Texas company to deploy Tesla-class WIRELESS electricity distribution based on Zenneck surface waves
by Lance D. Johnson
(Natural News) The Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) at Baylor University is currently hosting six technology companies in hopes of producing WIRELESS electricity delivery systems in the coming years. Texas-based Viziv Technologies is leading the way, bringing to fruition a technology that is four decades in development. Their goal is to commercialize wireless electrical energy to deliver electricity over long distances. Once finalized, the wireless energy would be even more durable than current electrical systems — and could withstand EMP attacks, solar flares, lightning and peak energy.
Texas company is working on a breakthrough wireless electricity distribution system
Viziv Technologies uses a wireless electricity distribution system that is based on Zenneck surface waves. Surface waves, or electromagnetic waves, naturally follow the contours of a surface and travel better along specific materials. Zenneck waves travel best at high frequencies with a conductor covered in a dielectric material. These secure surfaces carry high bandwidth, require little power, and do not cause interference.
In fact, the surface delivery systems are so durable, any tears or breaks in a surface do not cut the connection or flow of electricity. The Zenneck surface wave cannot be disrupted by lightning, geomagnetic interference, electromagnetic pulse or solar flare either. Wireless electrical delivery does not depend on a grid and would not be vulnerable to failure during peak power usage. The American National Standards Institute finds the radio-frequencies to be safe. The intensity of these electrical delivery systems is less than one percent of the current ANSI safety standard. Viziv wants to use these surface wave technologies to efficiently deliver electrical power to hard-to-reach areas around the globe.
Zenneck surface waves are a specific type of electromagnetic wave that travels along the boundary between a dielectric, like air, and a conductor, like the Earth or seawater. These waves are unique because they propagate closely along the surface, rather than radiating freely like traditional electromagnetic waves. Their ability to travel over long distances with minimal energy loss makes them valuable for various applications, including wireless communication, energy transmission, and radar systems. The study of Zenneck waves provides insights into how waves can be transmitted effectively along conductive surfaces, a concept that continues to generate interest in both scientific research and practical applications.
The theory behind Zenneck surface waves was first described by German physicist Jonathan Zenneck in the early 1900s. Zenneck was particularly interested in how electromagnetic waves could propagate over the Earth’s surface, especially over conductive surfaces like oceans. His work built upon previous studies of electromagnetic wave propagation, including those of Arnold Sommerfeld, another physicist who investigated surface wave phenomena. Zenneck waves can be understood as a solution to Maxwell’s equations, where a conductive boundary such as the Earth acts as a guiding surface for the electromagnetic waves. Zenneck’s equations provided a framework for understanding how waves could remain bound to the surface and travel long distances with minimal radiation loss.
Zenneck waves are typically classified as transverse magnetic (TM) waves, meaning the electric field has a component perpendicular to the surface on which the waves propagate. As they move along the boundary, Zenneck waves decay exponentially with distance from the surface, both into the air and into the conductor. This localized behavior makes them highly efficient for transmitting signals over large distances, particularly when the surface is highly conductive, such as seawater. For this reason, Zenneck waves have been studied in connection with marine communication and coastal radar systems, where their ability to propagate along the Earth's surface with minimal loss is particularly advantageous.
The history of Zenneck surface waves begins in 1907 when Jonathan Zenneck published his research on how electromagnetic waves could propagate along the Earth’s surface. At the time, scientists were deeply interested in improving long-distance wireless communication, particularly for marine and coastal applications. Zenneck’s insights into surface-bound wave propagation provided a foundation for understanding how electromagnetic waves could be transmitted across the Earth’s surface, offering a reliable means of communication over the ocean. Zenneck’s work on surface waves influenced early developments in wireless telegraphy and radio communication, as his equations demonstrated how waves could travel efficiently along the surface of the Earth.
While Zenneck waves were initially considered for long-distance communication, they were not widely adopted as the primary method for most wireless systems. As technologies evolved, other methods of electromagnetic wave transmission became more prominent, especially with the rise of satellite communications. However, Zenneck waves continue to be of interest for modern applications, especially in fields like metamaterials and surface waveguiding systems. In recent decades, renewed interest in surface-bound waves has emerged, as researchers explore how these waves can be used for advanced communication systems and energy transmission.
Zenneck waves are distinct from other types of surface waves, particularly those described by Arnold Sommerfeld. While Sommerfeld waves also involve surface-bound propagation, they differ in how they treat the Earth’s conductivity. Sommerfeld waves assume that the Earth is an imperfect conductor, leading to different propagation characteristics compared to Zenneck waves. In contrast, Zenneck waves are more relevant for highly conductive surfaces, making them particularly effective for applications involving seawater and other conductive environments.
One of the primary challenges in working with Zenneck waves is ensuring efficient coupling to the surface. For Zenneck waves to propagate effectively, a specialized interface is required between the dielectric (such as air) and the conductor (such as the Earth or metal). Specialized antennas or devices are often needed to generate and receive Zenneck waves, making their implementation somewhat complex. Nonetheless, their ability to remain bound to the surface and transmit energy over long distances continues to attract interest, particularly in fields such as wireless power transmission and advanced radar systems.
Zenneck waves have the potential to play a significant role in modern technologies, particularly as research continues in areas that benefit from surface-bound waveguides and non-radiating communication systems. Their unique characteristics make them valuable for applications where minimal radiation loss and surface-bound propagation are essential. For instance, Zenneck waves have been studied for their potential in wireless power transmission systems, where energy could be transmitted across the Earth’s surface efficiently, potentially offering a solution for large-scale energy distribution.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Zenneck surface waves is their potential connection to the work of notable inventors like Nikola Tesla. While Tesla did not explicitly mention Zenneck waves in his experiments, his work on wireless energy transmission likely involved similar surface-bound wave phenomena. Tesla's experiments, particularly with the Wardenclyffe Tower, aimed to use the Earth as a conductor to transmit power and signals over long distances. This concept aligns closely with Zenneck waves, which also involve the Earth acting as a conductive surface for efficient energy transmission. Tesla’s focus on using the Earth's natural resonance and his exploration of ground-based wireless power transmission suggests that he likely utilized a form of surface-bound electromagnetic wave propagation, even if he didn’t specifically refer to them as Zenneck waves.
Another inventor whose work may have involved surface-bound waves is Nathan Stubblefield, an American inventor known for his early wireless telephone system. Stubblefield’s wireless communication device used the Earth as a conductor, allowing for the transmission of signals over short distances. This system, while not identical to Zenneck waves, likely operated on similar principles of surface-bound wave propagation. Stubblefield’s work predates Zenneck’s formal description of surface waves, but his use of the Earth as a medium for communication suggests that he may have been utilizing a form of surface wave propagation.
In addition to Tesla and Stubblefield, other inventors and researchers explored similar concepts related to surface-bound electromagnetic waves. Guglielmo Marconi, a pioneer of long-distance radio communication, used ground waves in his early experiments, particularly for marine communication. Ground waves are closely related to surface waves like Zenneck waves, as they also propagate along the Earth’s surface. Heinrich Hertz, whose experiments with electromagnetic waves laid the groundwork for modern wave theory, also contributed to the understanding of how electromagnetic waves propagate over various surfaces.
In modern times, Zenneck waves have seen renewed interest in fields such as metamaterials and plasmonics, where their ability to propagate along surfaces with minimal energy loss is being explored for new applications. Researchers are investigating how these waves might be used in advanced communication systems, surface-based energy transmission, and even in the development of novel waveguides for photonic systems. As technology continues to evolve, the potential applications for Zenneck waves are expanding, making them an exciting area of study in both theoretical and applied physics.
For those looking to explore the topic of Zenneck waves further, several key academic papers provide a comprehensive analysis of their behavior and applications. One such work is Electromagnetic Surface Waves by J A Kong, which offers a detailed mathematical treatment of various surface wave phenomena, including Zenneck waves. Another valuable resource is The Zenneck Wave and Its Relation to Radiation by G J Burke and A J Poggio, which explores the specific characteristics of Zenneck waves in comparison to other electromagnetic waves. Additionally, Electromagnetic Surface Waves: A Review by M Levy provides an overview of the modern applications of surface waves, including Zenneck waves, in areas such as waveguides and surface plasmon resonance. These papers are available through academic databases like IEEE Xplore and JSTOR, and they offer a more in-depth look at the theoretical and practical aspects of Zenneck surface waves. [anon]
See Also