A simplified theory of pearl chain effects.
Many biological particles immersed in liquid media will align themselves and form pearl chains under an applied electric field. The alignment is independent of the frequency of the applied field, has a time delay, and can occur only when the field strength is greater than a certain minimum value. Also, at certain frequencies the particles will turn 90 degrees in space (turn-over phenomenon). In this paper we propose a simple theory explaining these phenomena and suggest further experimental checks and a possible application.
D002465:Cell Movement; D004560:Electricity; D004912:Erythrocytes; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D013997:Time Factors