Total Electric Charge Research Articles

Characterization of the Stability of Current Gain and Avalanche-Mode Operation of 4H-SiC BJTs

The stability of the electrical characteristics of SiC n-p-n bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) is investigated under long-term avalanche-mode, dc, and pulsed-current operation. There is absolutely no change in the blocking I-V characteristics after a 934-h repetitive avalanche stress test. Long-term operation of the base-emitter diode (open-collector mode) alone does not result in any degradation of the ON-state voltage drop V <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">F</sub> or current gain β. Long-term operation in common-emitter mode results in negligible V <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">F</sub> or β degradation, if the base plate is maintained at 25°C. A greater degradation of β results upon increasing the base-plate temperature. The same total electrical charge, if passed through the BJT as a pulsed current, instead of a dc current, results in smaller β reduction. It is also shown that the β degradation can be reversed by annealing at ≥200°C, suggesting the possibility of degradation-free operation of SiC BJTs, when operating in pulsed current mode at ≥200°C temperatures.

Anomaly-induced charges in baryons

We show that quantum chiral anomaly of QCD in magnetic backgrounds induces a novel structure of electric charge inside baryons. To illustrate the anomaly effect, we employ the Skyrme model for baryons, with the anomaly-induced gauged Wess-Zumino term (\pi_0 + (multi-pion)) E_i B_i. Due to this term, the Skyrmions giving a local pion condensation ((\pi_0 + (multi-pion)) \neq 0) necessarily become a local charge source, in the background magnetic field B_i. We present detailed evaluation of the anomaly effects, and calculate the total induced charge, for various baryons in the magnetic field.

The pulsar force-free magnetosphere linked to its striped wind: time-dependent pseudo-spectral simulations

(abridged) Pulsar activity and its related radiation mechanism are usually explained by invoking some plasma processes occurring inside the magnetosphere. Despite many detailed local investigations, the global electrodynamics around those neutron stars remains poorly described. Better understanding of these compact objects requires a deep and accurate knowledge of their immediate electromagnetic surrounding within the magnetosphere and its link to the relativistic pulsar wind. The aim of this work is to present accurate solutions to the nearly stationary force-free pulsar magnetosphere and its link to the striped wind, for various spin periods and arbitrary inclination. To this end, the time-dependent Maxwell equations are solved in spherical geometry in the force-free approximation using a vector spherical harmonic expansion of the electromagnetic field. An exact analytical enforcement of the divergenceless of the magnetic part is obtained by a projection method. Special care has been given to design an algorithm able to look deeply into the magnetosphere with physically realistic ratios of stellar $R_*$ to light-cylinder $\rlight$ radius. We checked our code against several analytical solutions, like the Deutsch vacuum rotator solution and the Michel monopole field. We also retrieve energy losses comparable to the magneto-dipole radiation formula and consistent with previous similar works. Finally, for arbitrary obliquity, we give an expression for the total electric charge of the system. It does not vanish except for the perpendicular rotator. This is due to the often ignored point charge located at the centre of the neutron star. It is questionable if such solutions with huge electric charges could exist in reality except for configurations close to an orthogonal rotator. The charge spread over the stellar crust is not a tunable parameter as is often hypothesized.

Modifications in erythrocyte membrane zeta potential by Plasmodium falciparum infection

The zeta potential (ZP) is an electrochemical property of cell surfaces that is determined by the net electrical charge of molecules exposed at the surface of cell membranes. Membrane proteins contribute to the total net electrical charge of cell surfaces and can alter ZP through variation in their copy number and changes in their intermolecular interactions. Plasmodium falciparum extensively remodels its host red blood cell (RBC) membrane by placing ‘knob’-like structures at the cell surface. Using an electrophoretic mobility assay, we found that the mean ZP of human RBCs was −15.7mV. In RBCs infected with P. falciparum trophozoites (‘iRBCs’), the mean ZP was significantly lower (−14.6mV, p<0.001). Removal of sialic acid from the cell surface by neuraminidase treatment significantly decreased the ZP of both RBCs (−6.06mV) and iRBCs (−4.64mV). Parasite-induced changes in ZP varied by P. falciparum clone and the presence of knobs on the iRBC surface. Variations in ZP values were accompanied by altered binding of iRBCs to human microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). These data suggest that parasite-derived knob proteins contribute to the ZP of iRBCs, and that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between iRBC and MVEC membranes are involved in cytoadherence.

Stability of Electrical Characteristics of SiC “Super” Junction Transistors under Long-Term DC and Pulsed Operation at various Temperatures

ABSTRACTThe reliability of the electrical characteristics of SiC “Super” Junction Transistors (SJTs) is investigated under long-term avalanche-mode, DC and pulsed-current operation. There is absolutely no change in the blocking I-V characteristics after a 934 hour repetitive avalanche stress test. Long-term operation of the Gate-Source diode (open-Drain mode) alone does not result in any degradation of the on-state voltage drop (VF) or current gain (β). Long-term operation in common-Source mode results in negligible VF or β degradation, if the base-plate is maintained at 25 °C. A greater degradation of β results with increasing base-plate temperature. The same total electrical charge, if passed through the SJT as a pulsed current instead of a DC current results in a smaller β reduction. It is also shown that this β degradation can be reversed by annealing at ≥ 200 °C, suggesting the possibility of degradation-free operation of SiC SJTs, when operating in pulsed current mode at ≥ 200 °C temperatures.

Time dependent charging of layer clouds in the global electric circuit

There is much observational data consistent with the hypothesis that the ionosphere-earth current density (Jz) in the global electric circuit, which is modulated by both solar activity and thunderstorm activity, affects atmospheric dynamics and cloud cover. One candidate mechanism involves Jz causing the accumulation of space charge on droplets and aerosol particles, that affects the rate of scavenging of the latter, notably those of Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) and Ice Forming Nuclei (IFN) (Tinsley, 2008, 2010). Space charge is the difference, per unit volume, between total positive and total negative electrical charge that is on droplets, aerosol particles (including the CCN and IFN) and air ions. The cumulative effects of the scavenging in stratiform clouds and aerosol layers in an air mass over the lifetime of the aerosol particles of 1–10days affects the concentration and size distribution of the CCN, so that in subsequent episodes of cloud formation (including deep convective clouds) there can be effects on droplet size distribution, coagulation, precipitation processes, and even storm dynamics.Because the time scales for charging for some clouds can be long compared to cloud lifetimes, the amount of charge at a given time, and its effect on scavenging, depend more on the charging rate than on the equilibrium charge that would eventually be attained. To evaluate this, a new time-dependent charging model has been developed. The results show that for typical altostratus clouds with typical droplet radii 10μm and aerosol particles of radius of 0.04μm, the time constant for charging in response to a change in Jz is about 800s, which is comparable to cloud formation and dissipation timescales for some cloud situations. The charging timescale is found to be strong functions of altitude and aerosol concentration, with the time constant for droplet charging at 2km in air with a high concentration of aerosols being about an hour, and for clouds at 10km in clean air being about a minute. The charging timescale is also a strong function of droplet size, with the rate for 15μm radii droplets being about 70% longer than that for 10μm droplets, and the rate for 5μm radii droplets being about 50% smaller. The equilibrium charges accumulated on droplets ranged from tens to hundreds of elementary charges, which is comparable to observed values, and to vary approximately directly with Jz and inversely with the ion production rate q, which is due to the Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) flux and depends strongly on altitude.For the case of Jz varying directly with q, which to some extent is the case during Forbush decreases of the GCR flux, the effects on the equilibrium charge tend to cancel. In one run with the model, both q and Jz were decreased by 30%. There was little change in equilibrium charge, but the timescale for charging increased by about 40%, or equivalently, the rate of charging decreased by about 40%. Thus, for exploring the hypothesis that space charge provides a link between GCR (and other inputs that modulate Jz) and changes in clouds and atmospheric dynamics, it is necessary to consider variations in the rate of charging. The present work is intended to provide illustrative examples of time dependent charging for several different types of layer clouds.

The nature of electrical interaction of Schottky contacts

Electrical interaction between metal-semiconductor contacts combined in a diode matrix with a Schottky barrier manifests itself in an appreciable variation in their surface potentials and static current-volt-characteristics. The necessary condition for appearance of electrical interaction between such contacts consists in the presence of a peripheral electric field (a halo) around them; this field propagates to a fairly large distances (<30 μm). The sufficient condition is the presence of regions where the above halos overlap. It has been shown that variation in the surface potential and the current-voltage characteristics of contacts occurs under the effect of the intrinsic electric field of the contact’s periphery and also under the effect of an electric field at matrix periphery; the latter field is formed as a result of superposition of electric fields of halos which form its contacts. The degree of the corresponding effect is governed by the distance between contacts and by the total charge of the space charge regions for all contacts of the matrix: their number, sizes (diameter Di, j), concentration of doping impurities in the semiconductor ND, and physical nature of a metal-semiconductor system with a Schottky barrier (with the barrier height φb). It is established that bringing the contacts closer leads to a relative decrease in the threshold value of the “dead” zone in the forward current-voltage characteristics, an increase in the effective height of the barrier, and an insignificant increase in the nonideality factor. An increase in the total area of contacts (a total electric charge in the space charge region) in the matrix brings about an increase in the threshold value of the “dead” zone, a relative decrease in the effective barrier height, and an insignificant increase in the ideality factor.

Sera from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients induce the non-canonical activation of NMDA receptors “in vitro”

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by the selective loss of both upper and lower motoneurons (MNs). The familial form of the illness is associated with mutations in the gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) enzyme, but it accounts for fewer than 10% of cases; the rest, more than 90%, correspond to the sporadic form of ALS. Although many proposals have been suggested over the years, the mechanisms underlying the characteristic selective killing of MN in ALS remain unknown. In this study we tested the effect of sera from sporadic ALS patients on NMDA receptors (NMDAR). We hypothesize that an endogenous seric factor is implicated in neuronal death in ALS, mediated by the modulation of NMDAR. Sera from ALS patients and from healthy subjects were pretreated to inactivate complement pathways and dialyzed to remove glutamate and glycine. IgGs from ALS patients and healthy subjects were obtained by affinity chromatography and dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline. Human NMDAR were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and ionic currents were recorded using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Sera from sporadic ALS patients induced transient oscillatory currents in oocytes expressing NMDAR with a significantly higher total electrical charge than that induced by sera from healthy subjects. Sera from patients with other neuromuscular diseases did not exert this effect. The currents were inhibited by MK-801, a noncompetitive blocker of NMDAR. The PLC inhibitor, U-73122, and the IP 3 receptor antagonist, 2-APB, also inhibited the sera-induced currents. The oscillatory signal recorded was due to internal calcium mobilization. Isolated IgGs from ALS patients significantly affected the activity of oocytes injected with NMDAR, causing a 2-fold increase over the response recorded for IgGs from healthy subjects. Our data support the notion that ALS sera contain soluble factors that mobilize intracellular calcium, not opening directly the ionic conductance, but through the non-canonical activation of NMDAR.

Stripping coulometry determination of lead and mercury at screen-printed electrodes

The new possibilities of stripping coulometry method (SCM) using coulometric constant for the determination of the total electric charge are addressed. Since SCM is a method critical to the volume of the sample solution, the use of screen-printed electrodes (SPE) can significantly reduce the time of measurement. This work is devoted to the development of the new ways to define the coulometric constants and SCM determination of Pb and Hg at SPE.

An Initial Investigation of the Electrochemical Dissolution of Fragments of Nickel-Titanium Endodontic Files

Introduction A recent study presented the concept of an electrochemical-induced dissolution technique of fractured instruments. The purpose of this study was to test the ability to dissolve embedded fragments of K3 nickel-titanium (NiTi) files. The surface of the fragment exposed to the electrolytic solution was the main parameter evaluated as an interfering factor on the dissolution process. Methods Three types of K3 NiTi 30.06 file fragments were produced, resulting in different exposed cross-section areas. Anodic current was recorded and used as a reference to evaluate the dissolution process of the fragments. Analysis of variance ( P < .05) was used to compare the total electrical charge obtained from current versus time records among the fragments of the 3 groups. Radiographic analysis was carried out before and after the tests to observe the extension of dissolution achieved. Results The total electrical charge values generated during the tests evidence a statistical difference among the 3 groups of fragments (analysis of variance, P < .05). The larger is the diameter of the exposed surface cross section, the higher is the total value of electrical charge. The radiographic images obtained before and after the tests showed a significant reduction of the fragment length as a result of the polarization imposed. Conclusions The results presented here showed that it is possible to obtain a significant dissolution of K3 NiTi endodontic instrument fragments. The diameter of the surface of fragment exposed to the medium affects the current levels used to promote the dissolution.

Application of DFT Methods in the Study of V IV O 2+ –Peptide Interactions

V IV O 2+ complexes formed by histidylglycylglycine (HisGlyGlyH), glycylglycylhistidine (GlyGlyHisH), glycylglycylcysteine (GlyGlyCysH 2 ), N -glycyl-bis(imidazol-2-yl)methylamine (Gly–BIMA), N -glycyl-bis(pyridin-2-yl)methylamine (Gly–BPMA), salicylglycyl-L-alanine (SalGly-L-AlaH 2 ) and 1,2-bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)benzene (H 2 hybeb) in their fully deprotonated form were studied by density functional theory (DFT) methods. They are characterised by different total electric charges, total equatorial charges and number of V–N– amide bonds. DFT calculations enable structural features, like V–donor bond lengths, and spectroscopic features, like electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electronic absorption parameters, to be calculated. The results suggest that an amide group coordinates vanadium in the“amide-” rather than the “imine-like” form with the nitrogen atom negatively charged and with a double bond between the carbon and oxygen atoms of the carbonyl group, and that the equatorial charge is delocalised among all the donors bound to vanadium (O oxido included). The analysis of the molecular orbital composition reveals that the d xy orbital is the vanadium orbital at lower energy, that it can participate in a π bond with the nitrogen p z orbital of the amide groups, that the vanadium d xz and d yz orbitals are involved in a large π interaction with the oxido p x and p y orbitals and that differences in the donor strengths of the ligands and deviations from the ideal square-pyramidal symmetry can result in the separation of the energies of the vanadium d xz and d yz orbitals.

A gold-sputtered carbon paper as an anode for improved electricity generation from a microbial fuel cell inoculated with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Gold is among the highly conductive and stable materials, which are ideal anodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, previous studies have shown that bare gold surface is recalcitrant for the colonization of some exoelectrogens, e.g., Shewanella putrefacians. In this work, the problem regarding the poor bio-compatibility of gold as an anode material was sorted out through coupling it with carbon paper. A new composite anode material was fabricated through sputtering gold layer homogeneously on carbon paper matrix. Results of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in Fe(CN) 6 3−/4− solution demonstrated better electrochemical performance of the carbon paper–gold (C–Au) composite than either carbon paper or bare gold, when they were used in MFCs. With Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as the inoculum, the C–Au anode-based MFC produced total electric charges higher than the carbon-paper-anode-based MFC by 47%. The cyclic voltammetry analysis and the scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the MR-1 biofilm growth was accelerated when the carbon paper surface was sputtered with gold. Utilization of such a carbon paper–gold composite significantly enhanced the MFC performance.

Hawking Radiation of Charged Particles in Reissner–Nordström Black Hole

We extend the method that Banerjee and Majhi have used to discuss Hawking radiation. Under the condition that the total energy and electrical charge of spacetime are conserved, we investigate Hawking radiation of the charged black hole by a new Tortoise coordinate transformation. Taking the reaction of the radiation of the particle to the spacetime into consideration, we not only derive the radiation spectrum that satisfies the unitary principle in quantum mechanics but also show that the contribution of ingoing particles is equal to the one of outgoing particles on the similar chemical potential term in radiation spectrum caused by charged particles.

Modification of Coulomb’s law in closed spaces

We obtain a modified version of Coulomb’s law in two- and three-dimensional closed spaces. We demonstrate that in a closed space the total electric charge must be zero. We also discuss the relation between total charge neutrality of an isotropic and homogeneous universe to whether or not its spatial sector is closed.

Depassivation–repassivation behavior of a pure iron surface investigated by micro-indentation

Depassivation–repassivation behavior on a pure iron surface in borate buffer solution was examined under potentiostatic control by a micro-indentation test. Current peaks emerge during both downward and upward drives of the indenter due to depassivation which is caused by plastic deformation of the substrate but not elastic deformation and repassivation. The total electric charge of the current peaks is proportional to the maximum load. The total electric charge also increases with increase in intermission time of the indentation, indicating that the passive film is ruptured even during stress relaxation. It is estimated from the electric charge balance that 82% and 18% of the film rupture occurs during the downward drive and intermission, respectively, and that no rupture occurs during the upward drive. Furthermore, the film-ruptured area is estimated to be 80% of the plastic deformed surface area. The partial retainment of the passive film on iron suggests that the ductility of the passive film is higher than that of the substrate.

The Effect of Metal Texture on Depassivation-repassivation Behavior of Iron in Borate Buffer Solution Investigated by Micro-indentation

The effects of grain orientation and cold-rolling on the depassivation-repassivation behavior of polycrystalline irons were examined in pH8.4 borate buffer solution using in-situ micro-indentation technique. The depassivation rate on the passive iron surface during the downward drive of the indenter (penetration of an indenter tip into iron surface) depended on the grain orientation; the highest rate was obtained on {100} surface, on which a possible main slip plane of {110} was normal to the surface. In contrast, the total electric charge required for repassivation during the downward and subsequent upward drives was not influenced by the grain orientation. The electric charge for repassivation was strongly influenced by the rolling reduction that changed the dislocation density at the specimen surface. There was a linear correlation between the electric charge normalized by residual dent area and the square root of the dislocation density.

Fractal geometry of the surface potential in electrochemically deposited platinum and palladium films

The surface potentials are distributed very nonuniformly in electrochemically deposited thin films of palladium and platinum, and it reflects the grain structure of their surface profile. The Hausdorf-Bezikovich space dimensions of the surface potentials in these films much exceed the topological dimension of their projections, which is indicative of their fractal geometry. It is found that the surfaces of platinum and palladium films differ both in the spread of magnitudes of the surface-potential nonuniformities and in the shape and character of their distribution. This substantially affects the way of formation (geometry) of their potential profile and the values of their fractal dimensions. In addition, the fractal geometry of the potential profile of these film surfaces leads to the fact that the total electric charge of their surfaces varies much slower-it is proportional to the change in their linear dimensions to power (4 − Df), where 2 < Df < 3, instead of being proportional to the square of the change in the linear dimensions of the areas under investigation as in the two-dimension case. As a result, it is shown that, for the accurate designing of devices with metal components of submicrometer and nanometer sizes on the basis of thin films of platinum and palladium, it is necessary to take into account their fractal geometry.

CompactQ-balls andQ-shells in a scalar electrodynamics

We investigate spherically symmetric nontopological solitons in electrodynamics with a scalar field self-interaction $U\ensuremath{\sim}|\ensuremath{\psi}|$ taken from the complex signum-Gordon model. We find $Q$-balls for small absolute values of the total electric charge $Q$, and $Q$-shells when $|Q|$ is large enough. In both cases the charge density exactly vanishes outside certain compact regions in the three-dimensional space. The dependence of the total energy $E$ of small $Q$-balls on the total electric charge has the form $E\ensuremath{\sim}|Q{|}^{5/6}$, while in the case of very large $Q$-shells, $E\ensuremath{\sim}|Q{|}^{7/6}$.

Correlation of the Physicochemical Properties in Soils from Tenerife Island, Measuring the Electric Current in an Electrokinetic Experiment

In this work the physical-chemical properties of six different soils original from Tenerife Island, Spain, are related with the measured electrical current in an electrokinetic experiment. Results show that total electrical charge has relation with properties such as: total metal content, pH, carbon organic content, and cationic exchange capacity. Since all these properties are between those which allow to evaluate the fertility of a soil, an electrokinetic experiment with samples of this soil is proposed like diagnosis tool.

Perturbation of a collisional plasma by exterior bodies in a uniform external electric field

The charging of a metal sphere in a weakly ionized collisional plasma in a uniform external electric field is investigated with allowance for the effect of the space charge field and ionization-recombination processes. The sphere charge and the spatial distributions of charged plasma particles are calculated both numerically and analytically (for some particular cases) for the case of a strong external field. It is found that the size of the perturbed plasma region is determined by the external field and the intensity of recombination processes. It is shown that the total electric charge (the sphere charge plus the plasma space charge) is zero in accordance with predictions of the theory of static currents in a conducting medium.