Gas ionization sensor (GIS), made of two parallel plates, works on measuring the breakdown voltage of gases that is unique for each gas. The gas breakdown inside the gas chamber occurs due to the ionization of gas molecules by accelerated electron impacts. The acceleration of electrons is very depended on the effective electric field they experience. It is shown that metallic or semiconductor n...

We investigate the breakdown of disordered networks under the action of an increasing external-mechanical or electrical-force. We perform a mean-field analysis and estimate scaling exponents for the approach to the instability. By simulating two-dimensional models of electric breakdown and fracture we observe that the breakdown is preceded by avalanche events. The avalanches can be described by...

Experiments have been performed with a 100-kJ pulse-forming network (PFN) to characterize the transient behavior of semiconductor diodes serving as capacitor-protecting devices. In addition to the experiments, computer techniques are used to illustrate and predict the dynamic behavior ofPFN diodes. From analyses of the data collected, it was determined that in a PFN under specific loading condi...

Laboratory studies, numerical simulations, and desert field tests indicate that aeolian dust transport can generate atmospheric electricity via contact electrification or “triboelectricity.” In convective structures such as dust devils and dust storms, grain stratification leads to macroscopic charge separations and gives rise to an overall electric dipole moment in the aeolian feature, similar...

Emulsion stability is a fundamental determination for separation technologies. We use the critical electric field (CEF) and viscosity changes in DC electrorheological (ER) experiments in dynamic mode to establish the level of stability of water-in-crude oil emulsions previously studied through bottle tests. The CEF value corresponds to the value of electric field at which the current reaches 95...

Article history: Received 6 August 2012 Received in revised form 31 January 2013 Accepted 6 February 2013 We report preliminary results of a new observational study of microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by lightning discharge processes. Radiation was observed with a ceramic patch antenna and a digital radio receiver tuned to a center frequency of 1.63 GHz and a bandwi...

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) of unsaturated fatty acids in bimolecular lipid membranes (BLM), induced by ultraviolet irradiation [l-3] or by chemical agents [4], brings about an increase in conductivity of these membranes. For BLM prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol mixture this effect is accounted for by the rise of proton permeability [3,5]; the maximal conductivity enhancement bein...

Laboratory studies, numerical simulations, and desert field tests indicate that aeolian dust transport can generate atmospheric electricity via contact electrification or "triboelectricity." In convective structures such as dust devils and dust storms, grain stratification leads to macroscopic charge separations and gives rise to an overall electric dipole moment in the aeolian feature, similar...