Journal of Modern Physics, 2013, 4, 105-110

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmp.2013.48A009 Published Online August 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jmp)

Biefeld-Brown Effect and Space Curvature of

Electromagnetic Field
Algirdas Antano Maknickas
Institute of Mechanical Sciences, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Email: Algirdas.maknickas@vgtu.lt

Received May 29, 2013; revised July 3, 2013; accepted August 2, 2013

Copyright © 2013 Algirdas Antano Maknickas. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT
With applying of new proposed electromagnetic gravity Lagrangian together with Einstein-Hilbert equation not zero
space curvature was derived. The curvature gives “a priory” postulate of equivalence of mass and electro-magnetic field
gravity properties. The non-zero trace of energy-stress tensor of electrical field changes space curvature of gravity mass,
which yields to prediction of dependence of capacitor gravity mass from capacitor capacitance and voltage values, ob-
served in Biefeld-Brown effect. The other, not observed prediction could be applied to coil gravity mass dependence
from coil inductance and current values. New physical constant, electromagnetic field gravity constant αg, was intro-
duced to conform with theoretical and experimental data.

Keywords: Biefeld-Brown Effect; Space Curvature; Electromagnetic Gravity

1. Introduction Maxwell theory and predicted the coupling between both

fields. The newest references of investigations of elec-
Biefeld-Brown’s [1-6] effect has been known since 1928.
trodynamic lifter propulsion could be found in [13].
Christensen and Møller [7] built a Biefeld-Brown elec-
However, ambiguity of explanation of Biefeld-Brown
trode setup and published measurements of the obtained
effect indicates that new theoretical and experimental re-
thrust in ambient air. They also compared their results
searches are needed.
with theoretical predictions of electric wind effects. The
agreement was very good and tended to explain the
2. Einstein’s Field Equations
Biefeld-Brown effect as a purely electric wind pheno-
menon. The other try to verify the adequacy of Biefeld- Suppose that the full action of the theory is given by the
Brown effect with electric wind phenomena was made by Einstein-Hilbert [14] term plus a term M describing
Tajmar [8]. The author concluded in this article that elec- any matter fields appearing in the theory
tric wind phenomena can explain Biefeld-Brown effect.
 1 
The results [8] suggest that corona wind effects were S    R  M   g d 4 x . (1)
misinterpreted as a possible connection between gravita-  2 
tion and electromagnetism. Brown observed in [9] that
The action principle then tells us that the variation of
thiseffect remained even if the ambient medium was a
this action with respect to the inverse metric is zero,
vacuum (up to 10−6 Torr). Talley [10,11] studied Brown’s
yielding
electrode configurations in vacuum chambers up to 10−6
Torrin great detail. He found no thrust in the case of a S
static dc potential applied to the electrodes. However, he
noticed an anomalous force during electrical breakdowns

 
1  R
  
R  g 
 

1   g M   (2)
when the current was flowing. This force, the result of  2   g g  g

 g  g  
currents in divergent electric fields (due to the asymmet-  
rical electrode configuration) finds further support in  g   g d 4 x  0
five-dimensional theories coupling the gravitational
and electromagnetic field. Williams [12] integrated Since this equation should hold for any variation δgμν,
amass dependent fifth dimension into the relativistic it implies that

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106 A. A. MAKNICKAS

R R  g convention used here is     , corresponding to the


  metric tensor:
g g  g
(3) 1 0 0 0 
 2
1    g M ,  
 0 1 0 0  .
 g  (9)
g  0 0 1 0 
 
this equation of motion for the metric field could be  0 0 0 1
found. The calculation of the left hand side of the equa-
From the matrix form of the field tensor, it becomes
tion for the variations of the Ricci scalar R and the de-
clear that the electromagnetic tensor satisfies the follow-
terminant of the metric could be found in Carroll [15].
ing antisymmetry properties Fab = Fba (hence the name bi
After having of all the necessary variations at our dis-
vector) of six independent components.
posal, we can insert them into the equation of motion for
If one forms an inner product of the field strength ten-
the metric field to obtain
sor Lorentz invariant is formed:
1 8G
R  g  R  4 T , (4)  E2 
2 c Fab F ab  2  B 2  2   invariant, (10)
 c 
which is Einstein’s field equation [16,17] and constant
the Lagrangian of electromagnetic field in our model
8G
 4 (5) could be
c
 g c2
has been chosen so that the non-relativistic limit yields em   Fab F ab . (11)
the usual form of Newton’s gravity law, where G is the 4 0
gravitational constant and c is speed of light in vacuum. Lagrangian em differs from classic electromagnetic
The right hand side of this equation is (by definition) pro- field Lagrangian just with constant αgc2, where αg is
portional to the energy-stress tensor electromagnetic field gravity constant with dimension

T  2
1    g M  s2/m2, which could be calibrated on experiment data.
According to [18], it is safer to rewrite inner product

g g (6) of field strength tensor as FabFcdgacgbd. This gives for the
 M first term of sum of energy-stress tensor Equation (6).
 2   g  M .
g Fab F ab F F g ac g bd
2 
 2 ab cd   4 Fl Fl , (12)
The Lagrangian of mater must be chosen so, that it sat- g g
isfy conservation lows. A different result could be obtained, if inner product of
field strength tensor is leaving as FabFab. In this way re-
3. Einstein’s Field Equation for Gravity Mass sult is:
in Electromagnetic Field
Fab F ab
The electromagnetic tensor F 
in Cartesian coordi- 2  0. (13)
g 
nates is commonly written as a matrix:
 Ex c  E y c  Ez c  Let’s decide, that Equation (13) is true (discussion in
 0
E c Appendix), so the calculations of energy-stress tensor
0  Bz By 
F   term of electromagnetic field give result:
x
, (7)
 Ey c Bz 0  Bx 
  em
T
em 
 By  2  g  em
 E z c Bx 0 
g 
or (14)
 g c2  2 E 2 
 0 Ex c E y c Ez c    g   B  2 ,
2 0  c 
 E c 0  Bz By 
F   x
, (8) which is symmetric and satisfy rotation conservation
  E y c Bz 0  Bx 
  low.
  Ez c  By Bx 0 
4. Einstein’s Field Equation for Gravity
where E is the electric field, B the magnetic field,
Mass in Electromagnetic Field
and c the speed of light. The signs in the tensor above
depend on the convention used for the metric tensor. The According to Equation (6) energy-stress tensor of gravity

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 A. A. MAKNICKAS 107

mass in electromagnetic field could be found with adding (see for example [19]) is:
Lagrangian of gravitational and electromagnetic parts of
 r 2 
Lagrangian 1  0 0 0 
 3 
 g c2  1 
M    em    c 2  F F  , 0  0 0
4 0 g   r 2 , (22)
 1 
T  g  M , (15)  3 
 0 0 r 2 0 
gc  2 E 
2 2
 
T   g   c  g 
2
 B  2 . r 2 sin  
2 0  c   0 0 0

After inserting of energy-stress tensor of Equation (15) where Λ equals to

into Equation (4) Einstein-Hilbert field equation looks 8G  2  g c
2
 2 E2 
like this    c   B  2   . (23)
c 4  2 0  c 
1
R  g  R Thus, the gravitational potential of a point mass is
2
(16) r 2 c 2
8G   g c2  2 E2    (24)
  g  4   c 2   B  2   . 6
c  2 0  c 
4Gr 2  g  2 E2 
Taking the trace of Equation (16) (contracting with gμν)      B  2   (25)
and using the fact that gμνgμν = 4, we get for space curva- 3  2 0  c 
ture:
G  M  M eg 
32G  2  g c  2 E 2  
2
. (26)
R  c  B  2   , (17) r
c 4  2 0  c 
Equation (26) prove proposition, if the mass M equals
yielding the equivalent form of Equation (16) to absolute value of |Meg|, we have zero gravitational
gravity potential for gravity mass M and so such mass
8G  2  g c  2 E 2 
2

R  g   c  does not interact with external gravity field.

B  2   , (18)
c 4  2 0  c 
5. Biefeld-Brown Effect in Vacuum
Space curvature Equation (17) of spheric gravity mass
with radius r in electromagnetic field could be rewritten Replacing of magnetic field B with B = 0 and replacing
as of electric field density with capacitor energy density
multiplied by volume of electric field of capacitor in
24G
R 
c2 r 3
 M  M eg  , (19) Equation (20) gives for electro gravity mass of capacitor
CU 2
 gV  B2  M eg  g . (27)
M eg  0 E 
2
, (20) 2
2  0  The simple capacitor of two parallel conductive plates
4r 3 describes as
V  , (21)  0 S
3 C , (28)
d
where Meg is electromagnetic mass and V is volume of
electromagnetic field and is equal to volume of devices, so Equation (27) could be rewritten as:
which is inside this electromagnetic field.  0 SU 2
From Equation (19) assumption could be made, that M eg  g , (29)
summary curvature of the space generated by gravity 2d
mass should decrease in electric field and increase in where ε is relative permittivity of material, ε0 is absolute
magnetic field. If the mass of device M equals to absolute permittivity of vacuum, S is the area of the capacitor and
value of electromagnetic mass |Meg|, zero curvature of d is separation of the planes of the capacitor. Equation
such device could be obtained, so gravity mass of this (29) explains all experimental data observed Biefeld-
device stop interacting with the other gravity mass. Let’s Brown effect. The effect depends on the separation of the
prove it analytically. plates of the capacitor, the closer the plates, the greater
The solution of Equation (19) in spheric coordinates the effect. The effect depends on the dielectric strength

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108 A. A. MAKNICKAS

of the material between the electrodes, the higher the
strength, the greater the effect. The effect depends on the
area of the conductor, the greater the area, the greater the
effect. The effect depends on the voltage difference be-
tween the plates, the greater the voltage, the greater ef-
fect. The effect depends on the volume of the dielectric
material, the greater the volume, the greater part of elec-
tromagnetic energy concentrates in dielectric material,
the greater the effect.
Electro-gravity constant αg could be found from Bue-
hler [20] experiments. Author founds in their experi-
ments with capacitor isolated from electronic wind, that
lifting force of charged capacitor depends on energy of
this capacitor is
lifter acquire antigravity property through gravity shield-
ing of A·J member, which describe ionic wind.
7. Mass Increasing Effect of Inductance Coil
If do not zero space curvature of electric field explains
Biefeld-Brown effect excellently, the same effect, but
with increasing of device mass, must be observed in a
magnetic field. Analogically to Equation (29) electro-
gravity mass equation for inductance coil looks like this
LI 2
M eg   g , (37)
2
where L is the inductance, which depends on area and
amount of windings and coil length, and I is the current.

F 
 m  m  MG  mMG  k CU
eg
2
, (30)
Equation (37) predict similar effects, observed in Biefeld-
Brown experiments with a capacitor, but in opposite di-
R2 R2 2
rection of changing of coil mass: for the fixed inductance
where ΔF is lifting force, m is device mass, M mass of L increasing of current in coil must increase mass of the
earth, R earth radius and constant k equals to 0.47 . The coil.
inserting of numeric values of given constants into Equa-
tion (30) results for numeric value of electro-gravity con- 8. Conclusions
stant αg = 0.0479.
On the basis of the results obtained in this work the fol-
6. Biefeld-Brown Effect in Air lowing conclusions have been made:
1) Electro gravity mass equation is in good agreement
Lagrangian Equation (11) isn’t Gauge invariant and after with Biefeld-Brown effect and fully explains all qualita-
adding of JμAμ term new lagrangian tive data observed in this effect;
 1  2) Electromagnetic gravity model predicts decreasing
em   g c 2  Fab F ab  J  A  . (31) of gravity mass effect in electric field and increasing of
 4 0  gravity mass in magnetic field;
satisfy electromagnetic field’s equations of motion 3) Electromagnetic field gravity constant equals to αg =
0.0479 [s2/m2] and is the basic constant of proposed elec-
 F  0 J  (32) tromagnetic gravity model;
where Jμ is the four-current is the contravariant four- 4) The total curvature of electromagnetic wave is zero,
vector which combines electric current and electric charge but separate curvatures of electric and magnetic compo-
density as follows nents of the wave haven’t zero values.

J    c , J 
and A is the electromagnetic four-potential is a co-
variant four-vector containing the electric potential and
magnetic vector potential, as follows
A   c , A
(33) 9. Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank Gintaras Valiulis from Vilnius Univer-
sity and Algis Dziugys from Lithuanian Energy Institute
for discussions and notes, which helps definitely under-
(34) stand problem of new proposed electro-gravity model.

So Equation (15) must be rewritten as follow

REFERENCES
 g c2  2 E 2 
T   g   c  g 
2
B  2  [1] T. T. Brown, “A Method of and an Apparatus or Machine
2 0  c  (35) for Producing Force or Motion,” UK Patent No. 00.311,
 g   g c 2   A  J  1928.
[2] T. T. Brown, Science and Invention (Reprinted in Psychic
and Equation (20) transforms into Observer), Vol. 37, 1929, pp. 66-67.
 gV  B2  [3] T. T. Brown, “Electrostatic Motor,” US Patent No. 1.974.483,
M eg  0 E     A  J 
2
(36) 1934.
2  0 
[4] T. T. Brown, “Electrokinetic Apparatus,” US Patent No.
Equation (36) shows, that electromagnetic propulsion 2.949.550, 1960.

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 A. A. MAKNICKAS
[5] T. T. Brown, “Electrokinetic Transducer,” US Patent No.
3.018.394, 1962.
[6] T. T. Brown, “Electrokinetic Generator,” US Patent No.
3.022.430, 1962.
[7] P. S. Christensen and E. A. and Møller, AIAA Journal,
Vol. 5, 1967, pp. 1768-1773. doi:10.2514/3.4302
[8] M. Tajmar, AIAA Journal, Vol. 42, 2004, pp. 315-318.
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[9] T. T. Brown, “Electrokinetic Apparatus,” US Patent No.
3.187.206, 1965.
[10] R. L. Talley, “21st Century Propulsion Concept, US Air
Force Astronautics Lab., Final Rept. AFAL-TR-88-031”.
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US Air Force Propulsion Directorate.
[12] P. E. Williams, “The Possible Unifying Effect of the Dy-
namic Theory,” Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Los Ala-
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[13] K. Masuyama, “Performance Characterization of Elec-
trohydrodynamic Propulsion Devices,” Massachusetts In-
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[14] D. Hilbert, Konigl. Gesell. d. Wiss. Gottingen, Nachr.
Math.-Phys. Kl., 1915, pp. 395-407.
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[16] A. Einstein, Annalen der Physik, Vol. 40, 1916, pp. 284-
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JMP
110 A. A. MAKNICKAS

Appendix: Discussion on Classic Derivation where Fkl is described as

of Electromagnetic Energy-Stress Tensor Al Ak
ik Fkl   . (47)
According to [21] energy-stress tensor T of electro- x k xl
magnetic field could be derived from action principle Tensor in Equation (46) isn’t symmetric. The trace cal-
 q  culation of energy-stress tensors Equation (46) gives
 S      q, i  dVdt  0. (38)
 x 
Ti  
i 1  AF 
l il


1 
F F lm , (48)
Variation of given action and determination it to zero 0 xi 0 lm
leads to equation
which is true in electromagnetic field without charge,
Ti k because δFil/δxi. Equation (48) satisfy Equation (43)
 0, (39)
xk transformation and finally the last equation could be re-
where written as
 1
Ti k  q,i   ik . (40) Ti i  Flm F lm  0. (49)
q, k 0
Equation (39) is equivalent to proposition, that it is On the other hand symmetrization of Tki for indexes
obtained conservation low of 4-momentum vector Pi i  k could be reached, if the term would be added
1 ik
1  A Fl
i k
 
c
Pi  T dS k , (41) 1 Ai k
Fl  (50)
0 xl 0 xl
where integration is making in all hyperplane. Descrip-
tion of Tik, grounded on Equation (41) is ambiguous, be- It could be made too, because it is Equation (42) trans-
cause every tensor described as formation. The result of following transformations is new
symmetric tensor
 ikl
T ik 
x i
 ,  ikl   ilk (42)
T ik

1 Al kl
F 
1  AF
l il
1
 g ik T

i  k 
meets conservation low Equation (39). Trace of given 0 x i 4 0 x i
4
(51)
energy-stress tensor with additional term 1  il k 1 ik 
T ik
  F Fl  g Flm F lm 

i  k 
0  4 
T  i  iil (43)
x Transformations Equation (50) applied to whole Tki
generally isn’t zero and must be calibrated with experi- tensor change both not diagonal elements and diagonal
ment. elements of energy-stress tensor, which trace after trans-
The other rotational momentum conservation low spe- formation become zero
cify energy-stress tensor to be symmetric Ti i  0. (52)
T ik
T ki
(44)
The answer to this question, which Equation (49) or
and it could be reached with choosing of Ψikl. Equation (52) is true, could be given just by experiments
Now all this could be used to get Tik for Lagrangian of in a pure electric and magnetic fields. If gravity mass do
electromagnetic field not interact in both pure electric and magnetic fields, we
1 must leave energy-stress tensor trace zero equality axiom.
 Fkl F kl , (45) If interaction of gravity mass and pure electric and mag-
4 0
netic fields exist, there is sample explanation of this in-
which gives teraction within assumption of not zero trace of energy-
1 Al kl 1 k stress tensor.
Ti k   F   i Flm F lm , (46)
0 xi 4 0

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