Yes I have read it a long time ago, the poor fellows just didn't have a clue :)
Anyway beware that what they call "ionic drift" is what the rest of the world calls ion wind (ion induced wind of neutrals, as in paddle induced flow of water), aka ion drag, aka electric wind, aka corona wind, and what they call "ballistic ionic wind" or "ionic wind" has nothing to do with ion wind. If they had known the correct terms they might have found relevant literature on the subject lol :) Michel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry Veeder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:26 PM Subject: [Vo]: Army paper on lifters > > Kyle and Michel, > > You have likely seen this paper already, > but if you haven't you can download it (about 1MB) from here: > > http://jlnlabs.imars.com/lifters/arl_fac/0211001.pdf > > Here is the paper's abstract: > > --------- > Army Research Laboratory > Adelphi, MD 20783-1197 > > Force on an Asymmetric Capacitor by Thomas B. Bahder and Chris Fazi > > ARL-TR-XXX March 2003 > > Approved for public release, distribution unlimited. > > When a high voltage (~30 kV) is applied to a capacitor whose electrodes have > different physical dimensions, the capacitor experiences a net force toward > the smaller electrode (Biefeld-Brown effect). We have verified this effect > by building four capacitors of different shapes. The effect may have > applications to vehicle propulsion and dielectric pumps. We review the > history of this effect briefly through the history of patents by Thomas > Townsend Brown. At present, the physical basis for the Biefeld-Brown > effect is not understood. The order of magnitude of the net force on the > asymmetric capacitor is estimated assuming two different mechanisms of > charge conduction between its electrodes: ballistic ionic wind and ionic > drift. The calculations indicate that ionic wind is at least three orders of > magnitude too small to explain the magnitude of the observed force on the > capacitor. The ionic drift transport assumption leads to the correct order > of magnitude for the force, however, it is difficult to see how ionic drift > enters into the theory. Finally, we present a detailed thermodynamic > treatment of the net force on an asymmetric capacitor. In the future, to > understand this effect, a detailed theoretical model must be constructed > that takes into account plasma effects: ionization of gas (or air) in the > high electric field region, charge transport, and resulting dynamic forces > on the electrodes. The next series of experiments should determine whether > the effect occurs in vacuum, and a careful study should be carried out to > determine the dependence of the observed force on gas pressure, gas species > and applied voltage. > --------- >
