Thermo-dielectric effect

The thermo-dielectric effect is the production of electric currents and charge separation during phase transition.

This interesting effect was discovered by Joaquim da Costa Ribeiro in 1944. The Brazilian physicist observed that solidification and melting of many dielectrics are accompanied by charge separation. A thermo-dielectric effect was demonstrated with carnauba wax, naphthalene and paraffin. Charge separation in ice was also expected. This effect was observed during water freezing period, electrical storm effects can be caused by this strange phenomenon. Effect was measured by many researches - Bernhard Gross, Armando Dias Tavares, Sergio Mascarenhas etc. César Lattes (co-discoverer of the pion) supposed that this was the only effect ever to be discovered entirely in Brazil.

Further reading

• Gross, B. (1954). "Theory of Thermodielectric effect". Physical Review. 94 (6): 1545–1551. Bibcode:1954PhRv...94.1545G. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.94.1545.
• Saldaña, Juan José (2006). Science in Latin America: a history. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-71271-3.

External links

• Thermodielectric effect measurement