283:
very low pressures, only experiments which used very large voltages produced positive results, as a product of a greater chance of ionization of the extremely limited number of available air molecules, and a greater force from each ion from
Coulomb's Law; experiments which used lower voltages have a lower chance of ionization and a lower force per ion. Common to positive results is that the force observed is small in comparison to experiments conducted at standard pressure.
153:. This discovery caused him to assume that he had somehow influenced gravity electronically and led him to design a propulsion system based on this phenomenon. On 15 April 1927, he applied for a patent, entitled "Method of Producing Force or Motion," that described his invention as an electrical-based method that could control gravity to produce linear force or motion. In 1929, Brown published an article for the popular American magazine
275:
neutral particles is reduced. Whether this increases or decreases the maximum momentum of the ionized air is not typically measured, although the force acting upon the electrodes reduces, until the glow discharge region is entered. The reduction in force is also a product of the reducing breakdown voltage of air, as a lower potential must be applied between the electrodes, thereby reducing the force dictated by
Coulomb's Law.
221:
350:
magnitude too small to account for the observed force on the asymmetric capacitor in the air. Having proposed that the
Biefeld–Brown effect could theoretically be explained using ion drift instead of ion wind due to how the former involves collisions instead of ballistic trajectories, they noted these were only "scaling estimates" and more experimental and theoretical work was needed.
378:
157:, which detailed his work. The article also mentioned the "gravitator," an invention by Brown which produced motion without the use of electromagnetism, gears, propellers, or wheels, but instead using the principles of what he called "electro-gravitation." He also claimed that the asymmetric capacitors were capable of generating mysterious fields that interacted with the Earth's
36:
330:
researcher R. L. Talley conducted a test on a
Biefeld–Brown-style capacitor to replicate the effect in a vacuum. Despite attempts that increased the driving DC voltage to about 19 kV in vacuum chambers up to 10 torr, Talley observed no thrust in terms of static DC potential applied to the electrodes.
274:
As air pressure is removed from the system, several effects combine to reduce the force and momentum available to the system. The number of air molecules around the ionizing electrode is reduced, decreasing the quantity of ionized particles. At the same time, the number of impacts between ionized and
282:
Below the glow discharge region, the breakdown voltage increases again, whilst the number of potential ions decreases, and the chance of impact lowers. Experiments have been conducted and found to both prove and disprove a force at very low pressure. It is likely that the reason for this is that at
270:
However, this effect works using either polarity for the electrodes: the small or thin electrode can be either positive or negative, and the larger electrode must have the opposite polarity. On many experimental sites it is reported that the thrust effect of a lifter is actually a bit stronger when
239:
are used with a high voltage between them, ranging from a few kilovolts and up to megavolt levels, where one electrode is small or sharp, and the other larger and smoother. The most effective distance between electrodes occurs at an electric potential gradient of about 10 kV/cm, which is just below
349:
tested the
Biefeld–Brown effect by building four different-sized asymmetric capacitors based on simple designs found on the Internet and then applying a high voltage of around 30 kV to them. According to their report, the researchers wrote that the effects of ion wind was at least three orders of
172:
as his mentor and co-experimenter. Brown attended
Denison in Ohio for a year before he dropped out and records of him even having an association with Biefeld are sketchy at best. Brown claimed that he did a series of experiments with professor of astronomy Biefeld, a former teacher of Brown whom
278:
During the glow discharge regime, the air becomes a conductor. Though the applied voltage and current will propagate at nearly the speed of light, the movement of the conductors themselves is almost negligible. This leads to a
Coulomb force and change of momentum so small as to be zero.
240:
the nominal breakdown voltage of air between two sharp points, at a current density level usually referred to as the saturated corona current condition. This creates a high field gradient around the smaller, positively charged electrode. Around this electrode, ionization occurs, that is,
266:
and recently also in EHD cooling systems. The velocity achievable by such setups is limited by the momentum achievable by the ionized air, which is reduced by ion impact with neutral air. A theoretical derivation of this force has been proposed (see the external links below).
271:
the small electrode is the positive one. This is possibly an effect of the differences between the ionization energy and electron affinity energy of the constituent parts of air; thus the ease of which ions are created at the 'sharp' electrode.
118:
to be produced in the direction from the low-flux to the high-flux region compared to a conventional capacitor. These asymmetric capacitors became known as
Asymmetrical Capacitor Thrusters (ACT). The Biefeld–Brown effect can be observed in
368:
triggered by insufficient outgassing of the electrode assembly in the vacuum chamber and therefore misinterpreted the corona wind effects as a possible connection between gravitation and electromagnetism.
173:
Brown claimed was his mentor and co-experimenter at
Denison University.As of 2004, Denison University claims they have no record of any such experiments, or of any association between Brown and Biefeld.
188:" based on it being an electricity/gravity phenomenon. However, there is little evidence that supports Brown's claim on the effect's anti-gravity properties. Brown's patent made the following claims:
291:
Brown believed that his large, high voltage, high capacity capacitors produced an electric field strong enough to marginally interact with the Earth's gravitational pull, a phenomenon he labeled
402:
195:
There is a positive correlation between the dielectric strength of the material between the electrodes and the strength of the effect, where the higher the strength, the greater the effect.
201:
There is a positive correlation between the voltage difference between the capacitor plates and the strength of the effect, where the greater the voltage, the greater the effect.
192:
There is a negative correlation between the distance between the plates of the capacitor and the strength of the effect, where the shorter the distance, the greater the effect.
642:
335:
scientist
Jonathan Campbell tested a lifter in a vacuum at 10 torr with a voltage of up to 50 kV, only to observe no movement from the lifter. Campbell pointed out to a
322:
There have been follow-ups on the claims that this force can be produced in a full vacuum, meaning it is an unknown anti-gravity force, and not just the more well known
357:
conducted experiments on the Biefeld–Brown effect that supported one of ARL's hypotheses that assigned ion drift as the most likely source of the generated force.
315:" to a retelling of Brown's early work with the effect, implying he had discovered a new electrogravity effect and that it was being used by UFOs. Today, the
204:
There is a positive correlation between the mass of the dielectric material and the strength of the effect, where the greater the mass, the greater the effect.
907:
255:, where they are neutralized again. This produces an equally scaled opposing force in the lower electrode. This effect can be used for propulsion (see
198:
There is a positive correlation between the area of the conductors and the strength of the effect, where the greater the area, the greater the effect.
912:
An editor for the esteemed Jane's Defense Weekly says the U.S. government has been working on Nazi anti-gravity technology in secret for 50 years
346:
457:
Historically, numerous patents have been granted for various applications of the effect, including electrostatic dust precipitation,
295:. Several researchers claim that conventional physics cannot adequately explain the phenomenon. The effect has become something of a
650:
468:
364:
published a paper that also failed to replicate Brown's work and suggested that Brown may have instead observed the effects of a
124:
83:
causes a net propulsive force toward the smaller electrode. Brown believed effect was an anti-gravity force, and referred to as "
141:
The "Biefeld–Brown effect" was the name given to a phenomenon observed by Thomas Townsend Brown while he was experimenting with
779:
354:
855:"Calculation and measurement of a neutral air flow velocity impacting a high voltage capacitor with asymmetrical electrodes"
114:
The use of an asymmetric capacitor, with the negative electrode being larger than the positive electrode, allowed for more
823:
514:
149:
that he placed on a scale, Brown noticed a difference in the tube's mass depending on orientation, implying some kind of
342:
reporter that creating a true vacuum similar to space for the test requires tens of thousands of dollars in equipment.
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244:
are stripped from the atoms in the surrounding medium; they are literally pulled right off by the electrode's charge.
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728:
527:
300:
304:
710:
692:
103:
that transfers its momentum to surrounding neutral particles. It describes a force observed on an asymmetric
971:
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312:
208:
In 1965, Brown filed a patent that claimed that a net force on the asymmetric capacitor can exist even in a
164:
At some point this effect also gained the moniker "Biefeld–Brown effect", probably coined by Brown to claim
145:
during the 1920s while he was still in high school. When he applied a high voltage electrical charge to a
127:, which utilize the effect to produce thrust in the air without requiring any combustion or moving parts.
111:
potentials, a thrust at the negative terminal, pushing it away from the positive terminal, is generated.
184:(EHD). Brown also believed the Biefeld–Brown effect could produce an anti-gravity force, referred to as "
87:" based on it being an electricity/gravity phenomenon. It has since been determined that force is due to
966:
136:
76:
54:
804:
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866:
566:
181:
44:
956:
169:
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165:
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was granted to G.E. Hagen in 1964 for apparatus more or less identical to the later so-called '
405:— A method of and an apparatus or machine for producing force or motion (accepted 1928-11-15)
107:
when high voltage is applied to the capacitor's electrodes. Once suitably charged up to high
935:
874:
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336:
292:
252:
228:
185:
84:
49:
308:
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and envisioned a future where gravitators would propel ocean liners and even space cars.
931:
870:
570:
918:
Tajmar, M. (2004). "Biefeld-Brown Effect: Misinterpretation of Corona Wind Phenomena".
177:
108:
950:
554:
361:
212:. However, there is little experimental evidence that serves to validate his claims.
146:
17:
517:
from the original on 19 June 2017 – via Defense Technical Information Center.
256:
753:
598:
899:
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458:
365:
780:"A System for Liquid Cooling of Electronic Elements with EHD Pumping Mechanism"
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449:
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377:
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community, where it is seen as an example of something much more exotic than
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to describe the Biefeld–Brown effect, linking the phenomenon to the field of
150:
120:
104:
80:
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in the 1920s, where high voltage applied to the electrodes of an asymmetric
323:
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241:
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in the medium, which are attracted to the negative smooth electrode by
158:
879:
854:
176:
In his 1960 patent titled "Electrokinetic Apparatus," Brown refers to
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209:
115:
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is filled with sites devoted to this interpretation of the effect.
555:"Biefeld-Brown Effect: Misinterpretation of Corona Wind Phenomena"
376:
260:
99:
It is generally assumed that the Biefeld–Brown effect produces an
853:
Malik, M.; Primas, J.; Vopecky, V.; Svoboda, M. (January 2014).
597:
Canning, Francis; Melcher, Cory; Winet, Edwin (1 October 2004).
332:
263:
248:
232:
91:
that transfers its momentum to surrounding neutral particles.
29:
219:
75:
is an electrical phenomenon, first noticed by inventor
643:"Thomas Townsend Brown: Part IV of the Holiday Serial"
754:"The Super Power Issue: The Antigravity Underground"
345:Around the same time in 2003, researchers from the
559:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
311:devoted an entire chapter of their book on the "
287:Disputes surrounding electrogravity and ion wind
688:
686:
505:Bahder, Thomas; Fazi, Christian (June 2003).
353:Around ten years later, researchers from the
8:
227:The effect is generally believed to rely on
43:It has been suggested that this article be
803:Mallove, Eugene (September–October 2002).
247:This leaves a cloud of positively charged
235:near sharp points and edges. Usually, two
878:
824:"Twenty First Century Propulsion Concept"
27:Force observed on an asymmetric capacitor
599:"Asymmetrical Capacitors for Propulsion"
429:— Electrokinetic transducer (1962-01-23)
480:
445:— Electrokinetic apparatus (1965-06-01)
437:— Electrokinetic generator (1962-02-20)
421:— Electrokinetic apparatus (1960-08-16)
231:, which allows air molecules to become
910:from the original on 15 January 2011.
900:"The Hunt for Zero Point by Nick Cook"
747:
745:
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7:
592:
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588:
548:
546:
544:
542:
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486:
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394:T. T. Brown was granted a number of
168:professor of physics and astronomy
616:Pilkington, Mark (16 April 2003).
507:"Force on an Asymmetric Capacitor"
413:— Electrostatic motor (1934-09-25)
25:
752:Thompson, Clive (1 August 2003).
453:— Electric generator (1965-07-20)
553:Tajmar, Martin (February 2004).
34:
898:Kleiner, Kurt (5 August 2002).
355:Technical University of Liberec
347:Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
326:. As part of a study in 1990,
1:
732:The Man Who Mastered Gravity
714:The Man Who Mastered Gravity
696:The Man Who Mastered Gravity
675:The Man Who Mastered Gravity
618:"TT Brown's Electrogravitics"
603:NASA Technical Reports Server
531:The Man Who Mastered Gravity
511:U.S. Army Research Laboratory
60:Proposed since December 2023.
988:
822:Talley, R. L. (May 1991).
647:Systems Design Engineering
134:
831:Air Force Systems Command
805:"The "Lifter" Phenomenon"
679:How I Control Gravitation
581:– via ResearchGate.
736:The Biefeld Brown Effect
535:The Biefeld Brown Effect
843:Bahder 2003, pp. 21-22.
313:Philadelphia Experiment
307:. William L. Moore and
391:
224:
464:U.S. patent 3,120,363
450:U.S. patent 3,196,296
442:U.S. patent 3,187,206
434:U.S. patent 3,022,430
426:U.S. patent 3,018,394
418:U.S. patent 2,949,550
410:U.S. patent 1,974,483
383:U.S. patent 3,120,363
380:
223:
155:Science and Invention
137:Thomas Townsend Brown
135:Further information:
77:Thomas Townsend Brown
182:electrohydrodynamics
73:Biefeld–Brown effect
18:Biefeld-Brown effect
932:2004AIAAJ..42..315T
871:2014AIPA....4a7137M
571:2004AIAAJ..42..315T
170:Paul Alfred Biefeld
962:Physical phenomena
718:He Made Things Up
700:He Made Things Up
398:on his discovery:
392:
225:
166:Denison University
159:gravitational pull
880:10.1063/1.4864181
67:
66:
62:
16:(Redirected from
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712:Paul Schatzkin,
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694:Paul Schatzkin,
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673:Paul Schatzkin,
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649:. Archived from
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529:Paul Schatzkin,
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388:Flying apparatus
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293:electrogravitics
229:corona discharge
186:electrogravitics
85:electrogravitics
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50:Electrogravitics
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30:
21:
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809:Infinite Energy
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305:electrokinetics
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216:Effect analysis
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35:
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12:
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972:Electrostatics
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959:
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948:
945:
944:
940:10.2514/1.9095
926:(2): 315–318.
915:
893:
892:External links
890:
887:
886:
845:
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814:
795:
778:Kocik, Marek.
770:
758:Wired Magazine
739:
734:– Chapter 10
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703:
682:
664:
653:on 20 May 2014
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608:
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579:10.2514/1.9095
565:(2): 315–318.
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533:– Chapter 10
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461:, and flight.
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328:U.S. Air Force
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253:Coulomb's Law
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859:AIP Advances
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786:. Retrieved
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761:. Retrieved
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724:
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655:. Retrieved
651:the original
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625:. Retrieved
622:The Guardian
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393:
390:— G.E. Hagen
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257:EHD thruster
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98:
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68:
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48:
471:' devices.
366:corona wind
143:X-ray tubes
957:Propulsion
951:Categories
906:. Review.
475:References
237:electrodes
121:ionocrafts
101:ionic wind
89:ionic wind
763:27 August
657:27 August
627:27 August
360:In 2004,
331:In 2003,
242:electrons
151:net force
105:capacitor
81:capacitor
908:Archived
515:Archived
403:GB300311
340:magazine
324:ion wind
317:Internet
95:Overview
928:Bibcode
867:Bibcode
788:20 June
567:Bibcode
396:patents
373:Patents
299:in the
233:ionized
131:History
125:lifters
55:Discuss
469:lifter
210:vacuum
116:thrust
45:merged
904:Salon
827:(PDF)
783:(PDF)
338:Wired
264:pumps
261:fluid
47:into
790:2017
765:2018
659:2018
629:2018
333:NASA
249:ions
123:and
71:The
936:doi
875:doi
575:doi
301:UFO
259:),
53:. (
953::
934:.
924:42
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742:^
685:^
645:.
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587:^
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563:42
561:.
557:.
541:^
513:.
509:.
483:^
386:—
109:DC
942:.
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883:.
877::
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863:4
833:.
811:.
792:.
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661:.
631:.
605:.
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57:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
