UC Riverside Researchers' Discovery Of Electrostatic Spin Topples Century-old Theory

Science Daily ^ | 4-3-2003 | Editorial Staff

[vannrox]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- April 2, 2003 -- In a discovery that is likely to impact fields as diverse as atomic physics, chemistry and nanotechnology, researchers have identified a new physical phenomenon, electrostatic rotation, that, in the absence of friction, leads to spin. Because the electric force is one of the fundamental forces of nature, this leap forward in understanding may help reveal how the smallest building blocks in nature react to form solids, liquids and gases that constitute the material world around us.

Scientists Anders Wistrom and Armik Khachatourian of University of California, Riverside first observed the electrostatic rotation in static experiments that consisted of three metal spheres suspended by thin metal wires, and published their observations in Applied Physics Letters. When a DC voltage was applied to the spheres they began to rotate until the stiffness of the suspending wires prevented further rotation. The observed electrostatic rotation was not expected and could not be explained by available theory.

Wistrom and Khachatourian designed the study with concepts they had developed earlier. "Experimental and theoretical work from our laboratory suggested that the cumulative effect of electric charges would be an asymmetric force if the charges sitting on the surface of spheres were asymmetrically distributed," said Wistrom. "In the experiments, we could control the charge distribution by controlling the relative position of the three spheres."

Yet, for more than 200 years, researchers have known only about the push and pull of electric forces between objects with like or unlike charges. Since as early as 1854, when Thomson, later to become Lord Kelvin, theorized about an electric potential surrounding charged objects, scientists have concentrated on understanding how electric and magnetic phenomena are related.

"While Thomson's hypothesis of electric potential has brought enormous benefits when it comes to modern electromagnetic technologies, we now realize that his definition of electric potential was not exact," said Wistrom. "The effects are particularly noticeable when the spheres are very close to one another." (Electric potential is the ratio of the work done by an external force in moving a charge from one point to another divided by the magnitude of the charge.)

Indeed, the general applicability of Thomson's theory has not been tested experimentally or theoretically until now. In the Journal of Mathematical Physics, Wistrom and Khachatourian recently published the breakthrough that provides the theoretical underpinnings for electrostatic rotation. "It is very satisfying to learn that electrostatic rotation can be predicted by the simple laws of voltage and force that date back at least 200 years," Wistrom said.

He added, "This is curiosity driven research that starts with a simple question and ultimately leads to findings that will likely have impacts across many fields of science and engineering. Because electrostatic rotation without friction leads to spin, we can only speculate how this discovery will provide new approaches to aid the investigation of fundamental properties of matter."

Spin is used in quantum mechanics to explain phenomena at the nuclear, atomic, and molecular domains for which there is no concrete physical picture. "So the discovery of electrostatic rotation and the identification of electrostatic spin as a natural phenomenon opens up an entirely new field of inquiry with the potential for significant advances," Wistrom said.

Editor's Note: The original news release can be found here.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued for journalists and other members of the public. If you wish to quote any part of this story, please credit University Of California - Riverside as the original source. You may also wish to include the following link in any citation:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/04/030403072949.htm

[Southack]

"The right-hand rule deals with an electric current. The news above deals with an electrostatic charge."

Silly me, I always thought that DC (as in the "DC Voltage" applied to the spheres in this experiment) stood for Direct Current...

< /SARCASM >

[Physicist]

Already posted.

[Yeti]

When things like this come out, it is sometimes hard to tell whether the "scientists" are really that stupid, or if they are just bold frauds, playing to the ignorant in hopes of notoriety and grant money.

[Hank Kerchief]

Run a current through some spheres and they start to rotate...

Not a current. An electrostatic charge. There is no electromagnetic effect if there is not current.

Hank

[MainFrame65]

"I guess it just seems to me that there's too much beauty in the symmetry arguments of classical physics to do such a thing."

From my reading, the effect is very small. And for a very small effect, I suspect that very small asymmetries in the experimental setup might be the cause.

Still, this is interesting. Zero-point energy should be a scalar value, not a vector. This would be something else.

[aruanan]

Silly me, I always thought that DC (as in the "DC Voltage" applied to the spheres in this experiment) stood for Direct Current...

They used DC to charge the spheres. After they were charged, their charge was static. A static charge has no flow of current. The right-hand rule applies to a current flowing along a conductor.

[John Locke]

Maybe. But the story said they applied "a DC charge" to the spheres. That implies an electric current, at least for a short while. But hey, the story sure confuses me, so I could be wrong.

[John Locke]

There would have to be some prefered directionality in space-time for this to be true, and that's not observed in other places.

My feeling also. Of course, there is a preferred directionality in a terrestrial laboratory, thanks to the Earth's rotation and magnetic field. That would be my first suspect if things start mysteriously to spin.

[Hank Kerchief]

Maybe. But the story said they applied "a DC charge" to the spheres. That implies an electric current, at least for a short while. But hey, the story sure confuses me, so I could be wrong.

I agree the article did lack a certain lucidity, well, actually, it was damn confusing. You are absolutely right, DC is current, not a charge, and a charge is "electorstatic," not current. There is also the fact that the spin had something to do with the relationship of the charged spheres to each other, which think is the most interesting aspect (but apparently most neglected) of the story.

Hank

[Gary Boldwater]

It can be explained by current knowledge (forgive the pun). The field of an isolated charged conducting sphere is circularly symettric and the charge is on the surface. It experiences no torque.
In the presence of the other spheres the field is no longer circularly symettric. Forces are experienced by the sphere, causing rotation and probably pendular displacement.
The simplest example of this is an electron above a flat metal plate. The field of the electron is no longer circularly symettric. Because of this, it tends to move toward the plate (by induction of "positive" charge density on the surface of the plate, "positive" meaning less electrons in the vicinity).
If the net lines of force on a charged object are not symettric, the object will go into motion to try and make the field lines symettric through the motion. This is more apparent with materials that have less charge mobility.
The rotation rate is inversely proportional to the conductivity. The greater the conductivity, the faster the relaxation time of the material (the quicker charge can redistribute on the surface)and the less torque it experiences.

The rotating spheres do create a magnetic field.

[Southack]

While "a [Direct Current] DC voltage was applied to the spheres they began to rotate until the stiffness of the suspending wires prevented further rotation."

[JoeSchem]

Call us when you get linear propulsion a la 'The Dean Drive.'

Knight's Quest: Or How I learned to stop worrying and love the Crack of Doom

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Spin is used in quantum mechanics to explain phenomena at the nuclear, atomic, and molecular domains for which there is no concrete physical picture.

Spin is used in other areas too. Sigh. I wish I understood stuff like this but I'm too lazy or busy or both to study it. It sounds cool, though.

[bonesmccoy]

AHHH!!! Check out the spin out of these two metal spheres???

[aruanan]

While "a [Direct Current] DC voltage was applied to the spheres they began to rotate until the stiffness of the suspending wires prevented further rotation."

You altered the quote:

When a DC voltage was applied to the spheres they began to rotate until the stiffness of the suspending wires prevented further rotation.

The sentence in question does not say "while" but "when". You're assuming that it means "throughout the time that the current was being applied, the spheres rotated". This is not what it says. It does not say that a continuous current supplied the motive force for the rotation. This sentence is somewhat ambiguous. It could just as easily be saying that an applied DC current imparted a static charge which then drove the motion of the spheres in a manner hitherto unexpected. Since the whole point of the article is that the motion is unlike that of a typical motor, the latter is the more likely interpretation of the sentence.

[Southack]

I'm just saying that from the article, it appears to me as though these two "geniuses" have re-discovered the Right Hand rule.

Apply direct current [DC]. Get magnetic field effect.

Now, can I have my grant money for this "breakthrough"?!

[wcbtinman]

Gee wizz, I knew about this years ago. Didn't think it meant much. Still don't

[_Jim]

Anybone here understand the principle upon which a 'circulator' (three port RF device) or 'isolator' (two port RF device) operates on (electron precession)?

[Enduring Freedom]

Ayn Rand's electrostatic engine?

All government shills (arch enemies of personal freedom) now chime in.