Please check out the Koeth Group’s recent Science publication and videos capturing the extreme speed of dielectric breakdown during the formation of a Lichtenberg Figure.

For High-Speed Images of discharges in dielectric material, check out the page on our website. 

Introduction

Electrets are the (extended) electric analogue of Magnets. Electrets carry either a permanent net electric polarization or charge. When an electret has net charge rather than polarization the electret is known as “monopolar” (because the first term of the multipole expansion predominates in the electric field). Monopolar electrets are produced by imbedding electrons in a dielectric using a low energy (~10MeV) particle accelerator. Monopolar electrets with high charge density are normally somewhat unstable and prone to destructive discharge. The goal of our research is to advance knowledge and understanding of dielectric behavior in extreme electronic conditions via computational modeling and experimental interrogation of bulk electrets.

Our Work

Failure of electron charged acrylic, time-lapse (Picture by Dr. Koeth, published in Physics Today) compared to Dr. Hine’s discharge model:

Physics Today Backscatter: