Experiments on the Polarization and Decay of Electrets

Abstract

Experiments have been performed to test implications of a two‐charge theory of electrets. It was found that the persistent volume polarization of a number of dielectrics can be expressed by analytical functions which are linear in the applied field and exponential in time. The linear superposition of the effects of homocharge and heterocharge is demonstrated for some dielectrics and is shown to be violated for another, Lucite. The heterocharge and homocharge are demonstrated to be different but interacting entities, their interaction being given by the static field equations for a three‐layer capacitor. A major cause of electret decay is shown to be the self‐depolarization of the electret by its own electric field.