Stress in Dielectrics
(Biefeld-Brown Effect)

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Relevant Documents | Relevant Articles | Submitted Articles | Letters

"Stress in Dielectrics" is a rather innocuous description of what is by far the most controversial aspects of Townsend Brown's research. Simply stated by Townsend Brown in 1977:

"The basic Biefeld-Brown effect is quite simple. It is manifested as a departure from the Coulomb Law of electrostatic attraction, in that the opposite forces are not equal. The negative electrode appears to chase the positive electrode, so that there is a net force of the system (dipole) in the negative-to-positive direction.The Biefeld-Brown Effect states that in a highly charged, two-electrode system, the positive electrode will "lead" the negative electrode in the direction of the line between the two electrodes, or, the negative electrode will appear to be more attracted to the positive electrode than vice-versa. The negative electrode appears to "chase" the positive electrode, so that there is a net force of the system (a dipole) in the negative to positive direction.

This 'pure' force is a secondary effect and therefore somewhat difficult to isolate from ambient electrostatic forces which are much stronger by nature and tend to confuse any observations and there interpretation."

The "Biefeld-Brown Effect," sometimes referred to as the "Townsend Brown Effect," is frequently erronously associated with ionic wind "lifters," most likely stemming from Townsend Brown's work with electrostatic speakers/fans/precipitators, which were designed to maximize the ionic (electrostatic) wind effect. The "thrust" created by lifters is due to the ionization of atmospheric gases, and the apparatuses are designed to maximize that effect. Two fundamental characteristics of the Biefeld-Brown Effect become clear to the studious observer:

1) It has been proven numerous times that lifters will not work in a vacuum, demonstrating that ionic wind is, in fact, responsible for the thrust generated, and thus, any force generated by the coupling of electromagnetic and gravitational force would represent the normal residual gravitational field associated with any electromagnetic effect.

Townsend Brown conclusively demonstrated in France in the 1950's that his tri-arcuate discs performed more efficiently in a vacuum than at atmospheric pressure. Although the discoid apparatuses worked well in air, the associated ionic wind was considered wasted energy, and they were specifically designed to work most efficiently in a vacuum. At higher pressures associated with atmospheric pressures, significant ionic wind associated with the high voltages used in the discoid apparatuses was utilized to enhance the thrust. As the vacuum increased the discoid apparatuses utilized an effect called plasmahydrodynamics to enhance the thrust, until ultimately relying primarily on the Biefeld-Brown Effect as ultra-high vacuum pressures were obtained.

2) The pure Biefeld-Brown Effect does not incorporate an ionic wind component.

Relevant Documents:

"Thomas Townsend Brown: Electro-Gravity Device , An Investigation Relative to T. T. Brown," by Willoughby M. Cady (ONR, Pasadena), Office of Naval Research File 24-185 (15 September 1952).

(Duplicate link in the Electrogravitic Communication section)

"Another Step Toward Anti-Gravity" by Gaston Burridge. PDF (courtesty of the Clarksville-Harrison Public Library, Gray Barker Collection)

"The Application of the Biefield-Brown Effect to the Solution of the Problems of Space Navigation" by Mason Rose, Ph.D., President.

"Electrogravitic Systems," prepared by Gravity Research Group, Aviation Studies (International) Limited, 1956.

"The Gravitics Situation," prepared for Gravity Rand Ltd., 1956.

"Hello Stupid," by A.L. Kitselman., 1962. A copy of the full, 100-page version of "Hello Stupid," by Beau Kitselman is available at HelloStupid.Org courtesy of "Tyler.")

"How I Control Gravitation."

"Method for Producing Gravitationally Anomalous Materials" (PDF).

Letters Patent to be Applied for: "Method and Means for COntrolling Gravitation and for Deriving Power Therefrom - Magnetic Method" (PDF).

Research & Preliminary Engineering Proposal - Space Vehicle Program, Appendix and Addenda A-D.

(Duplicate link in the Electrogravitic Communication section)

"The Wizard of Electro-gravity," by William Moore, Saga UFO Report, 1978.

"The Wizard of Electro-gravity Revisited," by William Moore, Saga UFO Report.

Please be advised that several of the above documents are copyrighted © by The Townsend Brown family. All rights reserved. Please see Legal and Copyright Information for additional copyright information.

Relevant Articles:

Abstract: Physical Review, Vol. 31 (Jan-Jun 1928), p.1113.

Abstract: Physical Review, Vol. 35 (Jan-Jun 1930), p.296, P. I. Wold, "Continued Researches of Brush."

Abstract: Physical Review, Vol. 37 (Jan-Jun 1931), p.460, P. I. Wold, "Continued Researches of Brush."

Abstract: Physical Review, Vol. 38 (1931), p.1920, A. C. Longden, "Continued Researches of Brush."

Antigravity "Conquest of Gravity Aim of Top Scientists in U.S.", New York Herald-Tribune," Sunday, November 20, 1955, pp. l & 36.

Brush, Charles F., March 10, 1911, "Science."

Brush, Charles F., March 23, 1911, "A Kinetic Theory of Gravitation," "Nature," Vol. 86, pp.130-2 (Source: Rex Research).

Lodge, Sir Oliver, March 30, 1911, "Letter to the Editor, Re: A Kinetic Theory of Gravitation," "Nature," Vol. 86.

Brush, Charles F., 1914, "Discussion of a Kinetic Theory of Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 53, pp. 118-128.

Brush, Charles F., 1921, "Discussion of a Kinetic Theory of Gravitation, II, and Some New Experiments in Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 60, pp.43-61.

Brush, Charles F., 1922, "Discussion of a Kinetic Theory of Gravitation, II, and Some New Experiments in Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 61, pp.167-83.

Brush, Charles F., 1923, "Discussion of a Kinetic Theory of Gravitation, II, and Some New Experiments in Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 62 (1923), pp. 75-89,

Brush, Charles F., 1924, "Some New Experiments in Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 63 (1924), pp. 57-61.

Brush, Charles F., 1925, "Some New Experiments in Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 64, pp. 36-50.

Brush, Charles F., 1926, "Discussion of The Kinetic Theory of Gravitation III," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 65, pp.207-31.

Brush, Charles F., 1928, "Discussion of The Kinetic Theory of Gravitation IV : Correlation of Continual Generation of Heat in Some Substances, and Impairment of Their Gravitational Acceleration," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 67, pp.105-117.

Brush, Charles F., 1928, "Some Experimental Evidence Supporting The Kinetic Theory of Gravitation," Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 206 (August), No.2, pp.143-149.

Brush, Charles F., 1929, "Gravitation," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 68, pp.55-68 (Source: Rex Research).

Nuclear Gravitation Field Theory by Kenneth F. Wright, P.E., May 10, 1999, Updated: March 5, 2004.

A collection of information on various aspects in the UFO Propogation, Dielectrics, and Electron Field Generator sections by Paul Potter at Energy 21.

Saxl, Dr. Erwin J., 1964, "An Electrically Charged Torque Pendulum," Pin Hill, Harvard, Massachusetts, "Nature," July 11, 1964, Vol 203. p.138-140.

Submitted Articles:

"Chronal Reaction Method for Propulsion" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"Practical Application for the Negative Time Hypothesis" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"Reactionless Propulsion and Active Force" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"The Action" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"The Concept of Mass-Process" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"The Gravitation Conception and Experiments" by Alexander V. Frolov.

"Work is Created by Means of a Potential Field" by Alexander V. Frolov.

Relevant Letters:

An interesting perspective from Thomas Pawlicki.