Flow rate increased by electrorotation in a capillary

In this paper, we show that the viscosity of a suspension can be drastically reduced if its particles are rotating faster than the surrounding liquid. We propose to induce particle rotation by applying a DC electric field to a suspension of insulating particles dispersed in a slightly conducting liquid (Quincke rotation). We have studied the flow of such a suspension in a rectangular channel and measure the increase of the flow rate induced by the application of an electric field along the velocity gradient direction (shortest dimension of the channel).     

Effect of Joule heating on the electroosmotic microvortex and dielectrophoretic particle separation controlled by local electric field

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology has become important application of microfluidic technology to manipulate particles. By using a local modulating electric field to control the combination of electroosmotic microvortices and DEP, our group proposed a device using a direct current (DC) electric field to achieve continuous particle separation. In this paper, the influence of the Joule heating effect on the continuous separation of particles is analyzed. Results show that the Joule heating effect is caused by the local electric field, and the Joule heating effect caused by adjusting the modulating voltage is more significant than that by driving voltage. Moreover, a non-uniform temperature distribution exists in the channel due to the Joule heating effect, and the temperature is the highest at the midpoint of the modulating electrodes. The channel flux can be enhanced, and the enhancement of both the channel flux and temperature is more obvious for a stronger Joule heating effect. In addition, the ability of the vortices to trap particles is enhanced since a larger DEP force is exerted on the particles with the Joule heating effect; and the ability of the vortex to capture particles is stronger with a stronger Joule heating effect. The separation efficiency can also be increased because perfect separation is achieved at a higher channel flux. Parameter optimization of the separation device, such as the convective heat transfer coefficient of the channel wall, the length of modulating electrode, and the width of the channel, is performed.     

Effect of a dust component on the rates of elementary processes in low-temperature plasmas

Elementary processes in dusty, beam-driven plasma discharges are studied experimentally and theoretically for the first time. A theoretical model is constructed for a beam-driven plasma containing macroscopic particles. The effect of macroscopic particles on the electron energy distribution function is estimated assuming a Coulomb field for the particles. The resulting rate of electron-ion recombination on the macroscopic particles is compared with the electron loss constant calculated from the electron energy distribution function with an electron absorption constant in the orbital-motion approximation. This approximation, which is valid in the collisionless case, is found to work satisfactorily beyond its range of applicability. The distributions of the charged particles and electric fields created by macroscopic particles in a helium plasma are determined. The experimental data demonstrate the importance of secondary emission by high-energy electrons. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 2020–2036 (June 1999)     

Analysis of the size and shape of polydisperse dust particles in a complex glow discharge plasma

The size and shape factor distribution of levitating particles is studied by the method of extraction of dust particles from the discharge chamber. Two dust traps existing in a glow discharge in the strata and above the lower wall of the tube near the bend in the current channel are investigated separately. It is found that the size distribution of polydisperse particles of an arbitrary shape is of the bimodal type due to simultaneous levitation of particles with two shape factors. Polydisperse spherical particles of any size exhibit levitation due to the separation of particles over the wall thickness. For identical parameters of the discharge, the size of the particle in neon is slightly larger than in krypton; the particle size in the trap located in a stratum is substantially larger than the particle size in the trap above the wall of the discharge tube. Precision determination of the shape and size of particles makes it possible to estimate the electric field strength for dust traps. It is shown that the glow discharge can be used as a tool for separation of dust particles in a wide range of their sizes.     

Interdigitated electrode design and optimization for dielectrophoresis cell separation actuators

Among all particle separation approaches, dielectrophoresis actuators which use electric properties difference between particles, have turned into strong separating tools. This way, the particles in the fluid within non-uniform electric field experience the dielectrophoresis force. The amount and direction of this force depend on the fluid and particle polarization, particle size and electric field gradient. In this paper after presenting governing equations concerning the dielectrophoresis phenomenon, a microfluidic actuator introduced in which an interdigitated electrode pattern is applied in. Voltage, pitch, and width to pitch ratio of electrode as well as channel height are of the most important geometrical parameters of this actuator whose individual effect on particles separation was investigated using finite element analysis (FEM). The simulation results showed that if the actuator is intended to work in the efficient conditions, channel height and electrodes pitch should be near to each other, height needs to be as minimum as possible while voltage as maximum as possible in order to reach to the least time duration and the highest quantity for particles separation. Then, using theoretical equations and simulation results, a flowchart is introduced to design and optimize dielectrophoresis separation actuators. Finally, experimental results for k562 cell separation, as a biological particle, from Polystyrene, as a standard particle, is presented. In the fabricated actuator recovery and purity efficiency are 93% and about 100% respectively.     

Role of the Radiation‐Reaction Electric Field in the Optical Response of Two‐Dimensional Crystals

A classical theory of a radiating two‐dimensional crystal is proposed and an expression for the radiation‐reaction electric field is derived. This field plays an essential role in connecting the microscopic electromagnetic fields acting on each dipole of the crystal to the macroscopic one, via the boundary conditions for the system. The expression of the radiative‐reaction electric field coincides with the macroscopic electric field radiating from the crystal and, summed to the incident electric field, generates the total macroscopic electric field.     

Printed Dielectrophoretic Electrode-Based Continuous Flow Microfluidic Systems for Particles 3D-Trapping

Inkjet-printing is used to fabricate dielectrophoretic electrodes able to trap polystyrene (PS) microparticles as well as model planktonic cells. The possibility of rapid prototyping offered by inkjet-printing allows the rational design of microchannels with tailored electric field distributions experienced by the suspended particles, which in turn provides a handle to drive them towards target regions. Specifically, this goal is achieved using two facing substrates constituting the bottom and the top walls of the channel, with a pair of interdigitated electrodes previously patterned by inkjet-printing on each side. Influence of electrode polarization (magnitude and frequency of the input signal) is investigated both theoretically, by modeling the electric field distribution inside the channel, and experimentally using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The printed device is able to sort circulating PS particles as a function of their size, with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 5 µm, as well as to separate planktonic species according to their composition (Alexandrium minutum versus Prorocentrum micans). This work paves the way for the development of large-area, microstructured dielectrophoretic electrodes able to separate the constituents of samples at flow rates up to 150 µL mn⁻¹.     

Electrodynamics of a convective cloud

An attempt has been made to describe analytically the electrodynamics of a convective cloud on the basis of a one-dimensional convective cell with solid gas rotation. The cloud electrification is due to the interaction between heavy (large raindrops and particles of hail) and light (microparticles of water and ice) particles. As a result, the particles acquire unlike electric charges. The large-scale electric field in the cloud is stipulated by boundary effects and influences considerably the motion of the heavy fraction of aerosol particles. A scenario is proposed for the development of an intracloud charge, by which the large-scale electric field does not reach the breakdown value, staying at the level of the corona discharge field, while an increase in the irregular component of the electric field is continued and achieves the breakdown value in the small-scale electric cells induced by analogues of plasma beam instabilities. The basic electric discharge occurs against the background of multiple discharges inside the cell which provide for the leader lightning channel. Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 40, Nos. 1–2, pp. 123–137, January–February, 1997.     

Resonant spin tunneling in small magnetic particles

A new macroscopic test of spin tunneling in single-domain magnetic particles is proposed. It is shown that quantization of spin, even in particles of a considerable size, may lead to a detectable zero-field maximum in the dependence of the rate of the magnetic relaxation on the magnetic field. This effect must be especially pronounced in antiferromagnetic particles. It is argued that recent observation by several groups of the non-monotonic field dependence of the blocking temperature in ferritin may, in fact, present the experimental evidence of this effect.     

Thomson 4/3 problem leads to nonlocal continuous charges with Poincaré radial stresses and zero electromagnetic inertia

Inertia-free electricity in Maxwell’s equations is consistent with the elementary radial charge. The internal Poincaré stresses stabilize an extended electric charge and participate in zeroing its integral four-momentum. The global overlap of extended particles reinterprets classical physics in nondual terms of elementary material fields without areas of empty space. Measurements in macroscopic experiments can be explained by purely field carriers of electric energy. New probes beyond quantum nonlocality could falsify the point charge approximation and the empty space paradigm of dual electrodynamics.     

Transport and crystallization of colloidal particles in a thin nematic cell

In a thin planar nematic cell, the application of an AC electric field induces a macroscopic transport of micrometer-sized colloidal particles along the nematic director. We have analyzed the dependence of particle velocities on the electric-field amplitude and frequency and found that it decreases exponentially with increasing frequency. Using specially designed electrodes we have observed that colloidal particles could be pumped and accelerated across the field-no-field interface, and measured the structural force and the corresponding potential, which is of the order of 10000 k_BT for 4μm particles. We demonstrate that spatially periodic close-packed crystalline colloidal structures can be obtained, which are thermodinamically metastable for many days after turning off the electric field and slowly decay into linear chains. Above the nematic-isotropic phase transition, such crystalline structures are non-stable and decay in few minutes.     

不同电场下碳纳米管场致发射电流密度研究

本文运用密度泛函理论和金属电子论, 深入研究了碳纳米管场致发射电流的变化规律. 结果显示其发射电流密度取决于体系的态密度、赝能隙、管长和局域电场, 在不同范围电场下的变化规律不同. 在较低电场下, 发射电流密度随电场增强而近似线性增大(对应的宏观电场须小于18 V· μm^-1); 但在较高电场下, 发射电流密度随外电场增加呈现非周期性振荡增长趋势, 碳纳米管表现为电离发射. 本文进一步研究了金属性碳纳米管电导率在不同电场下的变化规律.     

霍尔推力器放电通道溅射腐蚀计算

为了预示霍尔推力器的寿命,建立了推力器粒子束放电通道的2维电磁场模型,模拟的推进剂为氙。利用PIC方法跟踪粒子在电磁场中的运动。磁场的求解采用拉普拉斯方程,电场的求解采用泊松方程。电子由阴极喷入通道,并在电磁场中与原子发生电离碰撞生成离子。在跟踪离子的过程中记录下撞击到内外壁面的离子个数、角度和能量。利用记录下的参数进行腐蚀计算,得到当溅射阈值能量分别为10,20,30,40,50 eV时通道壁面的腐蚀速率。推力器放电通道出口附近的最大腐蚀速率约为1.7×10-9 m/s。     

Magnetic fluid in ionizing electric field

This article describes influence of strong (ionizing) electric field on sprayability of magnetic fluid containing colloid particles with size in the range from 10 to 20 nm of magnetite Fe₃O₄. Magnetic fluids can be based for example on both transformer oil and physiological solution for application in medical using (in human medical science research), that supports a fluid colloidal system. Further component of magnetic fluid is surfactant. It is acting as surface-active substance that prevents from nanometric dimension particle settlement. Magnetic fluid gets off nozzle with diameter in range 0.3–1.0 mm from container in surroundings of ionizing (i.e. strong) electric field (E > 10⁷ V m^?1). As a consequence of action of electric field it gives out suppression surface tension in fluid what leads onwards to decomposition of magnetic fluid ligament at the end of nozzle. The diameter of nozzle oneself respects basic theoretical calculations in regards of fluid concentration and thereinbefore its selected size. Magnetic fluid in dependency on its used liquid base has weak-polar till polar orientation polarization character. It gives out sprayability in non-homogeneous electric field E in combination with magnetic field of intensity H. Orientation of vectors Ê and ?, resp. induction of magnetic field B is defined by parallel or vertical direction. Results are confronted with measurements realized explicitly only at action of electric field (variable B = 0). In the case of magnetic field applications with permanent magnet together with electric non-homogeneous field it gives out unconventional dynamics of electrical charging particles of macroscopic dimension. Orientation particle track is influenced by orientation of field vector combinations. This phenomenon develops magneto-dielectric anisotropy, which oneself manifests behaviour of electrophysical quantities characterizing examination system. In consideration of technology utilization of this method it is very important to respect applied magnetic fluid concentration. Electrical characteristics were examined for volume concentration of magnetite particles in the range from 0.125% to 18%. Nevertheless efficiency optimization of given media suggests to boundary concentration of magnetic fluid of 4.0%, when it is in the regions of weak polar till polar material. Electrophysical research refers to exploitation of applied magnetic layer technology on dielectric insulating substances with inorganic origin as well as thin layer technology coating plastic foils created from macromolecular organic substance.     

Size‐Dependent Room Temperature Oxidation of Tin Particles

Using transmission electron microscopy, the size‐dependent room temperature oxidation of tin nanoparticles is studied. The oxide that forms during room temperature oxidation of Sn particles is amorphous SnO, and it retains this stoichiometry and structure over extended time periods. From the investigation of arrays of Sn nanoparticles with broad size distribution, under identical conditions, the Sn oxide thickness is evaluated as a function of size and oxidation time. The oxide thickness depends strongly on the size of the Sn nanoparticles, which is in excellent agreement with predictions for a Mott–Cabrera model corrected for a non‐uniform electric field. The results demonstrate the accelerated oxidation kinetics of nanoscale particles with high curvature, due to the amplified electric field at the interface to a continuously shrinking metal core.     

高气压强电场电离过程中的离子浓度分布规律

研究了高气压强电场电离区域的离子浓度分布的连续性方程, 对电离区域的电离物的产生、消失和输运进行了研究。通过采用电离放电增加了输入能量密度、G 值、电离占空比等, 从而提高了离子产生率。通过外加电场和离子“雪崩”头部的本征电场的叠加作用, 离子被束缚在放电通道中。对离子施加垂直电场方向的作用力, 就能把电场中的等离子体成束输送出去。已经能够做到有效体积仅为1cm³的等离子体源, 输运等离子体率达到 10¹² cm^{- 3}•s^{- 1}。     

Monodisperse drop formation in square microchannels

The electrohydrodynamic instability of the interface between two liquids with different physical and electrical properties in plane Poiseuille flow is used to form monodisperse droplets in a square channel. The drop size and formation rate are controlled by simply controlling the flow rates and the amplitude of the electric field applied across the channel.     

风沙运动的电场-流场耦合模型及气固两相流数值模拟

沙尘暴和尘卷风等风沙运动的静电场是空气流场中沙粒间的碰撞摩擦带电及沙粒粒径的分层效应引起的, 本文耦合沙粒摩擦荷电模型和风沙运动气固两相流模型, 提出了离散单元法与计算流体动力学结合的数值方法. 数值模拟计算表明电荷呈中性的沙粒临界直径为300 μm; 在充分发展的水平风沙流中, 细小的沙粒带负电, 较大直径的沙粒带正电, 所模拟的沙粒带电的荷质比及水平风洞试验段的电场强度与实验测量值一致, 验证了风沙运动的电场-流场耦合模型及数值计算方法的合理性. 本文基于沙粒摩擦荷电机理的风沙运动气固两相流模型提供了理解风沙运动静电场产生的一种物理机理.     

不同电极结构下大气压Ar等离子体射流的流体模拟研究

采用二维轴对称流体模型对比研究了3种不同电极结构下大气压Ar等离子体射流的基本特性。第一种是带绝缘介质的针电极结构（电场方向和气体流方向平行）,第二种是在第一种电极结构的介质管外增加一个垂直气流方向的接地环电极,第三种是不带绝缘介质的裸针电极结构。研究结果表明,接地环电极的引入对介质管内外的射流传播影响不同。在介质管内,接地环电极使管内表面附近的径向电场增加,电子密度升高,射流传播速度加快,但对中心轴附近的电场和电子密度影响很小;然而在介质管外,接地环电极的引入导致轴向和径向电场均减小,从而引起射流的传播长度减小,射流通道径向收缩。通过带绝缘介质的针电极和裸针电极结构的对比研究发现,保持其他条件不变,去掉包裹在针电极上的介质后,由于等离子体电势升高,电场增加,射流的传播长度几乎增加一倍,峰值电子密度增加近一个数量级,而且在整个射流通道内电子密度都保持相对高的值。此外,对3种电极结构下的主要活性粒子的产生和输运进行了比较研究。