produced a flux density of 1.2 G; this density was not adequate to close the reed switch, which requires approximately 10 G. Our testing at the work site revealed no electrical interference with this type of defibrillator. Patients were allowed to return to work. The following precautions should be observed by the patient: 1) maintain a minimal distance of 2 ft (61 cm) from the welding arc and cables or large motors, 2) do not exceed tested currents with the welding equipment, 3) wear insulated gloves while operating electrical equipment, 4) verify that electrical equipment is properly grounded, and 5) stop welding and leave the work area immediately if a therapy is delivered or a feeling of lightheadedness is experienced.

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.

Investigation of the effects of external current systems on the MAGSAT data utilizing grid cell modeling techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klumpar, D. M. (Principal Investigator)

1982-01-01

Efforts in support of the development of a model of the magnetic fields due to ionospheric and magnetospheric electrical currents are discussed. Specifically, progress made in reading MAGSAT tapes and plotting the deviation of the measured magnetic field components with respect to a spherical harmonic model of the main geomagnetic field is reported. Initial tests of the modeling procedure developed to compute the ionosphere/magnetosphere-induced fields at satellite orbit are also described. The modeling technique utilizes a liner current element representation of the large scale current system.

Secondary emission electron gun using external primaries

DOEpatents

Srinivasan-Rao, Triveni [Shoreham, NY; Ben-Zvi, Ilan [Setauket, NY

2009-10-13

An electron gun for generating an electron beam is provided, which includes a secondary emitter. The secondary emitter includes a non-contaminating negative-electron-affinity (NEA) material and emitting surface. The gun includes an accelerating region which accelerates the secondaries from the emitting surface. The secondaries are emitted in response to a primary beam generated external to the accelerating region. The accelerating region may include a superconducting radio frequency (RF) cavity, and the gun may be operated in a continuous wave (CW) mode. The secondary emitter includes hydrogenated diamond. A uniform electrically conductive layer is superposed on the emitter to replenish the extracted current, preventing charging of the emitter. An encapsulated secondary emission enhanced cathode device, useful in a superconducting RF cavity, includes a housing for maintaining vacuum, a cathode, e.g., a photocathode, and the non-contaminating NEA secondary emitter with the uniform electrically conductive layer superposed thereon.

Secondary emission electron gun using external primaries

DOEpatents

Srinivasan-Rao, Triveni [Shoreham, NY; Ben-Zvi, Ilan [Setauket, NY; Kewisch, Jorg [Wading River, NY; Chang, Xiangyun [Middle Island, NY

2007-06-05

An electron gun for generating an electron beam is provided, which includes a secondary emitter. The secondary emitter includes a non-contaminating negative-electron-affinity (NEA) material and emitting surface. The gun includes an accelerating region which accelerates the secondaries from the emitting surface. The secondaries are emitted in response to a primary beam generated external to the accelerating region. The accelerating region may include a superconducting radio frequency (RF) cavity, and the gun may be operated in a continuous wave (CW) mode. The secondary emitter includes hydrogenated diamond. A uniform electrically conductive layer is superposed on the emitter to replenish the extracted current, preventing charging of the emitter. An encapsulated secondary emission enhanced cathode device, useful in a superconducting RF cavity, includes a housing for maintaining vacuum, a cathode, e.g., a photocathode, and the non-contaminating NEA secondary emitter with the uniform electrically conductive layer superposed thereon.

Highly durable piezo-electric energy harvester by a super toughened and flexible nanocomposite: effect of laponite nano-clay in poly(vinylidene fluoride)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Wahida; Ghosh, Sujoy Kumar; Ranjan Middya, Tapas; Mandal, Dipankar

2017-09-01

A highly durable piezoelectric energy harvester is introduced by integrating the toughness and flexibility of a non-electrically poled, laponite nano-clay mineral-induced γ-phase (up to 98%) in a poly(vinylidene-fluoride) (PVDF) matrix by a simple solvent evaporation technique. Owing to a superior electromechanical coupling effect, PVDF/laponite nanocomposites retain excellent biomechanical energy harvesting capabilities under external vibration (as high as 6 V output voltage and 70 nA output current under a compressive force of 300 N) and charge storage properties under an external high electric field (maximum 0.8~ \\text{J} \\text{c}{{\\text{m}}-3} of discharged energy density at a breakdown strength of 302 MV m-1). As a proof of concept, the fabricated nanogenerator (NG) possesses a high output power density (~6.3 mW m-2) that directly drives several consumer electronics without using any storage system or batteries. It paves the way for potential applicability in next generation electronics, particularly as a self-powered device and to configure sustainable internet of things (IoT) sensor networks.

A Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell without an Air Cathode

PubMed Central

Nimje, Vanita Roshan; Chen, Chien-Cheng; Chen, Hau-Ren; Chen, Chien-Yen; Tseng, Min-Jen; Cheng, Kai-Chien; Shih, Ruey-Chyuan; Chang, Young-Fo

2012-01-01

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a novel technology for wastewater treatment with electricity production. Electricity generation with simultaneous nitrate reduction in a single-chamber MFC without air cathode was studied, using glucose (1 mM) as the carbon source and nitrate (1 mM) as the final electron acceptor employed by Bacillus subtilis under anaerobic conditions. Increasing current as a function of decreased nitrate concentration and an increase in biomass were observed with a maximum current of 0.4 mA obtained at an external resistance (Rext) of 1 KΩ without a platinum catalyst of air cathode. A decreased current with complete nitrate reduction, with further recovery of the current immediately after nitrate addition, indicated the dependence of B. subtilis on nitrate as an electron acceptor to efficiently produce electricity. A power density of 0.0019 mW/cm2 was achieved at an Rext of 220 Ω. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) showed direct electron transfer with the involvement of mediators in the MFC. The low coulombic efficiency (CE) of 11% was mainly attributed to glucose fermentation. These results demonstrated that electricity generation is possible from wastewater containing nitrate, and this represents an alternative technology for the cost-effective and environmentally benign treatment of wastewater. PMID:22489190

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.

Lymphocyte Electrotaxis in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

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

2008-01-01

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

Lymphocyte electrotaxis in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

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

2008-08-15

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

Acoustic wave-driven oxidized liquid metal-based energy harvester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeon, Jinpyo; Chung, Sang Kug; Lee, Jeong-Bong; Doo, Seok Joo; Kim, Daeyoung

2018-06-01

We report an oxidized liquid metal droplet-based energy harvester that converts acoustic energy into electrical energy by modulating an electrical double layer that originates from the deformation of the oxidized liquid metal droplet. Gallium-based liquid metal alloy has been developed for various applications owing to the outstanding material properties, such as its high electrical conductivity (metallic property) and unlimited deformability (liquid property). In this study, we demonstrated energy harvesting using an electrical double layer between the acoustic wave-modulated liquid metal droplet and two electrodes. The proposed energy harvester consisted of top and bottom electrodes covered with the dielectric layer and a Gallium-based liquid metal droplet placed between the electrodes. When we applied an external bias voltage and acoustic wave to the proposed device, the contact area between the liquid metal droplet and the electrodes changed, leading to the variation of the capacitance in the electrical double layer and the generation of electrical output current. Using the proposed energy harvester, the maximum output current of 41.2 nA was generated with an applied acoustic wave of 30 Hz. In addition, we studied the relationships between the maximum output current and a variety of factors, such as the size of the liquid metal droplet, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer, and the distance between the top and bottom electrode plates.

Compensated pulsed alternator

DOEpatents

Weldon, William F.; Driga, Mircea D.; Woodson, Herbert H.

1980-01-01

This invention relates to an electromechanical energy converter with inertial energy storage. The device, a single phase, two or multi-pole alternator with stationary field coils, and a rotating armature is provided. The rotor itself may be of laminated steel for slower pulses or for faster pulses should be nonmagnetic and electrically nonconductive in order to allow rapid penetration of the field as the armature coil rotates. The armature coil comprises a plurality of power generating conductors mounted on the rotor. The alternator may also include a stationary or counterrotating compensating coil to increase the output voltage thereof and to reduce the internal impedance of the alternator at the moment of peak outout. As the machine voltage rises sinusoidally, an external trigger switch is adapted to be closed at the appropriate time to create the desired output current from said alternator to an external load circuit, and as the output current passes through zero a self-commutating effect is provided to allow the switch to disconnect the generator from the external circuit.

An ion-gated bipolar amplifier for ion sensing with enhanced signal and improved noise performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Da; Gao, Xindong; Chen, Si; Norström, Hans; Smith, Ulf; Solomon, Paul; Zhang, Shi-Li; Zhang, Zhen

2014-08-01

This work presents a proof-of-concept ion-sensitive device operating in electrolytes. The device, i.e., an ion-gated bipolar amplifier (IGBA), consists of a modified ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) intimately integrated with a vertical bipolar junction transistor for immediate current amplification without introducing additional noise. With the current non-optimized design, the IGBA is already characterized by a 70-fold internal amplification of the ISFET output signal. This signal amplification is retained when the IGBA is used for monitoring pH variations. The tight integration significantly suppresses the interference of the IGBA signal by external noise, which leads to an improvement in signal-to-noise performance compared to its ISFET reference. The IGBA concept is especially suitable for biochips with millions of electric sensors that are connected to peripheral readout circuitry via extensive metallization which may in turn invite external interferences leading to contamination of the signal before it reaches the first external amplification stage.

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.

Electronic structure and bonding properties of potassium (K) on graphite under external electric field.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tapia, Alejandro; Canto, Gabriel

2005-03-01

The effect of an external electric field on the potassium (K) adsorption on the graphite surface, are studied by means of first-principles total-energy calculations. The results were obtained with the pseudopotentials LCAO method (SIESTA code) and the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential. The structural parameters, bonding properties, and electronic structure of the K-graphite system are studied in the triangular (2x2) overlayer phase as a function of the external electric field magnitude. We find an important change in the K-graphite bonding as a consequence of the charge transfer from the adatom towards the substrate induced by the electric field. The results are discussed in the light of the experimental observed difussion of K into graphite induced by external electric fields. This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog'ia (CONACYT, M'exico) under Grants No. 43830-F and No. 44831-F.

Dual contact pogo pin assembly

DOEpatents

Hatch, Stephen McGarry

2015-01-20

A contact assembly includes a base and a pair of electrical contacts supported by the base. A first end of the first electrical contact corresponds to a first end of the base and is configured to engage a first external conductive circuit element. A first end of the second electrical contact also corresponds to the first end of the base and is configured to engage a second external conductive circuit element. The first contact and the second contact are electrically isolated from one another and configured to compress when engaging an external connector element. The base includes an aperture positioned on a second end of the base outboard of a second end of the first and second electrical contacts. The aperture presents a narrowing shape with a wide mouth distal the electrical contacts and a narrow internal through-hole proximate the electrical contacts.

Dual contact pogo pin assembly

DOEpatents

Hatch, Stephen McGarry

2016-06-21

A contact assembly includes a base and a pair of electrical contacts supported by the base. A first end of the first electrical contact corresponds to a first end of the base and is configured to engage a first external conductive circuit element. A first end of the second electrical contact also corresponds to the first end of the base and is configured to engage a second external conductive circuit element. The first contact and the second contact are electrically isolated from one another and configured to compress when engaging an external connector element. The base includes an aperture positioned on a second end of the base outboard of a second end of the first and second electrical contacts. The aperture presents a narrowing shape with a wide mouth distal the electrical contacts and a narrow internal through-hole proximate the electrical contacts.

Direct-current triboelectricity generation by a sliding Schottky nanocontact on MoS2 multilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jun; Goswami, Ankur; Jiang, Keren; Khan, Faheem; Kim, Seokbeom; McGee, Ryan; Li, Zhi; Hu, Zhiyu; Lee, Jungchul; Thundat, Thomas

2018-02-01

The direct conversion of mechanical energy into electricity by nanomaterial-based devices offers potential for green energy harvesting1-3. A conventional triboelectric nanogenerator converts frictional energy into electricity by producing alternating current (a.c.) triboelectricity. However, this approach is limited by low current density and the need for rectification2. Here, we show that continuous direct-current (d.c.) with a maximum density of 106 A m-2 can be directly generated by a sliding Schottky nanocontact without the application of an external voltage. We demonstrate this by sliding a conductive-atomic force microscope tip on a thin film of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Finite element simulation reveals that the anomalously high current density can be attributed to the non-equilibrium carrier transport phenomenon enhanced by the strong local electrical field (105-106 V m-2) at the conductive nanoscale tip4. We hypothesize that the charge transport may be induced by electronic excitation under friction, and the nanoscale current-voltage spectra analysis indicates that the rectifying Schottky barrier at the tip-sample interface plays a critical role in efficient d.c. energy harvesting. This concept is scalable when combined with microfabricated or contact surface modified electrodes, which makes it promising for efficient d.c. triboelectricity generation.

Magnetic and electric bulge-test instrument for the determination of coupling mechanical properties of functional free-standing films and flexible electronics

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

Yu, Zejun; Li, Faxin; Pei, Yongmao, E-mail: peiym@pku.edu.cn, E-mail: fangdn@pku.edu.cn

2014-06-15

For the first time a novel multi-field bulge-test instrument which enables measurements of the biaxial mechanical properties and electro-magnetic-mechanical coupling effect of free-standing films in external magnetic/electric fields was proposed. The oil pressure was designed with two ranges, 0–1 MPa for elastic small deformation and 0–7 MPa for plastic/damage large deformation. A magnetic field that was horizontal and uniform in the film plane was supplied by a hollow cylindrical magnet. The magnitude could be changed from 0 to 10 000 Oe by adjusting the position of the testing film. Meanwhile, an electric field applied on the film was provided by amore » voltage source (Maximum voltage: 1000 V; Maximum current: 1 A). Various signals related to deformation, mechanical loading, magnetic field, and electric field could be measured simultaneously without mutual interference, which was confirmed by the coincidence of the measured P-H curves for titanium (Ti)/nickel (Ni) specimens with/without external fields. A hardening phenomenon under magnetic/electric fields was observed for Ni and lead zirconate titanate specimens. The multi-field bulge-test instrument will provide a powerful research tool to study the deformation mechanism of functional films and flexible electronics in the coupling field.« less

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

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

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

2014-01-01

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

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

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

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

2014-11-15

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

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

PubMed

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

2014-11-01

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

10 CFR 50.49 - Environmental qualification of electric equipment important to safety for nuclear power plants.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... occurrences, design basis accidents, external events, and natural phenomena for which the plant must be... important to safety, (2) protection of electric equipment important to safety against other natural phenomena and external events, and (3) environmental qualification of electric equipment important to safety...

External cardiac compression may be harmful in some scenarios of pulseless electrical activity.

PubMed

Hogan, T S

2012-10-01

Pulseless electrical activity occurs when organised or semi-organised electrical activity of the heart persists but the product of systemic vascular resistance and the increase in systemic arterial flow generated by the ejection of the left venticular stroke volume is not sufficient to produce a clinically detectable pulse. Pulseless electrical activity encompasses a very heterogeneous variety of severe circulatory shock states ranging in severity from pseudo-cardiac arrest to effective cardiac arrest. Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pulseless electrical activity are generally poor. Impairment of cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output in many scenarios of pulseless electrical activity, including extreme vasodilatory shock states. There is no evidence that external cardiac compression can increase cardiac output when impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output. If impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output and the heart is effectively ejecting all the blood returning to it, then external cardiac compression can only increase cardiac output if it increases venous return and cardiac filling. Repeated cardiac compression asynchronous with the patient's cardiac cycle and raised mean intrathoracic pressure due to chest compression can be expected to reduce rather than to increase cardiac filling and therefore to reduce rather than to increase cardiac output in such circumstances. The hypothesis is proposed that the performance of external cardiac compression will have zero or negative effect on cardiac output in pulseless electrical activity when impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output. External cardiac compression may be both directly and indirectly harmful to significant sub-groups of patients with pulseless electrical activity. We have neither evidence nor theory to provide comfort that external cardiac compression is not harmful in many scenarios of pulseless electrical activity. Investigation using a variety of animal models of pulseless electrical activity produced by different shock-inducing mechanisms is required to provide an evidence base for resuscitation guidelines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anomalous transport from holography: part II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Yanyan; Lublinsky, Michael; Sharon, Amir

2017-03-01

This is a second study of chiral anomaly-induced transport within a holographic model consisting of anomalous U(1)_V× U(1)_A Maxwell theory in Schwarzschild-AdS_5 spacetime. In the first part, chiral magnetic/separation effects (CME/CSE) are considered in the presence of a static spatially inhomogeneous external magnetic field. Gradient corrections to CME/CSE are analytically evaluated up to third order in the derivative expansion. Some of the third order gradient corrections lead to an anomaly-induced negative B^2-correction to the diffusion constant. We also find modifications to the chiral magnetic wave nonlinear in B. In the second part, we focus on the experimentally interesting case of the axial chemical potential being induced dynamically by a constant magnetic and time-dependent electric fields. Constitutive relations for the vector/axial currents are computed employing two different approximations: (a) derivative expansion (up to third order) but fully nonlinear in the external fields, and (b) weak electric field limit but resuming all orders in the derivative expansion. A non-vanishing nonlinear axial current (CSE) is found in the first case. The dependence on magnetic field and frequency of linear transport coefficient functions is explored in the second.

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

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheldon, R. B.

1994-01-01

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

Magnetic field sensor based on the Ampere's force using dual-polarization DBR fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Shuang; Zhang, Yang; Guan, Baiou

2015-08-01

A novel magnetic field sensor using distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) fiber laser by Ampere's force effect is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The key sensing element, that is the dual-polarization DBR fiber laser, is fixed on the middle part of two copper plates which carry the current. Ampere's force is applied onto the coppers due to an external magnetic field generated by a DC solenoid. Thus, the lateral force from the coppers is converted to a corresponding beat frequency signal shift produced by the DBR laser. The electric current sensing is also realized by the same configuration and same principle simultaneously in an intuitive manner. Good agreement between the theory calculation and the experimental results is obtained, which shows a good linearity. This sensor's sensitivity to the magnetic field and to the electric current finally reaches ~258.92 kHz/mT and ~1.08727 MHz/A, respectively.

Long-range effect of a Zeeman field on the electric current through the helical metal-superconductor interface in an Andreev interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mal'shukov, A. G.

2018-02-01

It is shown that the spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions result in phase shifts of Andreev-reflected holes propagating at the surface of a topological insulator, or in Rashba spin-orbit-coupled two-dimensional normal metals, which are in contact with an s -wave superconductor. Due to interference of holes reflected through different paths of the Andreev interferometer the electric current through external contacts varies depending on the strength and direction of the Zeeman field. It also depends on mutual orientations of Zeeman fields in different shoulders of the interferometer. Such a nonlocal effect is a result of the long-range coherency caused by the superconducting proximity effect. This current has been calculated within the semiclassical theory for Green's functions in the diffusive regime, by assuming a strong disorder due to elastic scattering of electrons.

Feedback control of persistent-current oscillation based on the atomic-clock technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Deshui; Dumke, Rainer

2018-05-01

We propose a scheme of stabilizing the persistent-current Rabi oscillation based on the flux qubit-resonator-atom hybrid structure. The low-Q L C resonator weakly interacts with the flux qubit and maps the persistent-current Rabi oscillation of the flux qubit onto the intraresonator electric field. This oscillating electric field is further coupled to a Rydberg-Rydberg transition of the 87Rb atoms. The Rabi-frequency fluctuation of the flux qubit is deduced from measuring the atomic population via the fluorescence detection and stabilized by feedback controlling the external flux bias. Our numerical simulation indicates that the feedback-control method can efficiently suppress the background fluctuations in the flux qubit, especially in the low-frequency limit. This technique may be extensively applicable to different types of superconducting circuits, paving a way to long-term-coherence superconducting quantum information processing.

Electron penetration of spacecraft thermal insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powers, W. L.; Adams, B. F.; Inouye, G. T.

1981-01-01

The external thermal blanket with 13 mils of polyethylene which has the known range and stopping power as a function of electron energy is investiated. The most recent omnidirectional peak Jovian electron flux at 5 Jupiter radii is applied, the electron current penetrating the thermal blanket is calculated and allowed to impinge on a typical 20 mil polyethylene insulator surrounding a wire. The radiation dose rate to the insulator is then calculated and the electrical conductivity found. The results demonstrate that the increased electronic mobility is sufficient to keep the maximum induced electric field two orders of magnitude below the critical breakdown strength.

Adaptive electric potential sensors for smart signal acquisition and processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prance, R. J.; Beardsmore-Rust, S.; Prance, H.; Harland, C. J.; Stiffell, P. B.

2007-07-01

Current applications of the Electric Potential Sensor operate in a strongly (capacitively) coupled limit, with the sensor physically close to or touching the source. This mode of operation screens the sensor effectively from the majority of external noise. To date however the full capability of these sensors operating in a remote mode has not been realised outside of a screened environment (Faraday cage). This paper describes the results of preliminary work in tailoring the response of the sensors to particular signals and so reject background noise, thereby enhancing both the dynamic range and signal to noise ratio significantly.

Thermal properties of alkali-activated aluminosilicates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Florian, Pavel; Valentova, Katerina; Fiala, Lukas; Zmeskal, Oldrich

2017-07-01

The paper is focused on measurements and evaluation of thermal properties of alkali-activated aluminosilicates (AAA) with various carbon admixtures. Such composites consisting of blast-furnace slag, quartz sand, water glass as alkali activator and small amount of electrically conductive carbon admixture exhibit better electric and thermal properties than the reference material. Such enhancement opens up new practical applications, such as designing of snow-melting, de-icing or self-sensing systems that do not need any external sensors to detect current condition of building material. Thermal properties of the studied materials were measured by the step-wise transient method and mutually compared.

Photoassisted electrolysis of water - Conversion of optical to chemical energy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wrighton, M. S.; Bolts, J. M.; Kaiser, S. W.; Ellis, A. B.

1976-01-01

A description is given of devices, termed photoelectrochemical cells, which can, in principle, be used to directly convert light to fuels and/or electricity. The fundamental principles on which the photoelectrochemical cell is based are related to the observation that irradiation of a semiconductor electrode in an electrochemical cell can result in the flow of an electric current in the external circuit. Attention is given to the basic mechanisms involved, the energy conversion efficiency, the advantages of photoelectrochemical cells, and the results of investigations related to the study of energy conversion via photoelectrochemical cells.

High saturation solar light beam induced current scanning of solar cells.

PubMed

Vorster, F J; van Dyk, E E

2007-01-01

The response of the electrical parameters of photovoltaic cells under concentrated solar irradiance has been the subject of many studies performed in recent times. The high saturation conditions typically found in solar cells that are subjected to highly concentrated solar radiation may cause electrically active cell features to behave differently than under monochromatic laser illumination, normally used in light beam induced current (LBIC) investigations. A high concentration solar LBIC (S-LBIC) measurement system has been developed to perform localized cell characterization. The responses of silicon solar cells that were measured qualitatively include externally biased induced cell current at specific cell voltages, I(V), open circuit voltage, V(oc), and the average rate of change of the cell bias with the induced current, DeltaV/DeltaI(V), close to the zero bias region. These images show the relative scale of the parameters of a cell up to the penetration depth of the solar beam and can be obtained with relative ease, qualifying important electrical response features of the solar cell. The S-LBIC maps were also compared with maps that were similarly obtained using a high intensity He-Ne laser beam probe. This article reports on the techniques employed and initial results obtained.

Bioconversion of cellulose into electrical energy in microbial fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rismani-Yazdi, Hamid

In microbial fuel cells (MFCs), bacteria generate electricity by mediating the oxidation of organic compounds and transferring the resulting electrons to an anode electrode. The first objective of this study was to test the possibility of generating electricity with rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts and cellulose as the electron donor in two-compartment MFCs. Maximum power density reached 55 mW/m2 (1.5 mA, 313 mV) with cellulose as the electron donor. Cellulose hydrolysis and electrode reduction were shown to support the production of current. The electrical current was sustained for over two months with periodic cellulose addition. Clarified rumen fluid and a soluble carbohydrate mixture, serving as the electron donors, could also sustain power output. The second objective was to analyze the composition of the bacterial communities enriched in the cellulose-fed MFCs. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the microbial communities differed when different substrates were used in the MFCs. The anode-attached and the suspended consortia were shown to be different within the same MFC. Cloning and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the most predominant bacteria in the anode-attached consortia were related to Clostridium spp., while Comamonas spp. was abundant in the suspended consortia. The external resistance affects the characteristic outputs of MFCs by controlling the flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode. The third objective of this study was to determine the effect of various external resistances on power output and coulombic efficiency of cellulose-fed MFCs. Four external resistances (20, 249, 480, and 1000 ohms) were tested with a systematic approach of operating parallel MFCs independently at constant circuit loads for three months. A maximum power density of 66 mWm-2 was achieved by MFCs with 20 ohms circuit load, while MFCs with 249, 480 and1000 ohms external resistances produced 57.5, 53 and 47 mWm-2, respectively. The anode potential varied under the different circuit loads employed. Higher coulombic efficiencies were achieved in MFCs with lower external resistance. The effect of different external resistances on the bacterial diversity and metabolism in cellulose-fed MFCs was investigated as the fourth objective. DGGE analysis of partial 16S rRNA genes showed clear differences between the planktonic and the anode-attached populations at various external resistances. Cellulose degradation was complete (< 0.1% residual), and there were no discernible differences among the MFCs. HPLC analysis of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) revealed that anaerobic degradation of cellulose was accompanied by production of acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric, and lactic acids, with acetic acid being predominant. The profile of metabolites was different among the MFCs. The concentrations of SCFA were higher in MFCs with larger external resistance. High levels of SCFA indicated that fermentative metabolism dominated over anaerobic respiration, resulting in relatively low coulombic efficiencies. The accumulation of SCFA at higher circuit resistances corresponded to lower power outputs. Methanogenesis shifts the flow of electrons available from the substrate away from electricity generation in MFCs. The fifth objective of this research was to assess the influence of methane formation on the performance of cellulose-fed MFCs under long-term operation. A maximum volumetric power density of 3.5 W m-3 was achieved in R20O MFCs, which was three times greater than that obtained with R100O MFCs (1.03 W m-3). The diversity of methanogens in cellulose-fed MFCs was also characterized. It was shown that the suppression of methanogenesis was accompanied by a decrease in the diversity of methanogens and changes in the concentration of SCFA, as revealed by DGGE analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes and HPLC analysis, respectively. Analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene Sequences indicated that the most predominant methanogens were related to the family Methanobacteriaceae . The results demonstrate that electricity can be generated from cellulose by exploiting rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts. Results suggest that oxidation of metabolites with the anode as an electron sink was a rate limiting step in the conversion of cellulose to electricity in MFCs. This study also demonstrates that the size of external resistance significantly affects the bacterial diversity and characteristic output of MFCs. Thus the external resistance may be a useful tool to control microbial communities and consequently enhance performance of MFCs. Furthermore, this study shows that methanogenesis competes with electricity generation at the early stages of MFC operation but operating conditions suppress methanogenic activity over time. An improved understanding of the microbial communities, interspecies interactions and processes involved in electricity generation is essential to effectively design and control cellulose-fed MFCs for enhanced performance. In addition, technical and biological optimization is needed to maximize power output of these systems.

Non Invasive Sensors for Monitoring the Efficiency of AC Electrical Rotating Machines

PubMed Central

Zidat, Farid; Lecointe, Jean-Philippe; Morganti, Fabrice; Brudny, Jean-François; Jacq, Thierry; Streiff, Frédéric

2010-01-01

This paper presents a non invasive method for estimating the energy efficiency of induction motors used in industrial applications. This method is innovative because it is only based on the measurement of the external field emitted by the motor. The paper describes the sensors used, how they should be placed around the machine in order to decouple the external field components generated by both the air gap flux and the winding end-windings. The study emphasizes the influence of the eddy currents flowing in the yoke frame on the sensor position. A method to estimate the torque from the external field use is proposed. The measurements are transmitted by a wireless module (Zig-Bee) and they are centralized and stored on a PC computer. PMID:22163631

Non invasive sensors for monitoring the efficiency of AC electrical rotating machines.

PubMed

Zidat, Farid; Lecointe, Jean-Philippe; Morganti, Fabrice; Brudny, Jean-François; Jacq, Thierry; Streiff, Frédéric

2010-01-01

This paper presents a non invasive method for estimating the energy efficiency of induction motors used in industrial applications. This method is innovative because it is only based on the measurement of the external field emitted by the motor. The paper describes the sensors used, how they should be placed around the machine in order to decouple the external field components generated by both the air gap flux and the winding end-windings. The study emphasizes the influence of the eddy currents flowing in the yoke frame on the sensor position. A method to estimate the torque from the external field use is proposed. The measurements are transmitted by a wireless module (Zig-Bee) and they are centralized and stored on a PC computer.

Spin polarization effects and their time evolutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vernes, A.; Weinberger, P.

2015-04-01

The time evolution of the density corresponding to the polarization operator, originally constructed to commute with the Dirac Hamiltonian in the absence of an external electromagnetic field, is investigated in terms of the time-dependent Dirac equation taking the presence of an external electromagnetic field into account. It is found that this time evolution leads to 'tensorial' and 'vectorial' particle current densities and to the interaction of the spin density with the external electromagnetic field. As the time evolution of the spin density does not refer to a constant of motion (continuity condition) it only serves as auxiliary density. By taking the non-relativistic limit, it is shown that the polarization, spin and magnetization densities are independent of electric field effects and, in addition, no preferred directions can be defined.

Electrical Stressing Induced Monolayer Vacancy Island Growth on TiSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Husong; Valtierra, Salvador; Ofori-Opoku, Nana; Chen, Chuanhui; Sun, Lifei; Yuan, Shuaishuai; Jiao, Liying; Bevan, Kirk H.; Tao, Chenggang

2018-03-01

To ensure the practical application of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides, it is essential to characterize their structural stability under external stimuli such as electric fields and currents. Using vacancy monolayer islands on TiSe2 surfaces as a model system, for the first time we have observed a shape evolution and growth from triangular to hexagonal driven by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) electrical stressing. The size of islands shows linear growth with a rate of (3.00 +- 0.05) x 10-3 nm/s, when the STM scanning parameters are held fixed at Vs = 1.0 V and I = 1.8 nA. We further quantified how the growth rate is related to the tunneling current magnitude. Our simulations of monolayer island evolution using phase-field modeling are in good agreement with our experimental observations, and point towards preferential edge atom dissociation under STM scanning driving the observed growth. The results could be potentially important for device applications of ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides and related 2D materials subject to electrical stressing under device operating conditions.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2011-10-01

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

Electricity generation and wastewater treatment of oil refinery in microbial fuel cells using Pseudomonas putida.

PubMed

Majumder, Dip; Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Tseng, Min-Jen; Nimje, Vanita Roshan; Chen, Hau-Ren; Chen, Chien-Cheng; Chang, Young-Fo; Yang, Tsui-Chu; Chen, Chen-Yen

2014-09-22

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a novel platform for treating wastewater and at the same time generating electricity. Using Pseudomonas putida (BCRC 1059), a wild-type bacterium, we demonstrated that the refinery wastewater could be treated and also generate electric current in an air-cathode chamber over four-batch cycles for 63 cumulative days. Our study indicated that the oil refinery wastewater containing 2213 mg/L (ppm) chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be used as a substrate for electricity generation in the reactor of the MFC. A maximum voltage of 355 mV was obtained with the highest power density of 0.005 mW/cm² in the third cycle with a maximum current density of 0.015 mA/cm² in regard to the external resistor of 1000 Ω. A maximum coulombic efficiency of 6 × 10⁻²% was obtained in the fourth cycle. The removal efficiency of the COD reached 30% as a function of time. Electron transfer mechanism was studied using cyclic voltammetry, which indicated the presence of a soluble electron shuttle in the reactor. Our study demonstrated that oil refinery wastewater could be used as a substrate for electricity generation.

Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment of Oil Refinery in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Pseudomonas putida

PubMed Central

Majumder, Dip; Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Tseng, Min-Jen; Nimje, Vanita Roshan; Chen, Hau-Ren; Chen, Chien-Cheng; Chang, Young-Fo; Yang, Tsui-Chu; Chen, Chen-Yen

2014-01-01

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a novel platform for treating wastewater and at the same time generating electricity. Using Pseudomonas putida (BCRC 1059), a wild-type bacterium, we demonstrated that the refinery wastewater could be treated and also generate electric current in an air-cathode chamber over four-batch cycles for 63 cumulative days. Our study indicated that the oil refinery wastewater containing 2213 mg/L (ppm) chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be used as a substrate for electricity generation in the reactor of the MFC. A maximum voltage of 355 mV was obtained with the highest power density of 0.005 mW/cm2 in the third cycle with a maximum current density of 0.015 mA/cm2 in regard to the external resistor of 1000 Ω. A maximum coulombic efficiency of 6 × 10−2% was obtained in the fourth cycle. The removal efficiency of the COD reached 30% as a function of time. Electron transfer mechanism was studied using cyclic voltammetry, which indicated the presence of a soluble electron shuttle in the reactor. Our study demonstrated that oil refinery wastewater could be used as a substrate for electricity generation. PMID:25247576

Modeling of the coupled magnetospheric and neutral wind dynamos

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thayer, Jeff P.

1993-01-01

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

When the Earth Speaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freund, F. T.

2005-12-01

Earthquake forecasting is an elusive goal, not only for seismology. It has been reported that, before major earthquakes, the Earth sends out signals. Most of these signals point to transient electric currents in the Earth's crust. To search for the cause of such currents attention has focused - for decades, but in vain - on piezoelectricity, a property of quartz, an abundant mineral in certain rocks. The fact that no generally accepted, physics-based mechanism for the generation of large currents was available has caused considerable confusion. As part of a program to study electrical signals during rock deformation we have made an amazing discovery: when we squeeze one end of a 1.2 m long slab of granite (or quartz-free rocks such as anorthosite or gabbro), we record two electric currents. The currents flow out of the stressed rock without any externally applied voltage. One current, carried by electrons, flows from the stressed rock volume directly to ground. The other current, carried by defect electrons or holes, flows through the full length of the unstressed rock and out the far end. The two currents are of equal magnitude and opposite sign. They are coupled and fluctuate. We understand where the currents come from, how the two types of electronic charge carriers are activated by stress, and how they propagate through the rocks. The discovery of these currents offers a physical basis to re-evaluate a range of electric and electromagnetic signals that have long been reported in connection with impending earthquake activity but seemed to be so difficult, if not impossible, to explain. It offers the opportunity to re-evaluate non-seismic (and non-geodesic) pre-earthquake signals as tools to forecast impending earthquake activity.

Auto-magnetizing liners for magnetized inertial fusion

DOE PAGES

Slutz, S. A.; Jennings, C. A.; Awe, T. J.; ...

2017-01-20

Here, the MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) concept has demonstrated fusion-relevant plasma conditions on the Z accelerator using external field coils to magnetize the fuel before compression. We present a novel concept (AutoMag), which uses a composite liner with helical conduction paths separated by insulating material to provide fuel magnetization from the early part of the drive current, which by design rises slowly enough to avoid electrical breakdown of the insulators. Once the magnetization field is established, the drive current rises more quickly, which causes the insulators to break down allowing the drive current to follow an axial path andmore » implode the liner in the conventional z-pinch manner. There are two important advantages to AutoMag over external field coils for the operation of MagLIF. Low inductance magnetically insulated power feeds can be used to increase the drive current, and AutoMag does not interfere with diagnostic access. Also, AutoMag enables a pathway to energy applications for MagLIF, since expensive field coils will not be damaged each shot. Finally, it should be possible to generate Field Reversed Configurations (FRC) by using both external field coils and AutoMag in opposite polarities. This would provide a means to studying FRC liner implosions on the 100 ns time scale.« less

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.

30 CFR 18.23 - Limitation of external surface temperatures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., EVALUATION, AND APPROVAL OF MINING PRODUCTS ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Construction... external surfaces of mechanical or electrical components shall not exceed 150 °C. (302 °F.) under normal...

Biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field.

PubMed

Kim, Young C; Furchtgott, Leon A; Hummer, Gerhard

2009-12-31

Time-dependent external perturbations provide powerful probes of the function of molecular machines. Here we study biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field. The protein cytochrome c oxidase is the main energy transducer in aerobic life, converting chemical energy into an electric potential by pumping protons across a membrane. With the help of master-equation descriptions that recover the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this biological "fuel cell," we show that the proton pumping efficiency and the electronic currents in steady state depend significantly on the frequency and amplitude of the applied field, allowing us to distinguish between different microscopic mechanisms of the machine. A spectral analysis reveals dominant reaction steps consistent with an electron-gated pumping mechanism.

Modulating the band gap of a boron nitride bilayer with an external electric field for photocatalyst

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

Tang, Y. R.; Cao, J. X., E-mail: jxcao@xtu.edu.cn; Zhang, Y.

2016-05-21

By virtue of first principle calculations, we propose an approach to reduce the band gap of layered semiconductors through the application of external electric fields for photocatalysis. As a typical example, the band gap of a boron nitride (BN) bilayer was reduced in the range from 4.45 eV to 0.3 eV by varying the external electric field strength. More interestingly, it is found that the uppermost valence band and the lowest conduction band are dominated by the N-p{sub z} and B-p{sub z} from different layers of the BN sheet, which suggests a wonderful photoexcited electron and hole separation system for photocatalysis. Ourmore » results imply that the strong external electric field can present an abrupt polarized surface.« less

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.

Spinomotive force induced by a transverse displacement current in a thin metal or doped-semiconductor sheet: Classical and quantum views.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Chia-Ren

2004-03-01

We present classical macroscopic, microscopic, and quantum mechanical arguments to show that in a metallic or electron/hole-doped semiconducting sheet thinner than the screening length, a displacement current applied normal to it can induce a spinomotive force along it. The magnitude is weak but clearly detectable. The classical arguments are purely electromagnetic. The quantum argument, based on the Dirac equation, shows that the predicted effect originates from the spin-orbit interaction, but not of the usual kind. That is, it relies on an external electric field, whereas the usual S-O interaction involves the electric field generated by the ions. Because the Dirac equation incorporatesThomas precession, which is due to relativistic kinematics, the quantum prediction is a factor of two smaller than the classical prediction. Replacing the displacement current by a charge current, and one obtains a new source for the spin-Hall effect. Classical macroscopic argument also predicts its existence, but the other two views are controversial.

Electrical features of eighteen automated external defibrillators: a systematic evaluation.

PubMed

Kette, Fulvio; Locatelli, Aldo; Bozzola, Marcella; Zoli, Alberto; Li, Yongqin; Salmoiraghi, Marco; Ristagno, Giuseppe; Andreassi, Aida

2013-11-01

Assessment and comparison of the electrical parameters (energy, current, first and second phase waveform duration) among eighteen AEDs. Engineering bench tests for a descriptive systematic evaluation in commercially available AEDs. AEDs were tested through an ECG simulator, an impedance simulator, an oscilloscope and a measuring device detecting energy delivered, peak and average current, and duration of first and second phase of the biphasic waveforms. All tests were performed at the engineering facility of the Lombardia Regional Emergency Service (AREU). Large variations in the energy delivered at the first shock were observed. The trend of current highlighted a progressive decline concurrent with the increases of impedance. First and second phase duration varied substantially among the AEDs using the exponential biphasic waveform, unlike rectilinear waveform AEDs in which phase duration remained relatively constant. There is a large variability in the electrical features of the AEDs tested. Energy is likely not to be the best indicator for strength dose selection. Current and shock duration should be both considered when approaching the technical features of AEDs. These findings may prompt further investigations to define the optimal current and duration of the shock waves to increase the success rate in the clinical setting. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron drag in ferromagnetic structures separated by an insulating interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozub, V. I.; Muradov, M. I.; Galperin, Y. M.

2018-06-01

We consider electron drag in a system of two ferromagnetic layers separated by an insulating interface. The source of it is expected to be magnon-electron interactions. Namely, we assume that the external voltage is applied to the "active" layer stimulating electric current through this layer. In its turn, the scattering of the current-carrying electrons by magnons leads to a magnon drag current within this layer. The 3-magnons interactions between magnons in the two layers (being of non-local nature) lead to magnon drag within the "passive" layer which, correspondingly, produce electron drag current via processes of magnon-electron scattering. We estimate the drag current and compare it to the phonon-induced one.

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.

Optically Tunable Resistive-Switching Memory in Multiferroic Heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Ming; Ni, Hao; Xu, Xiaoke; Qi, Yaping; Li, Xiaomin; Gao, Ju

2018-04-01

Electronic phase separation has been used to realize exotic functionalities in complex oxides with external stimuli, such as magnetic field, electric field, current, light, strain, etc. Using the Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3/0.7 Pb (Mg1 /3Nb2 /3)O3-0 .3 PbTiO3 multiferroic heterostructure as a model system, we investigate the electric field and light cocontrol of phase separation in resistive switching. The electric-field-induced nonvolatile electroresistance response is achieved at room temperature using reversible ferroelastic domain switching, which can be robustly modified on illumination of light. Moreover, the electrically controlled ferroelastic strain can effectively enhance the visible-light-induced photoresistance effect. These findings demonstrate that the electric-field- and light-induced effects strongly correlate with each other and are essentially driven by electronic phase separation. Our work opens a gate to design electrically tunable multifunctional storage devices based on multiferroic heterostructures by adding light as an extra control parameter.

Switching of the polarization of ferroelectric-ferroelastic gadolinium molybdate in a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yakushkin, E. D.

2017-10-01

A change in the character of the electric switching of polydomain ferroelectric-ferroelastic gadolinium molybdate in an external magnetic field has been detected. This change has been attributed to a magnetically stimulated increase in the pinning of domain walls. Under certain conditions, the loop of switchable polarization is degenerated into an ellipse characteristic of a linear insulator with leakage current.

Skeleton-supported stochastic networks of organic memristive devices: Adaptations and learning

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

Erokhina, Svetlana; Sorokin, Vladimir; Erokhin, Victor, E-mail: victor.erokhin@fis.unipr.it

Stochastic networks of memristive devices were fabricated using a sponge as a skeleton material. Cyclic voltage-current characteristics, measured on the network, revealed properties, similar to the organic memristive device with deterministic architecture. Application of the external training resulted in the adaptation of the network electrical properties. The system revealed an improved stability with respect to the networks, composed from polymer fibers.

Observation of turnover of spontaneous polarization in ferroelectric layer of pentacene/poly-(vinylidene-trifluoroethylene) double-layer capacitor under photo illumination by optical second-harmonic generation measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Zhemin; Taguchi, Dai; Manaka, Takaaki; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

2016-04-01

The details of turnover process of spontaneous polarization and associated carrier motions in indium-tin oxide/poly-(vinylidene-trifluoroethylene)/pentacene/Au capacitor were analyzed by coupling displacement current measurement (DCM) and electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) measurement. A model was set up from DCM results to depict the relationship between electric field in semiconductor layer and applied external voltage, proving that photo illumination effect on the spontaneous polarization process lied in variation of semiconductor conductivity. The EFISHG measurement directly and selectively probed the electric field distribution in semiconductor layer, modifying the model and revealing detailed carrier behaviors involving photo illumination effect, dipole reversal, and interfacial charging in the device. A further decrease of DCM current in the low voltage region under illumination was found as the result of illumination effect, and the result was argued based on the changing of the total capacitance of the double-layer capacitors.

Method for transferring thermal energy and electrical current in thin-film electrochemical cells

DOEpatents

Rouillard, Roger [Beloeil, CA; Domroese, Michael K [South St. Paul, MN; Hoffman, Joseph A [Minneapolis, MN; Lindeman, David D [Hudson, WI; Noel, Joseph-Robert-Gaetan [St-Hubert, CA; Radewald, Vern E [Austin, TX; Ranger, Michel [Lachine, CA; Sudano, Anthony [Laval, CA; Trice, Jennifer L [Eagan, MN; Turgeon, Thomas A [Fridley, MN

2003-05-27

An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure. The electrochemical generator may be disposed in a hermetically sealed housing.

Power generation by flagella-propelled Serratia Marcescens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Trung-Hieu; Kim, Min Jun; Byun, Doyoung

2010-11-01

In this study, we present electrical power generation by using swimming Serratia marcescens which is a rod shaped bacterium species and has about 10 um long and about 20 nm thin helical filaments. Flow in micro channel is driven by bacteria attached on the wall, which is around 25 to 50 μm/sec. The driven electrolyte solution flow (buffer solution containing high concentration of S. marcescens) may be considered as movement of conductor. If we place permanent magnets on the top and bottom of the micro channel and electrodes on side walls in the micro channel, electrical current could be generated by the principle of Lorentz force acting on the moving charges. The potential between the two electrodes was measured to be up to 10mV and the electrical current was about 10pA with external load 50 Ohm. Even if the energy generated by bacteria swimming is small, it demonstrated the possible generation of power, which requires in-depth further research.

Liquid phase electroepitaxial bulk growth of binary and ternary alloy semiconductors under external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheibani, Hamdi

2002-01-01

Liquid Phase Electroepitaxy (LPEE) and is a relatively new, promising technique for producing high quality, thick compound semiconductors and their alloys. The main objectives are to reduce the adverse effect of natural convection and to determine the optimum growth conditions for reproducible desired crystals for the optoelectronic and electronic device industry. Among the available techniques for suppressing the adverse effect of natural convection, the application of an external magnetic field seems the most feasible one. The research work in this dissertation consists of two parts. The first part is focused on the design and development of a state of the art LPEE facility with a novel crucible design, that can produce bulk crystals of quality higher than those achieved by the existing LPEE system. A growth procedure was developed to take advantage of this novel crucible design. The research of the growth of InGaAs single crystals presented in this thesis will be a basis for the future LPEE growth of other important material and is an ideal vehicle for the development of a ternary crystal growth process. The second part of the research program is the experimental study of the LPEE growth process of high quality bulk single crystals of binary/ternary semiconductors under applied magnetic field. The compositional uniformity of grown crystals was measured by Electron Probe Micro-analysis (EPMA) and X-ray microanalysis. The state-of-the-art LPEE system developed at University of Victoria, because of its novel design features, has achieved a growth rate of about 4.5 mm/day (with the application of an external fixed magnetic field of 4.5 KGauss and 3 A/cm2 electric current density), and a growth rate of about 11 mm/day (with 4.5 KGauss magnetic field and 7 A/cm2 electric current density). This achievement is simply a breakthrough in LPEE, making this growth technique absolutely a bulk growth technique and putting it in competition with other bulk growth techniques. The growth rates achieved can even be higher for higher electric current and magnetic field intensities. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2018-04-01

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

Axial p-n-junctions in nanowires.

PubMed

Fernandes, C; Shik, A; Byrne, K; Lynall, D; Blumin, M; Saveliev, I; Ruda, H E

2015-02-27

The charge distribution and potential profile of p-n-junctions in thin semiconductor nanowires (NWs) were analyzed. The characteristics of screening in one-dimensional systems result in a specific profile with large electric field at the boundary between the n- and p- regions, and long tails with a logarithmic drop in the potential and charge density. As a result of these tails, the junction properties depend sensitively on the geometry of external contacts and its capacity has an anomalously large value and frequency dispersion. In the presence of an external voltage, electrons and holes in the NWs can not be described by constant quasi-Fermi levels, due to small values of the average electric field, mobility, and lifetime of carriers. Thus, instead of the classical Sah-Noice-Shockley theory, the junction current-voltage characteristic was described by an alternative theory suitable for fast generation-recombination and slow diffusion-drift processes. For the non-uniform electric field in the junction, this theory predicts the forward branch of the characteristic to have a non-ideality factor η several times larger than the values 1 < η < 2 from classical theory. Such values of η have been experimentally observed by a number of researchers, as well as in the present work.

Electrodeformation of multi-bilayer spherical concentric membranes by AC electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lira-Escobedo, J.; Arauz-Lara, J.; Aranda-Espinoza, H.; Adlerz, K.; Viveros-Mendez, P. X.; Aranda-Espinoza, S.

2017-09-01

It is now well established that external stresses alter the behaviour of cells, where such alterations can be as profound as changes in gene expression. A type of stresses of particular interest are those due to alternating-current (AC) electric fields. The effect of AC fields on cells is still not well understood, in particular it is not clear how these fields affect the cell nucleus and other organelles. Here, we propose that one possible mechanism is through the deformation of the membranes. In order to investigate the effect of AC fields on the morphological changes of the cell organelles, we modelled the cell as two concentric bilayer membranes. This model allows us to obtain the deformations induced by the AC field by balancing the elastic energy and the work done by the Maxwell stresses. Morphological phase diagrams are obtained as a function of the frequency and the electrical properties of the media and membranes. We demonstrate that the organelle shapes can be changed without modifying the shape of the external cell membrane and that the organelle deformation transitions can be used to measure, for example, the conductivity of the nucleus.

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).

Control of effect on the nucleation rate for hen egg white lysozyme crystals under application of an external ac electric field.

PubMed

Koizumi, H; Uda, S; Fujiwara, K; Nozawa, J

2011-07-05

The effect of an external ac electric field on the nucleation rate of hen egg white lysozyme crystals increased with an increase in the concentration of the precipitant used, which enabled the design of an electric double layer (EDL) formed at the inner surface of the drop in the oil. This is attributed to the thickness of the EDL controlled by the ionic strength of the precipitant used. Control of the EDL formed at the interface between the two phases is important to establishing this novel technique for the crystallization of proteins under the application of an external ac electric field. © 2011 American Chemical Society

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.

Simultaneous sulfide removal, nitrification, and electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell equipped with an oxic cathode.

PubMed

Bao, Renbing; Zhang, Shaohui; Zhao, Li; Zhong, Liuxiang

2017-02-01

With sulfide as an anodic electron donor and ammonium as a cathodic substrate, the feasibility of simultaneous sulfide removal, nitrification, and electricity generation was investigated in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) equipped with an oxic cathode. Successful simultaneous sulfide removal, nitrification, and electricity generation in this MFC were achieved in 35 days, with the sulfide and ammonium removal percent of 92.7 ± 1.4 and 96.4 ± 0.3%, respectively. The maximum power density increased, but the internal resistance decreased with the increase of feeding sulfide concentration from 62.9 ± 0.3 to 238.5 ± 0.2 mg S/L. Stable ammonium removal with complete nitrification, preparing for future denitrification, was obtained throughout the current study. Sulfide removal loading significantly increased with the increase of feeding sulfide concentration at each external resistance, but no significant correlation between sulfide removal loading and external resistance was found at each feeding sulfide concentration. The charge recovery and anodic coulombic efficiency (CE) significantly decreased with the increase of external resistance. High feeding sulfide concentration led to low anodic CE. Granular sulfur deposition was found on the anode graphite fiber. The appropriate feeding sulfide concentration for sulfide removal and sulfur deposition was deemed to be 178.0 ± 1.7 mg S/L, achieving a sulfur deposition percent of 69.7 ± 0.6%.

Application of an object-oriented programming paradigm in three-dimensional computer modeling of mechanically active gastrointestinal tissues.

PubMed

Rashev, P Z; Mintchev, M P; Bowes, K L

2000-09-01

The aim of this study was to develop a novel three-dimensional (3-D) object-oriented modeling approach incorporating knowledge of the anatomy, electrophysiology, and mechanics of externally stimulated excitable gastrointestinal (GI) tissues and emphasizing the "stimulus-response" principle of extracting the modeling parameters. The modeling method used clusters of class hierarchies representing GI tissues from three perspectives: 1) anatomical; 2) electrophysiological; and 3) mechanical. We elaborated on the first four phases of the object-oriented system development life-cycle: 1) analysis; 2) design; 3) implementation; and 4) testing. Generalized cylinders were used for the implementation of 3-D tissue objects modeling the cecum, the descending colon, and the colonic circular smooth muscle tissue. The model was tested using external neural electrical tissue excitation of the descending colon with virtual implanted electrodes and the stimulating current density distributions over the modeled surfaces were calculated. Finally, the tissue deformations invoked by electrical stimulation were estimated and represented by a mesh-surface visualization technique.

Statistical theory and applications of lock-in carrierographic image pixel brightness dependence on multi-crystalline Si solar cell efficiency and photovoltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandelis, Andreas; Zhang, Yu; Melnikov, Alexander

2012-09-01

A solar cell lock-in carrierographic image generation theory based on the concept of non-equilibrium radiation chemical potential was developed. An optoelectronic diode expression was derived linking the emitted radiative recombination photon flux (current density), the solar conversion efficiency, and the external load resistance via the closed- and/or open-circuit photovoltage. The expression was shown to be of a structure similar to the conventional electrical photovoltaic I-V equation, thereby allowing the carrierographic image to be used in a quantitative statistical pixel brightness distribution analysis with outcome being the non-contacting measurement of mean values of these important parameters averaged over the entire illuminated solar cell surface. This is the optoelectronic equivalent of the electrical (contacting) measurement method using an external resistor circuit and the outputs of the solar cell electrode grid, the latter acting as an averaging distribution network over the surface. The statistical theory was confirmed using multi-crystalline Si solar cells.

Noise-enhanced chaos in a weakly coupled GaAs/(Al,Ga)As superlattice.

PubMed

Yin, Zhizhen; Song, Helun; Zhang, Yaohui; Ruiz-García, Miguel; Carretero, Manuel; Bonilla, Luis L; Biermann, Klaus; Grahn, Holger T

2017-01-01

Noise-enhanced chaos in a doped, weakly coupled GaAs/Al_{0.45}Ga_{0.55}As superlattice has been observed at room temperature in experiments as well as in the results of the simulation of nonlinear transport based on a discrete tunneling model. When external noise is added, both the measured and simulated current-versus-time traces contain irregularly spaced spikes for particular applied voltages, which separate a regime of periodic current oscillations from a region of no current oscillations at all. In the voltage region without current oscillations, the electric-field profile consist of a low-field domain near the emitter contact separated by a domain wall consisting of a charge accumulation layer from a high-field regime closer to the collector contact. With increasing noise amplitude, spontaneous chaotic current oscillations appear over a wider bias voltage range. For these bias voltages, the domain boundary between the two electric-field domains becomes unstable and very small current or voltage fluctuations can trigger the domain boundary to move toward the collector and induce chaotic current spikes. The experimentally observed features are qualitatively very well reproduced by the simulations. Increased noise can consequently enhance chaotic current oscillations in semiconductor superlattices.

Noise-enhanced chaos in a weakly coupled GaAs/(Al,Ga)As superlattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Zhizhen; Song, Helun; Zhang, Yaohui; Ruiz-García, Miguel; Carretero, Manuel; Bonilla, Luis L.; Biermann, Klaus; Grahn, Holger T.

2017-01-01

Noise-enhanced chaos in a doped, weakly coupled GaAs /Al0.45Ga0.55As superlattice has been observed at room temperature in experiments as well as in the results of the simulation of nonlinear transport based on a discrete tunneling model. When external noise is added, both the measured and simulated current-versus-time traces contain irregularly spaced spikes for particular applied voltages, which separate a regime of periodic current oscillations from a region of no current oscillations at all. In the voltage region without current oscillations, the electric-field profile consist of a low-field domain near the emitter contact separated by a domain wall consisting of a charge accumulation layer from a high-field regime closer to the collector contact. With increasing noise amplitude, spontaneous chaotic current oscillations appear over a wider bias voltage range. For these bias voltages, the domain boundary between the two electric-field domains becomes unstable and very small current or voltage fluctuations can trigger the domain boundary to move toward the collector and induce chaotic current spikes. The experimentally observed features are qualitatively very well reproduced by the simulations. Increased noise can consequently enhance chaotic current oscillations in semiconductor superlattices.

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).

Finite element analysis of electroactive polymer and magnetoactive elastomer based actuation for origami folding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wei; Ahmed, Saad; Masters, Sarah; Ounaies, Zoubeida; Frecker, Mary

2017-10-01

The incorporation of smart materials such as electroactive polymers and magnetoactive elastomers in origami structures can result in active folding using external electric and magnetic stimuli, showing promise in many origami-inspired engineering applications. In this study, 3D finite element analysis (FEA) models are developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software for three configurations that incorporate a combination of active and passive material layers, namely: (1) a single-notch unimorph folding configuration actuated using only external electric field, (2) a double-notch unimorph folding configuration actuated using only external electric field, and (3) a bifold configuration which is actuated using multi-field (electric and magnetic) stimuli. The objectives of the study are to verify the effectiveness of the FEA models to simulate folding behavior and to investigate the influence of geometric parameters on folding quality. Equivalent mechanical pressure and surface stress are used as external loads in the FEA to simulate electric and magnetic fields, respectively. Compared quantitatively with experimental data, FEA captured the folding performance of electric actuation well for notched configurations and magnetic actuation for a bifold structure, but underestimated electric actuation for the bifold structure. By investigating the impact of geometric parameters and locations to place smart materials, FEA can be used in design, avoiding trial-and-error iterations of experiments.

Flexible deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes for significant improvement of quantum efficiencies by external bending

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shervin, Shahab; Oh, Seung Kyu; Park, Hyun Jung; Lee, Keon-Hwa; Asadirad, Mojtaba; Kim, Seung-Hwan; Kim, Jeomoh; Pouladi, Sara; Lee, Sung-Nam; Li, Xiaohang; Kwak, Joon Seop; Ryou, Jae-Hyun

2018-03-01

We report a new route to improve quantum efficiencies of AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV LEDs) using mechanical flexibility of recently developed bendable thin-film structures. Numerical studies show that electronic band structures of AlGaN heterostructures and resulting optical and electrical characteristics of the devices can be significantly modified by external bending through active control of piezoelectric polarization. Internal quantum efficiency is enhanced higher than three times, when the DUV LEDs are moderately bent with concave curvatures. Furthermore, an efficiency droop at high injection currents is mitigated and turn-on voltage of diodes decreases with the same bending condition. The concept of bendable DUV LEDs with a controlled external strain can provide a new path for high-output-power and high-efficiency devices.

A novel feedback algorithm for simulating controlled dynamics and confinement in the advanced reversed-field pinch

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

Dahlin, J.-E.; Scheffel, J.

2005-06-15

In the advanced reversed-field pinch (RFP), the current density profile is externally controlled to diminish tearing instabilities. Thus the scaling of energy confinement time with plasma current and density is improved substantially as compared to the conventional RFP. This may be numerically simulated by introducing an ad hoc electric field, adjusted to generate a tearing mode stable parallel current density profile. In the present work a current profile control algorithm, based on feedback of the fluctuating electric field in Ohm's law, is introduced into the resistive magnetohydrodynamic code DEBSP [D. D. Schnack and D. C. Baxter, J. Comput. Phys. 55,more » 485 (1984); D. D. Schnack, D. C. Barnes, Z. Mikic, D. S. Marneal, E. J. Caramana, and R. A. Nebel, Comput. Phys. Commun. 43, 17 (1986)]. The resulting radial magnetic field is decreased considerably, causing an increase in energy confinement time and poloidal {beta}. It is found that the parallel current density profile spontaneously becomes hollow, and that a formation, being related to persisting resistive g modes, appears close to the reversal surface.« less

Charging a capacitor from an external fluctuating potential using a single conical nanopore.

PubMed

Gomez, Vicente; Ramirez, Patricio; Cervera, Javier; Nasir, Saima; Ali, Mubarak; Ensinger, Wolfgang; Mafe, Salvador

2015-04-01

We explore the electrical rectification of large amplitude fluctuating signals by an asymmetric nanostructure operating in aqueous solution. We show experimentally and theoretically that a load capacitor can be charged to voltages close to 1 V within a few minutes by converting zero time-average potentials of amplitudes in the range 0.5-3 V into average net currents using a single conical nanopore. This process suggests that significant energy conversion and storage from an electrically fluctuating environment is feasible with a nanoscale pore immersed in a liquid electrolyte solution, a system characteristic of bioelectronics interfaces, electrochemical cells, and nanoporous membranes.

Charging a Capacitor from an External Fluctuating Potential using a Single Conical Nanopore

PubMed Central

Gomez, Vicente; Ramirez, Patricio; Cervera, Javier; Nasir, Saima; Ali, Mubarak; Ensinger, Wolfgang; Mafe, Salvador

2015-01-01

We explore the electrical rectification of large amplitude fluctuating signals by an asymmetric nanostructure operating in aqueous solution. We show experimentally and theoretically that a load capacitor can be charged to voltages close to 1 V within a few minutes by converting zero time-average potentials of amplitudes in the range 0.5–3 V into average net currents using a single conical nanopore. This process suggests that significant energy conversion and storage from an electrically fluctuating environment is feasible with a nanoscale pore immersed in a liquid electrolyte solution, a system characteristic of bioelectronics interfaces, electrochemical cells, and nanoporous membranes. PMID:25830563

Research on Control System of Three - phase Brushless DC Motor for Electric Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhiwei; Jin, Hai; Guo, Jie; Su, Jie; Wang, Miao

2017-12-01

In order to study the three-phase brushless motor control system of electric vehicle, Freescale9S12XS128 chip is used as the control core, and the power MOSFET is used as the inverter device. The software is compiled by Codewarrior software. The speed control link adopts open-loop control, and the control chip collects the external sensor signal voltage Change control PWM signal output control three-phase brushless DC motor speed. The whole system consists of Hall position detection module, current detection module, power drive module and voltage detection module. The basic functions of three-phase brushless DC motor drive control are realized.

Directed motion of vortices and annihilation of vortex-antivortex pairs in finite-gap superconductors via hot-lattice routes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulian, Ellen D.; Melkonyan, Gurgen G.; Gulian, Armen M.

2017-07-01

Using finite gap, time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations, generalized to include non-thermal phonons, we report numerical simulations of vortex nucleation, propagation, and annihilation in thin, finite strips of magnetic-impurity free, perfectly homogeneous superconductors. When a steady electric current passes through the strip with either surface defects or nonequilibrium phonon sources (e.g., local ;hotspots;), periodic vortex generation and annihilation is observed even in the absence of external magnetic fields. Local pulses of electric field are produced upon annihilation. The injected phonon lines steer the vortices during their motion within the strip, potentially allowing control of the annihilation site.

The TELEC - A plasma type of direct energy converter. [Thermo-Electronic Laser Energy Converter for electric power generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Britt, E. J.

1978-01-01

The Thermo-Electronic Laser Energy Converter (TELEC) is a high-power density plasma device designed to convert a 10.6-micron CO2 laser beam into electric power. Electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in plasma electrons, creating a high-electron temperature. Energetic electrons diffuse from the plasma and strike two electrodes having different areas. The larger electrode collects more electrons and there is a net transport of current. An electromagnetic field is generated in the external circuit. A computer program has been designed to analyze TELEC performance allowing parametric variation for optimization. Values are presented for TELEC performance as a function of cesium pressure and for current density and efficiency as a function of output voltage. Efficiency is shown to increase with pressure, reaching a maximum over 45%.

Electromagnetic enhancement of turbulent heat transfer.

PubMed

Kenjeres, Sasa

2008-12-01

We performed large eddy simulations (LES) of the turbulent natural convection of an electrically conductive fluid (water with 7% Na2SO4 electrolyte solution) in a moderate (4:4:1) aspect ratio enclosure heated from below and cooled from above and subjected to external nonuniformly distributed electromagnetic fields. Different configurations with permanent magnets (located under the lower thermally active wall, B_{0}=1T ) and different strengths of imposed dc electric currents ( I=0-10A ) were compared to the case of pure thermal convection in the turbulent regime, Ra=10;{7} , Pr=7 . It is demonstrated that the electromagnetic forcing of the boundary layers caused significant reorganization of flow and turbulence structures producing significant enhancement of the wall-heat transfer (up to 188% for a configuration with 35 magnets and an applied dc current of 10A ).

Driving Method for Compensating Reliability Problem of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Transistors and Image Sticking Phenomenon in Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode Displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Min-Seok; Jo, Yun-Rae; Kwon, Oh-Kyong

2011-03-01

In this paper, we propose a driving method for compensating the electrical instability of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film transistors (TFTs) and the luminance degradation of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices for large active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays. The proposed driving method senses the electrical characteristics of a-Si:H TFTs and OLEDs using current integrators and compensates them by an external compensation method. Threshold voltage shift is controlled a using negative bias voltage. After applying the proposed driving method, the measured error of the maximum emission current ranges from -1.23 to +1.59 least significant bit (LSB) of a 10-bit gray scale under the threshold voltage shift ranging from -0.16 to 0.17 V.

Bone mineral as an electrical energy reservoir.

PubMed

Nakamura, Miho; Hiratai, Rumi; Yamashita, Kimihiro

2012-05-01

Mechanical stress in bone induces an electrical potential generated by piezoelectricity arising from displacement of collagen fibrils. Where and for how long the potential is stored in bone; however, are still poorly understood. We investigated the electrical properties of collagen fibrils and apatite minerals and found that bone, when polarized electrically by applying an external voltage, depolarizes by two mechanisms. Plots of thermally stimulated depolarization current show two significant peaks: one at 100°C, attributed to collagen fibrils because decalcified bone exhibits depolarization peak at 100°C, and the other at 500°C, attributed to apatite minerals because calcined bone exhibits depolarization peak at 500°C and has activation energy similar to that for synthesized apatite. The crystallographic c-axis orientation of calcined bone depends on the direction in which the bone is cut, either transverse or longitudinal, and strongly affects the polarization efficacy. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Elementary quantum mechanics of the neutron with an electric dipole moment

PubMed Central

Baym, Gordon; Beck, D. H.

2016-01-01

The neutron, in addition to possibly having a permanent electric dipole moment as a consequence of violation of time-reversal invariance, develops an induced electric dipole moment in the presence of an external electric field. We present here a unified nonrelativistic description of these two phenomena, in which the dipole moment operator, D→, is not constrained to lie along the spin operator. Although the expectation value of D→ in the neutron is less than 10−13 of the neutron radius, rn, the expectation value of D→ 2 is of order rn2. We determine the spin motion in external electric and magnetic fields, as used in past and future searches for a permanent dipole moment, and show that the neutron electric polarizability, although entering the neutron energy in an external electric field, does not affect the spin motion. In a simple nonrelativistic model we show that the expectation value of the permanent dipole is, to lowest order, proportional to the product of the time-reversal-violating coupling strength and the electric polarizability of the neutron. PMID:27325765

Elementary quantum mechanics of the neutron with an electric dipole moment.

PubMed

Baym, Gordon; Beck, D H

2016-07-05

The neutron, in addition to possibly having a permanent electric dipole moment as a consequence of violation of time-reversal invariance, develops an induced electric dipole moment in the presence of an external electric field. We present here a unified nonrelativistic description of these two phenomena, in which the dipole moment operator, [Formula: see text], is not constrained to lie along the spin operator. Although the expectation value of [Formula: see text] in the neutron is less than [Formula: see text] of the neutron radius, [Formula: see text], the expectation value of [Formula: see text] is of order [Formula: see text] We determine the spin motion in external electric and magnetic fields, as used in past and future searches for a permanent dipole moment, and show that the neutron electric polarizability, although entering the neutron energy in an external electric field, does not affect the spin motion. In a simple nonrelativistic model we show that the expectation value of the permanent dipole is, to lowest order, proportional to the product of the time-reversal-violating coupling strength and the electric polarizability of the neutron.

Biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field

PubMed Central

Kim, Young C.; Furchtgott, Leon A.; Hummer, Gerhard

2010-01-01

Time-dependent external perturbations provide powerful probes of the function of molecular machines. Here we study biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field. The protein cytochrome c oxidase is the main energy transducer in aerobic life, converting chemical energy into an electric potential by pumping protons across a membrane. With the help of master-equation descriptions that recover the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this biological “fuel cell,” we show that the proton pumping efficiency and the electronic currents in steady state both depend significantly and distinctly on the frequency and amplitude of the applied field, allowing us to distinguish between different microscopic mechanisms of the machine. A spectral analysis reveals dominant kinetic modes that show reaction steps consistent with an electron-gated pumping mechanism. PMID:20366348

MPPT Algorithm Development for Laser Powered Surveillance Camera Power Supply Unit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yungui; Dushantha Chaminda, P. R.; Zhao, Kun; Cheng, Lin; Jiang, Yi; Peng, Kai

2018-03-01

Photovoltaics (PV) cells, modules which are semiconducting materials, convert light energy into electricity. Operation of a PV cell requires 3 basic features. When the light is absorbed it generate pairs of electron holes or excitons. An external circuit carrier opposite types of electrons irrespective of the source (sunlight or LASER light). The PV arrays have photovoltaic effect and the PV cells are defined as a device which has electrical characteristics: such as current, voltage and resistance. It varies when exposed to light, that the power output is depend on direct Laser-light. In this paper Laser-light to electricity by direct conversion with the use of PV cells and its concept of Band gap Energy, Series Resistance, Conversion Efficiency and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methods [1].

Lévy noise improves the electrical activity in a neuron under electromagnetic radiation.

PubMed

Wu, Juan; Xu, Yong; Ma, Jun

2017-01-01

As the fluctuations of the internal bioelectricity of nervous system is various and complex, the external electromagnetic radiation induced by magnet flux on membrane can be described by the non-Gaussian type distribution of Lévy noise. Thus, the electrical activities in an improved Hindmarsh-Rose model excited by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise are investigated and some interesting modes of the electrical activities are exhibited. The external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise leads to the mode transition of the electrical activities and spatial phase, such as from the rest state to the firing state, from the spiking state to the spiking state with more spikes, and from the spiking state to the bursting state. Then the time points of the firing state versus Lévy noise intensity are depicted. The increasing of Lévy noise intensity heightens the neuron firing. Also the stationary probability distribution functions of the membrane potential of the neuron induced by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise with different intensity, stability index and skewness papremeters are analyzed. Moreover, through the positive largest Lyapunov exponent, the parameter regions of chaotic electrical mode of the neuron induced by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise distribution are detected.

Lévy noise improves the electrical activity in a neuron under electromagnetic radiation

PubMed Central

Wu, Juan; Ma, Jun

2017-01-01

As the fluctuations of the internal bioelectricity of nervous system is various and complex, the external electromagnetic radiation induced by magnet flux on membrane can be described by the non-Gaussian type distribution of Lévy noise. Thus, the electrical activities in an improved Hindmarsh-Rose model excited by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise are investigated and some interesting modes of the electrical activities are exhibited. The external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise leads to the mode transition of the electrical activities and spatial phase, such as from the rest state to the firing state, from the spiking state to the spiking state with more spikes, and from the spiking state to the bursting state. Then the time points of the firing state versus Lévy noise intensity are depicted. The increasing of Lévy noise intensity heightens the neuron firing. Also the stationary probability distribution functions of the membrane potential of the neuron induced by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise with different intensity, stability index and skewness papremeters are analyzed. Moreover, through the positive largest Lyapunov exponent, the parameter regions of chaotic electrical mode of the neuron induced by the external electromagnetic radiation of Lévy noise distribution are detected. PMID:28358824

Electrically tunable negative refraction in core/shell-structured nanorod fluids.

PubMed

Su, Zhaoxian; Yin, Jianbo; Guan, Yanqing; Zhao, Xiaopeng

2014-10-21

We theoretically investigate optical refraction behavior in a fluid system which contains silica-coated gold nanorods dispersed in silicone oil under an external electric field. Because of the formation of a chain-like or lattice-like structure of dispersed nanorods along the electric field, the fluid shows a hyperbolic equifrequency contour characteristic and, as a result, all-angle broadband optical negative refraction for transverse magnetic wave propagation can be realized. We calculate the effective permittivity tensor of the fluid and verify the analysis using finite element simulations. We also find that the negative refractive index can vary with the electric field strength and external field distribution. Under a non-uniform external field, the gradient refraction behavior can be realized.

[Auricular consequences of lightning (author's transl)].

PubMed

Leveillé-Nizerolle, M; Lintzer, J P; Bérézin, A

1978-01-01

Auricular accidents provoqued by lightning and induced by telephone are extremely rare. The authors of this paper relate the case of a young lady suffering from an inflammation of the external auditive canal and of an irritation of the tympanic membrane with an perception's hypacusis of 30 db. A physiological explanation is proposed and two factors come into account:--The acoustic traumatism induced by the thunder;--The burn produced by the electrical current.

The electrical conductivity of the Earth's upper mantle as estimated from satellite measured magnetic field variations. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Didwall, E. M.

1981-01-01

Low latitude magnetic field variations (magnetic storms) caused by large fluctuations in the equatorial ring current were derived from magnetic field magnitude data obtained by OGO 2, 4, and 6 satellites over an almost 5 year period. Analysis procedures consisted of (1) separating the disturbance field into internal and external parts relative to the surface of the Earth; (2) estimating the response function which related to the internally generated magnetic field variations to the external variations due to the ring current; and (3) interpreting the estimated response function using theoretical response functions for known conductivity profiles. Special consideration is given to possible ocean effects. A temperature profile is proposed using conductivity temperature data for single crystal olivine. The resulting temperature profile is reasonable for depths below 150-200 km, but is too high for shallower depths. Apparently, conductivity is not controlled solely by olivine at shallow depths.

A comparison of lightning and nuclear electromagnetic pulse response of tactical shelters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perala, R. A.; Rudolph, T. H.; Mckenna, P. M.

1984-01-01

The internal response (electromagnetic fields and cable responses) of tactical shelters is addressed. Tactical shelters are usually well-shielded systems. Apart from penetrations by signal and power lines, the main leakage paths to the interior are via seams and the environment control unit (ECU) honeycomb filter. The time domain in three-dimensional finite-difference technique is employed to determine the external and internal coupling to a shelter excited by nuclear electromagnetic pulses (NEMP) and attached lightning. The responses of interest are the internal electromagnetic fields and the voltage, current, power, and energy coupled to internal cables. Leakage through the seams and ECU filter is accomplished by their transfer impedances which relate internal electric fields to external current densities. Transfer impedances which were experimentally measured are used in the analysis. The internal numerical results are favorably compared to actual shelter test data under simulated NEMP illumination.

A Stabilized Finite Element Method for Modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck Equations to Determine Ion Flow Through a Nanopore

PubMed Central

Chaudhry, Jehanzeb Hameed; Comer, Jeffrey; Aksimentiev, Aleksei; Olson, Luke N.

2013-01-01

The conventional Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations do not account for the finite size of ions explicitly. This leads to solutions featuring unrealistically high ionic concentrations in the regions subject to external potentials, in particular, near highly charged surfaces. A modified form of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations accounts for steric effects and results in solutions with finite ion concentrations. Here, we evaluate numerical methods for solving the modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations by modeling electric field-driven transport of ions through a nanopore. We describe a novel, robust finite element solver that combines the applications of the Newton's method to the nonlinear Galerkin form of the equations, augmented with stabilization terms to appropriately handle the drift-diffusion processes. To make direct comparison with particle-based simulations possible, our method is specifically designed to produce solutions under periodic boundary conditions and to conserve the number of ions in the solution domain. We test our finite element solver on a set of challenging numerical experiments that include calculations of the ion distribution in a volume confined between two charged plates, calculations of the ionic current though a nanopore subject to an external electric field, and modeling the effect of a DNA molecule on the ion concentration and nanopore current. PMID:24363784

Static current-sheet models of quiescent prominences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, F.; Low, B. C.

1986-01-01

A particular class of theoretical models idealize the prominence to be a discrete flat electric-current sheet suspended vertically in a potential magnetic field. The weight of the prominence is supported by the Lorentz force in the current sheet. These models can be extended to have curved electric-current sheets and to vary three-dimensionally. The equation for force balance is 1 over 4 pi (del times B) times Bdel p- p9 z=zero. Using Cartesian coordinates we take, for simplicity, a uniform gravity with constant acceleration g in the direction -z. If we are interested not in the detailed internal structure of the prominence, but in the global magnetic configuration around the prominence, we may take prominence plasma to be cold. Consideration is given to how such equilibrium states can be constructed. To simplify the mathematical problem, suppose there is no electric current in the atmosphere except for the discrete currents in the cold prominence sheet. Let us take the plane z =0 to be the base of the atmosphere and restrict our attention to the domain z greater than 0. The task we have is to solve for a magnetic field which is everywhere potential except on some free surface S, subject to suit able to boundary conditions. The surface S is determined by requiring that it possesses a discrete electric current density such that the Lorentz force on it is everywhere vertically upward to balance the weight of the material m(S). Since the magnetic field is potential in the external atmosphere, the latter is decoupled from the magnetic field and its plane parallel hydrostatic pressure and density can be prescribed.

Static current-sheet models of quiescent prominences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, F.; Low, B. C.

1986-12-01

A particular class of theoretical models idealize the prominence to be a discrete flat electric-current sheet suspended vertically in a potential magnetic field. The weight of the prominence is supported by the Lorentz force in the current sheet. These models can be extended to have curved electric-current sheets and to vary three-dimensionally. The equation for force balance is 1 over 4 pi (del times B) times Bdel p- p9 z=zero. Using Cartesian coordinates we take, for simplicity, a uniform gravity with constant acceleration g in the direction -z. If we are interested not in the detailed internal structure of the prominence, but in the global magnetic configuration around the prominence, we may take prominence plasma to be cold. Consideration is given to how such equilibrium states can be constructed. To simplify the mathematical problem, suppose there is no electric current in the atmosphere except for the discrete currents in the cold prominence sheet. Let us take the plane z =0 to be the base of the atmosphere and restrict our attention to the domain z greater than 0. The task we have is to solve for a magnetic field which is everywhere potential except on some free surface S, subject to suit able to boundary conditions. The surface S is determined by requiring that it possesses a discrete electric current density such that the Lorentz force on it is everywhere vertically upward to balance the weight of the material m(S). Since the magnetic field is potential in the external atmosphere, the latter is decoupled from the magnetic field and its plane parallel hydrostatic pressure and density can be prescribed.

Thermoplastic-based conductive composites containing multi-wall carbon nanotubes aligned under the application of external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osazuwa, Osayuki

The objective of this thesis is to prepare thermoplastic/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and to apply external alternating current (AC) electric fields to achieve enhanced conductivity and dielectric properties. The first part of the thesis focuses on preparing polyolefin-based composites containing welldispersed MWCNTs. MWCNTs are functionalized with a hyperbranched polyethylene (HBPE) using a non-covalent, non-specific functionalization approach and melt compounded with an ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) matrix. The improved filler dispersion in the functionalized EOC/MWCNT composite results in higher elongation at break compared to the non-functionalized composite. However, the electrical percolation threshold and the ultimate conductivity of the composites are not affected considerably, suggesting that this functionalization approach leaves the inherent properties of the nanotubes intact. EOC/HBPE-functionalized MWCNT composites are further subjected to external AC electric fields (35 -- 212 kV/m), which induce the formation of aligned columnar structures, as evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Experimentally acquired resistivity data are used to derive correlations between the characteristic insulator-to-conductor transition times of the composites and the electric field strength (E), polymer viscosity (eta) and MWCNT volume fraction (φ). A criterion for the selection of (eta, E, φ) conditions that enable MWCNT assembly under an electric field controlled regime (minimal Brownian motion-driven aggregation effects) is developed. The dielectric properties of the solidified aligned EOC/MWCNT composites are further studied using dielectric spectroscopy. Annealing of the composites at 160 °C results in the formation of interconnected structures, whereas electrification, using AC field of 71 and 212 kV/m induces the formation of aligned columnar structures. The electrified and annealed composites have increased real and imaginary permittivity compared to the as-compounded composite, resulting in improved conductivity and storage capacity. An equivalent circuit model is fitted to the experimentally obtained impedance data in order to correlate the effects of electric field and processing time to the dielectric characteristics of the treated composites. Finally poly(ethylene succinate) (PESu) composites containing well-dispersed MWCNT were prepared by an in-situ polymerization method. Composite electrification results in improvements in the electrical conductivity by up to 12 orders of magnitude, and a retention of high conductivity in the solidified state.

Electric-field control of magnetic domain-wall velocity in ultrathin cobalt with perpendicular magnetization.

PubMed

Chiba, D; Kawaguchi, M; Fukami, S; Ishiwata, N; Shimamura, K; Kobayashi, K; Ono, T

2012-06-06

Controlling the displacement of a magnetic domain wall is potentially useful for information processing in magnetic non-volatile memories and logic devices. A magnetic domain wall can be moved by applying an external magnetic field and/or electric current, and its velocity depends on their magnitudes. Here we show that the applying an electric field can change the velocity of a magnetic domain wall significantly. A field-effect device, consisting of a top-gate electrode, a dielectric insulator layer, and a wire-shaped ferromagnetic Co/Pt thin layer with perpendicular anisotropy, was used to observe it in a finite magnetic field. We found that the application of the electric fields in the range of ± 2-3 MV cm(-1) can change the magnetic domain wall velocity in its creep regime (10(6)-10(3) m s(-1)) by more than an order of magnitude. This significant change is due to electrical modulation of the energy barrier for the magnetic domain wall motion.

InGaN/GaN quantum dots as optical probes for the electric field at the GaN/electrolyte interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teubert, J.; Koslowski, S.; Lippert, S.; Schäfer, M.; Wallys, J.; Dimitrakopulos, G.; Kehagias, Th.; Komninou, Ph.; Das, A.; Monroy, E.; Eickhoff, M.

2013-08-01

We investigated the electric-field dependence of the photoluminescence-emission properties of InGaN/GaN quantum dot multilayers in contact with an electrolyte. Controlled variations of the surface potential were achieved by the application of external electric fields using the electrolytic Schottky contact and by variation of the solution's pH value. Prior to characterization, a selective electrochemical passivation process was required to suppress leakage currents. The quantum dot luminescence is strongly affected by surface potential variations, i.e., it increases exponentially with cathodic bias and acidic pH values. The results cannot be explained by a modification of intra-dot polarization induced electric fields via the quantum confined Stark effect but are attributed to the suppression/enhancement of non-radiative recombination processes, i.e., mainly hole transfer into the electrolyte. The results establish a link between the photoluminescence intensity and the magnitude of electric fields at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface.

Periodical plasma structures controlled by external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schweigert, I. V.; Keidar, M.

2017-11-01

The plasma of Hall thruster type in external magnetic field is studied in 2D3V kinetic simulations using PIC MCC method. The periodical structure with maxima of electron and ion densities is formed and becomes more pronounced with increase of magnetic field incidence angle in the plasma. These ridges of electron and ion densities are aligned with the magnetic field vector and shifted relative each other. This leads to formation of two-dimensional double-layers structure in cylindrical plasma chamber. Depending on Larmor radius and Debye length up to nineteen potential steps appear across the oblique magnetic field. The electrical current gathered on the wall is associated with the electron and ion density ridges.

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.

The study of the dynamics of erythrocytes under the influence of an external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamaeva, Sargylana N.; Maksimov, Georgy V.; Antonov, Stepan R.

2017-11-01

A mathematical model is considered for the determination of the surface charge of an erythrocyte with its shape approximated by a surface of revolution of the second order, and the investigation of the dynamics of erythrocytes under the influence of an external electric field. In the first part of this work, the electrical surface charge of the erythrocyte of the patient was calculated with the assumption that the change in the shape and size of the red blood cells leads to stabilization of the electric field, providing a normal electrostatic repulsion. In the second part of the work, the research results of dynamics of changes in the morphology of erythrocytes under the influence of an external electric field depending on the values of their surface charge and resistance of blood plasma is presented. In the course of the work, the dependence of the surface charge of red blood cells from their shape and size is presented. The determination of the relationship between the value of the charge field and the surface of erythrocytes in norm and in pathology is shown. The dependence of the velocity of the erythrocytes on the characteristics of the external electric field, surface charge of the erythrocyte and properties of the medium is obtained. The results of this study can be applied indirectly to diagnose diseases and to develop recommendations for experimental studies of hemodynamics under the influence of various external physical factors.

Ultrastable low-noise current amplifier: a novel device for measuring small electric currents with high accuracy.

PubMed

Drung, D; Krause, C; Becker, U; Scherer, H; Ahlers, F J

2015-02-01

An ultrastable low-noise current amplifier (ULCA) is presented. The ULCA is a non-cryogenic instrument based on specially designed operational amplifiers and resistor networks. It involves two stages, the first providing a 1000-fold current gain and the second performing a current-to-voltage conversion via an internal 1 MΩ reference resistor or, optionally, an external standard resistor. The ULCA's transfer coefficient is highly stable versus time, temperature, and current amplitude within the full dynamic range of ±5 nA. The low noise level of 2.4 fA/√Hz helps to keep averaging times short at small input currents. A cryogenic current comparator is used to calibrate both input current gain and output transresistance, providing traceability to the quantum Hall effect. Within one week after calibration, the uncertainty contribution from short-term fluctuations and drift of the transresistance is about 0.1 parts per million (ppm). The long-term drift is typically 5 ppm/yr. A high-accuracy variant is available that shows improved stability of the input gain at the expense of a higher noise level of 7.5 fA/√Hz. The ULCA also allows the traceable generation of small electric currents or the calibration of high-ohmic resistors.

Ultrastable low-noise current amplifier: A novel device for measuring small electric currents with high accuracy

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

Drung, D.; Krause, C.; Becker, U.

2015-02-15

An ultrastable low-noise current amplifier (ULCA) is presented. The ULCA is a non-cryogenic instrument based on specially designed operational amplifiers and resistor networks. It involves two stages, the first providing a 1000-fold current gain and the second performing a current-to-voltage conversion via an internal 1 MΩ reference resistor or, optionally, an external standard resistor. The ULCA’s transfer coefficient is highly stable versus time, temperature, and current amplitude within the full dynamic range of ±5 nA. The low noise level of 2.4 fA/√Hz helps to keep averaging times short at small input currents. A cryogenic current comparator is used to calibratemore » both input current gain and output transresistance, providing traceability to the quantum Hall effect. Within one week after calibration, the uncertainty contribution from short-term fluctuations and drift of the transresistance is about 0.1 parts per million (ppm). The long-term drift is typically 5 ppm/yr. A high-accuracy variant is available that shows improved stability of the input gain at the expense of a higher noise level of 7.5 fA/√Hz. The ULCA also allows the traceable generation of small electric currents or the calibration of high-ohmic resistors.« less

Ultrastable low-noise current amplifier: A novel device for measuring small electric currents with high accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drung, D.; Krause, C.; Becker, U.; Scherer, H.; Ahlers, F. J.

2015-02-01

An ultrastable low-noise current amplifier (ULCA) is presented. The ULCA is a non-cryogenic instrument based on specially designed operational amplifiers and resistor networks. It involves two stages, the first providing a 1000-fold current gain and the second performing a current-to-voltage conversion via an internal 1 MΩ reference resistor or, optionally, an external standard resistor. The ULCA's transfer coefficient is highly stable versus time, temperature, and current amplitude within the full dynamic range of ±5 nA. The low noise level of 2.4 fA/√Hz helps to keep averaging times short at small input currents. A cryogenic current comparator is used to calibrate both input current gain and output transresistance, providing traceability to the quantum Hall effect. Within one week after calibration, the uncertainty contribution from short-term fluctuations and drift of the transresistance is about 0.1 parts per million (ppm). The long-term drift is typically 5 ppm/yr. A high-accuracy variant is available that shows improved stability of the input gain at the expense of a higher noise level of 7.5 fA/√Hz. The ULCA also allows the traceable generation of small electric currents or the calibration of high-ohmic resistors.

Electrical and optical modeling of poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester P3HT-PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brioua, Fathi; Remram, Mohamed; Nechache, Riad; Bourouina, Hicham

2017-11-01

In this work, we investigate a two-dimensional theoretical model for the photon conversion through an integration of the optical and electrical part of multilayer system in a bulk heterojunction solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/6,6-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend. The optical properties of the studied structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Ca/Al, such as the exciton generation rate and the electrical field distribution, are predicted at vicinity of the active layer and have been used to solve Poisson and continuity, drift-diffusion equations of the electrical model which characterize the electrical behavior of semiconductor device using finite element method (FEM). The electrical parameters such as power conversion efficiency (PCE), open voltage circuit ( V oc), short-circuit current density ( J sc) and fill factor (FF) are extracted from the current-voltage (J-V) characteristics under illumination and in dark conditions. Highest external quantum efficiency (IPCE), up to 60%, is obtained around 520 nm, while a power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 3.62% is found to be in good agreement with the literature results. Integration of such theoretical approach into technological applications dealing with optoelectrical material performance will rapidly provide to the user accurate data outputs required for efficient validation of proof-of-concepts.

Neuromuscular electrostimulation techniques: historical aspects and current possibilities in treatment of pain and muscle waisting.

PubMed

Heidland, August; Fazeli, Gholamreza; Klassen, André; Sebekova, Katarina; Hennemann, Hans; Bahner, Udo; Di Iorio, Biagio

2013-01-01

Application of electricity for pain treatment dates back to thousands of years BC. The Ancient Egyptians and later the Greeks and Romans recognized that electrical fishes are capable of generating electric shocks for relief of pain. In the 18th and 19th centuries these natural producers of electricity were replaced by man-made electrical devices. This happened in following phases. The first was the application of static electrical currents (called Franklinism), which was produced by a friction generator. Christian Kratzenstein was the first to apply it medically, followed shortly by Benjamin Franklin. The second phase was Galvanism. This method applied a direct electrical current to the skin by chemical means, applied a direct and pulsed electrical current to the skin. In the third phase the electrical current was induced intermittently and in alternate directions (called Faradism). The fourth stage was the use of high frequency currents (called d'Arsonvalisation). The 19th century was the "golden age" of electrotherapy. It was used for countless dental, neurological, psychiatric and gynecological disturbances. However, at beginning of the 20th century electrotherapy fell from grace. It was dismissed as lacking a scientific basis and being used also by quacks and charlatans for unserious aims. Furthermore, the development of effective analgesic drugs decreased the interest in electricity. In the second half of the 20th century electrotherapy underwent a revival. Based on animal experiments and clinical investigations, its neurophysiological mechanisms were elucidated in more details. The pain relieving action of electricity was explained in particular by two main mechanisms: first, segmental inhibition of pain signals to the brain in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and second, activation of the descending inhibitory pathway with enhanced release of endogenous opioids and other neurochemical compounds (serotonin, noradrenaline, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine and adenosine). The modern electrotherapy of neuromusculo- skeletal pain is based in particular on the following types: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS or electro-acupuncture) and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). In mild to moderate pain, TENS and PENS are effective methods, whereas SCS is very useful for therapy of refractory neuropathic or ischemic pain. In 2005, high tone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS) was introduced. In diabetic peripheral neuropathy, its analgesic action was more pronounced than TENS application. HTEMS appeared also to have value in the therapy of symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Besides its pain-relieving effect, electrical stimulation is of major importance for prevention or treatment of muscle dysfunction and sarcopenia. In controlled clinical studies electrical myostimulation (EMS) has been shown to be effective against the sarcopenia of patients with chronic congestive heart disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ESRD.

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

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

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

2013-02-15

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

Highly flexible electronics from scalable vertical thin film transistors.

PubMed

Liu, Yuan; Zhou, Hailong; Cheng, Rui; Yu, Woojong; Huang, Yu; Duan, Xiangfeng

2014-03-12

Flexible thin-film transistors (TFTs) are of central importance for diverse electronic and particularly macroelectronic applications. The current TFTs using organic or inorganic thin film semiconductors are usually limited by either poor electrical performance or insufficient mechanical flexibility. Here, we report a new design of highly flexible vertical TFTs (VTFTs) with superior electrical performance and mechanical robustness. By using the graphene as a work-function tunable contact for amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin film, the vertical current flow across the graphene-IGZO junction can be effectively modulated by an external gate potential to enable VTFTs with a highest on-off ratio exceeding 10(5). The unique vertical transistor architecture can readily enable ultrashort channel devices with very high delivering current and exceptional mechanical flexibility. With large area graphene and IGZO thin film available, our strategy is intrinsically scalable for large scale integration of VTFT arrays and logic circuits, opening up a new pathway to highly flexible macroelectronics.

Triboelectric Charging at the Nanostructured Solid/Liquid Interface for Area-Scalable Wave Energy Conversion and Its Use in Corrosion Protection.

PubMed

Zhao, Xue Jiao; Zhu, Guang; Fan, You Jun; Li, Hua Yang; Wang, Zhong Lin

2015-07-28

We report a flexible and area-scalable energy-harvesting technique for converting kinetic wave energy. Triboelectrification as a result of direct interaction between a dynamic wave and a large-area nanostructured solid surface produces an induced current among an array of electrodes. An integration method ensures that the induced current between any pair of electrodes can be constructively added up, which enables significant enhancement in output power and realizes area-scalable integration of electrode arrays. Internal and external factors that affect the electric output are comprehensively discussed. The produced electricity not only drives small electronics but also achieves effective impressed current cathodic protection. This type of thin-film-based device is a potentially practical solution of on-site sustained power supply at either coastal or off-shore sites wherever a dynamic wave is available. Potential applications include corrosion protection, pollution degradation, water desalination, and wireless sensing for marine surveillance.

Topological responses from chiral anomaly in multi-Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ze-Min; Zhou, Jianhui; Shen, Shun-Qing

2017-08-01

Multi-Weyl semimetals are a kind of topological phase of matter with discrete Weyl nodes characterized by multiple monopole charges, in which the chiral anomaly, the anomalous nonconservation of an axial current, occurs in the presence of electric and magnetic fields. Electronic transport properties related to the chiral anomaly in the presence of both electromagnetic fields and axial electromagnetic fields in multi-Weyl semimetals are systematically studied. It has been found that the anomalous Hall conductivity has a modification linear in the axial vector potential from inhomogeneous strains. The axial electric field leads to an axial Hall current that is proportional to the distance of Weyl nodes in momentum space. This axial current may generate chirality accumulation of Weyl fermions through delicately engineering the axial electromagnetic fields even in the absence of external electromagnetic fields. Therefore this work provides a nonmagnetic mechanism of generation of chirality accumulation in Weyl semimetals and might shed new light on the application of Weyl semimetals in the emerging field of valleytronics.

Compact Rare Earth Emitter Hollow Cathode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watkins, Ronald; Goebel, Dan; Hofer, Richard

2010-01-01

A compact, high-current, hollow cathode utilizing a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) thermionic electron emitter has been developed for use with high-power Hall thrusters and ion thrusters. LaB6 cathodes are being investigated due to their long life, high current capabilities, and less stringent xenon purity and handling requirements compared to conventional barium oxide (BaO) dispenser cathodes. The new cathode features a much smaller diameter than previously developed versions that permit it to be mounted on axis of a Hall thruster ( internally mounted ), as opposed to the conventional side-mount position external to the outer magnetic circuit ("externally mounted"). The cathode has also been reconfigured to be capable of surviving vibrational loads during launch and is designed to solve the significant heater and materials compatibility problems associated with the use of this emitter material. This has been accomplished in a compact design with the capability of high-emission current (10 to 60 A). The compact, high-current design has a keeper diameter that allows the cathode to be mounted on the centerline of a 6- kW Hall thruster, inside the iron core of the inner electromagnetic coil. Although designed for electric propulsion thrusters in spacecraft station- keeping, orbit transfer, and interplanetary applications, the LaB6 cathodes are applicable to the plasma processing industry in applications such as optical coatings and semiconductor processing where reactive gases are used. Where current electrical propulsion thrusters with BaO emitters have limited life and need extremely clean propellant feed systems at a significant cost, these LaB6 cathodes can run on the crudest-grade xenon propellant available without impact. Moreover, in a laboratory environment, LaB6 cathodes reduce testing costs because they do not require extended conditioning periods under hard vacuum. Alternative rare earth emitters, such as cerium hexaboride (CeB6) can be used in this configuration with possibly an even longer emitter life. This cathode is specifically designed to integrate on the centerline of a high-power Hall thruster, thus eliminating the asymmetries in the plasma discharge common to cathodes previously mounted externally to the thruster s magnetic circuit. An alternative configuration for the cathode uses an external propellant feed. This diverts a fraction of the total cathode flow to an external feed, which can improve the cathode coupling efficiency at lower total mass flow rates. This can improve the overall thruster efficiency, thereby decreasing the required propellant loads for different missions. Depending on the particular mission, reductions in propellant loads can lead to mission enabling capabilities by allowing launch vehicle step-down, greater payload capability, or by extending the life of a spacecraft.

Stress-induced electric current fluctuations in rocks: a superstatistical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cartwright-Taylor, Alexis; Vallianatos, Filippos; Sammonds, Peter

2017-04-01

We recorded spontaneous electric current flow in non-piezoelectric Carrara marble samples during triaxial deformation. Mechanical data, ultrasonic velocities and acoustic emissions were acquired simultaneously with electric current to constrain the relationship between electric current flow, differential stress and damage. Under strain-controlled loading, spontaneous electric current signals (nA) were generated and sustained under all conditions tested. In dry samples, a detectable electric current arises only during dilatancy and the overall signal is correlated with the damage induced by microcracking. Our results show that fracture plays a key role in the generation of electric currents in deforming rocks (Cartwright-Taylor et al., in prep). We also analysed the high-frequency fluctuations of these electric current signals and found that they are not normally distributed - they exhibit power-law tails (Cartwright-Taylor et al., 2014). We modelled these distributions with q-Gaussian statistics, derived by maximising the Tsallis entropy. This definition of entropy is particularly applicable to systems which are strongly correlated and far from equilibrium. Good agreement, at all experimental conditions, between the distributions of electric current fluctuations and the q-Gaussian function with q-values far from one, illustrates the highly correlated, fractal nature of the electric source network within the samples and provides further evidence that the source of the electric signals is the developing fractal network of cracks. It has been shown (Beck, 2001) that q-Gaussian distributions can arise from the superposition of local relaxations in the presence of a slowly varying driving force, thus providing a dynamic reason for the appearance of Tsallis statistics in systems with a fluctuating energy dissipation rate. So, the probability distribution for a dynamic variable, u under some external slow forcing, β, can be obtained as a superposition of temporary local equilibrium processes whose variance fluctuates over time. The appearance of q-Gaussian statistics are caused by the fluctuating β parameter, which effectively models the fluctuating energy dissipation rate in the system. This concept is known as superstatistics and is physically relevant for modelling driven non-equilibrium systems where the environmental conditions fluctuate on a large scale. The idea is that the environmental variable, such as temperature or pressure, changes so slowly that a rapidly fluctuating variable within that environment has time to relax back to equilibrium between each change in the environment. The application of superstatistical techniques to our experimental electric current fluctuations show that they can indeed be described, to good approximation, by the superposition of local Gaussian processes with fluctuating variance. We conclude, then, that the measured electric current fluctuates in response to intermittent energy dissipation and is driven to varying temporary local equilibria during deformation by the variations in stress intensity. The advantage of this technique is that, once the model has been established to be a good description of the system in question, the average β parameter (a measure of the average energy dissipation rate) for the system can be obtained simply from the macroscopic q-Gaussian distribution parameters.

Temperature Diffusion Distribution of Electric Wire Deteriorated by Overcurrent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Chung-Seog; Kim, Hyang-Kon; Kim, Dong-Woo; Lee, Ki-Yeon

This study presents thermal diffusion distribution of the electric wires when overcurrent is supplied to copper wires. And then, this study intends to provide a basis of knowledge for analyzing the causes of electric accidents through hybrid technology. In the thermal image distribution analysis of the electric wire to which fusing current was supplied, it was found that less heat was accumulated in the thin wires because of easier heat dispersion, while more heat was accumulated in the thicker wires. The 3-dimensional thermal image analysis showed that heat distribution was concentrated at the center of the wire and the inclination of heat distribution was steep in the thicker wires. When 81A was supplied to 1.6mm copper wire for 500 seconds, the surface temperature of wire was maximum 46.68°C and minimum 30.87°C. It revealed the initial characteristics of insulation deterioration that generates white smoke without external deformation. In the analysis with stereoscopic microscope, the surface turned dark brown and rough with the increase of fusing current. Also, it was known that exfoliation occurred when wire melted down with 2 times the fusing current. With the increase of current, we found the number of primary arms of the dendrite structure to be increased and those of the secondary and tertiary arms to be decreased. Also, when the overcurrent reached twice the fusing current, it was found that columnar composition, observed in the cross sectional structure of molten wire, appeared and formed regular directivity. As described above, we could present the burning pattern and change in characteristics of insulation and conductor quantitatively. And we could not only minimize the analysis error by combining the information but also present the scientific basis in the analysis of causes of electric accidents, mediation of disputes on product liability concerning the electric products.

Interaction of Low Frequency External Electric Fields and Pancreatic β-Cell: A Mathematical Modeling Approach to Identify the Influence of Excitation Parameters.

PubMed

Farashi, Sajjad; Sasanpour, Pezhman; Rafii-Tabar, Hashem

2018-05-24

Purpose-Although the effect of electromagnetic fields on biological systems has attracted attraction in recent years, there has not been any conclusive result concerning the effects of interaction and the underlying mechanisms involved. Besides the complexity of biological systems, the parameters of the applied electromagnetic field have not been estimated in most of the experiments. Material and Method-In this study, we have used computational approach in order to find the excitation parameters of an external electric field which produces sensible effects in the function of insulin secretory machinery, whose failure triggers the diabetes disease. A mathematical model of the human β-cell has been used and the effects of external electric fields with different amplitudes, frequencies and wave shapes have been studied. Results-The results from our simulations show that the external electric field can influence the membrane electrical activity and perhaps the insulin secretion when its amplitude exceeds a threshold value. Furthermore, our simulations reveal that different waveforms have distinct effects on the β-cell membrane electrical activity and the characteristic features of the excitation like frequency would change the interaction mechanism. Conclusion-The results could help the researchers to investigate the possible role of the environmental electromagnetic fields on the promotion of diabetes disease.

Quantum confined stark effect on the binding energy of exciton in type II quantum heterostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suseel, Rahul K.; Mathew, Vincent

2018-05-01

In this work, we have investigated the effect of external electric field on the strongly confined excitonic properties of CdTe/CdSe/CdTe/CdSe type-II quantum dot heterostructures. Within the effective mass approximation, we solved the Poisson-Schrodinger equations of the exciton in nanostructure using relaxation method in a self-consistent iterative manner. We changed both the external electric field and core radius of the quantum dot, to study the behavior of binding energy of exciton. Our studies show that the external electric field destroys the positional flipped state of exciton by modifying the confining potentials of electron and hole.

Adult subependymal neural precursors, but not differentiated cells, undergo rapid cathodal migration in the presence of direct current electric fields.

PubMed

Babona-Pilipos, Robart; Droujinine, Ilia A; Popovic, Milos R; Morshead, Cindi M

2011-01-01

The existence of neural stem and progenitor cells (together termed neural precursor cells) in the adult mammalian brain has sparked great interest in utilizing these cells for regenerative medicine strategies. Endogenous neural precursors within the adult forebrain subependyma can be activated following injury, resulting in their proliferation and migration toward lesion sites where they differentiate into neural cells. The administration of growth factors and immunomodulatory agents following injury augments this activation and has been shown to result in behavioural functional recovery following stroke. With the goal of enhancing neural precursor migration to facilitate the repair process we report that externally applied direct current electric fields induce rapid and directed cathodal migration of pure populations of undifferentiated adult subependyma-derived neural precursors. Using time-lapse imaging microscopy in vitro we performed an extensive single-cell kinematic analysis demonstrating that this galvanotactic phenomenon is a feature of undifferentiated precursors, and not differentiated phenotypes. Moreover, we have shown that the migratory response of the neural precursors is a direct effect of the electric field and not due to chemotactic gradients. We also identified that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling plays a role in the galvanotactic response as blocking EGFR significantly attenuates the migratory behaviour. These findings suggest direct current electric fields may be implemented in endogenous repair paradigms to promote migration and tissue repair following neurotrauma.

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.

Hydrophobic polymer covered by a grating electrode for converting the mechanical energy of water droplets into electrical energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helseth, L. E.; Guo, X. D.

2016-04-01

Water contact electric harvesting has a great potential as a new energy technology for powering small-scale electronics, but a better understanding of the dynamics governing the conversion from mechanical to electrical energy on the polymer surfaces is needed. Important questions are how current correlates with droplet kinetic energy and what happens to the charge dynamics when a large number of droplets are incident on the polymer simultaneously. Here we address these questions by studying the current that is generated in an external electrical circuit when water droplets impinge on hydrophobic fluorinated ethylene propylene film containing a grating electrode on the back side. Droplets moving down an inclined polymer plane exhibit a characteristic periodic current time trace, and it is found that the peak current scales with sine of the inclination angle. For single droplets in free fall impinging onto the polymer, it is found that the initial peak current scales with the height of the free fall. The transition from individual droplets to a nearly continuous stream was investigated using the spectral density of the current signal. In both regimes, the high frequency content of the spectral density scales as f -2. For low frequencies, the low frequency content at low volume rates was noisy but nearly constant, whereas for high volume rates an increase with frequency is observed. It is demonstrated that the output signal from the system exposed to water droplets from a garden hose can be rectified and harvested by a 33 μF capacitor, where the stored energy increases at a rate of about 20 μJ in 100 s.

Efficient two-step photocarrier generation in bias-controlled InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice intermediate-band solar cells.

PubMed

Kada, T; Asahi, S; Kaizu, T; Harada, Y; Tamaki, R; Okada, Y; Kita, T

2017-07-19

We studied the effects of the internal electric field on two-step photocarrier generation in InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice (QDSL) intermediate-band solar cells (IBSCs). The external quantum efficiency of QDSL-IBSCs was measured as a function of the internal electric field intensity, and compared with theoretical calculations accounting for interband and intersubband photoexcitations. The extra photocurrent caused by the two-step photoexcitation was maximal for a reversely biased electric field, while the current generated by the interband photoexcitation increased monotonically with increasing electric field intensity. The internal electric field in solar cells separated photogenerated electrons and holes in the superlattice (SL) miniband that played the role of an intermediate band, and the electron lifetime was extended to the microsecond scale, which improved the intersubband transition strength, therefore increasing the two-step photocurrent. There was a trade-off relation between the carrier separation enhancing the two-step photoexcitation and the electric-field-induced carrier escape from QDSLs. These results validate that long-lifetime electrons are key to maximising the two-step photocarrier generation in QDSL-IBSCs.

Effect of carrier doping and external electric field on the optical properties of graphene quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basak, Tista; Basak, Tushima

2018-02-01

In this paper, we demonstrate that the optical properties of finite-sized graphene quantum dots can be effectively controlled by doping it with different types of charge carriers (electron/hole). In addition, the role played by a suitably directed external electric field on the optical absorption of charge-doped graphene quantum dots have also been elucidated. The computations have been performed on diamond-shaped graphene quantum dot (DQD) within the framework of the Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) model Hamiltonian, which takes into account long-range Coulomb interactions. Our results reveal that the energy band-gap increases when the DQD is doped with holes while it decreases on doping it with electrons. Further, the optical absorption spectra of DQD exhibits red/blue-shift on doping with electrons/holes. Our computations also indicate that the application of external transverse electric field results in a substantial blue-shift of the optical spectrum for charge-doped DQD. However, it is observed that the influence of charge-doping is more prominent in tuning the optical properties of finite-sized graphene quantum dots as compared to externally applied electric field. Thus, tailoring the optical properties of finite-sized graphene quantum dots by manipulative doping with charge carriers and suitably aligned external electric field can greatly enhance its potential application in designing nano-photonic devices.

Density functional theory studies of methyl dissociation on a Ni(111) surface in the presence of an external electric field.

PubMed

Che, Fanglin; Zhang, Renqin; Hensley, Alyssa J; Ha, Su; McEwen, Jean-Sabin

2014-02-14

To provide a basis for understanding the reactive processes on nickel surfaces at fuel cell anodes, we investigate the influence of an external electric field on the dehydrogenation of methyl species on a Ni(111) surface using density functional theory calculations. The structures, adsorption energies and reaction barriers for all methyl species dissociation on the Ni(111) surface are identified. Our results show that the presence of an external electric field does not affect the structures and favorable adsorption sites of the adsorbed species, but causes the adsorption energies of the CHx species at the stable site to fluctuate around 0.2 eV. Calculations give an energy barrier of 0.692 eV for CH3* → CH2* + H*, 0.323 eV for CH2* → CH* + H* and 1.373 eV for CH* → C* + H*. Finally, we conclude that the presence of a large positive electric field significantly increases the energy barrier of the CH* → C* + H* reaction more than the other two reactions, suggesting that the presence of pure C atoms on Ni(111) are impeded in the presence of an external positive electric field.

Large-scale disruptions in a current-carrying magnetofluid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dahlburg, J. P.; Montgomery, D.; Doolen, G. D.; Matthaeus, W. H.

1986-01-01

Internal disruptions in a strongly magnetized electrically conducting fluid contained within a rigid conducting cylinder of square cross section are investigated theoretically, both with and without an externally applied axial electric field, by means of computer simulations using the pseudospectral three-dimensional Strauss-equations code of Dahlburg et al. (1985). Results from undriven inviscid, driven inviscid, and driven viscid simulations are presented graphically, and the significant effects of low-order truncations on the modeling accuracy are considered. A helical current filament about the cylinder axis is observed. The ratio of turbulent kinetic energy to total poloidal magnetic energy is found to undergo cyclic bounces in the undriven inviscid case, to exhibit one large bounce followed by decay to a quasi-steady state with poloidal fluid velocity flow in the driven inviscid case, and to show one large bounce followed by further sawtoothlike bounces in the driven viscid case.

Hadron electric polarizability from lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexandru, Andrei

2017-09-01

Electromagnetic polarizabilities are important parameters for hadron structure, describing the response of the charge and current distributions inside the hadron to an external electromagnetic field. For most hadrons these quantities are poorly constrained experimentally since they can only be measured indirectly. Lattice QCD can be used to compute these quantities directly in terms of quark and gluons degrees of freedom, using the background field method. We present results for the neutron electric polarizability for two different quark masses, light enough to connect to chiral perturbation theory. These are currently the lightest quark masses used in polarizability studies. For each pion mass we compute the polarizability at four different volumes and perform an infinite volume extrapolation. We also discuss the effect of turning on the coupling between the background field and the sea quarks. A.A. is supported in part by the National Science Foundation CAREER Grant PHY-1151648 and by U.S. DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-95ER40907.

Improved InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes with a p-GaN/n-GaN/p-GaN/n-GaN/p-GaN current-spreading layer.

PubMed

Zhang, Zi-Hui; Tan, Swee Tiam; Liu, Wei; Ju, Zhengang; Zheng, Ke; Kyaw, Zabu; Ji, Yun; Hasanov, Namig; Sun, Xiao Wei; Demir, Hilmi Volkan

2013-02-25

This work reports both experimental and theoretical studies on the InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with optical output power and external quantum efficiency (EQE) levels substantially enhanced by incorporating p-GaN/n-GaN/p-GaN/n-GaN/p-GaN (PNPNP-GaN) current spreading layers in p-GaN. Each thin n-GaN layer sandwiched in the PNPNP-GaN structure is completely depleted due to the built-in electric field in the PNPNP-GaN junctions, and the ionized donors in these n-GaN layers serve as the hole spreaders. As a result, the electrical performance of the proposed device is improved and the optical output power and EQE are enhanced.

Electromagnetic interference and shielding: An introduction (revised version of 1991-23)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dehoop, A. T.; Quak, D.

The basic equations of the electromagnetic field are summarized as far as they are needed in the theory of electromagnetic interference and shielding. Through the analysis of the planar electric current emitter, the propagation coefficient, attenuation coefficient, phase coefficient, wave-speed, wavelength, wave impedance, wave admittance, and power flow density of a wave are introduced. Next, the shielding effectiveness of a shielding plate and the shielding effectiveness of a shielding parallel-plate box are determined. In the latter, particular attention is given to the occurrence of internal resonance effects, which may degrade the shielding effectiveness. Further, a survey of some fundamental properties of a system of low frequency, multiconductor transmission lines is given. For a three conductor system with a plane of symmetry, the decomposition into the common mode and the differential mode of operation is discussed. Finally, expressions for the voltages and electric currents induced by external sources along a single transmission line are derived.

All-Silicon Switchable Magnetoelectric Effect through Interlayer Exchange Coupling.

PubMed

Liu, Hang; Sun, Jia-Tao; Fu, Hui-Xia; Sun, Pei-Jie; Feng, Y P; Meng, Sheng

2017-07-19

The magnetoelectric (ME) effect originating from the effective coupling between electric field and magnetism is an exciting frontier in nanoscale science such as magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), ferroelectric/piezoelectric heterojunctions etc. The realization of switchable ME effect under external electric field in d0 semiconducting materials of single composition is needed especially for all-silicon spintronics applications because of its natural compatibility with current industry. We employ density functional theory (DFT) to reveal that the pristine Si(111)-3×3 R30° (Si3 hereafter) reconstructed surfaces of thin films with a thickness smaller than eleven bilayers support a sizeable linear ME effect with switchable direction of magnetic moment under external electric field. This is achieved through the interlayer exchange coupling effect in the antiferromagnetic regime, where the spin-up and spin-down magnetized density is located on opposite surfaces of Si3 thin films. The obtained coefficient for the linear ME effect can be four times larger than that of ferromagnetic Fe films, which fail to have the reversal switching capabilities. The larger ME effect originates from the spin-dependent screening of the spin-polarized Dirac fermion. The prediction will promote the realization of well-controlled and switchable data storage in all-silicon electronics. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Riata silicone defibrillation lead with normal electrical measures at routine ambulatory check: The role of high-voltage shock testing

PubMed Central

De Maria, Elia; Borghi, Ambra; Bonetti, Lorenzo; Fontana, Pier Luigi; Cappelli, Stefano

2016-01-01

AIM To describe our experience with shock testing for the evaluation of patients with Riata™ leads. METHODS Among 51 patients with normal baseline electrical parameters, 20 died during follow-up. Of the remaining 31 patients, 15 underwent the test: In 10 cases a defibrillation testing with ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and in 5 cases a R-wave-synchronized shock (> 20 J, without inducing VF). The test was performed under sedation with Midazolam. RESULTS Twelve patients (80%) had a normal behavior during shock testing: In 8 cases induced VF was correctly detected and treated; in 4 cases of R-wave-synchronized shock electrical parameters remained stable and normal. Three patients (20%) failed the test. One patient with externalized conductors showed a sudden drop of high-voltage impedance (< 10 Ohm) after a 25 J R-wave-synchronized shock. Two other patients with externalized conductors, undergoing defibrillation testing, showed a short-circuit during shock delivery and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator was unable to interrupt VF. CONCLUSION In Riata™ leads the delivery of a low current during routine measurement of high-voltage impedance may not reveal a small short circuit, that can only be evident by attempting to deliver a true shock, either for spontaneous arrhythmias or in the context of a shock testing. PMID:27957252

Nonlinear dielectric effects in liquids: a guided tour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richert, Ranko

2017-09-01

Dielectric relaxation measurements probe how the polarization of a material responds to the application of an external electric field, providing information on structure and dynamics of the sample. In the limit of small fields and thus linear response, such experiments reveal the properties of the material in the same thermodynamic state it would have in the absence of the external field. At sufficiently high fields, reversible changes in enthalpy and entropy of the system occur even at constant temperature, and these will in turn alter the polarization responses. The resulting nonlinear dielectric effects feature field induced suppressions (saturation) and enhancements (chemical effect) of the amplitudes, as well as time constant shifts towards faster (energy absorption) and slower (entropy reduction) dynamics. This review focuses on the effects of high electric fields that are reversible and observed at constant temperature for single component glass-forming liquids. The experimental challenges involved in nonlinear dielectric experiments, the approaches to separating and identifying the different sources of nonlinear behavior, and the current understanding of how high electric fields affect dielectric materials will be discussed. Covering studies from Debye’s initial approach to the present state-of-the-art, it will be emphasized what insight can be gained from the nonlinear responses that are not available from dielectric relaxation results obtained in the linear regime.

Mathematical Model of Solid Food Pasteurization by Ohmic Heating: Influence of Process Parameters

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Pasteurization of a solid food undergoing ohmic heating has been analysed by means of a mathematical model, involving the simultaneous solution of Laplace's equation, which describes the distribution of electrical potential within a food, the heat transfer equation, using a source term involving the displacement of electrical potential, the kinetics of inactivation of microorganisms likely to be contaminating the product. In the model, thermophysical and electrical properties as function of temperature are used. Previous works have shown the occurrence of heat loss from food products to the external environment during ohmic heating. The current model predicts that, when temperature gradients are established in the proximity of the outer ohmic cell surface, more cold areas are present at junctions of electrodes with lateral sample surface. For these reasons, colder external shells are the critical areas to be monitored, instead of internal points (typically geometrical center) as in classical pure conductive heat transfer. Analysis is carried out in order to understand the influence of pasteurisation process parameters on this temperature distribution. A successful model helps to improve understanding of these processing phenomenon, which in turn will help to reduce the magnitude of the temperature differential within the product and ultimately provide a more uniformly pasteurized product. PMID:24574874

Mathematical model of solid food pasteurization by ohmic heating: influence of process parameters.

PubMed

Marra, Francesco

2014-01-01

Pasteurization of a solid food undergoing ohmic heating has been analysed by means of a mathematical model, involving the simultaneous solution of Laplace's equation, which describes the distribution of electrical potential within a food, the heat transfer equation, using a source term involving the displacement of electrical potential, the kinetics of inactivation of microorganisms likely to be contaminating the product. In the model, thermophysical and electrical properties as function of temperature are used. Previous works have shown the occurrence of heat loss from food products to the external environment during ohmic heating. The current model predicts that, when temperature gradients are established in the proximity of the outer ohmic cell surface, more cold areas are present at junctions of electrodes with lateral sample surface. For these reasons, colder external shells are the critical areas to be monitored, instead of internal points (typically geometrical center) as in classical pure conductive heat transfer. Analysis is carried out in order to understand the influence of pasteurisation process parameters on this temperature distribution. A successful model helps to improve understanding of these processing phenomenon, which in turn will help to reduce the magnitude of the temperature differential within the product and ultimately provide a more uniformly pasteurized product.

Complex Pattern Formation from Current-Driven Dynamics of Single-Layer Epitaxial Islands on Crystalline Conducting Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Ashish; Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Maroudas, Dimitrios

We report a systematic study of complex pattern formation resulting from the driven dynamics of single-layer homoepitaxial islands on face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline conducting substrate surfaces under the action of an externally applied electric field. The analysis is based on an experimentally validated nonlinear model of mass transport via island edge atomic diffusion, which also accounts for edge diffusional anisotropy. We analyze the morphological stability and simulate the field-driven evolution of rounded islands for an electric field oriented along the fast diffusion direction. For larger than critical island sizes on {110} and {100} FCC substrates, we show that multiple necking instabilities generate complex island patterns, including void-containing islands, mediated by sequences of breakup and coalescence events and distributed symmetrically with respect to the electric field direction. We analyze the dependence of the formed patterns on the original island size and on the duration of application of the external field. Starting from a single large rounded island, we characterize the evolution of the number of daughter islands and their average size and uniformity. The analysis reveals that the pattern formation kinetics follows a universal scaling relation. Division of Materials Sciences & Engineering, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy (Award No.: DE-FG02-07ER46407).

RichMol: A general variational approach for rovibrational molecular dynamics in external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owens, Alec; Yachmenev, Andrey

2018-03-01

In this paper, a general variational approach for computing the rovibrational dynamics of polyatomic molecules in the presence of external electric fields is presented. Highly accurate, full-dimensional variational calculations provide a basis of field-free rovibrational states for evaluating the rovibrational matrix elements of high-rank Cartesian tensor operators and for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The effect of the external electric field is treated as a multipole moment expansion truncated at the second hyperpolarizability interaction term. Our fully numerical and computationally efficient method has been implemented in a new program, RichMol, which can simulate the effects of multiple external fields of arbitrary strength, polarization, pulse shape, and duration. Illustrative calculations of two-color orientation and rotational excitation with an optical centrifuge of NH3 are discussed.

On the dynamic toroidal multipoles from localized electric current distributions.

PubMed

Fernandez-Corbaton, Ivan; Nanz, Stefan; Rockstuhl, Carsten

2017-08-08

We analyze the dynamic toroidal multipoles and prove that they do not have an independent physical meaning with respect to their interaction with electromagnetic waves. We analytically show how the split into electric and toroidal parts causes the appearance of non-radiative components in each of the two parts. These non-radiative components, which cancel each other when both parts are summed, preclude the separate determination of each part by means of measurements of the radiation from the source or of its coupling to external electromagnetic waves. In other words, there is no toroidal radiation or independent toroidal electromagnetic coupling. The formal meaning of the toroidal multipoles is clear in our derivations. They are the higher order terms of an expansion of the multipolar coefficients of electric parity with respect to the electromagnetic size of the source.

Fatigue mechanism verified using photovoltaic properties of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ming; Li, Wei; Li, Junning; Wang, Shaolan; Li, Yaqi; Peng, Biaolin; Huang, Haitao; Lou, Xiaojie

2017-03-01

The photovoltaic effect and its evolution during electrical fatigue in Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) thin films have been investigated. It is found that the photovoltaic effect of the as-grown PZT thin film is highly affected by the asymmetric Schottky barriers, which can be tuned by applying an external electric field. During fatigue processes, both open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current (Jsc) decrease considerably with the increase of the number of electrical cycles. This phenomenon could be ascribed to the degradation of the interfacial layer between the thin film and the electrode induced by highly energetic charge carriers injected from the electrode during bipolar cycling. Our work sheds light on the physical mechanism of both ferroelectric photovoltaics and polarization fatigue in thin-film ferroelectrics.

High power, electrically tunable quantum cascade lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slivken, Steven; Razeghi, Manijeh

2016-02-01

Mid-infrared laser sources (3-14 μm wavelengths) which have wide spectral coverage and high output power are attractive for many applications. This spectral range contains unique absorption fingerprints of most molecules, including toxins, explosives, and nerve agents. Infrared spectroscopy can also be used to detect important biomarkers, which can be used for medical diagnostics by means of breath analysis. The challenge is to produce a broadband midinfrared source which is small, lightweight, robust, and inexpensive. We are currently investigating monolithic solutions using quantum cascade lasers. A wide gain bandwidth is not sufficient to make an ideal spectroscopy source. Single mode output with rapid tuning is desirable. For dynamic wavelength selection, our group is developing multi-section laser geometries with wide electrical tuning (hundreds of cm-1). These devices are roughly the same size as a traditional quantum cascade lasers, but tuning is accomplished without any external optical components. When combined with suitable amplifiers, these lasers are capable of multi-Watt single mode output powers. This manuscript will describe our current research efforts and the potential for high performance, broadband electrical tuning with the quantum cascade laser.

Electricity Submetering on the Cheap: Stick-on Electricity Meters

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

Lanzisera, Steven; Lorek, Michael; Pister, Kristofer

2014-08-17

We demonstrate a low-cost, 21 x 12 mm prototype Stick-on Electricity Meter (SEM) to replace traditional in-circuit-breaker-panel current and voltage sensors for building submetering. A SEM sensor is installed on the external face of a circuit breaker to generate voltage and current signals. This allows for the computation of real and apparent power as well as capturing harmonics created by non-linear loads. The prototype sensor is built using commercially available components, resulting in a production cost of under $10 per SEM. With no highvoltage install work requiring an electrician, home owners or other individuals can install the system in amore » few minutes with no safety implications. This leads to an installed system cost that is much lower than traditional submetering technology.. Measurement results from lab characterization as well as a real-world residential dwelling installation are presented, verifying the operation of our proposed SEM sensor. The SEM sensor can resolve breaker power levels below 10W, and it can be used to provide data for non-intrusive load monitoring systems at full sample rate.« less

Effect of externally applied electrostatic fields, microwave radiation and electric currents on plants and other organisms, with special reference to weed control

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

Diprose, M.F.; Benson, F.A.; Willis, A.J.

High electric fields are reported to damage plants if currents greater than 10/sup -6/ A are induced to flow through leaves causing corona discharges from the tips. The nature of the damage and the effects on metabolic processes are discussed. The results from experiments on the growth of plants in which the density and charge of air ions have been varied are also reviewed. The effects of microwave radiation (mostly 2450 MHz) upon seeds, plants and other organisms in soil are discussed. These effects depend upon the power density of the radiation and the electrical properties of the targets. Althoughmore » microwaves can be effective in killing plants and also seeds that are buried several centimeters deep in soil, high power equipment is required and treatment times are long e.g. a 60 kW machine could take up to 92.6 hours per hectare. Other experiments reported show that microwave radiation can kill nematodes in the soil and that it is also very effective in killing fungi and bacteria. The potential of the various possible uses of microwave radiation in agriculture is also described. Electric currents have been caused to flow through plants by the applicaton of electrodes to the leaves. The effects range from nil, when 50-100 V and 1 or 2 ..mu..A are used, to very striking when voltages from 5 to 15 kV are applied causing currents of several amperes to flow and resulting in the rapid destruction of the target. Small electric currents passed through soil containing plants are reported to increase their growth. The effects of small current on the growth of individual leaves are reviewed. The use of high voltage tractor-borne equipment for weed control is also considered. 152 references, 9 tables.« less

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

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Ed

2017-01-01

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

Inverse spin Hall and spin rectification effects in NiFe/FeMn exchange-biased thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, W. J. S.; Seeger, R. L.; da Silva, R. B.; Harres, A.

2017-11-01

Materials presenting high spin-orbit coupling are able to convert spin currents in charge currents. The phenomenon, known as inverse spin Hall effect, promises to revolutionize spintronic technology enabling the electrical detection of spin currents. It has been observed in a variety of systems, usually non-magnetic metals. We study the voltage emerging in exchange biased Ta/NiFe/FeMn/Ta thin films near the ferromagnetic resonance. Measured signals are related to both inverse spin Hall and spin rectification effects, and two distinct protocols were employed to separate their contributions.The curve shift due to the exchange bias effect may enable high frequency applications without an external applied magnetic field.

Controlling three-dimensional vortices using multiple and moving external fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Nirmali Prabha; Dutta, Sumana

2017-08-01

Spirals or scroll wave activities in cardiac tissues are the cause of lethal arrhythmias. The external control of these waves is thus of prime interest to scientists and physicians. In this article, we demonstrate the spatial control of scroll waves by using external electric fields and thermal gradients in experiments with the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. We show that a scroll ring can be made to trace cyclic trajectories under a rotating electric field. Application of a thermal gradient in addition to the electric field deflects the motion and changes the nature of the trajectory. Our experimental results are analyzed and corroborated by numerical simulations based on an excitable reaction diffusion model.

Complex Pattern Formation from Current-Driven Dynamics of Single-Layer Homoepitaxial Islands on Crystalline Conducting Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Ashish; Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Maroudas, Dimitrios

2017-07-01

We report a systematic study of complex pattern formation resulting from the driven dynamics of single-layer homoepitaxial islands on surfaces of face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystalline conducting substrates under the action of an externally applied electric field. The analysis is based on an experimentally validated nonlinear model of mass transport via island edge atomic diffusion, which also accounts for edge diffusional anisotropy. We analyze the morphological stability and simulate the field-driven evolution of rounded islands for an electric field oriented along the fast edge diffusion direction. For larger-than-critical island sizes on {110 } and {100 } fcc substrates, we show that multiple necking instabilities generate complex island patterns, including not-simply-connected void-containing islands mediated by sequences of breakup and coalescence events and distributed symmetrically with respect to the electric field direction. We analyze the dependence of the formed patterns on the original island size and on the duration of application of the external field. Starting from a single large rounded island, we characterize the evolution of the number of daughter islands and their average size and uniformity. The evolution of the average island size follows a universal power-law scaling relation, and the evolution of the total edge length of the islands in the complex pattern follows Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami kinetics. Our study makes a strong case for the use of electric fields, as precisely controlled macroscopic forcing, toward surface patterning involving complex nanoscale features.

Diffusion with Varying Drag; the Runaway Problem.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rollins, David Kenneth

We study the motion of electrons in an ionized plasma of electrons and ions in an external electric field. A probability distribution function describes the electron motion and is a solution of a Fokker-Planck equation. In zero field, the solution approaches an equilibrium Maxwellian. For arbitrarily small field, electrons overcome the diffusive effects and are freely accelerated by the field. This is the electron runaway phenomenon. We treat the electric field as a small perturbation. We consider various diffusion coefficients for the one dimensional problem and determine the runaway current as a function of the field strength. Diffusion coefficients, non-zero on a finite interval are examined. Some non-trivial cases of these can be solved exactly in terms of known special functions. The more realistic case where the diffusion coefficient decays with velocity are then considered. To determine the runaway current, the equivalent Schrodinger eigenvalue problem is analysed. The smallest eigenvalue is shown to be equal to the runaway current. Using asymptotic matching a solution can be constructed which is then used to evaluate the runaway current. The runaway current is exponentially small as a function of field strength. This method is used to extract results from the three dimensional problem.

A theoretical analysis of the electromagnetic environment of the AS330 super Puma helicopter external and internal coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flourens, F.; Morel, T.; Gauthier, D.; Serafin, D.

1991-01-01

Numerical techniques such as Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) computer programs, which were first developed to analyze the external electromagnetic environment of an aircraft during a wave illumination, a lightning event, or any kind of current injection, are now very powerful investigative tools. The program called GORFF-VE, was extended to compute the inner electromagnetic fields that are generated by the penetration of the outer fields through large apertures made in the all metallic body. Then, the internal fields can drive the electrical response of a cable network. The coupling between the inside and the outside of the helicopter is implemented using Huygen's principle. Moreover, the spectacular increase of computer resources, as calculations speed and memory capacity, allows the modellization structures as complex as these of helicopters with accuracy. This numerical model was exploited, first, to analyze the electromagnetic environment of an in-flight helicopter for several injection configurations, and second, to design a coaxial return path to simulate the lightning aircraft interaction with a strong current injection. The E field and current mappings are the result of these calculations.

New perspectives on the dynamics of AC and DC plasma arcs exposed to cross-fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdo, Youssef; Rohani, Vandad; Cauneau, François; Fulcheri, Laurent

2017-02-01

Interactions between an arc and external fields are crucially important for the design and the optimization of modern plasma torches. Multiple studies have been conducted to help better understand the behavior of DC and AC current arcs exposed to external and ‘self-induced’ magnetic fields, but the theoretical foundations remain very poorly explored. An analytical investigation has therefore been carried out in order to study the general behavior of DC and AC arcs under the effect of random cross-fields. A simple differential equation describing the general behavior of a planar DC or AC arc has been obtained. Several dimensionless numbers that depend primarily on arc and field parameters and the main arc characteristics (temperature, electric field strength) have also been determined. Their magnitude indicates the general tendency pattern of the arc evolution. The analytical results for many case studies have been validated using an MHD numerical model. The main purpose of this investigation was deriving a practical analytical model for the electric arc, rendering possible its stabilization and control, and the enhancement of the plasma torch power.

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.

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.

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).

Conformation and structural changes of diblock copolymers with octopus-like micelle formation in the presence of external stimuli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dammertz, K.; Saier, A. M.; Marti, O.; Amirkhani, M.

2014-04-01

External stimuli such as vapours and electric fields can be used to manipulate the formation of AB-diblock copolymers on surfaces. We study the conformational variation of PS-b-PMMA (polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)), PS and PMMA adsorbed on mica and their response to saturated water or chloroform atmospheres. Using specimens with only partial polymer coverage, new unanticipated effects were observed. Water vapour, a non-solvent for all three polymers, was found to cause high surface mobility. In contrast, chloroform vapour (a solvent for all three polymers) proved to be less efficient. Furthermore, the influence of an additional applied electric field was investigated. A dc field oriented parallel to the sample surface induces the formation of polymer islands which assemble into wormlike chains. Moreover, PS-b-PMMA forms octopus-like micelles (OLMs) on mica. Under the external stimuli mentioned above, the wormlike formations of OLMs are able to align in the direction of the external electric field. In the absence of an electric field, the OLMs disaggregate and exhibit phase separated structures under chloroform vapour.

Performance of denitrifying microbial fuel cell subjected to variation in pH, COD concentration and external resistance.

PubMed

Li, Jin-Tao; Zhang, Shao-Hui; Hua, Yu-Mei

2013-01-01

The effects of pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and external resistance on denitrifying microbial fuel cell were evaluated in terms of electricity generation characteristics and pollutant removal performance. The results showed that anodic influent with weakly alkaline or neutral pH and cathodic influent with weakly acidic pH favored pollutant removal and electricity generation. The suitable influent pH of the anode and cathode were found to be 7.5-8.0 and 6.0-6.5, respectively. In the presence of sufficient nitrate in the cathode, higher influent COD concentration led to more electricity generation and greater pollutant removal rates. With an anodic influent pH of 8.0 and a cathodic influent pH of 6.0, an influent COD concentration of 400 mg/L was deemed to be appropriate. Low external resistance favored nitrate and COD removal. The results suggest that operation of denitrifying microbial fuel cell at a lower external resistance would be desirable for pollutant removal but not electricity generation.

Extension of Gibbs-Duhem equation including influences of external fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guangze, Han; Jianjia, Meng

2018-03-01

Gibbs-Duhem equation is one of the fundamental equations in thermodynamics, which describes the relation among changes in temperature, pressure and chemical potential. Thermodynamic system can be affected by external field, and this effect should be revealed by thermodynamic equations. Based on energy postulate and the first law of thermodynamics, the differential equation of internal energy is extended to include the properties of external fields. Then, with homogeneous function theorem and a redefinition of Gibbs energy, a generalized Gibbs-Duhem equation with influences of external fields is derived. As a demonstration of the application of this generalized equation, the influences of temperature and external electric field on surface tension, surface adsorption controlled by external electric field, and the derivation of a generalized chemical potential expression are discussed, which show that the extended Gibbs-Duhem equation developed in this paper is capable to capture the influences of external fields on a thermodynamic system.

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.

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.

Mathematical Modeling of Electrodynamics Near the Surface of Earth and Planetary Water Worlds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tyler, Robert H.

2017-01-01

An interesting feature of planetary bodies with hydrospheres is the presence of an electrically conducting shell near the global surface. This conducting shell may typically lie between relatively insulating rock, ice, or atmosphere, creating a strong constraint on the flow of large-scale electric currents. All or parts of the shell may be in fluid motion relative to main components of the rotating planetary magnetic field (as well as the magnetic fields due to external bodies), creating motionally-induced electric currents that would not otherwise be present. As such, one may expect distinguishing features in the types of electrodynamic processes that occur, as well as an opportunity for imposing specialized mathematical methods that efficiently address this class of application. The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss such specialized methods. Specifically, thin-shell approximations for both the electrodynamics and fluid dynamics are combined to derive simplified mathematical formulations describing the behavior of these electric currents as well as their associated electric and magnetic fields. These simplified formulae allow analytical solutions featuring distinct aspects of the thin-shell electrodynamics in idealized cases. A highly efficient numerical method is also presented that is useful for calculations under inhomogeneous parameter distributions. Finally, the advantages as well as limitations in using this mathematical approach are evaluated. This evaluation is presented primarily for the generic case of bodies with water worlds or other thin spherical conducting shells. More specific discussion is given for the case of Earth, but also Europa and other satellites with suspected oceans.

Generation and electric control of spin-valley-coupled circular photogalvanic current in WSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Hongtao; Hwang, Harold Y.; Cui, Yi

2015-03-01

Compared to the weak spin-orbit-interaction (SOI) in graphene, layered transitionmetal chalcogenides MX2 have heavy 4d/5d elements with strong atomic SOI, providing a unique way to extend functionalities of novel spintronics and valleytronics devices. Such a valley polarization achieved via valley-selective circular dichroism has been predicted theoretically and demonstrated with optical experiments in MX2 systems. Despite the exciting progresses, the generation of a valley/spin current by valley polarization in MX2 remains elusive and a great challenge. A spin/valley current in MX2 compounds caused by such a valley polarization has never been observed, nor its electric-field control. In this talk, we demonstrated, within an electric-double-layer transistor based on WSe2, the manipulation of a spin-coupled valley photocurrent whose direction and magnitude depend on the degree of circular polarization of the incident radiation and can be further greatly modulated with an external electric field. Such room temperature generation and electric control of valley/spin photocurrent provides a new property of electrons in MX2 systems, thereby enabling new degrees of control for quantum-confined spintronics devices. (In collaboration with S.C. Zhang, Y.L. Chen, Z.X. Shen, B Lian, H.J. Zhang, G Xu, Y Xu, B Zhou, X.Q. Wang, B Shen X.F. Fang) Acknowledge the support from DoE, BES, Division of MSE under contract DE-AC02-76SF00515. Acknowledge the support from DoE, BES, Division of MSE under contract DE-AC02-76SF00515.

Analog simulation of a hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle

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

Gilmore, D.B.

1982-03-01

Hybrid vehicles using both internal combustion engines and electric motors represent one way to reduce fuel consumption. Our demonstration project envisioned more than halving the fuel consumption of a passenger vehicle by reducing greatly the capacity of its engine and adding regenerative braking and an all-electric range. We also envisaged maintaining the same performance as current passenger vehicles. A 0-6 000 rpm gasoline-driven internal combustion engine, two 0-7 800 rpm electric motors, a 0-7 800 rpm flywheel, and lead-acid batteries are the major components assembled using a mechnical epicyclic gear box. An EAI 681 analog computer allowed us to examinemore » quickly the effects of engine capacity, flywheel size, battery voltage, gear ratios, and mode of operation. An external potentiometer control on the computer allowed the operator to drive the vehicle through any acceleration cycle on level ground. We have shown that a 1.3 litre gasoline engine, two 13 kW separately excited direct current electric motors, a 38 kg flywheel, and a 48-volt battery pack will provide the same maximum performance as a conventional 4.1 litre internal combustion engine with automatic transmission at vehicle speeds below 60 km/h, and lower but satisfactory highway performance up to a top speed of 130 km/h. The transmission has undergone laboratory tests; it is to be road-tested in the first half of 1982.« less

Implications of environmental externalities assessments for solar thermal powerplants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, A. D.; Baechler, M. C.

1991-03-01

Externalities are those impacts of one activity on other activities that are not priced in the marketplace. An externality is said to exist when two conditions hold: (1) the utility or operations of one economic agent, A, include nonmonetary variables whose values are chosen by another economic agent, B, without regard to the effects on A, and (2) B does not pay A compensation equal to the incremental costs inflicted on A. Electricity generation involves a wide range of potential and actual environmental impacts. Legislative, permitting, and regulatory requirements directly or indirectly control certain environmental impacts, implicitly causing them to become internalized in the cost of electricity generation. Electricity generation, however, often produces residual environmental impacts that meet the definition of an externality. Mechanisms have been developed by several states to include the costs associated with externalities in the cost-effectiveness analyses of new powerplants. This paper examines these costs for solar thermal plants and applies two states' scoring methodologies to estimate how including externalities would affect the levelized costs of power from a solar plant in the Pacific Northwest. It concludes that including externalities in the economics can reduce the difference between the levelized cost of a coal and solar plant by between 0.74 and 2.42 cents/kWh.

Advantages and Uses of AMTEC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lodhi, M. A. K.

2012-10-01

Static conversion systems are gaining importance in recent times because of newer applications of electricity like in spacecraft, hybrid-electric vehicles, military uses and domestic purposes. Of the many new static energy conversion systems that are being considered, one is the Alkali Metal Thermal Electric Converter (AMTEC). It is a thermally regenerative, electrochemical device for the direct conversion of heat to electrical power. As the name suggests, this system uses an alkali metal in its process. The electrochemical process involved in the working of AMTEC is ionization of alkali metal atoms at the interface of electrode and electrolyte. The electrons produced as a result flow through the external load thus doing work, and finally recombine with the metal ions at the cathode. AMTECs convert the work done during the nearly isothermal expansion of metal vapor to produce a high current and low voltage electron flow. Due to its principle of working it has many inherent advantages over other conventional generators. These will be discussed briefly.

Humidity influence on atomic force microscopy electrostatic nanolithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyuksyutov, Sergei; Juhl, Shane; Vaia, Richard

2006-03-01

The formation and sustainability of water menisci and bridges between solid dielectric surface and nano-asperity under external electrostatic potential is a mystery, which must be adequately explained. The goal of our study is twofold: (i) To address the influence of an ambient humidity through the water meniscus formation on the nanostructure formation in soften polymeric surfaces; (ii) Estimate an electric charge generation and transport inside the water meniscus in vicinity of nanoscale asperity taking into consideration an induced water ionization in strong non-uniform electric field of magnitude up to 10^10 Vm-1. It is suspected that strong electric field inside a polymer matrix activates the hoping mechanism of conductivity. The electrons are supplied by tunneling of conductive tip, and also through water ionization. Electric current associated with these free carriers produces Jule heating of a small volume of polymer film heating it above the glass transition temperature. Nanostructures are created by mass transport of visco-elastic polymer melt enabling high structure densities on polymer film.

Electrical cardioversion

PubMed Central

Sucu, Murat; Davutoglu, Vedat; Ozer, Orhan

2009-01-01

External electrical cardioversion was first performed in the 1950s. Urgent or elective cardioversions have specific advantages, such as termination of atrial and ventricular tachycardia and recovery of sinus rhythm. Electrical cardioversion is life-saving when applied in urgent circumstances. The succcess rate is increased by accurate tachycardia diagnosis, careful patient selection, adequate electrode (paddles) application, determination of the optimal energy and anesthesia levels, prevention of embolic events and arrythmia recurrence and airway conservation while minimizing possible complications. Potential complications include ventricular fibrillation due to general anesthesia or lack of synchronization between the direct current (DC) shock and the QRS complex, thromboembolus due to insufficient anticoagulant therapy, non-sustained VT, atrial arrhythmia, heart block, bradycardia, transient left bundle branch block, myocardial necrosis, myocardial dysfunction, transient hypotension, pulmonary edema and skin burn. Electrical cardioversion performed in patients with a pacemaker or an incompatible cardioverter defibrillator may lead to dysfunction, namely acute or chronic changes in the pacing or sensitivity threshold. Although this procedure appears fairly simple, serious consequences might occur if inappropriately performed. PMID:19448376

Microscopic theory of the Coulomb based exchange coupling in magnetic tunnel junctions.

PubMed

Udalov, O G; Beloborodov, I S

2017-05-04

We study interlayer exchange coupling based on the many-body Coulomb interaction between conduction electrons in magnetic tunnel junction. This mechanism complements the known interaction between magnetic layers based on virtual electron hopping (or spin currents). We find that these two mechanisms have different behavior on system parameters. The Coulomb based coupling may exceed the hopping based exchange. We show that the Coulomb based exchange interaction, in contrast to the hopping based coupling, depends strongly on the dielectric constant of the insulating layer. The dependence of the interlayer exchange interaction on the dielectric properties of the insulating layer in magnetic tunnel junction is similar to magneto-electric effect where electric and magnetic degrees of freedom are coupled. We calculate the interlayer coupling as a function of temperature and electric field for magnetic tunnel junction with ferroelectric layer and show that the exchange interaction between magnetic leads has a sharp decrease in the vicinity of the ferroelectric phase transition and varies strongly with external electric field.

A Novel Data System for Verification of Internal Parameters of Motor Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Doug; Saint Jean, Paul; Everton, Randy; Uresk, Bonnie

2003-01-01

Three major obstacles have limited the amount of information that can be obtained from inside an operating solid rocket motor. The first is a safety issue due to the presence of live propellant interacting with classical, electrical instrumentation. The second is a pressure vessel feed through risk arising from bringing a large number of wires through the rocket motor wall safely. The third is an attachment/protection issue associated with connecting gages to live propellant. Thiokol has developed a highly miniaturized, networked, electrically isolated data system that has safely delivered information from classical, electrical instrumentation (even on the burning propellant surface) to the outside world. This system requires only four wires to deliver 80 channels of data at 2300 samples/second/channel. The feed through leak path risk is massively reduced from the current situation where each gage requires at least three pressure vessel wire penetrations. The external electrical isolation of the system is better than that of the propellant itself. This paper describes the new system.

Direct Observation of the Biaxial Stress Effect on Efficiency Droop in GaN-based Light-emitting Diode under Electrical Injection.

PubMed

Zheng, Jinjian; Li, Shuiqing; Chou, Chilun; Lin, Wei; Xun, Feilin; Guo, Fei; Zheng, Tongchang; Li, Shuping; Kang, Junyong

2015-12-04

Light-emitting diode (LED) efficiency has attracted considerable interest because of the extended use of solid-state lighting. Owing to lack of direct measurement, identification of the reasons for efficiency droop has been restricted. A direct measurement technique is developed in this work for characterization of biaxial stress in GaN-based blue LEDs under electrical injection. The Raman shift of the GaN E2 mode evidently decreases by 4.4 cm(-1) as the driving current on GaN-based LEDs increases to 700 mA. Biaxial compressive stress is released initially and biaxial tensile stress builds up as the current increases with respect to the value of stress-free GaN. First-principles calculations reveal that electron accumulation is responsible for the stress variation in InxGa1-xN/GaN quantum wells, and then reduces the transition probability among quantum levels. This behavior is consistent with the measured current-dependent external quantum efficiency. The rule of biaxial stress-dependent efficiency is further validated by controlling the biaxial stress of GaN-based LEDs with different sapphire substrate thicknesses. This work provides a method for direct observation of the biaxial stress effect on efficiency droop in LEDs under electrical injection.

Direct Observation of the Biaxial Stress Effect on Efficiency Droop in GaN-based Light-emitting Diode under Electrical Injection

PubMed Central

Zheng, Jinjian; Li, Shuiqing; Chou, Chilun; Lin, Wei; Xun, Feilin; Guo, Fei; Zheng, Tongchang; Li, Shuping; Kang, Junyong

2015-01-01

Light-emitting diode (LED) efficiency has attracted considerable interest because of the extended use of solid-state lighting. Owing to lack of direct measurement, identification of the reasons for efficiency droop has been restricted. A direct measurement technique is developed in this work for characterization of biaxial stress in GaN-based blue LEDs under electrical injection. The Raman shift of the GaN E2 mode evidently decreases by 4.4 cm−1 as the driving current on GaN-based LEDs increases to 700 mA. Biaxial compressive stress is released initially and biaxial tensile stress builds up as the current increases with respect to the value of stress-free GaN. First-principles calculations reveal that electron accumulation is responsible for the stress variation in InxGa1−xN/GaN quantum wells, and then reduces the transition probability among quantum levels. This behavior is consistent with the measured current-dependent external quantum efficiency. The rule of biaxial stress-dependent efficiency is further validated by controlling the biaxial stress of GaN-based LEDs with different sapphire substrate thicknesses. This work provides a method for direct observation of the biaxial stress effect on efficiency droop in LEDs under electrical injection. PMID:26634816

Individual differences in transcranial electrical stimulation current density

PubMed Central

Russell, Michael J; Goodman, Theodore; Pierson, Ronald; Shepherd, Shane; Wang, Qiang; Groshong, Bennett; Wiley, David F

2013-01-01

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TCES) is effective in treating many conditions, but it has not been possible to accurately forecast current density within the complex anatomy of a given subject's head. We sought to predict and verify TCES current densities and determine the variability of these current distributions in patient-specific models based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment estimated conductivity from MRIs and compared the current density results against actual measurements from the scalp surface of 3 subjects. In the second experiment, virtual electrodes were placed on the scalps of 18 subjects to model simulated current densities with 2 mA of virtually applied stimulation. This procedure was repeated for 4 electrode locations. Current densities were then calculated for 75 brain regions. Comparison of modeled and measured external current in experiment 1 yielded a correlation of r = .93. In experiment 2, modeled individual differences were greatest near the electrodes (ten-fold differences were common), but simulated current was found in all regions of the brain. Sites that were distant from the electrodes (e.g. hypothalamus) typically showed two-fold individual differences. MRI-based modeling can effectively predict current densities in individual brains. Significant variation occurs between subjects with the same applied electrode configuration. Individualized MRI-based modeling should be considered in place of the 10-20 system when accurate TCES is needed. PMID:24285948

Effect of external electric field on spin-orbit splitting of the two-dimensional tungsten dichalcogenides WX 2 (X = S, Se)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Affandi, Y.; Absor, M. A. U.; Abraha, K.

2018-04-01

Tungsten dichalcogenides WX 2 (X=S, Se) monolayer (ML) attracted much attention due their large spin splitting, which is promising for spintronics applications. However, manipulation of the spin splitting using an external electric field plays a crucial role in the spintronic device operation, such as the spin-field effect transistor. By using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), we investigate the impact of external electric field on the spin splitting properties of the WX 2 ML. We find that large spin-splitting up to 441 meV and 493 meV is observed on the K point of the valence band maximum, for the case of the WS2 and WSe2 ML, respectively. Moreover, we also find that the large spin-orbit splitting is also identified in the conduction band minimum around Q points with energy splitting of 285 meV and 270 meV, respectively. Our calculation also show that existence of the direct semiconducting – indirect semiconducting – metallic transition by applying the external electric field. Our study clarify that the electric field plays a significant role in spin-orbit interaction of the WX 2 ML, which has very important implications in designing future spintronic devices.

Reconstitution of Biological Molecular generators of electric current. Bacteriorhodopsin.

PubMed

Drachev, L A; Frolov, V N; Kaulen, A D; Liberman, E A; Ostroumov, S A; Plakunova, V G; Semenov, A Y; Skulachev, V P

1976-11-25

1. Photoinduced generation of electric current by bacteriorhodopsin, incorporated into the planar phospholipid membrane, has been directly measured with conventional electrometer techniques. 2. Two methods for bacteriorhodopsin incorporation have been developed: (a) formation of planar membrane from a mixture of decane solution of phospholipids and of the fraction of violet fragments of the Halobacterium halobium membrane (bacteriorhodopsin sheets), and (b) adhesion of bacteriorhodopsin-containing reconstituted spherical membranes (proteoliposomes) to the planar membrane in the presence of Ca2+ or some other cations. In both cases, illumination was found to induce electric current generation directed across the planar membrane, an effect which was measured by macroelectrodes immersed into electrolyte solutions on both sides of the membrane. 3. The maximal values of the transmembrane electric potential were of about 150 mV at a current of about 10(-11) A. The electromotive force measured by means of counterbalancing the photoeffect by an external battery, was found to reach the value of 300 mV. 4. The action spectrum of the photoeffect coincides with the bacteriorhodopsin absorption spectrum (maximum about 570 nm). 5. Both components of the electrochemical potential of H+ ions (electric potential and delta pH) across the planar membrane affect the bacteriorhodopsin photoelectric response in a fashion which could be expected if bacteriorhodopsin were a light-dependent electrogenic proton pump. 6. La3+ ions were shown to inhibit operation of those bacteriorhodopsin which pump out H+ ions from the La3+-containing compartment. 7. The photoeffect, mediated by proteoliposomes associated with thick planar membrane, is decreased by gramicidin A at concentrations which do not influence the planar membrane resistance in the light. On the contrary, a protonophorous uncoupler, trichlorocarbonylcyanidephenylhydrazone, decreases the photoeffect only if it is added at a concentration lowering the light resistance. The dark resistance is shown to be higher than the light one, and decreases to the light level by gramicidin. 8. A simple equivalent electric scheme consistent with the above results has been proposed.

Comparison of skin barrier function and sensory nerve electric current perception threshold between IgE-high extrinsic and IgE-normal intrinsic types of atopic dermatitis.

PubMed

Mori, T; Ishida, K; Mukumoto, S; Yamada, Y; Imokawa, G; Kabashima, K; Kobayashi, M; Bito, T; Nakamura, M; Ogasawara, K; Tokura, Y

2010-01-01

Background Two types of atopic dermatitis (AD) have been proposed, with different pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this seemingly heterogeneous disorder. The extrinsic type shows high IgE levels presumably as a consequence of skin barrier damage and feasible allergen permeation, whereas the intrinsic type exhibits normal IgE levels and is not mediated by allergen-specific IgE. Objectives To investigate the relationship between pruritus perception threshold and skin barrier function of patients with AD in a comparison between the extrinsic and intrinsic types. Methods Enrolled in this study were 32 patients with extrinsic AD, 17 with intrinsic AD and 24 healthy individuals. The barrier function of the stratum corneum was assessed by skin surface hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and pruritus perception was evaluated by the electric current perception threshold (CPT) of sensory nerves upon neuroselective transcutaneous electric stimulation. Results Skin surface hydration was significantly lower and TEWL was significantly higher in extrinsic AD than intrinsic AD or normal controls. Although there was no statistically significant difference in CPT among extrinsic AD, intrinsic AD and normal controls, CPT was significantly correlated with skin surface hydration and inversely with TEWL in intrinsic AD and normal controls, but not extrinsic AD. Finally, CPT was correlated with the visual analogue scale of itch in the nonlesional skin of patients with extrinsic but not intrinsic AD. Conclusions Patients with extrinsic AD have an impaired barrier, which increases the pre-existing pruritus but rather decreases sensitivity to external stimuli. In contrast, patients with intrinsic AD retain a normal barrier function and sensory reactivity to external pruritic stimuli.

A galvanotaxis assay for analysis of neural precursor cell migration kinetics in an externally applied direct current electric field.

PubMed

Babona-Pilipos, Robart; Popovic, Milos R; Morshead, Cindi M

2012-10-13

The discovery of neural stem and progenitor cells (collectively termed neural precursor cells) (NPCs) in the adult mammalian brain has led to a body of research aimed at utilizing the multipotent and proliferative properties of these cells for the development of neuroregenerative strategies. A critical step for the success of such strategies is the mobilization of NPCs toward a lesion site following exogenous transplantation or to enhance the response of the endogenous precursors that are found in the periventricular region of the CNS. Accordingly, it is essential to understand the mechanisms that promote, guide, and enhance NPC migration. Our work focuses on the utilization of direct current electric fields (dcEFs) to promote and direct NPC migration - a phenomenon known as galvanotaxis. Endogenous physiological electric fields function as critical cues for cell migration during normal development and wound repair. Pharmacological disruption of the trans-neural tube potential in axolotl embryos causes severe developmental malformations(1). In the context of wound healing, the rate of repair of wounded cornea is directly correlated with the magnitude of the epithelial wound potential that arises after injury, as shown by pharmacological enhancement or disruption of this dcEF(2-3). We have demonstrated that adult subependymal NPCs undergo rapid and directed cathodal migration in vitro when exposed to an externally applied dcEF. In this protocol we describe our lab's techniques for creating a simple and effective galvanotaxis assay for high-resolution, long-term observation of directed cell body translocation (migration) on a single-cell level. This assay would be suitable for investigating the mechanisms that regulate dcEF transduction into cellular motility through the use of transgenic or knockout mice, short interfering RNA, or specific receptor agonists/antagonists.

21 CFR 870.5550 - External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker... § 870.5550 External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive). (a) Identification. An external transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive) is a device used to supply a periodic electrical pulse intended to...

21 CFR 870.5550 - External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker... § 870.5550 External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive). (a) Identification. An external transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive) is a device used to supply a periodic electrical pulse intended to...

21 CFR 870.5550 - External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker... § 870.5550 External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive). (a) Identification. An external transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive) is a device used to supply a periodic electrical pulse intended to...

21 CFR 870.5550 - External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker... § 870.5550 External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive). (a) Identification. An external transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive) is a device used to supply a periodic electrical pulse intended to...

21 CFR 870.5550 - External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker... § 870.5550 External transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive). (a) Identification. An external transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (noninvasive) is a device used to supply a periodic electrical pulse intended to...

The application and research status of tin whisker formation in electric usage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Heng; Liu, Qing-bin; Lan, Yuan-pei; Wang, Hua; Yao, Da-wei

2017-05-01

`Hair Like' crystalline structure grows from most pure tin or zinc finishes. Usually, the diameter of tin whisker is up to 10 mm and the length of tin whisker is typically 1 µm. In detail, the questions for tin whisker formation are classified into 6 categories: 1. Residual stress with in the tin plating; 2. Intermetallic Formation; 3. Externally Applied Compressive Stress; 4. Bending and Stretching; 5. Scratches and Nicks; 6. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Mismatches. The result shows that, whisker formation could causes electrical short circuit (High current of whisker melting), debris contamination (Sensitive Optical and Micro Electrical Mechanical System) and metal vapor (Vaporize Damage). Thus, it is suggested that environmental tests and standards (Whisker Shape, Temperature, Pressure, Moisture, Thermal Cycling, and Electrical Field) are required for suppressing whisker formation. Nowadays, the new standards committee of Europe Union acts RoHS (Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to restrict Pb usage. Thus, new compounds adding to alloys to suppress whiskers are required in electronic application area. In summary, the tin whisker formation is largely influenced by compositions and precipitations.

Prototypes of self-powered radiation detectors employing intrinsic high-energy current.

PubMed

Zygmanski, Piotr; Shrestha, Suman; Briovio, Davide; Karellas, Andrew; Sajo, Erno

2016-01-01

The authors experimentally investigate the effect of direct energy conversion of x-rays via selfpowered Auger- and photocurrent, potentially suitable to practical radiation detection and dosimetry in medical applications. Experimental results are compared to computational predictions. The detector the authors consider is a thin-film multilayer device, composed of alternating disparate electrically conductive and insulating layers. This paper focuses on the experiments while a companion paper introduces the fundamental concepts of high-energy current (HEC) detectors. The energy of ionizing radiation is directly converted to detector signal via electric current induced by high-energy secondary electrons generated in the detector material by the incident primary radiation. The HEC electrons also ionize the dielectric and the resultant charge carriers are selfcollected due to the contact potential of the disparate electrodes. Thus, an electric current is induced in the conductors in two different ways without the need for externally applied bias voltage or amplification. Thus, generated signal in turn is digitized by a data acquisition system. To determine the fundamental properties of the HEC detector and to demonstrate its feasibility for medical applications, the authors used a planar geometry composed of multilayer microstructures. Various detectors with up to seven conducting layers with different combinations of materials (250 μm Al, 35 μm Cu, 100 μm Pb) and air gaps (100 μm) were exposed to nearly plane-parallel 60-120 kVp x-ray beams. For the experimental design and verification, the authors performed coupled electron-photon radiation transport computations. The detector signal was measured using a commercial data acquisition system with 24 bits dynamic range, 0.4 fC sensitivity, and 0.9 ms sampling time. Measured signals for the prototype detector varied depending on the number of layers, material type, and incident photon energy, and it was in the range of 30-150 nA/cm(2) for unit air kerma (1 Gy), which is viable for practical applications. The experiments had an excellent agreement with the computations. Within the examined range of 60-120 kVp, the energy dependence of the HEC (normalized to the x-ray tube output) was relatively small. Based on the experimental results for 100 ms sampling time, it would be possible to measure the time dependence of x-ray beams for x-ray tube current of 0.1 mA or higher. Significant advantages of the HEC device are that generation of its signal does not require external power supply, it can be made in any size and shape, including flexible curvilinear forms, and it is inexpensive. It remains to be determined, which of the potential applications in medical dosimetry (both in vivo and external), or radiation protection would benefit from such selfpowered detectors.

Control of wave propagation in a biological excitable medium by an external electric field.

PubMed

Sebestikova, Lenka; Slamova, Elena; Sevcikova, Hana

2005-03-01

We present an experimental evidence of effects of external electric fields (EFs) on the velocity of pulse waves propagating in a biological excitable medium. The excitable medium used is formed by a layer of starving cells of Dictyostelium discoideum through which the waves of increased concentration of cAMP propagate by reaction-diffusion mechanism. External dc EFs of low intensities (up to 5 V/cm) are shown to speed up the propagation of cAMP waves towards the positive electrode and slow it down towards the negative electrode. Electric fields were also found to support an emergence of new centers, emitting cAMP waves, in front of cAMP waves propagating towards the negative electrode.

Two-dimensiosnal electron beam charging model for polymer films. M.S. Thesis; [spacecraft charging, geosynchronous satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reeves, R. D.; Balmain, K. G.

1981-01-01

A two dimensional model was developed to describe the charging of thin polymer films exposed to a uniform mon-energetic electron beam. The study was motivated by observed anomalous behavior of geosynchronous satellites which was attributed to electrical discharges associated with the differential charging of satellite surfaces of magnetospheric electrons. Electric fields both internal and external to the irradiated specimen were calculated at steady state in order to identify regions of high electrical stress. Particular emphasis was placed on evaluating the charging characteristics near the material's edge. The model was used to identify and quantify the effects of some of the experimental parameters notably: beam energy; beam angle of incidence; beam current density; material thickness; and material width. Simulations of the following situations were also conducted: positive or negative precharging over part of the surface; a central gap in the material; and a discontinuity in the material's thickness.

Effects of a PID Control System on Electromagnetic Fields in an nEDM Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina, Daniel

2017-09-01

The Kellogg Radiation Laboratory is currently testing a prototype for an experiment that hopes to identify the electric dipole moment of the neutron. As part of this testing, we have developed a PID (proportional, integral, derivative) feedback system that uses large coils to fix the value of local external magnetic fields, up to linear gradients. PID algorithms compare the current value to a set-point and use the integral and derivative of the field with respect to the set-point to maintain constant fields. We have also developed a method for zeroing linear gradients within the experimental apparatus. In order to determine the performance of the PID algorithm, measurements of both the internal and external fields were obtained with and without the algorithm running, and these results were compared for noise and time stability. We have seen that the PID algorithm can reduce the effect of disturbance to the field by a factor of 10.

Direct observation of λ-DNA molecule reversal movement within microfluidic channels under electric field with single molecule imaging technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fengyun, Yang; Kaige, Wang; Dan, Sun; Wei, Zhao; Hai-qing, Wang; Xin, He; Gui-ren, Wang; Jin-tao, Bai

2016-07-01

The electrodynamic characteristics of single DNA molecules moving within micro-/nano-fluidic channels are important in the design of biomedical chips and bimolecular sensors. In this study, the dynamic properties of λ-DNA molecules transferring along the microchannels driven by the external electrickinetic force were systemically investigated with the single molecule fluorescence imaging technique. The experimental results indicated that the velocity of DNA molecules was strictly dependent on the value of the applied electric field and the diameter of the channel. The larger the external electric field, the larger the velocity, and the more significant deformation of DNA molecules. More meaningfully, it was found that the moving directions of DNA molecules had two completely different directions: (i) along the direction of the external electric field, when the electric field intensity was smaller than a certain threshold value; (ii) opposite to the direction of the external electric field, when the electric field intensity was greater than the threshold electric field intensity. The reversal movement of DNA molecules was mainly determined by the competition between the electrophoresis force and the influence of electro-osmosis flow. These new findings will theoretically guide the practical application of fluidic channel sensors and lab-on-chips for precisely manipulating single DNA molecules. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61378083), the International Cooperation Foundation of the National Science and Technology Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2011DFA12220), the Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91123030), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China (Grant Nos. 2010JS110 and 2013SZS03-Z01).

Bacterial communities adapted to higher external resistance can reduce the onset potential of anode in microbial fuel cells.

PubMed

Suzuki, Kei; Kato, Yutaka; Yui, Arashi; Yamamoto, Shuji; Ando, Syota; Rubaba, Owen; Tashiro, Yosuke; Futamata, Hiroyuki

2018-05-01

We investigated how bacterial communities adapted to external resistances and exhibited the performance of electricity production in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with external resistance of 10 Ω (LR-MFC) and 1000 Ω (HR-MFC). The HR-MFC exhibited better performance than the LR-MFC. The power densities of the LR-MFC and the HR-MFC were 5.2 ± 1.6 mW m -2 and 28 ± 9.6 mW m -2 after day 197, respectively. Low-scan cyclic voltammetry analyses indicated that the onset potential of the HR-MFC was more negative than that of the LR-MFC, suggesting that the higher external resistance led to enrichment of the highly current producing bacteria on the anode surface. All clones of Geobacter retrieved from the LR-MFC and the HR-MFC were members of the Geobacter metallireducens clade. Although the population density of Geobacter decreased from days 366-427 in the HR-MFC, the current density was almost maintained. Multidimensional scaling analyses based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles indicated that the dynamics of the biofilm and anolytic communities changed synchronously in the two MFCs, but the dynamics of the bacterial communities in the LR-MFC and the HR-MFC were different from each other, reflecting different processes in adaptation to the different external resistances. The results suggest that the microbial community structure was formed by adapting to higher external resistance, exhibiting more negative onset potential and higher performance of the HR-MFC through collaborating with anode-respiring bacteria and fermenters. Copyright © 2017 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of ring-shaped SiO2 current blocking layer thickness on the external quantum efficiency of high power light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shengjun; Liu, Mengling; Hu, Hongpo; Gao, Yilin; Liu, Xingtong

2017-12-01

A ring-shaped SiO2 CBL underneath the p-electrode was employed to enhance current spreading of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Effects of ring-shaped SiO2 current blocking layer (CBL) thickness on optical and electrical characteristics of high power LEDs were investigated. A 190-nm-thick ring-shaped SiO2 CBL with inclined sidewalls was obtained using a combination of a thermally reflowed photoresist technique and an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching process, allowing for the deposition of conformal indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent conductive layer on sidewalls of ring-shaped SiO2 CBL. It was indicated that the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of high power LEDs increased with increasing thickness of ring-shaped SiO2 CBL. The EQE of high power LED with 190-nm-thick ring-shaped SiO2 CBL was 12.7% higher than that of high power LED without SiO2 CBL. Simulations performed with commercial SimuLED software package showed that the ring-shaped SiO2 CBL could significantly alleviate current crowding around p-electrode, resulting in enhanced current spreading over the entire high power LED structure.

MD simulation study of direct permeation of a nanoparticle across the cell membrane under an external electric field.

PubMed

Shimizu, Kenta; Nakamura, Hideya; Watano, Satoru

2016-06-09

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been attracting much attention for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In most of the applications, NPs are required to translocate across the cell membrane and to reach the cell cytosol. Experimental studies have reported that by applying an electric field NPs can directly permeate across the cell membrane without the confinement of NPs by endocytic vesicles. However, damage to the cell can often be a concern. Understanding of the mechanism underlying the direct permeation of NPs under an external electric field can greatly contribute to the realization of a technology for the direct delivery of NPs. Here we investigated the permeation of a cationic gold NP across a phospholipid bilayer under an external electric field using a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. When an external electric field that is equal to the membrane breakdown intensity was applied, a typical NP delivery by electroporation was shown: the cationic gold NP directly permeated across a lipid bilayer without membrane wrapping of the NP, while a persistent transmembrane pore was formed. However, when a specific range of the electric field that is lower than the membrane breakdown intensity was applied, a unique permeation pathway was exhibited: the generated transmembrane pore immediately resealed after the direct permeation of NP. Furthermore, we found that the affinity of the NP for the membrane surface is a key for the self-resealing of the pore. Our finding suggests that by applying an electric field in a suitable range NPs can be directly delivered into the cell with less cellular damage.

Droplet charging regimes for ultrasonic atomization of a liquid electrolyte in an external electric field.

PubMed

Forbes, Thomas P; Degertekin, F Levent; Fedorov, Andrei G

2011-01-01

Distinct regimes of droplet charging, determined by the dominant charge transport process, are identified for an ultrasonic droplet ejector using electrohydrodynamic computational simulations, a fundamental scale analysis, and experimental measurements. The regimes of droplet charging are determined by the relative magnitudes of the dimensionless Strouhal and electric Reynolds numbers, which are a function of the process (pressure forcing), advection, and charge relaxation time scales for charge transport. Optimal (net maximum) droplet charging has been identified to exist for conditions in which the electric Reynolds number is of the order of the inverse Strouhal number, i.e., the charge relaxation time is on the order of the pressure forcing (droplet formation) time scale. The conditions necessary for optimal droplet charging have been identified as a function of the dimensionless Debye number (i.e., liquid conductivity), external electric field (magnitude and duration), and atomization drive signal (frequency and amplitude). The specific regime of droplet charging also determines the functional relationship between droplet charge and charging electric field strength. The commonly expected linear relationship between droplet charge and external electric field strength is only found when either the inverse of the Strouhal number is less than the electric Reynolds number, i.e., the charge relaxation is slower than both the advection and external pressure forcing, or in the electrostatic limit, i.e., when charge relaxation is much faster than all other processes. The analysis provides a basic understanding of the dominant physics of droplet charging with implications to many important applications, such as electrospray mass spectrometry, ink jet printing, and drop-on-demand manufacturing.

Droplet charging regimes for ultrasonic atomization of a liquid electrolyte in an external electric field

PubMed Central

Forbes, Thomas P.; Degertekin, F. Levent; Fedorov, Andrei G.

2011-01-01

Distinct regimes of droplet charging, determined by the dominant charge transport process, are identified for an ultrasonic droplet ejector using electrohydrodynamic computational simulations, a fundamental scale analysis, and experimental measurements. The regimes of droplet charging are determined by the relative magnitudes of the dimensionless Strouhal and electric Reynolds numbers, which are a function of the process (pressure forcing), advection, and charge relaxation time scales for charge transport. Optimal (net maximum) droplet charging has been identified to exist for conditions in which the electric Reynolds number is of the order of the inverse Strouhal number, i.e., the charge relaxation time is on the order of the pressure forcing (droplet formation) time scale. The conditions necessary for optimal droplet charging have been identified as a function of the dimensionless Debye number (i.e., liquid conductivity), external electric field (magnitude and duration), and atomization drive signal (frequency and amplitude). The specific regime of droplet charging also determines the functional relationship between droplet charge and charging electric field strength. The commonly expected linear relationship between droplet charge and external electric field strength is only found when either the inverse of the Strouhal number is less than the electric Reynolds number, i.e., the charge relaxation is slower than both the advection and external pressure forcing, or in the electrostatic limit, i.e., when charge relaxation is much faster than all other processes. The analysis provides a basic understanding of the dominant physics of droplet charging with implications to many important applications, such as electrospray mass spectrometry, ink jet printing, and drop-on-demand manufacturing. PMID:21301636

Quantifying the effect of electric current on cell adhesion studied by single-cell force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Jaatinen, Leena; Young, Eleanore; Hyttinen, Jari; Vörös, János; Zambelli, Tomaso; Demkó, László

2016-03-20

This study presents the effect of external electric current on the cell adhesive and mechanical properties of the C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line. Changes in cell morphology, viability, cytoskeleton, and focal adhesion structure were studied by standard staining protocols, while single-cell force spectroscopy based on the fluidic force microscopy technology provided a rapid, serial quantification and detailed analysis of cell adhesion and its dynamics. The setup allowed measurements of adhesion forces up to the μN range, and total detachment distances over 40 μm. Force-distance curves have been fitted with a simple elastic model including a cell detachment protocol in order to estimate the Young's modulus of the cells, as well as to reveal changes in the dynamic properties as functions of the applied current dose. While the cell spreading area decreased monotonously with increasing current doses, small current doses resulted only in differences related to cell elasticity. Current doses above 11 As/m(2), however, initiated more drastic changes in cell morphology, viability, cellular structure, as well as in properties related to cell adhesion. The observed differences, eventually leading to cell death toward higher doses, might originate from both the decrease in pH and the generation of reactive oxygen species.

About the relevance of waviness, agglomeration, and strain on the electrical behavior of polymer composites filled with carbon nanotubes evaluated by a Monte-Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Román, Sebastián; Lund, Fernando; Bustos, Javier; Palza, Humberto

2018-01-01

In several technological applications, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are added to a polymer matrix in order to develop electrically conductive composite materials upon percolation of the CNT network. This percolation state depends on several parameters such as particle characteristics, degree of dispersion, and filler orientation. For instance, CNT aggregation is currently avoided because it is thought that it will have a negative effect on the electrical behavior despite some experimental evidence showing the contrary. In this study, the effect of CNT waviness, degree of agglomeration, and external strain, on the electrical percolation of polymer composites is studied by a three dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation. The simulation shows that the percolation threshold of CNT depends on the particle waviness, with rigid particles displaying the lowest values. Regarding the effect of CNT dispersion, our numerical results confirm that low levels of agglomeration reduce the percolation threshold of the composite. However, the threshold is shifted to larger values at high agglomeration states because of the appearance of isolated areas of high CNT concentrations. These results imply, therefore, an optimum of agglomeration that further depends on the waviness and concentration of CNT. Significantly, CNT agglomeration can further explain the broad percolation transition found in these systems. When an external strain is applied to the composites, the percolation concentration shifts to higher values because CNT alignment increases the inter-particle distances. The strain sensitivity of the composites is affected by the percolation state of CNT showing a maximum value at certain filler concentration. These results open up the discussion about the relevance in polymer composites of the dispersion state of CNT and filler flexibility towards electrically conductive composites.

U(1) current from the AdS/CFT: diffusion, conductivity and causality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Yanyan; Lublinsky, Michael; Sharon, Amir

2016-04-01

For a holographically defined finite temperature theory, we derive an off-shell constitutive relation for a global U(1) current driven by a weak external non-dynamical electromagnetic field. The constitutive relation involves an all order gradient expansion resummed into three momenta-dependent transport coefficient functions: diffusion, electric conductivity, and "magnetic" conductivity. These transport functions are first computed analytically in the hydrodynamic limit, up to third order in the derivative expansion, and then numerically for generic values of momenta. We also compute a diffusion memory function, which, as a result of all order gradient resummation, is found to be causal.

Electrical properties associated with wide intercellular clefts in rabbit Purkinje fibres.

PubMed Central

Colatsky, T J; Tsien, R W

1979-01-01

1. Rabbit Purkinje fibres were studied using micro-electrode recordings of electrical activity or a two-micro-electrode voltage clamp. Previous morphological work had suggested that these preparations offer structural advantages for the analysis of ionic permeability mechanisms. 2. Viable preparations could be obtained consistently by exposure to a K glutamate Tyrode solution during excision and recovery. In NaCl Tyrode solution, the action potential showed a large overshoot and fully developed plateau, but no pacemaker depolarization at negative potentials. 3. The passive electrical properties were consistent with morphological evidence for the accessibility of cleft membranes within the cell bundle. Electrotonic responses to intracellular current steps showed the behaviour expected for a simple leaky capacitative cable. Capacitative current transients under voltage clamp were changed very little by an eightfold reduction in the external solution conductivity. 4. Slow current changes attributable to K depletion were small compared to those found in other cardiac preparations. The amount of depletion was close to that predicted by a cleft model which assumed free K diffusion in 1 micron clefts. 5. Step depolarizations over the plateau range of potentials evoked a slow inward current which was resistant to tetrodotoxin but blocked by D600. 6. Strong depolarizations to potentials near 0 mV elicited a transient outward current and a slowly activating late outward current. Both components resembled currents found in sheep or calf Purkinje fibres. 7. These experiments support previous interpretations of slow plateau currents in terms of genuine permeability changes. The rabbit Purkinje fibre may allow various ionic channels to be studied with relatively little interference from radial non-uniformities in membrane potential or ion concentration. Images Fig. 7 PMID:469754

Optical and Electrical Performance of MOS-Structure Silicon Solar Cells with Antireflective Transparent ITO and Plasmonic Indium Nanoparticles under Applied Bias Voltage.

PubMed

Ho, Wen-Jeng; Sue, Ruei-Siang; Lin, Jian-Cheng; Syu, Hong-Jang; Lin, Ching-Fuh

2016-08-10

This paper reports impressive improvements in the optical and electrical performance of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)-structure silicon solar cells through the incorporation of plasmonic indium nanoparticles (In-NPs) and an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode with periodic holes (perforations) under applied bias voltage. Samples were prepared using a plain ITO electrode or perforated ITO electrode with and without In-NPs. The samples were characterized according to optical reflectance, dark current voltage, induced capacitance voltage, external quantum efficiency, and photovoltaic current voltage. Our results indicate that induced capacitance voltage and photovoltaic current voltage both depend on bias voltage, regardless of the type of ITO electrode. Under a bias voltage of 4.0 V, MOS cells with perforated ITO and plain ITO, respectively, presented conversion efficiencies of 17.53% and 15.80%. Under a bias voltage of 4.0 V, the inclusion of In-NPs increased the efficiency of cells with perforated ITO and plain ITO to 17.80% and 16.87%, respectively.

Optical and Electrical Performance of MOS-Structure Silicon Solar Cells with Antireflective Transparent ITO and Plasmonic Indium Nanoparticles under Applied Bias Voltage

PubMed Central

Ho, Wen-Jeng; Sue, Ruei-Siang; Lin, Jian-Cheng; Syu, Hong-Jang; Lin, Ching-Fuh

2016-01-01

This paper reports impressive improvements in the optical and electrical performance of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)-structure silicon solar cells through the incorporation of plasmonic indium nanoparticles (In-NPs) and an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode with periodic holes (perforations) under applied bias voltage. Samples were prepared using a plain ITO electrode or perforated ITO electrode with and without In-NPs. The samples were characterized according to optical reflectance, dark current voltage, induced capacitance voltage, external quantum efficiency, and photovoltaic current voltage. Our results indicate that induced capacitance voltage and photovoltaic current voltage both depend on bias voltage, regardless of the type of ITO electrode. Under a bias voltage of 4.0 V, MOS cells with perforated ITO and plain ITO, respectively, presented conversion efficiencies of 17.53% and 15.80%. Under a bias voltage of 4.0 V, the inclusion of In-NPs increased the efficiency of cells with perforated ITO and plain ITO to 17.80% and 16.87%, respectively. PMID:28773801

Exfoliated YBCO filaments for second-generation superconducting cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solovyov, Vyacheslav; Farrell, Paul

2017-01-01

The second-generation high temperature superconductor (2G HTS) wire is the most promising conductor for high-field magnets such as accelerator dipoles and compact fusion devices. The key element of the wire is a thin Y1Ba2Cu3O7 (YBCO) layer deposited on a flexible metal substrate. The substrate, which becomes incorporated in the 2G conductor, reduces the electrical and mechanical performance of the wire. This is a process that exfoliates the YBCO layer from the substrate while retaining the critical current density of the superconductor. Ten-centimeter long coupons of exfoliated YBCO layers were manufactured, and detailed structural, electrical, and mechanical characterization were reported. After exfoliation, the YBCO layer was supported by a 75 μm thick stainless steel foil, which makes for a compact, mechanically stronger, and inexpensive conductor. The critical current density of the filaments was measured at both 77 K and 4.2 K. The exfoliated YBCO retained 90% of the original critical current. Similarly, tests in an external magnetic field at 4.2 K confirmed that the pinning strength of the YBCO layer was also retained following exfoliation.

A two dimension model of the uterine electrical wave propagation.

PubMed

Rihana, S; Lefrançois, E; Marque, C

2007-01-01

The uterus, usually quiescent during pregnancy, exhibits forceful contractions at term leading to delivery. These contractions are caused by the synchronized propagation of electrical waves from the pacemaker cells to its neighbors inducing the whole coordinated contraction of the uterus wall leading to labor. In a previous work, we simulate the electrical activity of a single uterine cell by a set of ordinary differential equations. Then, this model has been used to simulate the electrical activity propagation. In the present work, the uterine cell tissue is assumed to have uniform and isotropic propagation, and constant electrical membrane properties. The stability of the numerical solution imposes the choice of a critical temporal step. A wave starts at a pacemaker cell; this electrical activity is initiated by the injection of an external stimulation current to the cell membrane. We observe synchronous wave propagation for axial resistance values around 0.5 GOmega or less and propoagation blocking for values greater than 0.7 GOmega. We compute the conduction velocity of the excitation, for different axial resistance values, and obtain a velocity about 10 cm/sec, approaching the one described by the literature for the rat at end of term.

Voltage-Rectified Current and Fluid Flow in Conical Nanopores.

PubMed

Lan, Wen-Jie; Edwards, Martin A; Luo, Long; Perera, Rukshan T; Wu, Xiaojian; Martin, Charles R; White, Henry S

2016-11-15

Ion current rectification (ICR) refers to the asymmetric potential-dependent rate of the passage of solution ions through a nanopore, giving rise to electrical current-voltage characteristics that mimic those of a solid-state electrical diode. Since the discovery of ICR in quartz nanopipettes two decades ago, synthetic nanopores and nanochannels of various geometries, fabricated in membranes and on wafers, have been extensively investigated to understand fundamental aspects of ion transport in highly confined geometries. It is now generally accepted that ICR requires an asymmetric electrical double layer within the nanopore, producing an accumulation or depletion of charge-carrying ions at opposite voltage polarities. Our research groups have recently explored how the voltage-dependent ion distributions and ICR within nanopores can induce novel nanoscale flow phenomena that have applications in understanding ionics in porous materials used in energy storage devices, chemical sensing, and low-cost electrical pumping of fluids. In this Account, we review our most recent investigations on this topic, based on experiments using conical nanopores (10-300 nm tip opening) fabricated in thin glass, mica, and polymer membranes. Measurable fluid flow in nanopores can be induced either using external pressure forces, electrically via electroosmotic forces, or by a combination of these two forces. We demonstrate that pressure-driven flow can greatly alter the electrical properties of nanopores and, vice versa, that the nonlinear electrical properties of conical nanopores can impart novel and useful flow phenomena. Electroosmotic flow (EOF), which depends on the magnitude of the ion fluxes within the double layer of the nanopore, is strongly coupled to the accumulation/depletion of ions. Thus, the same underlying cause of ICR also leads to EOF rectification, i.e., unequal flows occurring for the same voltage but opposite polarities. EOF rectification can be used to electrically pump fluids with very precise control across membranes containing conical pores via the application of a symmetric sinusoidal voltage. The combination of pressure and asymmetric EOF can also provide a means to generate new nanopore electrical behaviors, including negative differential resistance (NDR), in which the current through a conical pore decreases with increasing driving force (applied voltage), similar to solid-state tunnel diodes. NDR results from a positive feedback mechanism between the ion distributions and EOF, yielding a true bistability in both fluid flow and electrical current at a critical applied voltage. Nanopore-based NDR is extremely sensitive to the surface charge near the nanopore opening, suggesting possible applications in chemical sensing.

The effect of an external electric field on the growth of incongruent-melting material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uda, Satoshi; Huang, Xinming; Wang, Shou-Qi

2005-02-01

The significance of an electric field on the crystallization process is differentiated into two consequences; (i) thermodynamic effect and (ii) growth-dynamic effect. The former modifies the chemical potential of the associated phases which changes the equilibrium phase relationship while the latter influences the solute transport, growth kinetics, surface creation and defect generation during growth. The intrinsic electric field generating during growth is attributed to the crystallization-related electromotive force and the thermoelectric power driven by the temperature gradient at the interface which influences the solute transport and solute partitioning. The external electric field was applied to the growth apparatus in the ternary system of La2O3- Ga2O3- SiO2 so that the chemical potential of both solid and liquid phases changed leading to the variation of the equilibrium phase relationship. Imposing a 500 V/cm electric field on the system moved the boundary of primary phase field of lanthanum gallate ( LaGaO3) and Ga-bearing lanthanum silicate ( La14GaxSi9-xO) toward the SiO2 apex by 5 mol% which clearly demonstrated the change of the phase relationship by the external electric field.

Japanese MAGSAT Team

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fukushima, N. (Principal Investigator)

1982-01-01

CHRONINT and investigator B tapes as well as CHRONFIN data are being analyzed using a graphical display to illustrate X.Y,Z components as well as their residuals from the MGST (4/81) model. In addition to surveys of the vicinity of Japan, an aerial magnetic survey was conducted around Syowa Station in the Antarctic. Relative data collected by polar orbiting satellites are also being studied. Techniques used to separate external and internal fields from the vector data along the orbital paths; analysis of the frequency of the toroidal current in the equatorial ionosphere; investigation of the sudden storm commencement observed by MAGSAT; determination of the structure of field aligned currents associated with substorms; and calculation of the total electric current passing through the plane encircled by the MAGSAT orbit are discussed.

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

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

Experimental Study of Magnetic Field Production and Dielectric Breakdown of Auto-Magnetizing Liners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shipley, Gabriel; Awe, Thomas; Hutchinson, Trevor; Hutsel, Brian; Slutz, Stephen; Lamppa, Derek

2017-10-01

AutoMag liners premagnetize the fuel in MagLIF targets and provide enhanced x-ray diagnostic access and increased current delivery without requiring external field coils. AutoMag liners are composite liners made with discrete metallic helical conduction paths separated by insulating material. First, a low dI/dt ``foot'' current pulse (1 MA in 100 ns) premagnetizes the fuel. Next, a higher dI/dt pulse with larger induced electric field initiates breakdown on the composite liner's; surface, switching the current from helical to axial to implode the liner. Experiments on MYKONOS have tested the premagnetization and breakdown phases of AutoMag and demonstrate axial magnetic fields above 90 Tesla for a 550 kA peak current pulse. Electric fields of 17 MV/m have been generated before breakdown. AutoMag may enhance MagLIF performance by increasing the premagnetization strength significantly above 30 T, thus reducing thermal-conduction losses and mitigating anomalous diffusion of magnetic field out of hotter fuel regions, by, for example, the Nernst thermoelectric effect. This project was funded in part by Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program (Projects No. 200169 and 195306).

Space charge dynamic of irradiated cyanate ester/epoxy at cryogenic temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shaohe; Tu, Youping; Fan, Linzhen; Yi, Chengqian; Wu, Zhixiong; Li, Laifeng

2018-03-01

Glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRPs) have been widely used as one of the main electrical insulating structures for superconducting magnets. A new type of GFRP insulation material using cyanate ester/epoxy resin as a matrix was developed in this study, and the samples were irradiated by Co-60 for 1 MGy and 5 MGy dose. Space charge distributed within the sample were tested using the pulsed electroacoustic method, and charge concentration was found at the interfaces between glass fibre and epoxy resin. Thermally stimulated current (TSC) and dc conduction current were also tested to evaluate the irradiation effect. It was supposed that charge mobility and density were suppressed at the beginning due to the crosslinking reaction, and for a higher irradiation dose, molecular chain degradation dominated and led to more sever space charge accumulation at interfaces which enhance the internal electric field higher than the external field, and transition field for conduction current was also decreased by irradiation. Space charge dynamic at cryogenic temperature was revealed by conduction current and TSC, and space charge injection was observed for the irradiated samples at 225 K, which was more obvious for the irradiated samples.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY OF ELECTRIC ORGAN IN GYMNOTUS CARAPO

PubMed Central

Bennett, Michael V. L.; Grundfest, Harry

1959-01-01

The electric organ of G. carapo is formed by linearly arrayed electroplaques which lie in four tubes on each side of the fish. In one tube the electroplaques are innervated on their rostral surfaces, in the others on the caudal. Both surfaces of each electroplaque produce spikes, and either can be excited alone by a suitably oriented externally applied stimulating current. The innervated surface, however, has a lower threshold, and in the normal organ activity, which is a continuous discharge at 35 to 60/sec., it is always fired first by the large neurally evoked postsynaptic potential. The spike of the innervated face then fires the opposite face. The potential recorded external to the innervated face is initially negative and becomes positive when the other face fires. The potential outside the other face is inverted. The p.s.p.'s are electrically inexcitable, have short duration, and are augmented by hyperpolarization. A single electroplaque is innervated by several nerve fibers, which produce summative p.s.p.'s. Homosynaptic facilitation of p.s.p.'s is common. The synapses are cholinoceptive. The organ discharge begins with synchronized activity in the rostrally innervated electroplaques. After a brief interval, the electroplaques in the other three tubes fire. The organ discharge therefore is triphasic, resulting from the summation of the two diphasic components that are oppositely directed and asynchronous. Observations on the sensory role of the organ are included. PMID:13654750

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...

The transverse magnetic field effect on steady-state solutions of the Bursian diode

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

Pramanik, Sourav; Chakrabarti, Nikhil; Ender, A. Ya.

2015-04-15

A study of steady-states of a planar vacuum diode driven by a cold electron beam (the Bursian diode) under an external transverse magnetic field is presented. The regime of no electrons turned around by a magnetic field only is under the consideration. The emitter electric field is evaluated as a characteristic function for the existence of solutions depending on the diode length, the applied voltage, and the magnetic field strength. At certain conditions, it is shown that a region of non-unique solutions exists in the Bursian diode when the magnetic field is absent. An expression for the maximum current transmittedmore » through the diode is derived. The external magnetic field is put forth to control fast electronic switches based on the Bursian diode.« less

High-pulse energy-stabilized passively mode-locked external cavity inverse bow-tie 980nm laser diode for space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krakowski, M.; Resneau, P.; Garcia, M.; Vinet, E.; Robert, Y.; Lecomte, M.; Parillaud, O.; Gerard, B.; Kundermann, S.; Torcheboeuf, N.; Boiko, D. L.

2018-02-01

We report on multi-section inverse bow-tie laser producing mode-locked pulses of 90 pJ energy and 6.5 ps width (895 fs after compression) at 1.3 GHz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and consuming 2.9 W of electric power. The laser operates in an 80 mm long external cavity. By translation of the output coupling mirror, the PRF was continuously tuned over 37 MHz range without additional adjustments. Active stabilization with a phase lock loop actuating on the driving current has allowed us to reach the PRF relative stability at a 2·10-10 level on 10 s intervals, as required by the European Space Agency (ESA) for inter-satellite long distance measurements.

Method and apparatus for detecting external cracks from within a metal tube

DOEpatents

Caffey, Thurlow W. H.

2001-08-07

A method and tool using a continuous electromagnetic wave from a transverse magnetic-dipole source with a coaxial electric-dipole receiver is described for the detection of external sidewall cracks and other anomalies in boiler tubes and other enclosures. The invention utilizes the concept of radar backscatter rather than eddy-currents or ultrasound, which are sometimes used in prior art crack-detection methods. A numerical study of the distribution of the fields shows that the direct transmission from the source to the receiver is reduced from that in free space. Further, if the diameter of the receiver dipole is made sufficiently small, it should be possible to detect cracks with a scattering loss of up to -40 dB in thin-walled boiler tubes.

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.

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.

Symmetric and asymmetric exchange stiffnesses of transition-metal thin film interfaces in external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, K.; Pradipto, A.-M.; Akiyama, T.; Ito, T.; Oguchi, T.; Weinert, M.

2018-07-01

The electric-field induced modifications of the symmetric and asymmetric exchange stiffness constants for the prototypical transition-metal system of a Co monolayer on Pt(111) are determined from first-principles calculated total energy differences of spin-spiral states with oppositely rotating magnetizations in the presence of both the external field and spin-orbit coupling. The trend underlying the modifications is shown to be linked to orbital magnetism. The results demonstrate that an electric field may be a promising approach to manipulate macroscopically magnetic textures.

Ionization of Rydberg atoms colliding with a metal surface

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

Sjakste, J.; Borisov, A. G.; Gauyacq, J. P.

2006-04-15

We report on a theoretical study of the ionization process of Xe* Rydberg atoms colliding with a metal surface, in the presence of an external electric field. The evolution of the Xe* outer electron is studied by a wave packet propagation approach, allowing to include all dynamical aspects of the collision, in particular nonadiabatic inter-Rydberg transitions. We investigate how the different Xe* Stark states formed in the external field couple together and ionize on the surface and how the different polarizations of the electronic cloud in the Xe* states are reflected in their ionization properties. We show that the presencemore » of the external electric field can significantly perturb the dynamics of the ionization process. Our results account for recent results from Dunning et al. [Nucl. Inst. Meth. B 203, 69 (2003)]. In particular, it is explained how the external electric field present in the experimental procedure of Dunning et al. leads to the apparent absence of a polarization effect in the ionization process.« less

Electrical switching of an antiferromagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jungwirth, Tomas

Louis Néel pointed out in his Nobel lecture that while abundant and interesting from theoretical viewpoint, antiferromagnets did not seem to have any applications. Indeed, the alternating directions of magnetic moments on individual atoms and the resulting zero net magnetization make antiferromagnets hard to control by tools common in ferromagnets. Strong coupling would be achieved if the externally generated field had a sign alternating on the scale of a lattice constant at which moments alternate in AFMs. However, generating such a field has been regarded unfeasible, hindering the research and applications of these abundant magnetic materials. We have recently predicted that relativistic quantum mechanics may offer staggered current induced fields with the sign alternating within the magnetic unit cell which can facilitate a reversible switching of an antiferromagnet by applying electrical currents with comparable efficiency to ferromagnets. Among suitable materials is a high Néel temperature antiferromagnet, tetragonal-phase CuMnAs, which we have recently synthesized in the form of single-crystal epilayers structurally compatible with common semiconductors. We demonstrate electrical writing and read-out, combined with the insensitivity to magnetic field perturbations, in a proof-of-concept antiferromagnetic memory device. We acknowledge support from European Research Council Advanced Grant No. 268066.

High Energy Density and High Temperature Multilayer Capacitor Films for Electric Vehicle Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treufeld, Imre; Song, Michelle; Zhu, Lei; Baer, Eric; Snyder, Joe; Langhe, Deepak

2015-03-01

Multilayer films (MLFs) with high energy density and high temperature capability (>120 °C) have been developed at Case Western Reserve University. Such films offer a potential solution for electric car DC-link capacitors, where high ripple currents and high temperature tolerance are required. The current state-of-the-art capacitors used in electric cars for converting DC to AC use biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), which can only operate at temperatures up to 85 °C requiring an external cooling system. The polycarbonate (PC)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) MLFs have a higher permittivity compared to that of BOPP (2.3), leading to higher energy density. They have good mechanical stability and reasonably low dielectric losses at 120 °C. Nonetheless, our preliminary dielectric measurements show that the MLFs exhibit appreciable dielectric losses (20%) at 120 °C, which would, despite all the other advantages, make them not suitable for practical applications. Our preliminary data showed that dielectric losses of the MLFs at 120 °C up to 400 MV/m and 1000 Hz originate mostly from impurity ionic conduction. This work is supported by the NSF PFI/BIC Program (IIP-1237708).

Determining polarizable force fields with electrostatic potentials from quantum mechanical linear response theory

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

Wang, Hao; Yang, Weitao, E-mail: weitao.yang@duke.edu; Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708

We developed a new method to calculate the atomic polarizabilities by fitting to the electrostatic potentials (ESPs) obtained from quantum mechanical (QM) calculations within the linear response theory. This parallels the conventional approach of fitting atomic charges based on electrostatic potentials from the electron density. Our ESP fitting is combined with the induced dipole model under the perturbation of uniform external electric fields of all orientations. QM calculations for the linear response to the external electric fields are used as input, fully consistent with the induced dipole model, which itself is a linear response model. The orientation of the uniformmore » external electric fields is integrated in all directions. The integration of orientation and QM linear response calculations together makes the fitting results independent of the orientations and magnitudes of the uniform external electric fields applied. Another advantage of our method is that QM calculation is only needed once, in contrast to the conventional approach, where many QM calculations are needed for many different applied electric fields. The molecular polarizabilities obtained from our method show comparable accuracy with those from fitting directly to the experimental or theoretical molecular polarizabilities. Since ESP is directly fitted, atomic polarizabilities obtained from our method are expected to reproduce the electrostatic interactions better. Our method was used to calculate both transferable atomic polarizabilities for polarizable molecular mechanics’ force fields and nontransferable molecule-specific atomic polarizabilities.« less

Near-microsecond human aquaporin 4 gating dynamics in static and alternating external electric fields: Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

English, Niall J.; Garate, José-A.

2016-08-01

An extensive suite of non-equilibrium molecular-dynamics simulation has been performed for ˜0.85-0.9 μs of human aquaporin 4 in the absence and presence of externally applied static and alternating electric fields applied along the channels (in both axial directions in the static case, taken as the laboratory z-axis). These external fields were of 0.0065 V/Å (r.m.s.) intensity (of the same order as physiological electrical potentials); alternating fields ranged in frequency from 2.45 to 500 GHz. In-pore gating dynamics was studied, particularly of the relative propensities for "open" and "closed" states of the conserved arginines in the arginine/aromatic area (itself governed in no small part by external-field response of the dipolar alignment of the histidine-201 residue in the selectivity filter). In such a manner, the intimate connection of field-response governing "two-state" histidine states was established statistically and mechanistically. Given the appreciable size of the energy barriers for histidine-201 alignment, we have also performed non-equilibrium metadynamics/local-elevation of static fields applied along both directions to construct the free-energy landscape thereof in terms of external-field direction, elucidating the importance of field direction on energetics. We conclude from direct measurement of deterministic molecular dynamics in conjunction with applied-field metadynamics that the intrinsic electric field within the channel points along the +z-axis, such that externally applied static fields in this direction serve to "open" the channel in the selectivity-filter and the asparagine-proline-alanine region.

Near-microsecond human aquaporin 4 gating dynamics in static and alternating external electric fields: Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics.

PubMed

English, Niall J; Garate, José-A

2016-08-28

An extensive suite of non-equilibrium molecular-dynamics simulation has been performed for ∼0.85-0.9 μs of human aquaporin 4 in the absence and presence of externally applied static and alternating electric fields applied along the channels (in both axial directions in the static case, taken as the laboratory z-axis). These external fields were of 0.0065 V/Å (r.m.s.) intensity (of the same order as physiological electrical potentials); alternating fields ranged in frequency from 2.45 to 500 GHz. In-pore gating dynamics was studied, particularly of the relative propensities for "open" and "closed" states of the conserved arginines in the arginine/aromatic area (itself governed in no small part by external-field response of the dipolar alignment of the histidine-201 residue in the selectivity filter). In such a manner, the intimate connection of field-response governing "two-state" histidine states was established statistically and mechanistically. Given the appreciable size of the energy barriers for histidine-201 alignment, we have also performed non-equilibrium metadynamics/local-elevation of static fields applied along both directions to construct the free-energy landscape thereof in terms of external-field direction, elucidating the importance of field direction on energetics. We conclude from direct measurement of deterministic molecular dynamics in conjunction with applied-field metadynamics that the intrinsic electric field within the channel points along the +z-axis, such that externally applied static fields in this direction serve to "open" the channel in the selectivity-filter and the asparagine-proline-alanine region.

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.

Oligonucleotide probes functionalization of nanogap electrodes.

PubMed

Zaffino, Rosa Letizia; Mir, Mònica; Samitier, Josep

2017-11-01

Nanogap electrodes have attracted a lot of consideration as promising platform for molecular electronic and biomolecules detection. This is mainly for their higher aspect ratio, and because their electrical properties are easily accessed by current-voltage measurements. Nevertheless, application of standard current-voltages measurements used to characterize nanogap response, and/or to modify specific nanogap electrodes properties, represents an issue. Since the strength of electrical fields in nanoscaled devices can reach high values, even at low voltages. Here, we analyzed the effects induced by different methods of surface modification of nanogap electrodes, in test-voltage application, employed for the electrical detection of a desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) target. Nanogap electrodes were functionalized with two antisymmetric oligo-probes designed to have 20 terminal bases complementary to the edges of the target, which after hybridization bridges the nanogap, closing the electrical circuit. Two methods of functionalization were studied for this purpose; a random self-assembling of a mixture of the two oligo-probes (OPs) used in the platform, and a selective method that controls the position of each OP at selected side of nanogap electrodes. We used for this aim, the electrophoretic effect induced on negatively charged probes by the application of an external direct current voltage. The results obtained with both functionalization methods where characterized and compared in terms of electrode surface covering, calculated by using voltammetry analysis. Moreover, we contrasted the electrical detection of a DNA target in the nanogap platform either in site-selective and in randomly assembled nanogap. According to our results, a denser, although not selective surface functionalization, is advantageous for such kind of applications. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

All optical quantum control of a spin-quantum state and ultrafast transduction into an electric current.

PubMed

Müller, K; Kaldewey, T; Ripszam, R; Wildmann, J S; Bechtold, A; Bichler, M; Koblmüller, G; Abstreiter, G; Finley, J J

2013-01-01

The ability to control and exploit quantum coherence and entanglement drives research across many fields ranging from ultra-cold quantum gases to spin systems in condensed matter. Transcending different physical systems, optical approaches have proven themselves to be particularly powerful, since they profit from the established toolbox of quantum optical techniques, are state-selective, contact-less and can be extremely fast. Here, we demonstrate how a precisely timed sequence of monochromatic ultrafast (~ 2-5 ps) optical pulses, with a well defined polarisation can be used to prepare arbitrary superpositions of exciton spin states in a semiconductor quantum dot, achieve ultrafast control of the spin-wavefunction without an applied magnetic field and make high fidelity read-out the quantum state in an arbitrary basis simply by detecting a strong (~ 2-10 pA) electric current flowing in an external circuit. The results obtained show that the combined quantum state preparation, control and read-out can be performed with a near-unity (≥97%) fidelity.

Additional extensions to the NASCAP computer code, volume 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mandell, M. J.; Cooke, D. L.

1981-01-01

The ION computer code is designed to calculate charge exchange ion densities, electric potentials, plasma temperatures, and current densities external to a neutralized ion engine in R-Z geometry. The present version assumes the beam ion current and density to be known and specified, and the neutralizing electrons to originate from a hot-wire ring surrounding the beam orifice. The plasma is treated as being resistive, with an electron relaxation time comparable to the plasma frequency. Together with the thermal and electrical boundary conditions described below and other straightforward engine parameters, these assumptions suffice to determine the required quantities. The ION code, written in ASCII FORTRAN for UNIVAC 1100 series computers, is designed to be run interactively, although it can also be run in batch mode. The input is free-format, and the output is mainly graphical, using the machine-independent graphics developed for the NASCAP code. The executive routine calls the code's major subroutines in user-specified order, and the code allows great latitude for restart and parameter change.

Use of a spread sheet to calculate the current-density distribution produced in human and rat models by low-frequency electric fields.

PubMed

Hart, F X

1990-01-01

The current-density distribution produced inside irregularly shaped, homogeneous human and rat models by low-frequency electric fields is obtained by a two-stage finite-difference procedure. In the first stage the model is assumed to be equipotential. Laplace's equation is solved by iteration in the external region to obtain the capacitive-current densities at the model's surface elements. These values then provide the boundary conditions for the second-stage relaxation solution, which yields the internal current-density distribution. Calculations were performed with the Excel spread-sheet program on a Macintosh-II microcomputer. A spread sheet is a two-dimensional array of cells. Each cell of the sheet can represent a square element of space. Equations relating the values of the cells can represent the relationships between the potentials in the corresponding spatial elements. Extension to three dimensions is readily made. Good agreement was obtained with current densities measured on human models with both, one, or no legs grounded and on rat models in four different grounding configurations. The results also compared well with predictions of more sophisticated numerical analyses. Spread sheets can provide an inexpensive and relatively simple means to perform good, approximate dosimetric calculations on irregularly shaped objects.

Electromagnetic processes during phase commutation in field regulated reluctance machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shishkov, A. N.; Sychev, D. A.; Zemlyansky, A. A.; Krupnova, M. N.; Funk, T. A.; Ishmet'eva, V. D.

2018-03-01

The processes of currents switching in stator windings have been explained by the existence of the electromagnetic torque ripples in the electric drive with the field-regulated reluctance machine. The maximum value of ripples in the open loop control system for the six-phase machine can reach 20 percent from the developed electromagnetic torque. This method allows one to make calculation of ripple spike towards average torque developed by the electromotor for the different number of phases. Application of a trapezoidal form of current at six phases became the solution. In case of a less number of phases than six, a ripple spike considerably increases, which is inadmissible. On the other hand, increasing the number of phases tends to the increase of the semiconductor inverter external dimensions based on the inconspicuous decreasing of a ripple spike. The creation and usage of high-speed control loops of current (HCLC) have been recommended for a reduction of the electromagnetic torque’s ripple level, as well as the appliance of positive current feedback in switching phase currents. This decision allowed one to receive a mean value of the torque more than 10%, compared to system without change, to reduce greatly ripple spike of the electromagnetic torque. The possibility of the electric drive effective operation with FRRM in emergency operation has been shown.

Irreversibility and entropy production in transport phenomena, IV: Symmetry, integrated intermediate processes and separated variational principles for multi-currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Masuo

2013-10-01

The mechanism of entropy production in transport phenomena is discussed again by emphasizing the role of symmetry of non-equilibrium states and also by reformulating Einstein’s theory of Brownian motion to derive entropy production from it. This yields conceptual reviews of the previous papers [M. Suzuki, Physica A 390 (2011) 1904; 391 (2012) 1074; 392 (2013) 314]. Separated variational principles of steady states for multi external fields {Xi} and induced currents {Ji} are proposed by extending the principle of minimum integrated entropy production found by the present author for a single external field. The basic strategy of our theory on steady states is to take in all the intermediate processes from the equilibrium state to the final possible steady states in order to study the irreversible physics even in the steady states. As an application of this principle, Gransdorff-Prigogine’s evolution criterion inequality (or stability condition) dXP≡∫dr∑iJidXi≤0 is derived in the stronger form dQi≡∫drJidXi≤0 for individual force Xi and current Ji even in nonlinear responses which depend on all the external forces {Xk} nonlinearly. This is called “separated evolution criterion”. Some explicit demonstrations of the present general theory to simple electric circuits with multi external fields are given in order to clarify the physical essence of our new theory and to realize the condition of its validity concerning the existence of the solutions of the simultaneous equations obtained by the separated variational principles. It is also instructive to compare the two results obtained by the new variational theory and by the old scheme based on the instantaneous entropy production. This seems to be suggestive even to the energy problem in the world.

Evaluation of externally heated pulsed MPD thruster cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myers, Roger M.; Domonkos, Matthew; Gallimore, Alec D.

1993-12-01

Recent interest in solar electric orbit transfer vehicles (SEOTV's) has prompted a reevaluation of pulsed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster systems due to their ease of power scaling and reduced test facility requirements. In this work the use of externally heated cathodes was examined in order to extend the lifetime of these thrusters to the 1000 to 3000 hours required for SEOTV missions. A pulsed MPD thruster test facility was assembled, including a pulse-forming network (PFN), ignitor supply and propellant feed system. Results of cold cathode tests used to validate the facility, PFN, and propellant feed system design are presented, as well as a preliminary evaluation of externally heated impregnated tungsten cathodes. The cold cathode thruster was operated on both argon and nitrogen propellants at peak discharge power levels up to 300 kW. The results confirmed proper operation of the pulsed thruster test facility, and indicated that large amounts of gas were evolved from the BaO-CaO-Al2O3 cathodes during activation. Comparison of the expected space charge limited current with the measured vacuum current when using the heated cathode indicate that either that a large temperature difference existed between the heater and the cathode or that the surface work function was higher than expected.

Evaluation of externally heated pulsed MPD thruster cathodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myers, Roger M.; Domonkos, Matthew; Gallimore, Alec D.

1993-01-01

Recent interest in solar electric orbit transfer vehicles (SEOTV's) has prompted a reevaluation of pulsed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster systems due to their ease of power scaling and reduced test facility requirements. In this work the use of externally heated cathodes was examined in order to extend the lifetime of these thrusters to the 1000 to 3000 hours required for SEOTV missions. A pulsed MPD thruster test facility was assembled, including a pulse-forming network (PFN), ignitor supply and propellant feed system. Results of cold cathode tests used to validate the facility, PFN, and propellant feed system design are presented, as well as a preliminary evaluation of externally heated impregnated tungsten cathodes. The cold cathode thruster was operated on both argon and nitrogen propellants at peak discharge power levels up to 300 kW. The results confirmed proper operation of the pulsed thruster test facility, and indicated that large amounts of gas were evolved from the BaO-CaO-Al2O3 cathodes during activation. Comparison of the expected space charge limited current with the measured vacuum current when using the heated cathode indicate that either that a large temperature difference existed between the heater and the cathode or that the surface work function was higher than expected.

Piezoelectric effect on the thermal conductivity of monolayer gallium nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jin

2018-01-01

Using molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations, in this work, we find that the heat transport property of the monolayer gallium nitride (GaN) can be efficiently tailored by external electric field due to its unique piezoelectric characteristic. As the monolayer GaN possesses different piezoelectric properties in armchair and zigzag directions, different effects of the external electric field on thermal conductivity are observed when it is applied in the armchair and zigzag directions. Our further study reveals that due to the elastoelectric effect in the monolayer GaN, the external electric field changes the Young's modulus and therefore changes the phonon group velocity. Also, due to the inverse piezoelectric effect, the applied electric field induces in-plane stress in the monolayer GaN subject to a length constraint, which results in the change in the lattice anharmonicity and therefore affects the phonon mean free path. Furthermore, for relatively long GaN monolayers, the in-plane stress may trigger the buckling instability, which can significantly reduce the phonon mean free path.

Molecular dynamics study of response of liquid N,N-dimethylformamide to externally applied electric field using a polarizable force field

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

Gao, Weimin; Niu, Haitao; Lin, Tong

2014-01-28

The behavior of Liquid N,N-dimethylformamide subjected to a wide range of externally applied electric fields (from 0.001 V/nm to 1 V/nm) has been investigated through molecular dynamics simulation. To approach the objective the AMOEBA polarizable force field was extended to include the interaction of the external electric field with atomic partial charges and the contribution to the atomic polarization. The simulation results were evaluated with quantum mechanical calculations. The results from the present force field for the liquid at normal conditions were compared with the experimental and molecular dynamics results with non-polarizable and other polarizable force fields. The uniform externalmore » electric fields of higher than 0.01 V/nm have a significant effect on the structure of the liquid, which exhibits a variation in numerous properties, including molecular polarization, local cluster structure, rotation, alignment, energetics, and bulk thermodynamic and structural properties.« less

Simultaneous pollutant removal and electricity generation in denitrifying microbial fuel cell with boric acid-borate buffer solution.

PubMed

Chen, Gang; Zhang, Shaohui; Li, Meng; Wei, Yan

2015-01-01

A double-chamber denitrifying microbial fuel cell (MFC), using boric acid-borate buffer solution as an alternative to phosphate buffer solution, was set up to investigate the influence of buffer solution concentration, temperature and external resistance on electricity generation and pollutant removal efficiency. The result revealed that the denitrifying MFC with boric acid-borate buffer solution was successfully started up in 51 days, with a stable cell voltage of 205.1 ± 1.96 mV at an external resistance of 50 Ω. Higher concentration of buffer solution favored nitrogen removal and electricity generation. The maximum power density of 8.27 W/m(3) net cathodic chamber was obtained at a buffer solution concentration of 100 mmol/L. An increase in temperature benefitted electricity generation and nitrogen removal. A suitable temperature for this denitrifying MFC was suggested to be 25 °C. Decreasing the external resistance favored nitrogen removal and organic matter consumption by exoelectrogens.

Evolution of space open electric arc burning in the external axial magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urusova, I. R.; Urusova, T. E.

2018-06-01

The calculation was made for open DC electric arc burning in an external uniform axial magnetic field. It was performed within the framework of a nonstationary three-dimensional mathematical model in approximation of partial local thermodynamic equilibrium of plasma. A "schematic" analog of electron temperature fluctuations was proposed for numerical realization of the open electric arc column of a helical shape. According to calculations, it was established that the column of the open electric arc takes a helical space shape. Plasma rotates around a longitudinal axis of the arc, at that the directions of plasma rotation near the cathode and the anode are opposite. In the arc cross-sections, the velocity of plasma rotation is unequal and the deviation value of the same part of the arc from the central axis varies in time. A helical shape of the open arc is not stable and varies in time. Apparently, the open arc cannot remain stable and invariable in the time helical shape in the external axial magnetic field.

Graphene Ink Laminate Structures on Poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) for Pyroelectric Thermal Energy Harvesting and Waste Heat Recovery.

PubMed

Zabek, Daniel; Seunarine, Kris; Spacie, Chris; Bowen, Chris

2017-03-15

Thermal energy can be effectively converted into electricity using pyroelectrics, which act as small scale power generator and energy harvesters providing nanowatts to milliwatts of electrical power. In this paper, a novel pyroelectric harvester based on free-standing poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) was manufactured that exploits the high thermal radiation absorbance of a screen printed graphene ink electrode structure to facilitate the conversion of the available thermal radiation energy into electrical energy. The use of interconnected graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as an electrode enable high thermal radiation absorbance and high electrical conductivity along with the ease of deposition using a screen print technique. For the asymmetric structure, the pyroelectric open-circuit voltage and closed-circuit current were measured, and the harvested electrical energy was stored in an external capacitor. For the graphene ink/PVDF/aluminum system the closed circuit pyroelectric current improves by 7.5 times, the open circuit voltage by 3.4 times, and the harvested energy by 25 times compared to a standard aluminum/PVDF/aluminum system electrode design, with a peak energy density of 1.13 μJ/cm 3 . For the pyroelectric device employed in this work, a complete manufacturing process and device characterization of these structures are reported along with the thermal conductivity of the graphene ink. The material combination presented here provides a new approach for delivering smart materials and structures, wireless technologies, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

In Vivo Demonstration of Addressable Microstimulators Powered by Rectification of Epidermically Applied Currents for Miniaturized Neuroprostheses

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Electrical stimulation is used in order to restore nerve mediated functions in patients with neurological disorders, but its applicability is constrained by the invasiveness of the systems required to perform it. As an alternative to implantable systems consisting of central stimulation units wired to the stimulation electrodes, networks of wireless microstimulators have been devised for fine movement restoration. Miniaturization of these microstimulators is currently hampered by the available methods for powering them. Previously, we have proposed and demonstrated a heterodox electrical stimulation method based on electronic rectification of high frequency current bursts. These bursts can be delivered through textile electrodes on the skin. This approach has the potential to result in an unprecedented level of miniaturization as no bulky parts such as coils or batteries are included in the implant. We envision microstimulators designs based on application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that will be flexible, thread-like (diameters < 0.5 mm) and not only with controlled stimulation capabilities but also with sensing capabilities for artificial proprioception. We in vivo demonstrate that neuroprostheses composed of addressable microstimulators based on this electrical stimulation method are feasible and can perform controlled charge-balanced electrical stimulation of muscles. We developed miniature external circuit prototypes connected to two bipolar probes that were percutaneously implanted in agonist and antagonist muscles of the hindlimb of an anesthetized rabbit. The electronic implant architecture was able to decode commands that were amplitude modulated on the high frequency (1 MHz) auxiliary current bursts. The devices were capable of independently stimulating the target tissues, accomplishing controlled dorsiflexion and plantarflexion joint movements. In addition, we numerically show that the high frequency current bursts comply with safety standards both in terms of tissue heating and unwanted electro-stimulation. We demonstrate that addressable microstimulators powered by rectification of epidermically applied currents are feasible. PMID:26147771

In Vivo Demonstration of Addressable Microstimulators Powered by Rectification of Epidermically Applied Currents for Miniaturized Neuroprostheses.

PubMed

Becerra-Fajardo, Laura; Ivorra, Antoni

2015-01-01

Electrical stimulation is used in order to restore nerve mediated functions in patients with neurological disorders, but its applicability is constrained by the invasiveness of the systems required to perform it. As an alternative to implantable systems consisting of central stimulation units wired to the stimulation electrodes, networks of wireless microstimulators have been devised for fine movement restoration. Miniaturization of these microstimulators is currently hampered by the available methods for powering them. Previously, we have proposed and demonstrated a heterodox electrical stimulation method based on electronic rectification of high frequency current bursts. These bursts can be delivered through textile electrodes on the skin. This approach has the potential to result in an unprecedented level of miniaturization as no bulky parts such as coils or batteries are included in the implant. We envision microstimulators designs based on application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that will be flexible, thread-like (diameters < 0.5 mm) and not only with controlled stimulation capabilities but also with sensing capabilities for artificial proprioception. We in vivo demonstrate that neuroprostheses composed of addressable microstimulators based on this electrical stimulation method are feasible and can perform controlled charge-balanced electrical stimulation of muscles. We developed miniature external circuit prototypes connected to two bipolar probes that were percutaneously implanted in agonist and antagonist muscles of the hindlimb of an anesthetized rabbit. The electronic implant architecture was able to decode commands that were amplitude modulated on the high frequency (1 MHz) auxiliary current bursts. The devices were capable of independently stimulating the target tissues, accomplishing controlled dorsiflexion and plantarflexion joint movements. In addition, we numerically show that the high frequency current bursts comply with safety standards both in terms of tissue heating and unwanted electro-stimulation. We demonstrate that addressable microstimulators powered by rectification of epidermically applied currents are feasible.

Transient outward currents and changes of their gating properties after cell activation in thrombocytes of the newt.

PubMed Central

Kawa, K

1987-01-01

1. The electrical properties of the cell membrane of thrombocytes in the newt, Triturus pyrrhogaster, were studied using the whole-cell variation of the patch-electrode voltage-clamp technique. 2. In medium containing Ca2+ (1.8 mM), activated thrombocytes became round and then spread on the glass. Activation of thrombocytes was inhibited by the removal of external Ca2+ and addition of 1 w/v% albumin to the external media. 3. For thrombocytes kept in the resting state, depolarizations more positive than -30 mV evoked transient outward currents which decayed completely during the duration of the depolarization (150 ms). The half-decay time of the currents became smaller as the depolarizing pulse strengthened, reaching about 20 ms at +30 mV (20 degrees C). 4. The outward currents are identified as K+ currents, since (1) their reversal potential depended on extracellular K+ concentration and (2) the outward currents were suppressed either by external application of 4-aminopyridine (1 mM) or by internal application of Cs+ (120 mM). The monovalent cation selectivities of the K+ channels were evaluated from the reversal potential as Tl (1.68) greater than K(1.0) greater than Rb (0.89) greater than NH4 (0.13) greater than Na(less than 0.03). 5. When the thrombocytes had been activated, depolarization again evoked K+ currents. The currents, however, showed negligible or small decay during the duration of the depolarization (150 ms). The rate of recovery from preceding depolarization was also reduced to about one-sixth. 6. The sensitivity to 4-aminopyridine and the selectivity of the K+ channels were not changed by cell activation. 7. We conclude that during activation of thrombocytes the inactivation of the K+ channels is almost eliminated. Removal of inactivation of the K+ channels was also induced in resting thrombocytes by intracellular application of 4-bromoacetamide (50 microM). PMID:2443665

Photoactive and self-sensing P3HT-based thin films for strain and corrosion monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryu, Donghyeon; Loh, Kenneth J.

2014-03-01

Structural systems deteriorate due to excessive deformation and corrosive environments. If damage is left undetected, they can propagate to cause sudden collapse. However, one of the main difficulties of monitoring damage progression is that, for example, excessive/plastic deformation and corrosion are drastically different physical processes. Strain is a mechanical phenomenon, whereas corrosion is a complex electrochemical process. The current strategy for structural health monitoring (SHM) is to use either different types of sensors or to employ system identification for quantifying overall changes to the structure. In this study, an alternative SHM paradigm is proposed in that a single, multifunctional material would be able to selectively sense different but simultaneously occurring structural damage. In particular, a photoactive and self-sensing thin film was developed for monitoring strain and corrosion. Another unique aspect was that the films were self-sensing and did not depend on external electrical energy for operations. First, the thin films were fabricated using photoactive poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and other functional polymers using spin-coating and layerby- layer assembly. Second, the fabricated thin films were interrogated using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer for quantifying their optical response to applied external stimuli, such as strain and exposure to pH buffer solutions. Lastly, the multifunctional thin films were tested and validated for strain and pH sensing. Interrogation of these separate responses was achieved by illuminating the thin films different wavelengths of light and then measuring the corresponding electrical current generated.

Uniform magnetic fields and double-wrapped coil systems: improved techniques for the design of bioelectromagnetic experiments.

PubMed

Kirschvink, J L

1992-01-01

A common mistake in biomagnetic experimentation is the assumption that Helmholtz coils provide uniform magnetic fields; this is true only for a limited volume at their center. Substantial improvements on this design have been made during the past 140 years with systems of three, four, and five coils. Numerical comparisons of the field uniformity generated by these designs are made here, along with a table of construction details and recommendations for their use in experiments in which large volumes of uniform intensity magnetic exposures are needed. Double-wrapping, or systems of bifilar windings, can also help control for the non-magnetic effects of the electric coils used in many experiments. In this design, each coil is wrapped in parallel with two separate, adjacent strands of copper wire, rather than the single strand used normally. If currents are flowing in antiparallel directions, the magnetic fields generated by each strand will cancel and yield virtually no external magnetic field, whereas parallel currents will yield an external field. Both cases will produce similar non-magnetic effects of ohmic heating, and simple measures can reduce the small vibration and electric field differences. Control experiments can then be designed such that the only major difference between treated and untreated groups is the presence or absence of the magnetic field. Double-wrapped coils also facilitate the use of truly double-blind protocol, as the same apparatus can be used either for experimental or control groups.

Electric vehicle system for charging and supplying electrical power

DOEpatents

Su, Gui Jia

2010-06-08

A power system that provides power between an energy storage device, an external charging-source/load, an onboard electrical power generator, and a vehicle drive shaft. The power system has at least one energy storage device electrically connected across a dc bus, at least one filter capacitor leg having at least one filter capacitor electrically connected across the dc bus, at least one power inverter/converter electrically connected across the dc bus, and at least one multiphase motor/generator having stator windings electrically connected at one end to form a neutral point and electrically connected on the other end to one of the power inverter/converters. A charging-sourcing selection socket is electrically connected to the neutral points and the external charging-source/load. At least one electronics controller is electrically connected to the charging-sourcing selection socket and at least one power inverter/converter. The switch legs in each of the inverter/converters selected by the charging-source/load socket collectively function as a single switch leg. The motor/generators function as an inductor.

Plasma coating of nanoparticles in the presence of an external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebadi, Zahra; Pourali, Nima; Mohammadzadeh, Hosein

2018-04-01

Film deposition onto nanoparticles by low-pressure plasma in the presence of an external electric field is studied numerically. The plasma discharge fluid model along with surface deposition and heating models for nanoparticles, as well as a dynamics model considering the motion of nanoparticles, are employed for this study. The results of the simulation show that applying external field during the process increases the uniformity of the film deposited onto nanoparticles and leads to that nanoparticles grow in a spherical shape. Increase in film uniformity and particles sphericity is related to particle dynamics that is controlled by parameters of the external field like frequency and amplitude. The results of this work can be helpful to produce spherical core-shell nanoparticles in nanomaterial industry.

Externalized conductors and insulation failure in Biotronik defibrillator leads: History repeating or a false alarm?

PubMed

De Maria, Elia; Borghi, Ambra; Bonetti, Lorenzo; Fontana, Pier Luigi; Cappelli, Stefano

2017-02-16

Conductor externalization and insulation failure are frequent complications with the recalled St. Jude Medical Riata implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads. Conductor externalization is a "unique" failure mechanism: Cables externalize through the insulation ("inside-out" abrasion) and appear outside the lead body. Recently, single reports described a similar failure also for Biotronik leads. Moreover, some studies reported a high rate of electrical dysfunction (not only insulation failure) with Biotronik Linox leads and a reduced survival rate in comparison with the competitors. In this paper we describe the case of a patient with a Biotronik Kentrox ICD lead presenting with signs of insulation failure and conductor externalization at fluoroscopy. Due to the high risk of extraction we decided to implant a new lead, abandoning the damaged one; lead reimplant was uneventful. Subsequently, we review currently available literature about Biotronik Kentrox and Linox ICD lead failure and in particular externalized conductors. Some single-center studies and a non-prospective registry reported a survival rate between 88% and 91% at 5 years for Linox leads, significantly worse than that of other manufacturers. However, the preliminary results of two ongoing multicenter, prospective registries (GALAXY and CELESTIAL) showed 96% survival rate at 5 years after implant, well within industry standards. Ongoing data collection is needed to confirm longer-term performance of this family of ICD leads.

Externalized conductors and insulation failure in Biotronik defibrillator leads: History repeating or a false alarm?

PubMed Central

De Maria, Elia; Borghi, Ambra; Bonetti, Lorenzo; Fontana, Pier Luigi; Cappelli, Stefano

2017-01-01

Conductor externalization and insulation failure are frequent complications with the recalled St. Jude Medical Riata implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads. Conductor externalization is a “unique” failure mechanism: Cables externalize through the insulation (“inside-out” abrasion) and appear outside the lead body. Recently, single reports described a similar failure also for Biotronik leads. Moreover, some studies reported a high rate of electrical dysfunction (not only insulation failure) with Biotronik Linox leads and a reduced survival rate in comparison with the competitors. In this paper we describe the case of a patient with a Biotronik Kentrox ICD lead presenting with signs of insulation failure and conductor externalization at fluoroscopy. Due to the high risk of extraction we decided to implant a new lead, abandoning the damaged one; lead reimplant was uneventful. Subsequently, we review currently available literature about Biotronik Kentrox and Linox ICD lead failure and in particular externalized conductors. Some single-center studies and a non-prospective registry reported a survival rate between 88% and 91% at 5 years for Linox leads, significantly worse than that of other manufacturers. However, the preliminary results of two ongoing multicenter, prospective registries (GALAXY and CELESTIAL) showed 96% survival rate at 5 years after implant, well within industry standards. Ongoing data collection is needed to confirm longer-term performance of this family of ICD leads. PMID:28255544

An Investigation Utilizing an Electrical Analogue of Cyclic Deicing of a Hollow Steel Propeller with an External Blade Shoe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neel, Carr B., Jr.

1952-01-01

A study has been made of the heat requirement for the cyclic de-icing of hollow steel propellers fitted with external blade heating shoes. Solutions to the equations for the heat flow in cyclic heating of propellers were obtained, using an electrical analogy. The study showed how the energy requirement for propeller de-icing with existing blade shoes could be decreased, and illustrated the effect of blade-shoe design on the energy requirement. It was demonstrated, for example, that by increasing the heating intensity and decreasing the heating period from those currently used the energy requirement could be decreased in the order of 60 percent. ' In addition, ft was shown that heating requirements could be decreased further, by as much as 60 percent, through proper design of the shoes. The' investigation also showed the energy requirement to increase with decreasing liquid-water content and air temperature. Uncertainties as to the exact values of convective heat-transfer coefficient prevailing over the surface of the blade and ice layer resulted in uncertainties of approximately proportional magnitude in the values of required heating intensity.

Coupling behaviors of graphene/SiO2/Si structure with external electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onishi, Koichi; Kirimoto, Kenta; Sun, Yong

2017-02-01

A traveling electric field in surface acoustic wave was introduced into the graphene/SiO2/Si sample in the temperature range of 15 K to 300 K. The coupling behaviors between the sample and the electric field were analyzed using two parameters, the intensity attenuation and time delay of the traveling-wave. The attenuation originates from Joule heat of the moving carriers, and the delay of the traveling-wave was due to electrical resistances of the fixed charge and the moving carriers with low mobility in the sample. The attenuation of the external electric field was observed in both Si crystal and graphene films in the temperature range. A large attenuation around 190 K, which depends on the strength of external electric field, was confirmed for the Si crystal. But, no significant temperature and field dependences of the attenuation in the graphene films were detected. On the other hand, the delay of the traveling-wave due to ionic scattering at low temperature side was observed in the Si crystal, but cannot be detected in the films of the mono-, bi- and penta-layer graphene with high conductivities. Also, it was indicated in this study that skin depth of the graphene film was less than thickness of two graphene atomic layers in the temperature range.

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.

Effect of electric field on adsorption of formaldehyde by β-cellobiose in micro-scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Bo; Chen, Zhenqian

2018-05-01

To provide a microcosmic theoretical support for the reduction of formaldehyde in building material by the effect of electric fields, the adsorption between formaldehyde molecule and β-cellobiose was studied by density function theory (DFT). Details of geometric structures, molecule bonds and adsorption energy were discussed respectively. The obtained results indicated the energy of formaldehyde molecule decreased while the energy of β-cellobiose increased with greater electric intensity. In addition, the adsorption energy between formaldehyde molecule and β-cellobiose was greatly influenced by external electric field. The adsorption energy reduced gradually with greater electric intensity, and the changing curve of adsorption energy could be fitted as an exponential function, verified by the experiment. The results of this study confirmed the external electric field would be a good strategy for decreasing formaldehyde within building materials in the microcosmic view.

In situ observation of atomic movement in a ferroelectric film under an external electric field and stress

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

Lee, Hyeon Jun; Guo, Er-Jia; Min, Taewon

Atomic movement under application of external stimuli (i.e., electric field or mechanical stress) in oxide materials has not been observed due to a lack of experimental methods but has been well known to determine the electric polarization. Here, we investigated atomic movement arising from the ferroelectric response of BiFeO 3 thin films under the effect of an electric field and stress in real time using a combination of switching spectroscopy, time-resolved X-ray microdiffraction, and in situ stress engineering. Under an electric field applied to a BiFeO 3 film, the hysteresis loop of the reflected X-ray intensity was found to resultmore » from the opposing directions of displaced atoms between the up and down polarization states. An additional shift of atoms arising from the linearly increased dielectric component of the polarization in BiFeO 3 was confirmed through gradual reduction of the diffracted X-ray intensity. The electric-fieldinduced displacement of oxygen atoms was found to be larger than that of Fe atom for both ferroelectric switching and increase of the polarization. In conclusion, the effect of external stress on the BiFeO 3 thin film, which was controlled by applying an electric field to the highly piezoelectric substrate, showed smaller atomic shifts than for the case of applying an electric field to the film, despite the similar tetragonality.« less

In situ observation of atomic movement in a ferroelectric film under an external electric field and stress

DOE PAGES

Lee, Hyeon Jun; Guo, Er-Jia; Min, Taewon; ...

2017-12-28

Atomic movement under application of external stimuli (i.e., electric field or mechanical stress) in oxide materials has not been observed due to a lack of experimental methods but has been well known to determine the electric polarization. Here, we investigated atomic movement arising from the ferroelectric response of BiFeO 3 thin films under the effect of an electric field and stress in real time using a combination of switching spectroscopy, time-resolved X-ray microdiffraction, and in situ stress engineering. Under an electric field applied to a BiFeO 3 film, the hysteresis loop of the reflected X-ray intensity was found to resultmore » from the opposing directions of displaced atoms between the up and down polarization states. An additional shift of atoms arising from the linearly increased dielectric component of the polarization in BiFeO 3 was confirmed through gradual reduction of the diffracted X-ray intensity. The electric-fieldinduced displacement of oxygen atoms was found to be larger than that of Fe atom for both ferroelectric switching and increase of the polarization. In conclusion, the effect of external stress on the BiFeO 3 thin film, which was controlled by applying an electric field to the highly piezoelectric substrate, showed smaller atomic shifts than for the case of applying an electric field to the film, despite the similar tetragonality.« less

PubMed

Madeira, João; Parreira, Leonor; Amador, Pedro; Soares, Luís

2013-10-14

Riata and Riata ST silicone defibrillation leads are prone to externalization of conductors due to inside-out abrasion in the high-voltage system, causing structural damage which may be accompanied by electrical failure. These situations are easily detected by fluoroscopy or radiology and by inspection of intracardiac electrograms and/or measurement of impedance. However, older pulse generators do not automatically perform all the measurements needed to assess the integrity of the high-voltage electrical system, nor do they have patient notifier alerts in case of dysfunction. The authors describe the case of a patient in whom structural damage was detected on fluoroscopy during pulse generator replacement. They discuss the best strategy in these patients, considering current knowledge of this dysfunction. Copyright © 2012 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Comparison of hydrogen production and electrical power generation for energy capture in closed-loop ammonium bicarbonate reverse electrodialysis systems.

PubMed

Hatzell, Marta C; Ivanov, Ivan; Cusick, Roland D; Zhu, Xiuping; Logan, Bruce E

2014-01-28

Currently, there is an enormous amount of energy available from salinity gradients, which could be used for clean hydrogen production. Through the use of a favorable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cathode, the projected electrical energy generated by a single pass ammonium bicarbonate reverse electrodialysis (RED) system approached 78 W h m(-3). However, if RED is operated with the less favorable (higher overpotential) hydrogen evolution electrode and hydrogen gas is harvested, the energy recovered increases by as much ~1.5× to 118 W h m(-3). Indirect hydrogen production through coupling an RED stack with an external electrolysis system was only projected to achieve 35 W h m(-3) or ~1/3 of that produced through direct hydrogen generation.

Spin Seebeck Effect and Thermal Colossal Magnetoresistance in Graphene Nanoribbon Heterojunction

PubMed Central

Ni, Yun; Yao, Kailun; Fu, Huahua; Gao, Guoying; Zhu, Sicong; Wang, Shuling

2013-01-01

Spin caloritronics devices are very important for future development of low-power-consumption technology. We propose a new spin caloritronics device based on zigzag graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR), which is a heterojunction consisting of single-hydrogen-terminated ZGNR (ZGNR-H) and double-hydrogen-terminated ZGNR (ZGNR-H2). We predict that spin-up and spin-down currents flowing in opposite directions can be induced by temperature difference instead of external electrical bias. The thermal spin-up current is considerably large and greatly improved compared with previous work in graphene. Moreover, the thermal colossal magnetoresistance is obtained in our research, which could be used to fabricate highly-efficient spin caloritronics MR devices. PMID:23459307

Excitation of helicons by current antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gospodchikov, E. D.; Timofeev, A. V.

2017-06-01

Depending on the angle θ between the wave vector and the magnetic field, helicons are conventionally divided into two branches: proper helicons (H mode), propagating at small θ, and Trivelpiece-Gould waves (TG mode), propagating at large θ. The latter are close to potential waves and have a significant electric component along the external magnetic field. It is believed that it is these waves that provide electron heating in helicon discharges. There is also commonly believed that current antennas, widely used to ignite helicon discharges, excite essentially nonpotential H modes, which then transform into TG modes due to plasma inhomogeneity. In this work, it is demonstrated that electromagnetic energy can also be efficiently introduced in plasma by means of TG modes.

Effects produced by iodine irradiation on high resistivity silicon

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

Lazanu, S.; Slav, A.; Lepadatu, A.-M.

2012-12-10

The effects of 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 11} cm{sup -26+}I{sup 127} ions of 28 MeV kinetic energy on high resistivity (100) Si were studied. The profile of primary defects was simulated. The defects produced by irradiation which act as traps were investigated. Thermally stimulated current measurements without externally applied bias were used, and for this the traps were charged by illuminating samples with 1000, 800, and 400 nm wavelengths. The discharge currents were recorded and modeled, and therefore the parameters of the traps were determined. The presence of I ions, heavier than Si, stopped into the target was modeled as amore » temperature independent electric field.« less

A study of the convective flow as a function of external parameters in a high-pressure metal halide discharge lamp (HgDyI{sub 3})

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

Hajji, S.; HadjSalah, S.; Benhalima, A.

2016-06-15

This paper deals with the modelling of the convection processes in metal–halide lamp discharges (HgDyI{sub 3}). For this, we realized a 3D model, a steady, direct current powered and time-depending model for the solution of conservation equations relative to mass, momentum, and energy. After validation, this model was applied to the study of the effect of some parameters that have appeared on major transport phenomena of mass and energy in studying the lamp. Indeed, the electric current, the atomic ratio (Hg/Dy), and the effect of the convective transport have been studied.

A study of the convective flow as a function of external parameters in a high-pressure metal halide discharge lamp (HgDyI3)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajji, S.; HadjSalah, S.; Benhalima, A.; Charrada, K.; Zissis, G.

2016-06-01

This paper deals with the modelling of the convection processes in metal-halide lamp discharges (HgDyI3). For this, we realized a 3D model, a steady, direct current powered and time-depending model for the solution of conservation equations relative to mass, momentum, and energy. After validation, this model was applied to the study of the effect of some parameters that have appeared on major transport phenomena of mass and energy in studying the lamp. Indeed, the electric current, the atomic ratio (Hg/Dy), and the effect of the convective transport have been studied.

Quantization of charged fields in the presence of critical potential steps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gavrilov, S. P.; Gitman, D. M.

2016-02-01

QED with strong external backgrounds that can create particles from the vacuum is well developed for the so-called t -electric potential steps, which are time-dependent external electric fields that are switched on and off at some time instants. However, there exist many physically interesting situations where external backgrounds do not switch off at the time infinity. E.g., these are time-independent nonuniform electric fields that are concentrated in restricted space areas. The latter backgrounds represent a kind of spatial x -electric potential steps for charged particles. They can also create particles from the vacuum, the Klein paradox being closely related to this process. Approaches elaborated for treating quantum effects in the t -electric potential steps are not directly applicable to the x -electric potential steps and their generalization for x -electric potential steps was not sufficiently developed. We believe that the present work represents a consistent solution of the latter problem. We have considered a canonical quantization of the Dirac and scalar fields with x -electric potential step and have found in- and out-creation and annihilation operators that allow one to have particle interpretation of the physical system under consideration. To identify in- and out-operators we have performed a detailed mathematical and physical analysis of solutions of the relativistic wave equations with an x -electric potential step with subsequent QFT analysis of correctness of such an identification. We elaborated a nonperturbative (in the external field) technique that allows one to calculate all characteristics of zero-order processes, such, for example, scattering, reflection, and electron-positron pair creation, without radiation corrections, and also to calculate Feynman diagrams that describe all characteristics of processes with interaction between the in-, out-particles and photons. These diagrams have formally the usual form, but contain special propagators. Expressions for these propagators in terms of in- and out-solutions are presented. We apply the elaborated approach to two popular exactly solvable cases of x -electric potential steps, namely, to the Sauter potential and to the Klein step.

Laser-guided energetic discharges over large air gaps by electric-field enhanced plasma filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Théberge, Francis; Daigle, Jean-François; Kieffer, Jean-Claude; Vidal, François; Châteauneuf, Marc

2017-01-01

Recent works on plasma channels produced during the propagation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses in air demonstrated the guiding of electric discharges along the laser path. However, the short plasma lifetime limits the length of the laser-guided discharge. In this paper, the conductivity and lifetime of long plasma channels produced by ultrashort laser pulses is enhanced efficiently over many orders of magnitude by the electric field of a hybrid AC-DC high-voltage source. The AC electric pulse from a Tesla coil allowed to stimulate and maintain the highly conductive channel during few milliseconds in order to guide a subsequent 500 times more energetic discharge from a 30-kV DC source. This DC discharge was laser-guided over an air gap length of two metres, which is more than two orders of magnitude longer than the expected natural discharge length. Long plasma channel induced by laser pulses and stimulated by an external high-voltage source opens the way for wireless and efficient transportation of energetic current pulses over long air gaps and potentially for guiding lightning.

Double relaxation via AdS/CFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amiri-Sharifi, S.; Ali-Akbari, M.; Kishani-Farahani, A.; Shafie, N.

2016-08-01

We exploit the AdS/CFT correspondence to investigate thermalization in an N = 2 strongly coupled gauge theory including massless fundamental matter (quark). More precisely, we consider the response of a zero temperature state of the gauge theory under influence of an external electric field which leads to a time-dependent current. The holographic dual of the above set-up is given by introducing a time-dependent electric field on the probe D7-brane embedded in an AdS5 ×S5 background. In the dual gravity theory an apparent horizon forms on the brane which, according to AdS/CFT dictionary, is the counterpart of the thermalization process in the gauge theory side. We classify different functions for time-dependent electric field and study their effect on the apparent horizon formation. In the case of pulse functions, where the electric field varies from zero to zero, apart from non-equilibrium phase, we observe the formation of two separate apparent horizons on the brane. This means that the state of the gauge theory experiences two different temperature regimes during its time evolution.

Generation of Electrical Power from Stimulated Muscle Contractions Evaluated

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewandowski, Beth; Kilgore, Kevin; Ercegovic, David B.

2004-01-01

This project is a collaborative effort between NASA Glenn Research Center's Revolutionary Aeropropulsion Concepts (RAC) Project, part of the NASA Aerospace Propulsion and Power Program of the Aerospace Technology Enterprise, and Case Western Reserve University's Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center. The RAC Project foresees implantable power requirements for future applications such as organically based sensor platforms and robotics that can interface with the human senses. One of the goals of the FES Center is to develop a totally implantable neural prosthesis. This goal is based on feedback from patients who would prefer a system with an internal power source over the currently used system with an external power source. The conversion system under investigation would transform the energy produced from a stimulated muscle contraction into electrical energy. We hypothesize that the output power of the system will be greater than the input power necessary to initiate, sustain, and control the electrical conversion system because of the stored potential energy of the muscle. If the system can be made biocompatible, durable, and with the potential for sustained use, then the biological power source will be a viable solution.

Laser-guided energetic discharges over large air gaps by electric-field enhanced plasma filaments

PubMed Central

Théberge, Francis; Daigle, Jean-François; Kieffer, Jean-Claude; Vidal, François; Châteauneuf , Marc

2017-01-01

Recent works on plasma channels produced during the propagation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses in air demonstrated the guiding of electric discharges along the laser path. However, the short plasma lifetime limits the length of the laser-guided discharge. In this paper, the conductivity and lifetime of long plasma channels produced by ultrashort laser pulses is enhanced efficiently over many orders of magnitude by the electric field of a hybrid AC-DC high-voltage source. The AC electric pulse from a Tesla coil allowed to stimulate and maintain the highly conductive channel during few milliseconds in order to guide a subsequent 500 times more energetic discharge from a 30-kV DC source. This DC discharge was laser-guided over an air gap length of two metres, which is more than two orders of magnitude longer than the expected natural discharge length. Long plasma channel induced by laser pulses and stimulated by an external high-voltage source opens the way for wireless and efficient transportation of energetic current pulses over long air gaps and potentially for guiding lightning. PMID:28053312

Condition for a Bounded System of Klein-Gordon Particles in Electric and Magnetic Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kisoglu, Hasan Fatih; Sogut, Kenan

2018-07-01

We investigate the motion of relativistic spinless particles in an external electromagnetic field that is considered to has a constant magnetic field and a time-dependent electric field. For such a system, we obtain analytical eigenfunctions through Asymptotic Iteration Method. We also obtain a condition of choosing the external magnetic field for which the system is bounded with usage of the method in perturbation theory.

Improvement in magnetic field immunity of externally-coupled transcutaneous energy transmission system for a totally implantable artificial heart.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Takahiko; Koshiji, Kohji; Homma, Akihiko; Tatsumi, Eisuke; Taenaka, Yoshiyuki

2008-01-01

Transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) that uses electromagnetic induction between the external and internal coils of a transformer is the most promising method to supply driving energy to a totally implantable artificial heart without invasion. Induction-heating (IH) cookers generate magnetic flux, and if a cooker is operated near a transcutaneous transformer, the magnetic flux generated will link with the external and internal coils of the transcutaneous transformer. This will affect the performance of the TET and the artificial heart system. Hence, it is necessary to improve the magnetic field immunity of the TET system. During operation of the system, if the transcutaneous transformer is in close proximity to an IH cooker, the electric power generated by the cooker and coupled to the transformer can drive the artificial heart system. To prevent this coupling, the external coil was shielded with a conductive shield that had a slit in it. This reduces the coupling between the transformer and the magnetic field generated by the induction cooker. However, the temperature of the shield increased due to heating by eddy currents. The temperature of the shield can be reduced by separating the IH cooker and the shield.

Enhanced external quantum efficiency in GaN-based vertical-type light-emitting diodes by localized surface plasmons

PubMed Central

Yao, Yung-Chi; Hwang, Jung-Min; Yang, Zu-Po; Haung, Jing-Yu; Lin, Chia-Ching; Shen, Wei-Chen; Chou, Chun-Yang; Wang, Mei-Tan; Huang, Chun-Ying; Chen, Ching-Yu; Tsai, Meng-Tsan; Lin, Tzu-Neng; Shen, Ji-Lin; Lee, Ya-Ju

2016-01-01

Enhancement of the external quantum efficiency of a GaN-based vertical-type light emitting diode (VLED) through the coupling of localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance with the wave-guided mode light is studied. To achieve this experimentally, Ag nanoparticles (NPs), as the LSP resonant source, are drop-casted on the most top layer of waveguide channel, which is composed of hydrothermally synthesized ZnO nanorods capped on the top of GaN-based VLED. Enhanced light-output power and external quantum efficiency are observed, and the amount of enhancement remains steady with the increase of the injected currents. To understand the observations theoretically, the absorption spectra and the electric field distributions of the VLED with and without Ag NPs decorated on ZnO NRs are determined using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results prove that the observation of enhancement of the external quantum efficiency can be attributed to the creation of an extra escape channel for trapped light due to the coupling of the LSP with wave-guided mode light, by which the energy of wave-guided mode light can be transferred to the efficient light scattering center of the LSP. PMID:26935648

Ion confinement and transport in a toroidal plasma with externally imposed radial electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, J. R.; Krawczonek, W. M.; Powers, E. J.; Kim, Y. C.; Hong, H. Y.

1979-01-01

Strong electric fields were imposed along the minor radius of the toroidal plasma by biasing it with electrodes maintained at kilovolt potentials. Coherent, low-frequency disturbances characteristic of various magnetohydrodynamic instabilities were absent in the high-density, well-confined regime. High, direct-current radial electric fields with magnitudes up to 135 volts per centimeter penetrated inward to at least one-half the plasma radius. When the electric field pointed radially toward, the ion transport was inward against a strong local density gradient; and the plasma density and confinement time were significantly enhanced. The radial transport along the electric field appeared to be consistent with fluctuation-induced transport. With negative electrode polarity the particle confinement was consistent with a balance of two processes: a radial infusion of ions, in those sectors of the plasma not containing electrodes, that resulted from the radially inward fields; and ion losses to the electrodes, each of the which acted as a sink and drew ions out of the plasma. A simple model of particle confinement was proposed in which the particle confinement time is proportional to the plasma volume. The scaling predicted by this model was consistent with experimental measurements.

Polarizable polymer chain under external electric field: Effects of many-body electrostatic dipole correlations.

PubMed

Budkov, Yu A; Kolesnikov, A L

2016-11-01

We present a new simple self-consistent field theory of a polarizable flexible polymer chain under an external constant electric field with account for the many-body electrostatic dipole correlations. We show the effects of electrostatic dipole correlations on the electric-field-induced globule-coil transition. We demonstrate that only when the polymer chain is in the coil conformation, the electrostatic dipole correlations of monomers can be considered as pairwise. However, when the polymer chain is in a collapsed state, the dipole correlations have to be considered at the many-body level.

Spherical harmonic representation of the main geomagnetic field for world charting and investigations of some fundamental problems of physics and geophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barraclough, D. R.; Hide, R.; Leaton, B. R.; Lowes, F. J.; Malin, S. R. C.; Wilson, R. L. (Principal Investigator)

1982-01-01

Progress in the harmonic analysis of MAGSAT data is reported. Single-day data sets were subdivided into information on the sunrise side of the Earth and information on the sunset side of the Earth. Data for the main and external fields each demonstrate a clear and consistent systematic difference between the sets of data which was determined to be, due to ionospheric currents which differ from the sunset to the sunrise terminator. A toroidal field was analyzed for and determined to be an apparent toroidal field resulting from electric currents concentrated in the two terminators. Progressive elimination of auroral zone data demonstrates that the information presented does not arise from complications due to Birkeland currents.

Zero bias thermally stimulated currents in synthetic diamond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, R.; Miglio, S.; Bruzzi, M.; Bogani, F.; De Sio, A.; Pace, E.

2009-06-01

Zero bias thermally stimulated currents (ZBTSCs) have been observed in single crystal high pressure high temperature (HPHT) and polycrystalline chemical vapor deposited (pCVD) diamond films. The ZBTSC technique is characterized by an increased sensitivity with respect to a standard TSC analysis. Due to the absence of the thermally activated background current, new TSC peaks have been observed in both HPHT and pCVD diamond films, related to shallow activation energies usually obscured by the emission of the dominant impurities. The ZBTSC peaks are explained in terms of defect discharge in the nonequilibrium potential distribution created by a nonuniform traps filling at the metal-diamond junctions. The electric field due to the charged defects has been estimated in a quasizero bias TSC experiment by applying an external bias.

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

Economics of regulation: externalities and institutional issues

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

Kahn, A.E.

In two previous articles, ''Can An Economist Find Happiness Setting Public Utility Rates'' and ''Applications of Economics to Public Utility Rate Structures'', appearing in Public Utilities Fortnightly January 5 and January 19, 1978, respectively, the author summarized his experiences in applying elementary economic principles to the regulation of public utilities in New York state, specifically to setting utility rates. In this article, Mr. Kahn discusses second-best considerations and externalities. He points out that opponents of marginal-cost pricing--particularly of electricity--have in recent years become enthusiastic exponents of the theory of second best. What is required, he feels, is an examination ofmore » how other, most directly pertinent prices in the economy do actually stand relative to their marginal costs. These would be the prices of goods and services for which electricity is a substitute; with which electricity is used as a complement; in whose supply electricity is an input; and which themselves constitute inputs in the production and delivery of electricity. Oil and gas are more complicated cases. External costs, such as abatement requirements, are considered when setting rates. The author points out other regulatory issues to be considered in decision making to conclude this series of articles. (MCW)« less

Adsorption and diffusion of lithium in a graphene/blue-phosphorus heterostructure and the effect of an external electric field.

PubMed

Fan, Kaimin; Tang, Jing; Wu, Shiyun; Yang, Chengfu; Hao, Jiabo

2016-12-21

The adsorption and diffusion behaviors of lithium (Li) in a graphene/blue-phosphorus (G/BP) heterostructure have been investigated using a first principles method based on density functional theory (DFT). The effect of an external electric field on the adsorption and diffusion behaviors has also been investigated. The results show that the adsorption energy of Li on the graphene side of the G/BP heterostructure is higher than that on monolayer graphene, and Li adsorption on the BP side of the G/BP/Li system is slightly stronger than that on monolayer BP (BP/Li). The adsorption energy of Li reaches 2.47 eV, however, the energy barriers of Li diffusion decrease in the interlayer of the G/BP heterostructure. The results mentioned above suggest that the rate performance of the G/BP heterostructure is better than that of monolayer graphene. Furthermore, the adsorption energies of Li atoms in the three different most stable sites, i.e., H G , T P and H 1 sites, increase by about 0.49 eV, 0.26 eV, and 0.13 eV, respectively, as the electric field intensity reaches 0.6 V Å -1 . The diffusion energy barrier is significantly decreased by an external electric field. It is demonstrated that the external electric field can not only enhance the adsorption but can also modulate the diffusion barriers of Li atoms in the G/BP heterostructure.

Bioelectric analyses of an osseointegrated intelligent implant design system for amputees.

PubMed

Isaacson, Brad M; Stinstra, Jeroen G; MacLeod, Rob S; Webster, Joseph B; Beck, James P; Bloebaum, Roy D

2009-07-15

The projected number of American amputees is expected to rise to 3.6 million by 2050. Many of these individuals depend on artificial limbs to perform routine activities, but prosthetic suspensions using traditional socket technology can prove to be cumbersome and uncomfortable for a person with limb loss. Moreover, for those with high proximal amputations, limited residual limb length may prevent exoprosthesis attachment all together. Osseointegrated implant technology is a novel operative procedure which allows firm skeletal attachment between the host bone and an implant. Preliminary results in European amputees with osseointegrated implants have shown improved clinical outcomes by allowing direct transfer of loads to the bone-implant interface. Despite the apparent advantages of osseointegration over socket technology, the current rehabilitation procedures require long periods of restrictive load bearing prior which may be reduced with expedited skeletal attachment via electrical stimulation. The goal of the osseointegrated intelligent implant design (OIID) system is to make the implant part of an electrical system to accelerate skeletal attachment and help prevent periprosthetic infection. To determine optimal electrode size and placement, we initiated proof of concept with computational modeling of the electric fields and current densities that arise during electrical stimulation of amputee residual limbs. In order to provide insure patient safety, subjects with retrospective computed tomography scans were selected and three dimensional reconstructions were created using customized software programs to ensure anatomical accuracy (Seg3D and SCIRun) in an IRB and HIPAA approved study. These software packages supported the development of patient specific models and allowed for interactive manipulation of electrode position and size. Preliminary results indicate that electric fields and current densities can be generated at the implant interface to achieve the homogenous electric field distributions required to induce osteoblast migration, enhance skeletal fixation and may help prevent periprosthetic infections. Based on the electrode configurations experimented with in the model, an external two band configuration will be advocated in the future.

Development of an experimental system for characterization of high-temperature superconductors cooled by liquid hydrogen under the external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatsumoto, H.; Shirai, Y.; Shiotsu, M.; Naruo, Y.; Kobayashi, H.; Inatani, Y.

2014-05-01

An experimental system has been developed to investigate electro-magnetic properties of high-Tc superconductors cooled by liquid hydrogen under the external magnetic field of up to 7 T. A LH2 cryostat is concentrically mounted on the inside of a LHe cryostat to cool a NbTi superconducting magnet. The experimental system is installed in an explosion-proof room. Explosion proof electrical devices are used and current leads are covered with an enclosure filled with nitrogen gas. A remote control system has been developed. Furthermore, the effects of stray magnetic field on the existing and the new devices are investigated and electro-magnetic shielding panels and enclosure made of iron were designed. It is confirmed through the cryogenic test that the experimental system meets the design requirements.

Nonlinear oscillations in a muscle pacemaker cell model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González-Miranda, J. M.

2017-02-01

This article presents a numerical simulation study of the nonlinear oscillations displayed by the Morris-Lecar model [Biophys. J. 35 (1981) 193] for the oscillations experimentally observed in the transmembrane potential of a muscle fiber subject to an external electrical stimulus. We consider the model in the case when there is no external stimulation, aiming to establish the ability of the model to display biophysically reasonable pacemaker dynamics. We obtain 2D bifurcation diagrams showing that indeed the model presents oscillatory dynamics, displaying the two main types of action potentials that are observed in muscle fibers. The results obtained are shown to be structurally stable; that is, robust against changes in the values of system parameters. Moreover, it is demonstrated how the model is appropriate to analyze the action potentials observed in terms of the transmembrane currents creating them.

Modeling and simulation of deformation of hydrogels responding to electric stimulus.

PubMed

Li, Hua; Luo, Rongmo; Lam, K Y

2007-01-01

A model for simulation of pH-sensitive hydrogels is refined in this paper to extend its application to electric-sensitive hydrogels, termed the refined multi-effect-coupling electric-stimulus (rMECe) model. By reformulation of the fixed-charge density and consideration of finite deformation, the rMECe model is able to predict the responsive deformations of the hydrogels when they are immersed in a bath solution subject to externally applied electric field. The rMECe model consists of nonlinear partial differential governing equations with chemo-electro-mechanical coupling effects and the fixed-charge density with electric-field effect. By comparison between simulation and experiment extracted from literature, the model is verified to be accurate and stable. The rMECe model performs quantitatively for deformation analysis of the electric-sensitive hydrogels. The influences of several physical parameters, including the externally applied electric voltage, initial fixed-charge density, hydrogel strip thickness, ionic strength and valence of surrounding solution, are discussed in detail on the displacement and average curvature of the hydrogels.

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.

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.

A representative-sandwich model for simultaneously coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal simulation of a lithium-ion cell under quasi-static indentation tests

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Chao; Santhanagopalan, Shriram; Sprague, Michael A.; ...

2015-08-29

The safety behavior of lithium-ion batteries under external mechanical crush is a critical concern, especially during large scale deployment. We previously presented a sequentially coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal modeling approach for studying mechanical abuse induced short circuit. Here in this work, we study different mechanical test conditions and examine the interaction between mechanical failure and electrical-thermal responses, by developing a simultaneous coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal model. The present work utilizes a single representative-sandwich (RS) to model the full pouch cell with explicit representations for each individual component such as the active material, current collector, separator, etc. Anisotropic constitutive material models are presented to describemore » the mechanical properties of active materials and separator. The model predicts accurately the force-strain response and fracture of battery structure, simulates the local failure of separator layer, and captures the onset of short circuit for lithium-ion battery cell under sphere indentation tests with three different diameters. Electrical-thermal responses to the three different indentation tests are elaborated and discussed. Lastly, numerical studies are presented to show the potential impact of test conditions on the electrical-thermal behavior of the cell after the occurrence of short circuit.« less

A representative-sandwich model for simultaneously coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal simulation of a lithium-ion cell under quasi-static indentation tests

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

Zhang, Chao; Santhanagopalan, Shriram; Sprague, Michael A.

The safety behavior of lithium-ion batteries under external mechanical crush is a critical concern, especially during large scale deployment. We previously presented a sequentially coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal modeling approach for studying mechanical abuse induced short circuit. Here in this work, we study different mechanical test conditions and examine the interaction between mechanical failure and electrical-thermal responses, by developing a simultaneous coupled mechanical-electrical-thermal model. The present work utilizes a single representative-sandwich (RS) to model the full pouch cell with explicit representations for each individual component such as the active material, current collector, separator, etc. Anisotropic constitutive material models are presented to describemore » the mechanical properties of active materials and separator. The model predicts accurately the force-strain response and fracture of battery structure, simulates the local failure of separator layer, and captures the onset of short circuit for lithium-ion battery cell under sphere indentation tests with three different diameters. Electrical-thermal responses to the three different indentation tests are elaborated and discussed. Lastly, numerical studies are presented to show the potential impact of test conditions on the electrical-thermal behavior of the cell after the occurrence of short circuit.« less

Highly sensitive protein detection by combination of atomic force microscopy fishing with charge generation and mass spectrometry analysis.

PubMed

Ivanov, Yuri D; Pleshakova, Tatyana; Malsagova, Krystina; Kozlov, Andrey; Kaysheva, Anna; Kopylov, Arthur; Izotov, Alexander; Andreeva, Elena; Kanashenko, Sergey; Usanov, Sergey; Archakov, Alexander

2014-10-01

An approach combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) fishing and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to detect proteins at ultra-low concentrations is proposed. Fishing out protein molecules onto a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface coated with polytetrafluoroethylene film was carried out with and without application of an external electric field. After that they were visualized by AFM and identified by MS. It was found that injection of solution leads to charge generation in the solution, and an electric potential within the measuring cell is induced. It was demonstrated that without an external electric field in the rapid injection input of diluted protein solution the fishing is efficient, as opposed to slow fluid input. The high sensitivity of this method was demonstrated by detection of human serum albumin and human cytochrome b5 in 10(-17) -10(-18) m water solutions. It was shown that an external negative voltage applied to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite hinders the protein fishing. The efficiency of fishing with an external positive voltage was similar to that obtained without applying any voltage. © 2014 FEBS.

QED theory of multiphoton transitions in atoms and ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zalialiutdinov, Timur A.; Solovyev, Dmitry A.; Labzowsky, Leonti N.; Plunien, Günter

2018-03-01

This review surveys the quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation for atomic systems. In particular, a review of current theoretical studies of multiphoton processes in one and two-electron atoms and highly charged ions is provided. Grounded on the quantum electrodynamics description the multiphoton transitions in presence of cascades, spin-statistic behaviour of equivalent photons and influence of external electric fields on multiphoton in atoms and anti-atoms are discussed. Finally, the nonresonant corrections which define the validity of the concept of the excited state energy levels are introduced.

Laser-powered thermoelectric generators operating at cryogenic temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harutyunyan, S. R.; Vardanyan, V. H.; Kuzanyan, A. S.; Nikoghosyan, V. R.; Kunii, S.; Winzer, K.; Wood, K. S.; Gulian, A. M.

2005-11-01

A thermoelectric generator, operating in a cryostat at liquid helium temperatures, is described. Energy to the generator is supplied via an external laser beam. For this prototype device the associated heat load at permanent operation is comparable with the heat load associated with power delivery via metallic wires. Estimates indicate that still better performance can be enabled with existing thermoelectric materials, thereby far exceeding efficiency of traditional cryostat wiring. We used a prototype generator to produce electric power for measuring critical currents in Nb3Sn-films at 4K.

Electrothermally-Actuated Micromirrors with Bimorph Actuators--Bending-Type and Torsion-Type.

PubMed

Tsai, Cheng-Hua; Tsai, Chun-Wei; Chang, Hsu-Tang; Liu, Shih-Hsiang; Tsai, Jui-Che

2015-06-22

Three different electrothermally-actuated MEMS micromirrors with Cr/Au-Si bimorph actuators are proposed. The devices are fabricated with the SOIMUMPs process developed by MEMSCAP, Inc. (Durham, NC, USA). A silicon-on-insulator MEMS process has been employed for the fabrication of these micromirrors. Electrothermal actuation has achieved a large angular movement in the micromirrors. Application of an external electric current 0.04 A to the bending-type, restricted-torsion-type, and free-torsion-type mirrors achieved rotation angles of 1.69°, 3.28°, and 3.64°, respectively.

Wirelessly powered microfluidic dielectrophoresis devices using printable RF circuits.

PubMed

Qiao, Wen; Cho, Gyoujin; Lo, Yu-Hwa

2011-03-21

We report the first microfluidic device integrated with a printed RF circuit so the device can be wirelessly powered by a commercially available RFID reader. For conventional dielectrophoresis devices, electrical wires are needed to connect the electric components on the microchip to external equipment such as power supplies, amplifiers, function generators, etc. Such a procedure is unfamiliar to most clinicians and pathologists who are used to working with a microscope for examination of samples on microscope slides. The wirelessly powered device reported here eliminates the entire need for wire attachments and external instruments so the operators can use the device in essentially the same manner as they do with microscope slides. The integrated circuit can be fabricated on a flexible plastic substrate at very low cost using a roll-to-roll printing method. Electrical power at 13.56 MHz transmitted by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader is inductively coupled to the printed RFIC and converted into 10 V DC (direct current) output, which provides sufficient power to drive a microfluidic device to manipulate biological particles such as beads and proteins via the DC dielectrophoresis (DC-DEP) effect. To our best knowledge, this is the first wirelessly powered microfluidic dielectrophoresis device. Although the work is preliminary, the device concept, the architecture, and the core technology are expected to stimulate many efforts in the future and transform the technology to a wide range of clinical and point-of-care applications. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

Detection of Optogenetic Stimulation in Somatosensory Cortex by Non-Human Primates - Towards Artificial Tactile Sensation

PubMed Central

Brush, Benjamin; Borton, David; Wagner, Fabien; Agha, Naubahar; Sheinberg, David L.; Nurmikko, Arto V.

2014-01-01

Neuroprosthesis research aims to enable communication between the brain and external assistive devices while restoring lost functionality such as occurs from stroke, spinal cord injury or neurodegenerative diseases. In future closed-loop sensorimotor prostheses, one approach is to use neuromodulation as direct stimulus to the brain to compensate for a lost sensory function and help the brain to integrate relevant information for commanding external devices via, e.g. movement intention. Current neuromodulation techniques rely mainly of electrical stimulation. Here we focus specifically on the question of eliciting a biomimetically relevant sense of touch by direct stimulus of the somatosensory cortex by introducing optogenetic techniques as an alternative to electrical stimulation. We demonstrate that light activated opsins can be introduced to target neurons in the somatosensory cortex of non-human primates and be optically activated to create a reliably detected sensation which the animal learns to interpret as a tactile sensation localized within the hand. The accomplishment highlighted here shows how optical stimulation of a relatively small group of mostly excitatory somatosensory neurons in the nonhuman primate brain is sufficient for eliciting a useful sensation from data acquired by simultaneous electrophysiology and from behavioral metrics. In this first report to date on optically neuromodulated behavior in the somatosensory cortex of nonhuman primates we do not yet dissect the details of the sensation the animals exerience or contrast it to those evoked by electrical stimulation, issues of considerable future interest. PMID:25541938

Employment of single-diode model to elucidate the variations in photovoltaic parameters under different electrical and thermal conditions

PubMed Central

Hameed, Shilan S.; Aziz, Fakhra; Sulaiman, Khaulah; Ahmad, Zubair

2017-01-01

In this research work, numerical simulations are performed to correlate the photovoltaic parameters with various internal and external factors influencing the performance of solar cells. Single-diode modeling approach is utilized for this purpose and theoretical investigations are compared with the reported experimental evidences for organic and inorganic solar cells at various electrical and thermal conditions. Electrical parameters include parasitic resistances (Rs and Rp) and ideality factor (n), while thermal parameters can be defined by the cells temperature (T). A comprehensive analysis concerning broad spectral variations in the short circuit current (Isc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF) and efficiency (η) is presented and discussed. It was generally concluded that there exists a good agreement between the simulated results and experimental findings. Nevertheless, the controversial consequence of temperature impact on the performance of organic solar cells necessitates the development of a complementary model which is capable of well simulating the temperature impact on these devices performance. PMID:28793325

Apparatus for sensing patterns of electrical field variations across a surface

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

Warren, William L.; Devine, Roderick A. B.

An array of nonvolatile field effect transistors used to sense electric potential variations. The transistors owe their nonvolatility to the movement of protons within the oxide layer that occurs only in response to an externally applied electric potential between the gate on one side of the oxide and the source/drain on the other side. The position of the protons within the oxide layer either creates or destroys a conducting channel in the adjacent source/channel/drain layer below it, the current in the channel being measured as the state of the nonvolatile memory. The protons can also be moved by potentials createdmore » by other instrumentalities, such as charges on fingerprints or styluses above the gates, pressure on a piezoelectric layer above the gates, light shining upon a photoconductive layer above the gates. The invention allows sensing of fingerprints, handwriting, and optical images, which are converted into digitized images thereof in a nonvolatile format.« less

Chiral electric separation effect in the quark-gluon plasma

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Yin; Liao, Jinfeng; Huang, Xu-Guang

2015-02-02

In this paper we introduce and compute a new transport coefficient for the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) at very high temperature. This new coefficient σ χe, the CESE (Chiral Electric Separation Effect) conductivity, quantifies the amount of axial current J A that is generated in response to an externally applied electric field eE: J A=σ χe(eE). Starting with a rather general argument in the kinetic theory framework, we show how a characteristic structure σ χe∝μμ5 emerges, which also indicates the CESE as an anomalous transport effect occurring only in a parity-odd environment with nonzero axial charge density μ5 ≠ 0. Usingmore » the Hard-Thermal-Loop framework, the CESE conductivity for the QGP is found to be σ χe = (#)TT rfQ eQ A/g⁴ln(1/g) μμ5/T² to the leading-log accuracy with the numerical constant (#) depending on favor content, e.g., (#)=14.5163 for u, d light flavors.« less

RHETT/EPDM Flight Hollow Cathode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manzella, David; Patterson, Michael; Pastel, Michael

1997-01-01

Under the sponsorship of the BMDO Russian Hall Electric Thruster Technology program two xenon hollow cathodes, a flight unit and a flight spare were fabricated, acceptance tested and delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory for use on the Electric Propulsion Demonstration Module. These hollow cathodes, based on the International Space Station plasma contactor design, were fabricated at the NASA Lewis Research Center for use with a D-55 anode layer thruster in the first on-orbit operational application of this technology. The 2.2 Ampere nominal emission current of this device was obtained with a xenon flow rate of 0.6 mg/s. Ignition of the cathode discharge was accomplished through preheating the active electron emitter with a resistive heating element before application of a 650 volt ignition pulse between the emitter and an external starting electrode. The successful acceptance testing of the Electric Propulsion Demonstration Module utilizing these cathodes demonstrated the suitability of cathodes based on barium impregnated inserts in an enclosed keeper configuration for use with Hall thruster propulsion systems.

Coherent phonon optics in a chip with an electrically controlled active device.

PubMed

Poyser, Caroline L; Akimov, Andrey V; Campion, Richard P; Kent, Anthony J

2015-02-05

Phonon optics concerns operations with high-frequency acoustic waves in solid media in a similar way to how traditional optics operates with the light beams (i.e. photons). Phonon optics experiments with coherent terahertz and sub-terahertz phonons promise a revolution in various technical applications related to high-frequency acoustics, imaging, and heat transport. Previously, phonon optics used passive methods for manipulations with propagating phonon beams that did not enable their external control. Here we fabricate a phononic chip, which includes a generator of coherent monochromatic phonons with frequency 378 GHz, a sensitive coherent phonon detector, and an active layer: a doped semiconductor superlattice, with electrical contacts, inserted into the phonon propagation path. In the experiments, we demonstrate the modulation of the coherent phonon flux by an external electrical bias applied to the active layer. Phonon optics using external control broadens the spectrum of prospective applications of phononics on the nanometer scale.

A single molecule rectifier with strong push-pull coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saraiva-Souza, Aldilene; Macedo de Souza, Fabricio; Aleixo, Vicente F. P.; Girão, Eduardo Costa; Filho, Josué Mendes; Meunier, Vincent; Sumpter, Bobby G.; Souza Filho, Antônio Gomes; Del Nero, Jordan

2008-11-01

We theoretically investigate the electronic charge transport in a molecular system composed of a donor group (dinitrobenzene) coupled to an acceptor group (dihydrophenazine) via a polyenic chain (unsaturated carbon bridge). Ab initio calculations based on the Hartree-Fock approximations are performed to investigate the distribution of electron states over the molecule in the presence of an external electric field. For small bridge lengths (n =0-3) we find a homogeneous distribution of the frontier molecular orbitals, while for n >3 a strong localization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is found. The localized orbitals in between the donor and acceptor groups act as conduction channels when an external electric field is applied. We also calculate the rectification behavior of this system by evaluating the charge accumulated in the donor and acceptor groups as a function of the external electric field. Finally, we propose a phenomenological model based on nonequilibrium Green's function to rationalize the ab initio findings.

Redistribution of oxygen ions in single crystal YBa2Cu3O7-x owing to external hydrostatic pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boiko, Yu. I.; Bogdanov, V. V.; Vovk, R. V.; Khadzhai, G. Ya.; Savich, S. V.

2018-01-01

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the temperature dependences of the electrical resistance in the basal plane of single crystal YBa2Cu3O7-x with an oxygen deficit is studied. It is found that an external hydrostatic pressure P ≈ 7 kbar substantially intensifies the diffusive coalescence of oxygen clusters, i.e., causes an increase in their average size. This, in turn, produces an increased number of negative U-centers whose presence leads to the appearance of a phase capable of generating paired carriers of electrical charge and is, therefore, characterized by a higher transition temperature Tc. Changes in the form of the temperature and time dependences of the electrical resistivity under external hydrostatic pressure are discussed in terms of this same hypothesis regarding the mechanism of diffusive coalescence of oxygen clusters.

Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize Lecture: Transfer of spin momentum between magnets: its genesis and prospect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slonczewski, John

2013-03-01

Consider two nanoscopic monodomain magnets connected by a spacer that is composed of a non-magnetic metal or a tunnel barrier. Any externally applied electric current flowing through these three layers contributes tiny pseudo-torques to both magnetic moments (J . S . 1989). Such a weak spin-transfer torque (STT) may counteract and overcome a comparably small torque caused by viscous dissipation (L. Berger1996; J . S . 1996). Any initial motion (e. g. excited by ambient temperature) of one moment (or both), may grow in amplitude and culminate in steady precession or a transient switch to a new direction of static equilibrium. In a memory element, the STT effect writes 0 or 1 in a magnetic-tunnel junction. Indeed, world-wide developments of memory arrays and radio-frequency oscillators utilizing current-driven STT today enjoy a nine-digit dollar commitment. But the fact that transfer of each half-unit of spin momentum h/4 π through a barrier requires the transfer of at least one unit of electric charge limits its efficiency. Arguably, STT should also arise from the flow of external heat, in either direction, between an insulating magnet, of ferrite or garnet (e. g. YIG) composition, and a metallic spacer (J . S . 2010). Whenever s-d exchange annihilates a hot magnon at the insulator/metal-spacer interface, it transfers one unit h/2 π of spin momentum to the spacer. Conduction electrons within the spacer will transport this spin momentum to the second magnet without requiring an electric current. Such a thermagnonicmethod, modestly powered by a Joule-effect heater, can substantially increase the efficiency of STT. Support for this prediction comes from (1) an estimate of the sd-exchange coefficient from data on spin relaxation in magnetically dilute (Cu,Ag,Au):Mn alloys; (2) a DFT computation (J. Xiao et al 2010); and (3) most persuasively, data from spin pumping driven across a YIG/Au interface by ferromagnetic resonance (B. Heinrich et al 2011; C. Burrowes et al 2012).

Use of electric field sensors for recording respiration, heart rate, and stereotyped motor behaviors in the rodent home cage.

PubMed

Noble, Donald J; MacDowell, Camden J; McKinnon, Michael L; Neblett, Tamra I; Goolsby, William N; Hochman, Shawn

2017-02-01

Numerous environmental and genetic factors can contribute significantly to behavioral and cardiorespiratory variability observed experimentally. Affordable technologies that allow for noninvasive home cage capture of physio-behavioral variables should enhance understanding of inter-animal variability including after experimental interventions. We assessed whether EPIC electric field sensors (Plessey Semiconductors) embedded within or attached externally to a rodent's home cage could accurately record respiration, heart rate, and motor behaviors. Current systems for quantification of behavioral variables require expensive specialty equipment, while measures of respiratory and heart rate are often provided by surgically implanted or chronically affixed devices. Sensors accurately encoded imposed sinusoidal changes in electric field tested at frequencies ranging from 0.5-100Hz. Mini-metronome arm movements were easily detected, but response magnitude was highly distance dependent. Sensors accurately reported respiration during whole-body plethysmography. In anesthetized rodents, PVC tube-embedded sensors provided accurate mechanical detection of both respiratory and heart rate. Comparable success was seen in naturally behaving animals at rest or sleeping when sensors were attached externally. Video-verified motor behaviors (sniffing, grooming, chewing, and rearing) were detectable and largely separable by their characteristic voltage fluctuations. Larger movement-related events had comparably larger voltage dynamics that easily allowed for a broad approximation of overall motor activity. Spectrograms were used to quickly depict characteristic frequencies in long-lasting recordings, while filtering and thresholding software allowed for detection and quantification of movement-related physio-behavioral events. EPIC electric field sensors provide a means for affordable non-contact home cage detection of physio-behavioral variables. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The application of direct current electrical stimulation of the ear and cervical spine kinesitherapy in tinnitus treatment.

PubMed

Mielczarek, Marzena; Konopka, Wieslaw; Olszewski, Jurek

2013-02-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrical stimulations of the hearing organ in tinnitus treatment adapting the frequency of stimulation according to tinnitus frequency, to assess the influence of cervical spine kinesitherapy on tinnitus, as well as to evaluate hearing after electrical stimulations alone and together with cervical spine kinesitherapy. The study comprised 80 tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss patients (119 tinnitus ears) divided into two groups. In group I (n - 58 tinnitus ears) electrical stimulation of the hearing organ was performed, in group II (n - 61 tinnitus ears) electrical stimulation together with cervical spine kinesitherapy. Hydrotransmissive, selective electrical stimulations were conducted using direct, rectangular current. The passive electrode was placed on the forehead, the active--a silver probe--was immersed in the external ear canal in 0.9% saline solution. The treatment involved fifteen applications of electrical stimulations (each lasted for 4 min) administered three or four times a week (whole treatment lasted approximately 30 days). The evaluation of the results considered a case history (change from permanent to temporary tinnitus), questionnaires (the increase/decrease of the total points) and the audiometric evaluation of hearing level. Before the treatment, group I comprised 51 ears (87.93%) with permanent, and 7 ears (12.07%) with temporary tinnitus; group II - 55 ears (90.17%) with permanent and 6 ears (9.83%) with temporary tinnitus. After the treatment, in both groups the number of ears with permanent tinnitus decreased considerably obtaining the pauses or disappearing of tinnitus. Directly after the treatment, group I comprised 25 ears (43.11%) with permanent, and 10 ears (17.24%) with temporary tinnitus, in 23 ears (39.65%) tinnitus disappeared; group II - 33 ears (54.1%) with permanent and 11 ears (18.03%) with temporary tinnitus, in 17 ears (27.87%) tinnitus disappeared. Regarding questionnaires, improvement was observed in group I - in 43.11% of ears, in group II - 32.8%. In both groups audiometric improvement of hearing was recognized. (1) Electrical stimulation of the hearing organ, with the application of current frequencies according to tinnitus frequencies (selective electrical stimulation), was an efficient method in severe tinnitus treatment. (2) Cervical spine kinesitherapy in the treatment of tinnitus, using electrical stimulation, did not have any supporting influence. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electricity generation using chocolate industry wastewater and its treatment in activated sludge based microbial fuel cell and analysis of developed microbial community in the anode chamber.

PubMed

Patil, Sunil A; Surakasi, Venkata Prasad; Koul, Sandeep; Ijmulwar, Shrikant; Vivek, Amar; Shouche, Y S; Kapadnis, B P

2009-11-01

Feasibility of using chocolate industry wastewater as a substrate for electricity generation using activated sludge as a source of microorganisms was investigated in two-chambered microbial fuel cell. The maximum current generated with membrane and salt bridge MFCs was 3.02 and 2.3 A/m(2), respectively, at 100 ohms external resistance, whereas the maximum current generated in glucose powered MFC was 3.1 A/m(2). The use of chocolate industry wastewater in cathode chamber was promising with 4.1 mA current output. Significant reduction in COD, BOD, total solids and total dissolved solids of wastewater by 75%, 65%, 68%, 50%, respectively, indicated effective wastewater treatment in batch experiments. The 16S rDNA analysis of anode biofilm and suspended cells revealed predominance of beta-Proteobacteria clones with 50.6% followed by unclassified bacteria (9.9%), alpha-Proteobacteria (9.1%), other Proteobacteria (9%), Planctomycetes (5.8%), Firmicutes (4.9%), Nitrospora (3.3%), Spirochaetes (3.3%), Bacteroides (2.4%) and gamma-Proteobacteria (0.8%). Diverse bacterial groups represented as members of the anode chamber community.

Electrical and Optical Characterization of Sputtered Silicon Dioxide, Indium Tin Oxide, and Silicon Dioxide/Indium Tin Oxide Antireflection Coating on Single-Junction GaAs Solar Cells

PubMed Central

Ho, Wen-Jeng; Lin, Jian-Cheng; Liu, Jheng-Jie; Bai, Wen-Bin; Shiao, Hung-Pin

2017-01-01

This study characterized the electrical and optical properties of single-junction GaAs solar cells coated with antireflective layers of silicon dioxide (SiO2), indium tin oxide (ITO), and a hybrid layer of SiO2/ITO applied using Radio frequency (RF) sputtering. The conductivity and transparency of the ITO film were characterized prior to application on GaAs cells. Reverse saturation-current and ideality factor were used to evaluate the passivation performance of the various coatings on GaAs solar cells. Optical reflectance and external quantum efficiency response were used to evaluate the antireflective performance of the coatings. Photovoltaic current-voltage measurements were used to confirm the efficiency enhancement obtained by the presence of the anti-reflective coatings. The conversion efficiency of the GaAs cells with an ITO antireflective coating (23.52%) exceeded that of cells with a SiO2 antireflective coating (21.92%). Due to lower series resistance and higher short-circuit current-density, the carrier collection of the GaAs cell with ITO coating exceeded that of the cell with a SiO2/ITO coating. PMID:28773063

Revealing metabolic storage processes in electrode respiring bacteria by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kubannek, F; Schröder, U; Krewer, U

2018-06-01

In this work we employ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) in combination with static and dynamic electrochemical techniques for the study of metabolic processes of electrochemically active bacteria. CO 2 production during acetate oxidation by electrode respiring bacteria was measured, in-vivo and online with a sensitivity of 6.5 ⋅ 10 -13 mol/s. The correlation of ion current and electrical current provides insight into the interaction of metabolic processes and extra-cellular electron transfer. In low-turnover CVs, two competing potential dependent electron transfer mechanisms were observed and formal potentials of two redox systems that are involved in complete oxidation of acetate to CO 2 were determined. By balancing charge and carbon flows during dynamic measurements, two significant storage mechanisms in electrochemically active bacteria were identified: 1) a charge storage mechanism that allows substrate oxidation to proceed at a constant rate despite of external current flowing in cathodic direction. 2) a carbon storage mechanism that allows the biofilm to take up acetate at an unchanged rate at very low potentials even though the oxidation to CO 2 stops. These storage capabilities allow a limited decoupling of electrical current and CO 2 production rate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Externalities of energy use, analyzed for shipping and electricity generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomson, Heather

Energy use is central to the modern lifestyle, but producing this energy often comes at an environmental cost. The three studies in this paper look at the tradeoffs involved in energy production. The first looks at transitioning marine vessels to natural gas from current distillate fuels. While natural gas will reduce local air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides and particulate matter, the implications for greenhouse gases depend on how the natural gas is extracted, processed, distributed, and used. Applying a "technology warming potential" (TWP) approach, natural gas as a marine fuel achieves climate parity within 30 years for diesel ignited engines, though it could take up to 190 years to reach climate parity with conventional fuels in a spark ignited engine. Movement towards natural gas as a marine fuel continues to progress, and conditions exist in some regions to make a near-term transition to natural gas feasible. The second study looks at externalities associated with electricity generation. The impact on the surrounding community is one concern when siting new electricity generating facilities. A survey was conducted of residents living near an industrial scale wind turbine and a coal-fired power plant to determine their visual and auditory effects on the residents. Results concluded that respondents living near the wind turbine were in favor of the facility. They were willing to pay an average of 2.56 a month to keep the turbine in its current location. Respondents living near the coal plant were opposed to the facility. They were willing to spend 1.82 a month to have the facility removed. The third study presents a cost effectiveness analysis of three of the main fuels used for electricity generation, namely coal, natural gas, and wind. This analysis adds social costs to the private costs traditionally utilized by investors making decisions. It utilizes previous research on visual and auditory amenity and disamenity values as well as recent published studies on the impacts of electricity generation on water use, wildlife, and property values, among others, as well as other impacts well documented in the literature. When literature values were not identical, low, medium, and high values were considered in order to look at the full range of values. On average, the cost of wind power is 0.0332/kWh, natural gas power is 0.1071/kWh, and coal $0.1314/kWh.

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.

33 CFR 183.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... and electrical control devices. Pigtails means external power conductors or wires that are part of electrical components and appliances, such as bilge pumps, blowers, lamps, switches, solenoids, and fuses...

33 CFR 183.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... and electrical control devices. Pigtails means external power conductors or wires that are part of electrical components and appliances, such as bilge pumps, blowers, lamps, switches, solenoids, and fuses...

33 CFR 183.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... and electrical control devices. Pigtails means external power conductors or wires that are part of electrical components and appliances, such as bilge pumps, blowers, lamps, switches, solenoids, and fuses...

Asymmetric photon transport in organic semiconductor nanowires through electrically controlled exciton diffusion

PubMed Central

Cui, Qiu Hong; Peng, Qian; Luo, Yi; Jiang, Yuqian; Yan, Yongli; Wei, Cong; Shuai, Zhigang; Sun, Cheng; Yao, Jiannian; Zhao, Yong Sheng

2018-01-01

The ability to steer the flow of light toward desired propagation directions is critically important for the realization of key functionalities in optical communication and information processing. Although various schemes have been proposed for this purpose, the lack of capability to incorporate an external electric field to effectively tune the light propagation has severely limited the on-chip integration of photonics and electronics. Because of the noninteractive nature of photons, it is only possible to electrically control the flow of light by modifying the refractive index of materials through the electro-optic effect. However, the weak optical effects need to be strongly amplified for practical applications in high-density photonic integrations. We show a new strategy that takes advantage of the strong exciton-photon coupling in active waveguides to effectively manipulate photon transport by controlling the interaction between excitons and the external electric field. Single-crystal organic semiconductor nanowires were used to generate highly stable Frenkel exciton polaritons with strong binding and diffusion abilities. By making use of directional exciton diffusion in an external electric field, we have realized an electrically driven asymmetric photon transport and thus directional light propagation in a single nanowire. With this new concept, we constructed a dual-output single wire–based device to build an electrically controlled single-pole double-throw optical switch with fast temporal response and high switching frequency. Our findings may lead to the innovation of concepts and device architectures for optical information processing. PMID:29556529

Flexible Cryogenic Temperature and Liquid-Level Probes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haberbusch, Mark

2005-01-01

Lightweight, flexible probes have been developed for measuring temperatures at multiple locations in tanks that contain possibly pressurized cryogenic fluids. If the fluid in a given tank is subcritical (that is, if it consists of a liquid and its vapor), then in one of two modes of operation, the temperature measurements made by a probe of this type can be used to deduce the approximate level of the liquid. The temperature sensors are silicon diodes located at intervals along a probe. If the probe is to be used to measure a temperature gradient along a given axis in the tank, then the probe must be mounted along that axis. In the temperature-measurement mode, a constant small electric current is applied to each diode and the voltage across the diode a known function of the current and temperature is measured as an indication of its temperature. For the purpose of this measurement, small electric current signifies a current that is not large enough to cause a significant increase in the measured temperature. More specifically, the probe design calls for a current of 10 A, which, in the cryogenic temperature range of interest, generates heat at a rate of only about 0.01 mW per diode. In the liquid-level-sensing mode, one applies a larger current (30 mA) to each diode so as to heat each diode appreciably (with a power of about 36 mW in the temperature range of interest). Because the liquid cools the diode faster than does the vapor, the temperature of the diode is less when the diode is immersed in the liquid than when it is above the surface of the liquid. Thus, the temperature (voltage) reading from each diode can be used to determine whether the liquid level is above or below the diode, and one can deduce that the liquid level lies between two adjacent diodes, the lower one of which reads a significantly lower temperature. The aforementioned techniques for measuring temperature and deducing liquid level are not new. What is new here are the designs of the probes and of associated external electronic circuitry. In each probe, the diodes and the lead wires are embedded in a strong, lightweight, flexible polyimide strip. Each probe is constructed as an integral unit that includes a multipin input/output plug or socket for solderless connection of the lead wires to the external circuitry. The polyimide strip includes mounting tabs with holes that can accommodate rivets, screws, or other fasteners. Alternatively, a probe can be mounted by use of an epoxy. A probe can be manufactured to almost any length or width, and the diodes can be embedded at almost any desired location along and across the polyimide strip. In designing a probe for a specific application, one seeks a compromise between (1) minimizing the number of diodes in order to minimize the complexity of input/output connections and external electronic circuitry while (2) using enough diodes to obtain the required precision. Optionally, to minimize spurious heating of the cryogenic fluid, the external circuitry can be designed to apply power to the probe only during brief measurement intervals. Assuming that the external circuitry is maintained at a steady temperature, a power-on interval of only a few seconds is sufficient to obtain accurate data on temperatures and/or the height of the liquid/vapor interface.

Flexible Cryogenic Temperature and Liquid-Level Probes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haberbusch, Mark

2003-01-01

Lightweight, flexible probes have been developed for measuring temperatures at multiple locations in tanks that contain possibly pressurized cryogenic fluids. If the fluid in a given tank is subcritical (that is, if it consists of a liquid and its vapor), then in one of two modes of operation, the temperature measurements made by a probe of this type can be used to deduce the approximate level of the liquid. The temperature sensors are silicon diodes located at intervals along a probe. If the probe is to be used to measure a temperature gradient along a given axis in the tank, then the probe must be mounted along that axis. In the non-liquid-level-sensing temperature-measurement mode, a constant small electric current is applied to each diode and the voltage across the diode . a known function of the current and temperature . is measured as an indication of its temperature. For the purpose of this measurement, "small electric current" signifies a current that is not large enough to cause a significant increase in the measured temperature. More specifically, the probe design calls for a current of 10 A, which, in the cryogenic temperature range of interest, generates heat at a rate of only about 0.01 mW per diode. In the liquid-level-sensing mode, one applies a larger current (30 mA) to each diode so as to heat each diode appreciably (with a power of about 36 mW in the temperature range of interest). Because the liquid cools the diode faster than does the vapor, the temperature of the diode is less when diode is immersed in the liquid than when it is above the surface of the liquid. Thus, the temperature (voltage) reading from each diode can be used to determine whether the liquid level is above or below the diode, and one can deduce that the liquid level lies between two adjacent diodes, the lower one of which reads a significantly lower temperature. The aforementioned techniques for measuring temperature and deducing liquid level are not new. What is new here are the designs of the probes and of associated external electronic circuitry. In each probe, the diodes and the lead wires are embedded in a strong, lightweight, flexible polyimide strip. Each probe is constructed as an integral unit that includes a multipin input/output plug or socket for solderless connection of the lead wires to the external circuitry. The polyimide strip includes mounting tabs with holes that can accommodate rivets, screws, or other fasteners. Alternatively, a probe can be mounted by use of an epoxy. A probe can be manufactured to almost any length or width, and the diodes can be embedded at almost any desired locations along and across the polyimide strip. In designing a probe for a specific application, one seeks a compromise between (1) minimizing the number of diodes in order to minimize the complexity of input/output connections and external electronic circuitry while (2) using enough diodes to obtain the required precision. Optionally, to minimize spurious heating of the cryogenic fluid, the external circuitry can be designed to apply power to the probe only during brief measurement intervals. Assuming that the external circuitry is maintained at a steady temperature, a power-on interval of only a few seconds is sufficient to obtain accurate data on temperatures and/or the height of the liquid/vapor interface.

49 CFR 192.467 - External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... submerged pipeline must be electrically isolated from other underground metallic structures, unless the pipeline and the other structures are electrically interconnected and cathodically protected as a single... pipeline is necessary to facilitate the application of corrosion control. (c) Except for unprotected copper...

49 CFR 192.467 - External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... submerged pipeline must be electrically isolated from other underground metallic structures, unless the pipeline and the other structures are electrically interconnected and cathodically protected as a single... pipeline is necessary to facilitate the application of corrosion control. (c) Except for unprotected copper...

49 CFR 192.467 - External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... submerged pipeline must be electrically isolated from other underground metallic structures, unless the pipeline and the other structures are electrically interconnected and cathodically protected as a single... pipeline is necessary to facilitate the application of corrosion control. (c) Except for unprotected copper...

The hollow cathode in the quasi-steady MPD discharge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Von Jaskowsky, W. F.; Jahn, R. G.; Clark, K. E.; Krishnan, M.

1973-01-01

A large hollow cathode has been operated in a quasi-steady MPD discharge over a range of current from 7 to 30 kA and argon mass flow from 0.04 to 6.0 g/sec. The 1.3-cm-i.d. cathode cavity attains steady emission characteristics in some tens of microseconds without the assistance of auxiliary heating, low work function inserts, or external keeper electrodes. Measured current and potential distributions within the cavity reveal that the current attaches in a zone 1 to 2 cm long with a surface current density greater than 1000 A/sq cm and a local axial electric field less than 10 V/cm. Electron densities within the cavity, estimated from spectroscopic records, are above 10 to the 17th power per cu cm, at least one order of magnitude greater than has been reported for either ion engine hollow cathodes or conventional solid cathodes in similar arc discharges.

Transport spin dependent in nanostructures: Current and geometry effect of quantum dots in presence of spin-orbit interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paredes-Gutiérrez, H.; Pérez-Merchancano, S. T.; Beltran-Rios, C. L.

2017-12-01

In this work, we study the quantum electron transport through a Quantum Dots Structure (QDs), with different geometries, embedded in a Quantum Well (QW). The behaviour of the current through the nanostructure (dot and well) is studied considering the orbital spin coupling of the electrons and the Rashba effect, by means of the second quantization theory and the standard model of Green’s functions. Our results show the behaviour of the current in the quantum system as a function of the electric field, presenting resonant states for specific values of both the external field and the spin polarization. Similarly, the behaviour of the current on the nanostructure changes when the geometry of the QD and the size of the same are modified as a function of the polarization of the electron spin and the potential of quantum confinement.

Finding buried metallic pipes using a non-destructive approach based on 3D time-domain induced polarization data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Zhenlu; Revil, André; Mao, Deqiang; Wang, Deming

2018-04-01

The location of buried utility pipes is often unknown. We use the time-domain induced polarization method to non-intrusively localize metallic pipes. A new approach, based on injecting a primary electrical current between a pair of electrodes and measuring the time-lapse voltage response on a set of potential electrodes after shutting down this primary current is used. The secondary voltage is measured on all the electrodes with respect to a single electrode used as a reference for the electrical potential, in a way similar to a self-potential time lapse survey. This secondary voltage is due to the formation of a secondary current density in the ground associated with the polarization of the metallic pipes. An algorithm is designed to localize the metallic object using the secondary voltage distribution by performing a tomography of the secondary source current density associated with the polarization of the pipes. This algorithm is first benchmarked on a synthetic case. Then, two laboratory sandbox experiments are performed with buried metallic pipes located in a sandbox filled with some clean sand. In Experiment #1, we use a horizontal copper pipe while in Experiment #2 we use an inclined stainless steel pipe. The result shows that the method is effective in localizing these two pipes. At the opposite, electrical resistivity tomography is not effective in localizing the pipes because they may appear resistive at low frequencies. This is due to the polarization of the metallic pipes which blocks the charge carriers at its external boundaries.

ELECTRODYNAMICS OF AXISYMMETRIC PULSAR MAGNETOSPHERE WITH ELECTRON-POSITRON DISCHARGE: A NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT

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

Chen, Alexander Y.; Beloborodov, Andrei M., E-mail: amb@phys.columbia.edu

2014-11-01

We present the first self-consistent global simulations of pulsar magnetospheres with operating e {sup ±} discharge. We focus on the simple configuration of an aligned or anti-aligned rotator. The star is spun up from a zero (vacuum) state to a high angular velocity, and we follow the coupled evolution of its external electromagnetic field and plasma particles using the ''particle-in-cell'' method. A plasma magnetosphere begins to form through the extraction of particles from the star; these particles are accelerated by the rotation-induced electric field, producing curvature radiation and igniting e {sup ±} discharge. We follow the system evolution for severalmore » revolution periods, longer than required to reach a quasi-steady state. Our numerical experiment puts to test previous ideas for the plasma flow and gaps in the pulsar magnetosphere. We first consider rotators capable of producing pairs out to the light cylinder through photon-photon collisions. We find that their magnetospheres are similar to the previously obtained force-free solutions with a Y-shaped current sheet. The magnetosphere continually ejects e {sup ±} pairs and ions. Pair creation is sustained by a strong electric field along the current sheet. We observe powerful curvature and synchrotron emission from the current sheet, consistent with Fermi observations of gamma-ray pulsars. We then study pulsars that can only create pairs in the strong-field region near the neutron star, well inside the light cylinder. We find that both aligned and anti-aligned rotators relax to the ''dead'' state with suppressed pair creation and electric currents, regardless of the discharge voltage.« less

Electron-polar optical phonon scattering suppression and mobility enhancement in wurtzite heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pokatilov, E. P.; Nika, D. L.; Zincenco, N. D.; Balandin, A. A.

2007-12-01

We have shown theoretically that the electron mobility in wurtzite AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures can be enhanced by compensating the built-in electric field with the externally applied perpendicular electric field and by introducing a shallow InxGa1-xN channel in the center of GaN potential well. It was found that two- to fivefold increase of the room temperature electron mobility can be achieved. The tuning of the electron mobility with the external electric field or InxGa1-xN channel can be useful for the design of GaN-based field-effect transistors and optoelectronic devices.

Method and apparatus for controlling a microturbine

DOEpatents

Garces, Luis Jose; Cardinal, Mark Edward; Sinha, Gautam; Dame, Mark Edward

2005-08-02

An apparatus for controlling a microturbine, the apparatus including: a rectifier adapted for converting at least one generated voltage from the microturbine to a DC link voltage; an inverter adapted for converting the DC link voltage to at least one inverter output voltage, the at least one inverter output voltage being electrically coupled to an external power bus; a starter drive adapted for converting at least one starter input voltage to at least one starter output voltage, the at least one starter input voltage being electrically coupled to the external power bus, the at least one starter output voltage being electrically coupled to the microturbine.

Ventricular fibrillation

MedlinePlus

... arrives. VF is treated by delivering a quick electric shock through the chest. It is done using a device called an external defibrillator. The electric shock can immediately restore the heartbeat to a ...

In-vivo measurement of relationship between applied current amplitude and current density magnitude from 10 mA to 110 mA.

PubMed

DeMonte, Tim P; Wang, Dinghui; Ma, Weijing; Gao, Jia-Hong; Joy, Michael L G

2009-01-01

Current density imaging (CDI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used to quantitatively measure current density vectors throughout the volume of an object/subject placed in the MRI system. Electrical current pulses are applied externally to the object/subject and are synchronized with the MRI sequence. In this work, CDI is used to measure average current density magnitude in the torso region of an in-vivo piglet for applied current pulse amplitudes ranging from 10 mA to 110 mA. The relationship between applied current amplitude and current density magnitude is linear in simple electronic elements such as wires and resistors; however, this relationship may not be linear in living tissue. An understanding of this relationship is useful for research in defibrillation, human electro-muscular incapacitation (e.g. TASER(R)) and other bioelectric stimulation devices. This work will show that the current amplitude to current density magnitude relationship is slightly nonlinear in living tissue in the range of 10 mA to 110 mA.

Determination of eddy current response with magnetic measurements.

PubMed

Jiang, Y Z; Tan, Y; Gao, Z; Nakamura, K; Liu, W B; Wang, S Z; Zhong, H; Wang, B B

2017-09-01

Accurate mutual inductances between magnetic diagnostics and poloidal field coils are an essential requirement for determining the poloidal flux for plasma equilibrium reconstruction. The mutual inductance calibration of the flux loops and magnetic probes requires time-varying coil currents, which also simultaneously drive eddy currents in electrically conducting structures. The eddy current-induced field appearing in the magnetic measurements can substantially increase the calibration error in the model if the eddy currents are neglected. In this paper, an expression of the magnetic diagnostic response to the coil currents is used to calibrate the mutual inductances, estimate the conductor time constant, and predict the eddy currents response. It is found that the eddy current effects in magnetic signals can be well-explained by the eddy current response determination. A set of experiments using a specially shaped saddle coil diagnostic are conducted to measure the SUNIST-like eddy current response and to examine the accuracy of this method. In shots that include plasmas, this approach can more accurately determine the plasma-related response in the magnetic signals by eliminating the field due to the eddy currents produced by the external field.

Magnetoelectrical control of nonreciprocal microwave response in a multiferroic helimagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iguchi, Yusuke; Nii, Yoichi; Onose, Yoshinori

Control of physical property in terms of external fields is essential for contemporary technologies. The conductance can be controlled by a gate electric field in a field effect transistor, which is a main component of the integrated circuit. Optical phenomena induced by an electric field such as electroluminescence and electrochromism are useful for display and other technologies. Control of microwave propagation seems also imperative for future wireless communication technology. Microwave properties in solids are dominated mostly by magnetic excitations, which cannot be easily controlled by an electric field. One of the solutions for this problem is utilizing magnetically induced ferroelectrics (multiferroics). Here we show that microwave nonreciprocity, which is difference between oppositely propagating microwaves, can be reversed by the external electric field in a multiferroic helimagnet Ba2Mg2Fe12O22. This result offers a new avenue for the electrical control of microwave properties.

Magnetoelectrical control of nonreciprocal microwave response in a multiferroic helimagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iguchi, Y.; Nii, Y.; Onose, Y.

2017-05-01

The control of physical properties by external fields is essential in many contemporary technologies. For example, conductance can be controlled by a gate electric field in a field effect transistor, which is a main component of integrated circuits. Optical phenomena induced by an electric field such as electroluminescence and electrochromism are useful for display and other technologies. Control of microwave propagation is also important for future wireless communication technology. Microwave properties in solids are dominated mostly by magnetic excitations, which cannot be easily controlled by an electric field. One solution to this problem is to use magnetically induced ferroelectrics (multiferroics). Here we show that microwave nonreciprocity, that is, different refractive indices for microwaves propagating in opposite directions, could be reversed by an external electric field in a multiferroic helimagnet Ba2Mg2Fe12O22. This approach offers an avenue for the electrical control of microwave properties.

The Use of Brain Stimulation in Dysphagia Management.

PubMed

Simons, Andre; Hamdy, Shaheen

2017-04-01

Dysphagia is common sequela of brain injury with as many as 50% of patients suffering from dysphagia following stroke. Currently, the majority of guidelines for clinical practice in the management of dysphagia focus on the prevention of complications while any natural recovery takes place. Recently, however, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have started to attract attention and are applied to investigate both the physiology of swallowing and influences on dysphagia. TMS allows for painless stimulation of the brain through an intact skull-an effect which would normally be impossible with electrical currents due to the high resistance of the skull. By comparison, tDCS involves passing a small electric current (usually under 2 mA) produced by a current generator over the scalp and cranium external to the brain. Initial studies used these techniques to better understand the physiological mechanisms of swallowing in healthy subjects. More recently, a number of studies have investigated the efficacy of these techniques in the management of neurogenic dysphagia with mixed results. Controversy still exists as to which site, strength and duration of stimulation yields the greatest improvement in dysphagia. And while multiple studies have suggested promising effects of NIBS, more randomised control trials with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate the short- and long-term effects of NIBS in neurogenic dysphagia.

Electric Potential and Electric Field Imaging with Dynamic Applications & Extensions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Ed

2017-01-01

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

Electrochromic optical switching device

DOEpatents

Lampert, C.M.; Visco, S.J.

1992-08-25

An electrochromic cell is disclosed which comprises an electrochromic layer, a polymerizable organo-sulfur layer which comprises the counter electrode of the structure, and an ionically conductive electronically insulating material which comprises the separator between the electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, both the separator and the organo-sulfur electrode (in both its charged and uncharged states) are transparent either to visible light or to the entire solar spectrum. An electrochromic device is disclosed which comprises such electrodes and separator encased in glass plates on the inner surface of each of which is formed a transparent electrically conductive film in respective electrical contact with the electrodes which facilitates formation of an external electrical connection or contact to the electrodes of the device to permit electrical connection of the device to an external potential source. 3 figs.

Electrochromic optical switching device

DOEpatents

Lampert, Carl M.; Visco, Steven J.

1992-01-01

An electrochromic cell is disclosed which comprises an electrochromic layer, a polymerizable organo-sulfur layer which comprises the counter electrode of the structure, and an ionically conductive electronically insulating material which comprises the separator between the electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, both the separator and the organo-sulfur electrode (in both its charged and uncharged states) are transparent either to visible light or to the entire solar spectrum. An electrochromic device is disclosed which comprises such electrodes and separator encased in glass plates on the inner surface of each of which is formed a transparent electrically conductive film in respective electrical contact with the electrodes which facilitates formation of an external electrical connection or contact to the electrodes of the device to permit electrical connection of the device to an external potential source.

49 CFR 173.189 - Batteries containing sodium or cells containing sodium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... providing complete electrical insulation of battery terminals or other external electrical connectors. Battery terminals or other electrical connectors penetrating the heat insulation fitted in battery casings must be provided with thermal insulation sufficient to prevent the temperature of the exposed surfaces...

49 CFR 173.189 - Batteries containing sodium or cells containing sodium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., such as by providing complete electrical insulation of battery terminals or other external electrical connectors. Battery terminals or other electrical connectors penetrating the heat insulation fitted in battery casings must be provided with thermal insulation sufficient to prevent the temperature of the...

49 CFR 173.189 - Batteries containing sodium or cells containing sodium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

..., such as by providing complete electrical insulation of battery terminals or other external electrical connectors. Battery terminals or other electrical connectors penetrating the heat insulation fitted in battery casings must be provided with thermal insulation sufficient to prevent the temperature of the...

49 CFR 173.189 - Batteries containing sodium or cells containing sodium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... providing complete electrical insulation of battery terminals or other external electrical connectors. Battery terminals or other electrical connectors penetrating the heat insulation fitted in battery casings must be provided with thermal insulation sufficient to prevent the temperature of the exposed surfaces...

Electrically detected crystal orientation dependent spin-Rabi beat oscillation of c-Si(111)/SiO2 interface states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paik, Seoyoung; Lee, Sang-Yun; McCamey, Dane R.; Boehme, Christoph

2011-12-01

Electrically detected spin-Rabi beat oscillation of pairs of paramagnetic near interface states at the phosphorous doped (1016 cm-3) Si(111)/SiO2 interface is reported. Due to the g-factor anisotropy of the Pb center (a silicon surface dangling bond), one can tune intrapair Larmor frequency differences (Larmor separations) by orientation of the crystal with regard to an external magnetic field. Since Larmor separation governs the number of beating spin pairs, crystal orientation can control the beat current. This is used to identify spin states that are paired by mutual electronic transitions. The experiments confirm the presence of the previously reported 31P-Pb transition and provide direct experimental evidence of the previously hypothesized Pb-E' center (a near interface SiO2 bulk state) transition.

Cermet materials

DOEpatents

Kong, Peter C [Idaho Falls, ID

2008-12-23

A self-cleaning porous cermet material, filter and system utilizing the same may be used in filtering particulate and gaseous pollutants from internal combustion engines having intermetallic and ceramic phases. The porous cermet filter may be made from a transition metal aluminide phase and an alumina phase. Filler materials may be added to increase the porosity or tailor the catalytic properties of the cermet material. Additionally, the cermet material may be reinforced with fibers or screens. The porous filter may also be electrically conductive so that a current may be passed therethrough to heat the filter during use. Further, a heating element may be incorporated into the porous cermet filter during manufacture. This heating element can be coated with a ceramic material to electrically insulate the heating element. An external heating element may also be provided to heat the cermet filter during use.

Synthesis of magnetic microtubes decorated with nanowires and cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomar, C. Diaz; Martinho, H.; Ferreira, F. F.; Goia, T. S.; Rodas, A. C. D.; Santos, S. F.; Souza, J. A.

2018-04-01

Antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic microtubes decorated with nanowires have been obtained during thermal oxidation process, which was assisted by in situ electrical resistivity measurements. The synthesis route including heat treatment and electrical current along with growth mechanism are presented. This simple method and the ability to tune in the magnetic moment of the obtained microtubes going from a nonmagnetic-like to a large magnetization saturation open an avenue for interesting applications. In vitro experiments involving adherence, migration, and proliferation of fibroblasts cell culture on the surface of the microtubes indicated the absence of cytotoxicity for this material. We have also calculated both torque and driving magnetic force for these microtubes with nanowires and cells as a function of external magnetic field gradient which were found to be robust opening the possibility for magnetic bio micro-robot device fabrication and application in biotechnology.

Electric field modulation of Schottky barrier height in graphene/MoSe{sub 2} van der Waals heterointerface

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

Sata, Yohta; Moriya, Rai, E-mail: moriyar@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp, E-mail: tmachida@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp; Morikawa, Sei

2015-07-13

We demonstrate a vertical field-effect transistor based on a graphene/MoSe{sub 2} van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. The vdW interface between the graphene and MoSe{sub 2} exhibits a Schottky barrier with an ideality factor of around 1.3, suggesting a high-quality interface. Owing to the low density of states in graphene, the position of the Fermi level in the graphene can be strongly modulated by an external electric field. Therefore, the Schottky barrier height at the graphene/MoSe{sub 2} vdW interface is also modulated. We demonstrate a large current ON-OFF ratio of 10{sup 5}. These results point to the potential high performance ofmore » the graphene/MoSe{sub 2} vdW heterostructure for electronics applications.« less

Semiconductor sensor for optically measuring polarization rotation of optical wavefronts using rare earth iron garnets

DOEpatents

Duncan, Paul G.

2002-01-01

Described are the design of a rare earth iron garnet sensor element, optical methods of interrogating the sensor element, methods of coupling the optical sensor element to a waveguide, and an optical and electrical processing system for monitoring the polarization rotation of a linearly polarized wavefront undergoing external modulation due to magnetic field or electrical current fluctuation. The sensor element uses the Faraday effect, an intrinsic property of certain rare-earth iron garnet materials, to rotate the polarization state of light in the presence of a magnetic field. The sensor element may be coated with a thin-film mirror to effectively double the optical path length, providing twice the sensitivity for a given field strength or temperature change. A semiconductor sensor system using a rare earth iron garnet sensor element is described.

The eddy current probe array for Keda Torus eXperiment.

PubMed

Li, Zichao; Li, Hong; Tu, Cui; Hu, Jintong; You, Wei; Luo, Bing; Tan, Mingsheng; Adil, Yolbarsop; Wu, Yanqi; Shen, Biao; Xiao, Bingjia; Zhang, Ping; Mao, Wenzhe; Wang, Hai; Wen, Xiaohui; Zhou, Haiyang; Xie, Jinlin; Lan, Tao; Liu, Adi; Ding, Weixing; Xiao, Chijin; Liu, Wandong

2016-11-01

In a reversed field pinch device, the conductive shell is placed as close as possible to the plasma so as to balance the plasma during discharge. Plasma instabilities such as the resistive wall mode and certain tearing modes, which restrain the plasma high parameter operation, respond closely with conditions in the wall, in essence the eddy current present. Also, the effect of eddy currents induced by the external coils cannot be ignored when active control is applied to control instabilities. One diagnostic tool, an eddy current probe array, detects the eddy current in the composite shell. Magnetic probes measuring differences between the inner and outer magnetic fields enable estimates of the amplitude and angle of these eddy currents. Along with measurements of currents through the copper bolts connecting the poloidal shield copper shells, we can obtain the eddy currents over the entire shell. Magnetic field and eddy current resolutions approach 2 G and 6 A, respectively. Additionally, the vortex electric field can be obtained by eddy current probes. As the conductivity of the composite shell is high, the eddy current probe array is very sensitive to the electric field and has a resolution of 0.2 mV/cm. In a bench test experiment using a 1/4 vacuum vessel, measurements of the induced eddy currents are compared with simulation results based on a 3D electromagnetic model. The preliminary data of the eddy currents have been detected during discharges in a Keda Torus eXperiment device. The typical value of toroidal and poloidal eddy currents across the magnetic probe coverage rectangular area could reach 3.0 kA and 1.3 kA, respectively.

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.

Strain-effect transistors: Theoretical study on the effects of external strain on III-nitride high-electron-mobility transistors on flexible substrates

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

Shervin, Shahab; Asadirad, Mojtaba; Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204

This paper presents strain-effect transistors (SETs) based on flexible III-nitride high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) through theoretical calculations. We show that the electronic band structures of InAlGaN/GaN thin-film heterostructures on flexible substrates can be modified by external bending with a high degree of freedom using polarization properties of the polar semiconductor materials. Transfer characteristics of the HEMT devices, including threshold voltage and transconductance, are controlled by varied external strain. Equilibrium 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is enhanced with applied tensile strain by bending the flexible structure with the concave-side down (bend-down condition). 2DEG density is reduced and eventually depleted with increasing compressive strainmore » in bend-up conditions. The operation mode of different HEMT structures changes from depletion- to enchantment-mode or vice versa depending on the type and magnitude of external strain. The results suggest that the operation modes and transfer characteristics of HEMTs can be engineered with an optimum external bending strain applied in the device structure, which is expected to be beneficial for both radio frequency and switching applications. In addition, we show that drain currents of transistors based on flexible InAlGaN/GaN can be modulated only by external strain without applying electric field in the gate. The channel conductivity modulation that is obtained by only external strain proposes an extended functional device, gate-free SETs, which can be used in electro-mechanical applications.« less

49 CFR 192.471 - External corrosion control: Test leads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false External corrosion control: Test leads. 192.471... Control § 192.471 External corrosion control: Test leads. (a) Each test lead wire must be connected to the pipeline so as to remain mechanically secure and electrically conductive. (b) Each test lead wire must be...

49 CFR 192.471 - External corrosion control: Test leads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false External corrosion control: Test leads. 192.471... Control § 192.471 External corrosion control: Test leads. (a) Each test lead wire must be connected to the pipeline so as to remain mechanically secure and electrically conductive. (b) Each test lead wire must be...

49 CFR 192.471 - External corrosion control: Test leads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false External corrosion control: Test leads. 192.471... Control § 192.471 External corrosion control: Test leads. (a) Each test lead wire must be connected to the pipeline so as to remain mechanically secure and electrically conductive. (b) Each test lead wire must be...

Characterization of DBD Plasma Actuators Performance Without External Flow - Part I: Thrust-Voltage Quadratic Relationship in Logarithmic Space for Sinusoidal Excitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashpis, David E.; Laun, Matthew C.

2016-01-01

Results of characterization of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators without external flow are presented. The results include aerodynamic and electric performance of the actuators without external flow for different geometrical parameters, dielectric materials and applied voltage level and wave form.

[Detection of toxic substances in microbial fuel cells].

PubMed

Wang, Jiefu; Niu, Hao; Wu, Wenguo

2017-05-25

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a highly promising bioelectrochemical technology and uses microorganisms as catalyst to convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy. Microorganisms in the anodic chamber of MFC oxidize the substrate and generate electrons. The electrons are absorbed by the anode and transported through an external circuit to the cathode for corresponding reduction. The flow of electrons is measured as current. This current is a linear measure of the activity of microorganisms. If a toxic event occurs, microbial activity will change, most likely decrease. Hence, fewer electrons are transported and current decreases as well. In this way, a microbial fuel cell-based biosensor provides a direct measure to detect toxicity for samples. This paper introduces the detection of antibiotics, heavy metals, organic pollutants and acid in MFCs. The existing problems and future application of MFCs are also analyzed.

80 A/cm2 electron beams from metal targets irradiated by KrCl and XeCl excimer lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beloglazov, A.; Martino, M.; Nassisi, V.

1996-05-01

Due to the growing demand for high-current and long-duration electron-beam devices, laser electron sources were investigated in our laboratory. Experiments on electron-beam generation and propagation from aluminium and copper targets illuminated by XeCl (308 nm) and KrCl (222 nm) excimer lasers, were carried out under plasma ignition due to laser irradiation. This plasma supplied a spontaneous accelerating electric field of about 370 kV/m without an external accelerating voltage. By applying the modified one-dimensional Poisson equation, we computed the expected current and we also estimated the plasma concentration during the accelerating process. At 40 kV of accelerating voltage, an output current pulse of about 80 A/cm2 was detected from an Al target irradiated by the shorter wavelength laser.

Charge creation and nucleation of the longitudinal plasma wave in coupled Josephson junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukrinov, Yu. M.; Hamdipour, M.

2010-11-01

We study the phase dynamics in coupled Josephson junctions described by a system of nonlinear differential equations. Results of detailed numerical simulations of charge creation in the superconducting layers and the longitudinal plasma wave (LPW) nucleation are presented. We demonstrate the different time stages in the development of the LPW and present the results of FFT analysis at different values of bias current. The correspondence between the breakpoint position on the outermost branch of current voltage characteristics (CVC) and the growing region in time dependence of the electric charge in the superconducting layer is established. The effects of noise in the bias current and the external microwave radiation on the charge dynamics of the coupled Josephson junctions are found. These effects introduce a way to regulate the process of LPW nucleation in the stack of IJJ.

Influence of Pulsed Current on Superplasticity of Fine Grained 1420 Al-Li Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yanling; Hou, Hongliang; Bi, Jing; Wang, Yaoqi

2018-01-01

The effects of an externally applied electropulse on the superplastic deformation behavior and microstructure of 1420 Al-Li alloy were studied. The flow stress of superplastic deformation was reduced by the high-density electropulse while the elongation was increased. The optimal electrical parameters for superplastic deformation were 192A/mm2 of current density, 150Hz of frequency and 30s of duration at 480°C and 0.001s-1. The elongation raised by 68% compared to that without electropulse. Furthermore, the grain was refined and the average grain size was reduced after superplastic deformation with the optimal electropulse. It is noted that the electropulse promoted the recrystallization and restrained the grain growth.

High current densities enable exoelectrogens to outcompete aerobic heterotrophs for substrate.

PubMed

Ren, Lijiao; Zhang, Xiaoyuan; He, Weihua; Logan, Bruce E

2014-11-01

In mixed-culture microbial fuel cells (MFCs), exoelectrogens and other microorganisms compete for substrate. It has previously been assumed that substrate losses to other terminal electron acceptors over a fed-batch cycle, such as dissolved oxygen, are constant. However, a constant rate of substrate loss would only explain small increases in coulombic efficiencies (CEs, the fraction of substrate recovered as electrical current) with shorter cycle times, but not the large increases in CE that are usually observed with higher current densities and reduced cycle times. To better understand changes in CEs, COD concentrations were measured over time in fed-batch, single-chamber, air-cathode MFCs at different current densities (external resistances). COD degradation rates were all found to be first-order with respect to COD concentration, even under open circuit conditions with no current generation (first-order rate constant of 0.14 ± 0.01 h(-1) ). The rate of COD removal increased when there was current generation, with the highest rate constant (0.33 ± 0.02 h(-1) ) obtained at the lowest external resistance (100 Ω). Therefore, as the substrate concentration was reduced more quickly due to current generation, the rate of loss of substrate to non-exoelectrogens decreased due to this first-order substrate-concentration dependence. As a result, coulombic efficiencies rapidly increased due to decreased, and not constant, removal rates of substrate by non-exoelectrogens. These results show that higher current densities (lower resistances) redirect a greater percentage of substrate into current generation, enabling large increase in CEs with increased current densities. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 2163-2169. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

49 CFR 192.461 - External corrosion control: Protective coating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... to effectively resist underfilm migration of moisture; (3) Be sufficiently ductile to resist cracking... is an electrically insulating type must also have low moisture absorption and high electrical...

Brownian dynamics simulation of rigid particles of arbitrary shape in external fields.

PubMed

Fernandes, Miguel X; de la Torre, José García

2002-12-01

We have developed a Brownian dynamics simulation algorithm to generate Brownian trajectories of an isolated, rigid particle of arbitrary shape in the presence of electric fields or any other external agents. Starting from the generalized diffusion tensor, which can be calculated with the existing HYDRO software, the new program BROWNRIG (including a case-specific subprogram for the external agent) carries out a simulation that is analyzed later to extract the observable dynamic properties. We provide a variety of examples of utilization of this method, which serve as tests of its performance, and also illustrate its applicability. Examples include free diffusion, transport in an electric field, and diffusion in a restricting environment.