Why do particle clouds generate electric charges

Granular flows, such as in silos or desert sandstorms, can form charged particle clouds in the presence of an electric field. Simulations and experiments on inert grains explain how significant electrical charges are able to accumulate.

[1]  E. Gill.  Frictional Electrification of Sand , 1948, Nature.

[2]  A. Kamra.  Physical Sciences: Visual Observation of Electric Sparks on Gypsum Dunes , 1972, Nature.

[3]  J. Kok,et al.  Enhancement in wind-driven sand transport by electric fields , 2009 .

[4]  K. Palmer.  Dust Explosions and Fires , 1973 .

[5]  G. Castle,et al.  Induction charge on freely levitating particles , 2003 .

[6]  T. Shinbrot,et al.  Triboelectrification and razorbacks: geophysical patterns produced in dry grains. , 2006, Physical review letters.

[7]  C. Moore,et al.  Lightning in volcanic clouds , 1974 .

[8]  G. B..  The Dynamical Theory of Gases , 1916, Nature.

[9]  Youhe Zhou,et al.  Theoretical model of the electric field produced by charged particles in windblown sand flux , 2004 .

[10]  P. E. Shaw,et al.  The Electrical Charges from Like Solids , 1926, Nature.

[11]  W. R. Harper.  Contact and frictional electrification , 1967 .

[12]  H. Edens,et al.  Electrical Activity During the 2006 Mount St. Augustine Volcanic Eruptions , 2007, Science.

[13]  J. Latham,et al.  The electrification of snowstorms and sandstorms , 1964 .

[14]  L. McCarty,et al.  Electrostatic charging due to separation of ions at interfaces: contact electrification of ionic electrets. , 2008, Angewandte Chemie.

[15]  A. Mills.  Dust clouds and frictional generation of glow discharges on Mars , 1977, Nature.

[16]  Daniel J Lacks,et al.  Electrification of granular systems of identical insulators. , 2009, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[17]  R. L. Braun,et al.  Viscosity, granular‐temperature, and stress calculations for shearing assemblies of inelastic, frictional disks , 1986 .

[18]  Peter M. Ireland,et al.  The role of changing contact in sliding triboelectrification , 2008 .

[19]  Triboelectrification of identical insulators. I. An experimental investigation , 1986 .

[20]  P. E. Shaw.  Electrical separation between identical solid surfaces , 1926 .

[21]  B. Vonnegut,et al.  Electrical Breakdown Caused by Dust Motion in Low-Pressure Atmospheres: Considerations for Mars , 1973, Science.

[22]  P. Haff,et al.  Simulation of Eolian Saltation , 1988, Science.

[23]  D. Lacks,et al.  Effect of particle size distribution on the polarity of triboelectric charging in granular insulator systems , 2007 .

[24]  Keith M. Forward,et al.  Particle‐size dependent bipolar charging of Martian regolith simulant , 2009 .

[25]  Bernard Vonnegut,et al.  Electricity in Volcanic Clouds , 1965, Science.

[26]  T. Shinbrot,et al.  Spontaneous tribocharging of similar materials , 2008 .

[27]  H. A. Stone,et al.  Non-coalescence of oppositely charged drops , 2009, Nature.