Uniform Electric Field Research Articles

IRE made easy: introducing the robotic grid system for multiple parallel needle insertion in irreversible electroporation treatment

PurposeAccurate needle placement is crucial for successful tumor treatment using the irreversible electroporation (IRE) method. Multiple needles are inserted around the tumor, ideally in parallel, to achieve uniform electric field distribution. This paper presents a robot utilizing a grid system to enable multiple needles insertion while maintaining parallelism between them.MethodsThe robotic system has two degrees of freedom, which allow for the adjustment of the grid system to accommodate targeting lesions in various positions. The robot’s performance was evaluated by testing its accuracy across various configurations and target depth locations, as well as its ability to maintain the needle parallelism.ResultsThe robot has dimensions of ϕ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\phi }$$\\end{document} 134 mm and a height of 46 mm, with a total weight of 295 g. The system accuracy test showed that the robot can precisely target points across different target depths and needle orientations, with an average error of 2.71±0.68\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$2.71\\pm 0.68$$\\end{document} mm. Moreover, multiple insertions at different grid locations reveal needle orientation deviations typically below 1∘\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1^{\\circ }$$\\end{document}.ConclusionThis study presented the design and validation of a robotic grid system. The robot is capable of maintaining insertion accuracy and needle parallelism during multiple needle insertions at various robot configurations. The robot showed promising results with limited needle deviation, making it suitable for IRE procedures.

One-way valley-locked waveguide with a large channel achieved by all-dielectric photonic crystals.

One-way transmission of light constitutes the cornerstone of modern photonic circuits. In the realm of photonic devices, it has been widely utilized in isolators, circulators, etc. Recent topology in artificial materials, an unprecedented degree of freedom, has been proposed to solve the effect of impurities on one-way transmission. However, in view of the bulk-edge correspondence, the spatial width of the transmission channel with uniform field distribution is quite narrow and needs further exploration. In this paper, we proposed a one-way valley-locked waveguide with a large channel in an all-dielectric reciprocal photonic crystal. Quite different from the topological edge states, our waveguide is topologically trivial; the unidirectional property comes from the bulk modes with valley-lock in the vicinity of Dirac points, which can naturally fully utilize the whole dimension of the structure. Additionally, such one-way bulk modes keep single mode regardless of the channel width increasing, along with uniform electrical field distribution across the entire channel, which opens a new avenue for large channel optical devices.

Add an Extra Layer to Bring Lithium‐Ions Out of Disorder for Longevity of the Solid Full Batteries

AbstractIn the current era of rapid development in the new energy vehicle industry, graphite (Gr) has gained significant attention as the primary anode material for commercial lithium‐ion batteries due to its exceptional reversibility in lithium‐ion insertion/extraction and abundant availability. In this study, a multifunctional ferroelectric Bi12TiO20@C (BIT@C) modified interlayer between Gr and polymer electrolyte (PE) is fabricated. This approach established a channel and homogeneous ion‐conducting network that facilitated lithium‐ion intercalation into Gr at the interface while suppressing erratic lithium precipitation, thereby stabilizing the structure of Gr. The uniform electric field generated by BIT intercalation enabled homogeneous intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions, effectively preventing the structural collapse of the Gr anode. Assembled LIBs exhibited reduced polarization and enhanced electrochemical properties attributed to facile charge transfer at the interface. The results revealed that Gr│carbon‐BIT@C‐lithium bistrifluoromethane sulfonimide (LiTFSI)/silicon dioxide (SiO2)/poly allyl acetoacetate (PAAA)/poly(vinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF‐HFP))/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)│LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries achieved an initial discharge specific capacity of 120.4 mAh g−1 with stable performance over 1200 cycles at 2 C and room temperature (RT), maintaining a Coulombic efficiency of 99.5% after 1200 cycles. The ferroelectric‐modified interface addressed challenges associated with ion transport at the electrode‐electrolyte interface.

A Novel IGBT with SIPOS Pillars Achieving Ultralow Power Loss in TCAD Simulation Study

A novel insulated gate bipolar transistor with Semi-Insulated POly Silicon (SIPOS) is presented in this paper and analyzed through TCAD simulation. In the off state, the SIPOS-IGBT can obtain a uniform electric field distribution, which enables a thinner drift region under the same breakdown voltage. In the on state, an electron accumulation layer is formed along the SIPOS, which can increase the injection level of the “PiN region” in the device, and the carrier concentration in the drift region is also increased due to the charge balance effect. Moreover, the SIPOS-IGBT can achieve a quick and thorough depletion in the drift region during the turn-off transient, which can greatly reduce the turn-off loss of the SIPOS-IGBT. These advantages improve the tradeoff between the conduction and switching losses. According to the simulation results, the SIPOS-IGBT obtained a 58% lower turn loss than that of a field-stop (FS) IGBT and 30% lower than an HK-IGBT with the same on-state voltage.

Investigating the Impact of Hardness on Dielectric Breakdown Characteristics of Polyurethane.

Polymeric materials play a vital role in high-voltage insulation, but their insulating properties can deteriorate over time, leading to insulation failures. The presence of voids resulting from manufacturing defects or external stresses can create a highly divergent field, further contributing to this issue. However, certain polymers, such as polyurethane (PU), possess self-healing properties that enable them to repair these voids and restore a uniform electric field distribution, thereby ensuring the reliability of the insulation. Surprisingly, the potential of PU as an insulating material in high-voltage applications remains unexplored. However, the self-healing capability of PU decreases with an increase in the hardness of the material. Therefore, in this study, the dielectric breakdown properties of PU with different levels of hardness, rated on the Shore scale as 40° (soft), 70° (medium), and 90° (hard), were investigated. The AC and DC dielectric breakdown characteristics of these PU variants and dielectric spectra were examined. Additionally, the study explores the relationship between the dielectric properties and the hardness of the material. Our findings revealed that the dielectric breakdown strength of PU increases as the material's hardness is increased under both AC and DC electric stress. However, this may come at the cost of reduced self-healing capabilities of PU. Therefore, there is a need to balance the hardness of the material with its ability to recover from breakdown events. The findings from this study can be useful for researchers and engineers, as they offer valuable insights into the dielectric properties of PU at various hardness levels.

Effect of improved electric field distribution on jet motion, fiber morphology, and properties of electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane fibrous membrane

AbstractElectric field plays a pivotal role in electrospinning to produce the desired micro and nanofibers, hence, a tricipital‐needle spinneret was developed to improve electric field distribution and productivity in this work. The effects of electric field distribution induced by spinneret configuration on jet motion, fiber morphology, and properties of electrospun TPU fibrous membrane at different applied voltages were investigated by simulation and experiment. The simulation results show that the designed tricipital‐needle spinneret weakens the electric field near the needle tip and strengthens the electric field in the whipping region in comparison to the single‐needle spinneret, exhibiting a relatively uniform electric field distribution. The experimental results demonstrate that the fiber diameter prepared by the tricipital‐needle spinneret at the corresponding voltage is smaller than that of the single‐needle spinneret due to the improved electric field distribution. Moreover, the fibrous membrane prepared by the tricipital‐needle spinneret shows excellent tensile properties (7 MPa tensile stress and 401% breaking elongation), air permeability (85.32 mm s−1) and water vapor permeability (6.7 kg m−2 d−1). Therefore, the electrospinning system with the tricipital‐needle spinneret not only increases the fiber productivity, but also improves the electric field distribution and endows the fibrous membrane with better properties, which can widen the applications of electrospun TPU fibrous membrane and also provides a new approach for the performance design of other electrospun fibers.

One-step facile fabrication of Mg(OH)2/PVA/ZnO membrane with superior stability and oil-water separation

The release of oily wastewater is a significant threat to both the environment and the sustainable development of society. The challenge of oil–water separation, which includes immiscible oil/water mixtures and emulsions, is exacerbated by the substantial volume of oily wastewater generated in industrial processes and daily activities. In this study, a one-step electrodeposition method was employed to fabricate a composite membrane composed of Mg(OH)2/PVA/ZnO. A uniform electric field was applied between the cathode and anode to facilitate the deposition of PVA and ZnO nanoparticles onto various metallic mesh of the cathode in the presence of Mg2+. The generation of hydrogen at the mesh surface facilitated the development of a superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic composite structure featuring micropores and nanosheets. The membrane durability, water flux, and separation efficiency were significantly enhanced, achieving a separation efficiency of 99.8 % and a water flux of 3.2 × 105 L·m−2·h−1. The membrane demonstrated excellent performance in separating a wide range of oil–water mixtures and emulsions, along with outstanding chemical stability and resistance to oil fouling.

Hexagonal warping effects on Bloch oscillations in proximitized Rashba systems

Bloch oscillations (BOs) in Rashba systems, taking into account the effects of hexagonal warping and proximity-induced band gap, are reported. We find that in addition to real-space trajectories, the group and Berry velocities of Bloch electrons exhibit novel BOs which strongly depend on the crystal momentum. This oscillatory motion is affected significantly by variations in the strength of hexagonal warping and the proximity-induced band gap, originating from the substantial changes in the energy spectrum induced by these factors. In addition, it is shown that the Bloch oscillations are modified considerably under the influence of applied uniform in-plane electric and transverse magnetic fields, which allow for a geometric visualization of the Bloch dynamics. Interestingly, when the system is subjected to these fields simultaneously, it undergoes a dynamic phase transition between confined and de-confined states. This phase transition is tuned by the relative strength of the applied fields and is further influenced by variations in the strength of hexagonal warping and proximity-induced band gap. The appearance of such a transition is attributed to the interplay between the external fields and the intrinsic properties of the crystal lattice. Moreover, we find that the direct-current drift velocity shows negative differential conductivity, which is a characteristic feature of the BO regime.

Modelling the first droplet emission from an electrified liquid meniscus hanging at the nozzle tip

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-induced droplet emission is an efficient method for the production of micron- and submicron-sized droplets in technological applications. Existing studies propose several scaling laws to determine the size of the emitted droplet. However, they have usually focused on the tip streaming phenomena of a droplet when subjected to a uniform electric field. In most applications, a non-uniform distribution of the electric field is created owing to the nozzle-to-plate configuration. Here, we employ an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method to demonstrate the mechanism of the first droplet emission from an electrified liquid meniscus with a fixed volume hanging at the nozzle tip. The critical condition when tip streaming occurs is determined using our numerical results. A phase diagram in terms of the electric field and initial liquid volume is presented to obtain the commonly used jetting mode. The effects of the liquid volume, electric field strength and electrical conductivity of the liquid on the processes of jet formation and breakup are further investigated. We find a particularly non-monotonic dependence of the size of the emitted droplet on the electrical conductivity. These findings could be useful for generating microdroplets and improving injection frequency in EHD printing technology.

Impact of eliminating ungated access regions on DC and thermal performance of GaN-based MIS-HEMT

The impacts of eliminating access regions (AR) on DC and thermal performance of GaN-based MIS-HEMT have been studied using a device of 4 µm gate length. Nominal absence of ARs was achieved by a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition-regrown heavily n-doped GaN contact region extended to the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel (with sheet resistance as low as 14 Ω/ ◻ and ohmic contact resistance of 0.20 Ω⋅ mm) and 22-nm-thick AlN/Al2O3/HfO2 insulator layers acting as both gate dielectrics and sidewall spacers. As a result, a low knee voltage (2.5 V @ VGS = +2 V) comparable to deeply-scaled devices was attained, revealing the dominant role of ARs in knee voltages. High linearity at lower supply voltages (gate voltage swing of 7.3 V @ VDS = 5 V) and a faster GVS saturation trend with V DS increasing were observed, benefiting from the improved utility of applied lateral voltage. Moreover, a much lower thermal resistance compared to that of the conventional MIS-HEMT structure (146 vs. 202 K W−1) was extracted by a static-pulsed I-V measurement method. Simplified TCAD simulations were conducted to explain the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating that the enhanced surface heat flow covered by the gate metal as well as the more uniform electric field along the 2DEG channel accounts for the better capability of heat management in the device free of ARs. Our results indicate the size of DC and thermal performance enhancements obtained by eliminating ARs in a GaN-based MIS-HEMT structure.

Couple Stress-Based Flexoelectric Theory in Orthogonal Curvilinear Coordinates and its Application to an Infinitely Long Dielectric Cylinder

In this paper, the formulations of the couple stress based flexoelectric theory in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates are presented. By following the two rules of transforming tensor equations from Cartesian coordinates to curvilinear ones: replacing the partial differentiation symbol with the covariant differentiation symbol and ensuring that the identical indices are positioned diagonally, the governing equations, constitutive equations and boundary conditions in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates are obtained. Then the couple stress based flexoelectric theory is specified for cylindrical coordinates. The flexoelectric responses of an infinitely long dielectric cylinder under a uniform electric field are analyzed. Numerical results show that the radial displacement increases rapidly as the mechanical length scale parameter [Formula: see text] increases. When [Formula: see text] is larger than 5 [Formula: see text]m, the circumferential displacement decreases rapidly. [Formula: see text] has a large effect on the induced displacements but a small effect on the induced electric potential, while the electrical length scale parameter [Formula: see text] has a small effect on both the induced displacements and the induced electric potential.

A new methodology in evaluating nonlinear electrohydrodynamic azimuthal stability between two dusty viscous fluids

The objective of the current paper is to scrutinize the azimuthal stability of a circular interface between two viscous fluids across porous medium in the presence of fine dust. Dusty fluid models are employed to comprehend the dynamics of aerosols in the atmosphere, a crucial aspect in the investigation of air quality, climate change, and the dissemination of pollutants. Furthermore, the comprehension and management of azimuthal nonlinear instabilities are essential in diverse engineering applications, where turbulence is a prominent factor. This includes aerospace engineering, where it is necessary for developing more efficient aircraft, as well as fluid dynamics, where it is critical for optimizing industrial processes. The system is subjected to the influence of a uniform electric field (EF) that is directed in the azimuthal direction. Electrospray trustees utilized in spaceship propulsion systems make use of the principles of Electrohydrodynamics (EHD). These representatives employ the process of ionization on a liquid propellant and utilize EFs to accelerate the resulting ions, so producing thrust. Assuming a simplified situation, the prototype is assumed to have a two-dimensional structure. Both fluids are presumed as rotating. An examination of rotating fluids is crucial for comprehending the dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans. Obtaining this knowledge is essential for accurately predicting weather, simulating climate patterns, and investigating oceanic currents. The mathematical approach is simplified by considering the viscous potential theory (VPT). The nonlinear technique relies on the use of linear fundamental partial differential equations (PDEs) and the application of the appropriate nonlinear boundary conditions (BCs). This method produces a nonlinear PDE that controls the displacement of the interface. By disregarding the nonlinear elements, a dispersion equation that is linear in nature is obtained. The stability criteria are graphed using several dimensionless physical quantities. The non-perturbative analysis (NPA) achieves nonlinear stability. As well-known, the primary objective of NPA is to convert a linear ordinary differential equation (ODE) into a linear equation. The NPA distinguishes itself from conventional perturbation methods by its ability to accurately analyze the dynamics of highly nonlinear oscillators. This novel methodology is developed utilizing the He's frequency formula (HFF) for the purpose of designing the displacement of the interface. The computational computations demonstrated that the NPA is efficacious, encouraging, and powerful. The linear and nonlinear techniques demonstrate that the effects of various dimensionless physical parameters remain constant. It is found that the Weber number We and Capillary number Cabecome zero as crucial consequences. The Ohnesorge number, Oh which represents the ratio of viscosity and the mass concentration in dusty particles, has a destabilizing effect.

Numerical simulation of electric field-induced phase transition evolution and boiling characteristics in the evaporative cooling medium C6F12O

Phase change cooling technology offers high cooling efficiency, safety, and reliability, representing a novel approach to achieving efficient heat dissipation for high-power and large-capacity electrical equipment. The formulation of the cooling medium is pivotal to phase change cooling technology. However, current media exhibit compatibility, stability, economy, and environmental friendliness deficiencies. Consideration could be given to implementing the C6F12O medium due to its superior overall performance and ability to meet the latent heat requirements in phase change cooling equipment. This paper employs a numerical simulation approach that combines the phase field method based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation with the theory of electrohydrodynamics. It investigates the impact of temperature, electric field intensity, and electric field direction on the evolution of bubble motion and the boiling state of the C6F12O medium, considering the interaction of electric-fluid-heat-phase fields. Numerical results indicate that the system undergoes initial nucleate boiling, nucleate boiling, and film boiling stages at T = 330–335 K, T = 335–350 K, and T ⩾ 355 K, respectively. The introduction of an appropriate electric field can enhance the motion evolution of C6F12O bubbles. However, attention must be paid to the formation of bubble channels under high field strength to prevent potential decreases in insulation performance. An inhomogeneous electric field in the vertical direction proves more effective in improving the bubble release rate compared to a uniform electric field. To some extent, an inhomogeneous electric field in the horizontal direction can prevent the mass accumulation of bubbles in regions of high field intensity. This research has the potential to offer theoretical guidance for the engineering application of the C6F12O phase change cooling medium.

Molecular dynamics study of the influence of electric fields on water penetration in metal confined nanochannels

Electric field regulation of water penetration in nanochannels is an important method to address membrane fouling issues. Investigating the mechanism of electric field effects on water penetration in metal-confined nanochannels is highly meaningful. This article uses molecular dynamics methods to study the characteristics of water penetration in copper nanochannels. The influence and mechanisms of different types of applied electric fields on the water penetration within the channels were analyzed. The results indicate that applying electric fields in the y and z directions can enhance water penetration efficiency within the channels. Furthermore, a sinusoidal electric field has a greater enhancing effect on water penetration compared to a uniform electric field. Particularly, with a sinusoidal electric field frequency of 50 GHz, favorable water penetration effects were observed, with maximum increases in transport rate and axial diffusion coefficient of 197.5 % and 249.7 % respectively, relative to the absence of an electric field. The sinusoidal electric field exhibited greater capability in accelerating water molecule movement, leading to a rise in system temperature, with a maximum temperature increase of 46.9 %. These findings provide microscopic evidence for the feasibility of electric field regulation of water penetration in nanochannels, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing nanoconfined water penetration behavior within channels.

A revisit on the hydrogen atom induced by a uniform static electric field

In this paper, we revisit the Stark effect of the hydrogen atom induced by a uniform static electric field. In particular, a general formula for the integral of associated Laguerre polynomials was derived by applying the method for Hermite polynomials of degree n proposed in the work (Anh-Tai T.D. et al., 2021 AIP Advances 11 085310). The quadratic Stark effect is obtained by applying this formula and the time-independent non-degenerate perturbation theory to hydrogen. Using the Siegert state method, numerical calculations are performed and serve as data for benchmarking. The comparisons are then illustrated for the ground and some highly excited states to provide an insightful look at the applicable limit and precision of the quadratic Stark effect formula for other atoms with comparable properties.

Electrohydrodynamic flows inside a neutrally buoyant leaky dielectric drop

We present an experimental investigation of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flows within a neutrally buoyant drop with a radius of 2.25 mm. Utilizing particle image velocimetry and high-speed shadowgraphy, we measure the internal circulation and reported velocity profiles in the bulk and at the interface of the drop. Two leaky dielectric liquids, silicone and castor oils, are employed as the drop and as the external phase, allowing the analysis of two shape configurations: oblate and prolate. The strength of the applied uniform electric field (from 0.125 to 1.75 kV/cm) enables the analysis covering both the small-deformation limit (CaE≪1) and drops with larger deformations. Our measurements show good agreement with the leaky dielectric model (LDM) for the small-deformation cases. The flows begin at the interface as a result of jump in the electric stresses, leading then to four counter-rotating vortices inside the drop. At a permanent regime, the analytical solutions adequately predict the radial and tangential velocity components within the drop. However, a nuanced behavior is noticed for larger deformations, where the LDM theory underpredicts the internal circulation. Moreover, due to the increased deformation, a non-uniform azimuthal profile is observed for the velocity at the interface, vθ. Transient measurements of this velocity component enlighten the dynamic response of the EHD flows of the drop. Following the available analytical solutions, the dynamic response is governed by the timescale of the deformation of the drop, τdef=μa/γ. We propose a critical value of CaE≈0.1 below which the LDM adequately describes the velocity field in both quasi steady-state and transitory regimes.

Enhancing the performance of optoelectronic potential of CuO/Al nanoplats in a PVC for medium voltage cables applications

This study investigates the potential of incorporating CuO and Al nanoplates into a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix to enhance the performance of medium voltage cables. The incorporation of nanoparticles into the PVC insulation material aims to improve the electrical, dielectric, and optical properties of the cable. The nanocomposite films were synthesized by dissolving PVC in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent and adding a mixture of 5 wt% CuO and Al nanoparticles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of the nanoparticles into the PVC matrix. The optical properties of the PVC/AlNPs and PVC/CuONPs + AlNPs nanocomposite films were characterized, revealing a decrease in band gap energy (4.35 eV) and Urbach tail energy (0.3702 eV) for the PVC/CuONPs + AlNPs film compared to the PVC/AlNPs film (4.5 eV and 0.41816 eV, respectively). Additionally, the PVC/CuONPs + AlNPs film exhibited higher absorption coefficients and increased electron delocalization and conjugation (carbon cluster value of 62.53). The dielectric properties of the CuONPs + AlNPs nanocomposites were investigated, with the sample containing 1.5% AlNPs demonstrating the highest AC conductivity (2.029 × 10−3 S/m), dielectric constant, and dielectric loss across the frequency range. Simulations of electric field distribution revealed that the PVC/CuONPs+1.5% AlNPs nanocomposite cable exhibited a more uniform electric field distribution compared to the PVC market cable, contributing to a reduction in electrostatic tension and a relative permittivity increase from 2.25 to 2.35. The electric potential distribution along the cable radius remained similar for both cable samples. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanocomposite insulation materials in enhancing the performance of medium voltage cables, paving the way for improved reliability, longevity, and efficiency.

Effect of uniform electric field on the droplet deformation in uniform flow field

In this article, we theoretically investigate the transient electric field-driven deformation of a droplet. Notably, the droplet is subjected to both a uniform flow and an electric field simultaneously. We explore two cases: one with a perpendicular arrangement of uniform flow and electric field, where the electric field is not stronger than the uniform flow, and another with an aligned arrangement of both. The leaky dielectric model is used and the droplet shape is assumed to remain prolate spheroidal at all times. The droplet behavior was modeled and the corresponding program was written in MATLAB software. According to the selected equations, the outputs of the program are logical and consistent with the available data and experiments. Among the advantages of the theoretical solution, one can mention the possibly tracing the origin of desired events and system reaction and the lower computational cost. The solution method can be extended to investigate similar problems.

Tailoring electrical properties of PVC/PEC/Co3O4 nanocomposites by electron beam irradiation for advanced medium voltage cable applications

This study aimed to investigate the effects of electron beam irradiation on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of polyvinyl chloride/pectin (PVC/PEC) nanocomposites incorporating hexagonal nanoplate Co3O4. Hexagonal nanoplate Co3O4 was synthesized and incorporated into PVC/PEC blends at 5 wt%. The nanocomposites were subjected to electron beam irradiation at varying doses (0, 10, 20, and 30 kGy). Various characterization techniques, including XRD, UV–Vis spectroscopy, AC conductivity, and dielectric measurements, were employed to analyze the irradiated samples. Additionally, electric field distribution simulations were performed for a 33 kV cable model. XRD analysis revealed the retention of Co3O4 crystallinity up to 30 kGy, while the polymer matrix showed degradation above 10 kGy. The optical bandgap decreased from 2.25 eV to 1.90 eV with increasing irradiation dose, indicating changes in the electronic structure. The optimized AC conductivity (37.17 × 10−6 S m−1) and minimum relative permittivity (2.28) were achieved for the 30 kGy irradiated sample with 5 wt% Co3O4. The electric potential distribution gradually decreased from 33,000 V to zero V. The systematic variations in structural, optical, and electrical properties demonstrated controlled tuning of charge transport mechanisms, making these nanocomposites potentially suitable for advanced cable systems. The simulation results showed that the inclusion of Co3O4 at 30 kGy helped maintain a uniform electric field distribution in the 33 kV cable model compared to an unfilled cable.

Relativistic single-electron wavepacket in quantum electromagnetic fields: quantum coherence, correlations, and the Unruh effect

Conventional formulation of QED since the 50s works very well for stationary states and for scattering problems, but with newly arisen challenges from the 80s on, where real time evolution of particles in a nonequilibrium setting are required, and quantum features such as coherence, dissipation, correlation and entanglement in a system interacting with its quantum field environment are sought after, new ways to formulate QED suitable for these purposes beckon. In this paper we present a linearized effective theory using a Gaussian wavepacket description of a charged relativistic particle coupled to quantum electromagnetic fields to study the interplay between single electrons and quantum fields in free space, at a scale well below the Schwinger limit. The proper values of the regulators in our effective theory are determined from the data of individual experiments, and will be time-dependent in the laboratory frame if the single electrons are accelerated. Using this new theoretical tool, we address the issues of decoherence of flying electrons in free space and the impact of Unruh effect on the electrons. Our result suggests that vacuum fluctuations may be a major source of blurring the interference pattern in electron microscopes. For a single electron accelerated in a uniform electric field, we identify the Unruh effect in the two-point correlators of the deviations from the electron’s classical trajectory. From our calculations we also bring out some subtleties, involving the bosonic versus fermionic spectral functions.