Comments on "Evaluation of interactions of electric fields due to electrostatic discharge with human tissue"

Attention is drawn to recent paper by Rogers et al. (Aug., 2004) in which ultra-wideband pulses are applied to an isolated muscle as part of deriving a strength-duration curve for threshold stimulation. The paper extends the strength-duration threshold curve for unipolar pulses down to a pulse duration of about 1 ns, on the order of 1000 times shorter than previously studied. Results of the work justify use of traditional mathematical models of the strength-duration curve for nanosecond pulses, as done recently for the electric field resulting from electrostatic discharge through the body (Dawson, et al., 2004).     

Electric fields in the human body due to electrostatic discharges

Electrostatic discharges (ESDs) occur when two objects at different electric potentials come close enough to arc (spark) across the gap between them. Such discharges may be either single-event or repetitive (e.g., 60 Hz). Some studies have indicated that ESDs may be a causative factor for health effects in electric utility workers. Moreover, a hypothesis has recently been forwarded imperceptible contact currents in the human body may be responsible for health effects, most notably childhood leukemia. Numerical modeling indicates that the electric fields in human tissue resulting from typical contact currents are much greater than those induced from typical exposures to electric and magnetic fields at power line frequencies. Numerical modeling is used here to compute representative spark-discharge dosimetry in a realistic human adult model. The frequency-domain scalar potential finite difference method is applied in conjunction with the Fourier transform to assess electric fields in selected regions and tissues of interest in the body. Electric fields in such tissues as subcutaneous fat (where peripheral nerves may be excited), muscle and bone marrow are of the order of kilovolts per meter in the lower arm. The pulses, however, are of short duration (approximately 100 ns).     

Calculation of electric fields due to lines of charge

The amplitude of the electric field due to a straight line segment of uniform electric charges is shown to be given by E=2q (4πDε₀)^-1 sen (α/2) where q is the linear charge density, α is the viewing angle (from the observation point to the filament extremities), and D is the distance to the filament; furthermore, the direction of the vector E lies on the bisector of the viewing angle. This result can greatly reduce the computation time in the analysis of EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) problems involving static or quasi-static charge distributions     

How to defeat electrostatic discharge

The generation of electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the ways in which it causes failure are explained. Three ways of solving ESD problems are described and evaluated. They are: preventing ESD altogether; preventing the coupling of ESD noise into circuits or devices; and increasing the inherent noise immunity of devices and circuits. Firmware and software solutions to ESD upsets are also considered, and ESD testing is discussed     

Transient electric and magnetic fields associated with establishinga finite electrostatic dipole, revisited

The authors reexamine the analysis of M.J. Master and M.A. Uman (1983), who derived and plotted the electromagnetic field waveforms generated by a square wave of current propagating with constant speed along a finite linear path, resulting in the formation of a finite electrostatic dipole. It was concluded that such a square pulse of current had charge only at its front and rear. The authors argue that errors were made in that analysis, correct these errors, and extend the overall analysis: (1) to show that the decomposition of the electromagnetic fields into electrostatic, induction, and radiation components on the basis of distance dependence is not general; (2) to demonstrate the use of the continuity equation in finding the charge distribution along a current path when the current distribution is known; and (3) to show how a seemingly simple analytical technique, the treatment of an abrupt step of current as a linearly rising current in the limit that the risetime goes to zero, can lead to erroneous results if there is not a good physical and mathematical understanding of all the variables involved     

人体静电放电参数对带电电压的依赖关系研究

在带电电压为200～3000V的范围内测量了带电人体放电电流和上升时间,计算了其他放电参数;研究了放电参数与电压和电板速度的相关性.将RampeWeizel定理用于空气中带电人体的小间隙静电放电模型.观察发现在电压为800V时放电参数在电极运动速度影响下出现临界值.当电压高于1000V,或低于600V时,电极移动速度对放电参数的影响出现降低的趋势.     

Frequency and power windowing in tissue interactions with weak electromagnetic fields

Effects of nonionizing electromagnetic (EM) fields that raise tissue temperature in general differ very little from effects of hyperthermia induced by other means. However, fields raising tissue temperature orders of magnitude less than 0.1°C may result in major physiological changes not attributable to raised temperature per se. These weak fields have been observed to produce chemical, physiological, and behavioral changes only within windows in frequency and incident energy. For brain tissue, a maximum frequency sensitivity occurs between 6 and 20 Hz. Two different intensity windows have been seen, one for ELF tissue gradients around 10^-7V/cm, and one for amplitude modulated RF and microwave gradients around 10^-1V/cm. The former is at the level associated with navigation and prey detection in marine vertebrates and with control of human biological rhythms; the latter is at the level of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in brain tissue. Coupling to living cells appears to require amplifying mechanisms that may be based on nonequilibrium processes, with long-range resonant molecular interactions. These cooperative processes are now recognized as important in immune and hormonal responses, as well as in nerve cell excitation. Polyanionic proteinaceous material forming a sheet on cell membrane surfaces appears to be the site of detection of these weak molecular and neuroelectric stimuli.     

Theoretical and experimental characterization of transientelectromagnetic fields radiated by electrostatic discharge (ESD)currents

The problem of the evaluation of the electromagnetic (EM) field radiated by an electrostatic discharge (ESD) current is examined, and an efficient numerical code for the evaluation of the radiated field is developed. The considered radiating structures, a monopole and a loop, are analyzed in the time domain using a modified electric field integral equation (EFIE). A modification of the integral equation was introduced in order to take into account the reflection of the incident pulse at the input terminals of the antenna, when fed by a transmission line. The reflected wave is very significant and its evaluation is fundamental for the comparison of theoretical and experimental data. The ESD current flowing along the wire is determined using the method of moments in time domain (MoMTD). From the knowledge of the transient current, the radiated EM field is evaluated by a standard technique. The developed model is the first stage of a project for the characterization of the measurement environment during an ESD test. All numerical results are validated by measurements and good agreement is shown     

Acoustic waves and heating due to molecular energy transfer in an electric discharge CO laser

This paper summarizes analytical studies and the interpretation of experimental results for the compression and rarefaction waves generated in the cavity of a pulsed CO electric discharge laser. A one-dimensional analysis of acoustic waves is applied to a transversely excited laser. The influences of heating in the cathode fall, heat transfer to the cathode, flow through both the anode and cathode, and bulk heating of the plasma are included. The analysis is used to relate the bulk heating rate to observable features of the pressure and density waves. Data obtained from interferograms and reported elsewhere are used to infer the bulk heating rates in a pulsed CO laser. Results are presented for CO/Ar, CO/N2, and N2plasmas. Comparison of the data with recent theoretical results for the heating due to electron/ neutral collisions and the anharmonic defect associated withV-Venergy transfer shows substantial differences at lower values of total energy deposition. The change of heating WithE/Nis in fairly good agreement with predicted values.     

Hollow-beam focusing with electrostatic and periodic magnetic fields

A new method of focusing a hollow cylindrical electron beam is presented. The focusing system consists of a cylindrical center conductor inside the beam, a cylindrical outer conductor enclosing the beam, and a series of periodic magnets outside the tube. A radial electrostatic field between the conductors provides an outward force on the electrons. The periodic magnetic field produces an inward force on the electrons. The inward and outward forces can be adjusted to provide a balance of all the forces acting on the electrons at both boundaries of the beam by choosing the electric and magnetic fields properly. An approximate analysis has been made and is presented which gives necessary design information. A number of curves are presented which are useful in designing focusing systems of this type. Experimental results on a beam tester show that current transmission of over 90 per cent for perveance up to 11 micropervs can be obtained readily. The adjustments are not critical and the performance is very stable.     

Numerical modeling of electrostatic discharge generators

The discharge current and the transient fields of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) generator in the contact mode are numerically simulated using the finite-difference time-domain method. At first the static field is established. Then the conductivity of the relay contact is changed, which initiates the discharge process. The simulated data are used to study the effect of design choices on the current and fields. They are compared to measured field and current data using a multidecade broadband field and current sensors. The model allows accurate prediction of the fields and currents of ESD generators, thus it can be used to evaluate different design choices.     

Electromagnetic fields due to a horizontal electric dipole antenna laid on the surface of a two-layer medium

With applications to geophysical subsurface probings, electromagnetic fields due to a horizontal electric dipole laid on the surface of a two-layer medium are solved by a combination of analytical and numerical methods. Interference patterns are calculated for various layer thickness. The results are interpreted in terms of normal modes and the accuracies of the methods are discussed.     

Theoretical studies of optical modulation in lattice matched and strained quantum wells due to transverse electric fields

Electrooptical modulators based on quantum well structures have become an important area of research due to potential applications in high-speed optical modulation and image processing. In this paper, we examine the physics of a quantum well modulator within the generalized Kohn-Luttinger Hamiltonian. Issues of importance for the modulator structure are the excitonic absorption shift, exciton binding energy, line broadening, tunneling rates for electrons and holes in the presence of a transverse electric field, and changes in optical absorption coefficients as a function of electric field. A formalism to study these effects for both lattice matched and nonlattice matched quantum well structures is provided and the potential of material tailoring for specific optical response is discussed. It is shown that the reliability of this technology is critically related to the fabrication of high-quality interfaces and alloys since even a one-monolayer variation in quantum well size can have a substantial effect on the modulation properties.     

静电放电参数对电极速度的相关性与机理分析

同步测量了带电人体手握金属小棒电极放电电流的参数和电极运动速度.金属小棒电极与靶电极相撞时的速度对放电电流参数(放电电流峰值、放电电流时间变化率的峰值、火花放电的弧长)的影响,用统计软件SPSS进行了考察,获得了在不同人体电压情况下小棒电极运动速度与放电参数的相关系数.结果表明:充电电压为0.3kV时,放电参数与电极运动速度无关.充电电压为0.5kV及其以上电压时,电极运动速度与放电电流峰值、电流最大上升斜率有极强的正相关性;与放电火花弧长有极强的负相关性.电极向靶的快速接近改变放电间隙的空气压强,改变间隙两端的电场强度,从而引起放电参数的显著变化.     

电子计价秤抗静电放电问题分析

静电的产生具有隐蔽性、潜在累积性,可能会造成电子产品工作异常、损坏,甚至引发其他的安全问题.在研发阶段应对电子秤产品进行静电放电抗扰度试验,分析并验证各种整改措施,为电子秤的后期开发提供必要的参考和依据.采用标准的试验设备、环境及操作,对电子秤分别进行接触放电和空气放电试验.结果表明:易受影响的关键模块为A/D转换器,产品的开发应着力于其选型和电路设计.     

微小间隙静电放电中两种放电模式的影响研究

设计实验讨论了被普遍认为是空气放电的带电体与受电体有相对运动速度的静电放电的参数变化性质。由于电极最终要碰触到放电靶上,所以,同时考虑接触放电模式的影响。在不同放电间隙情况下用静电放电发生器进行了实验,证实真实静电放电过程中存在两种放电模式。实验测量了在不同放电间隙状态下用静电放电发生器向靶运动放电的参数,分析了空气放电和接触放电对整个放电过程的作用影响。结果表明:有电极移动速度的静电放电应认为是接触放电与空气放电共同作用的综合放电过程。     

FDTD modelling of nonlinear spark in electrostatic discharge

An accurate numerical method for calculating nonlinear electrostatic discharges is presented. The method represents an improvement over the FDTD scheme in that it includes the arc model of Rompe and Weizel [1944]. Numerical results that demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the model are presented     

Electron-beam defocusing due to high-intensity RF fields

The electric fields associated with a "slow" electro-magnetic wave propagating along an electron beam will modulate this beam; the axial component of field will produce the usual "bunching," while the radial component will cause periodic perturbations in the radius of such an electron beam. This paper presents the results of analytical and experimental studies in an attempt to explain certain features of this defocusing effect of intense RF fields on the beam in a traveling-wave tube. In particular the effect of cathode flux on the RF defocusing of a beam in Brillouin flow is treated.