@article{LangMellinger2005,
  author    = {Lang, Sidney B. and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {A package of Mathematica programs for training students in the use of LIMM and its analysis},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {A package of programs written using the symbolic mathematics program, Mathematicatrademark, has been developed. Its principal usage is in teaching the LIMM method to students and demonstrating data analysis by means of the Polynomial Regularization Method (PRM). A large number of variables can be changed in the program and their effects can be shown graphically. Students at the University of Potsdam and Monash University have used the program successfully},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Mellinger2004,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Unbiased iterative reconstruction of polarization and space-charge profiles from thermal-wave experiments},
  issn      = {0957-0233},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {The thermal-wave technique or laser-intensity modulation method is an important tool for the non-destructive probing of space-charge and polarization profiles in electrets. Analysing the experimental data requires solving a Fredholm integral equation which is known to be an ill-conditioned problem. This paper presents an iterative approach that is capable of reconstructing inherently unsmooth distributions. The deviations from the true profiles are slightly smaller than those obtained with Tikhonov regularization, while the computational burden is not a limiting factor on modem personal computers. The optimum number of iterations is estimated using the randomized generalized cross- validation technique. Results are shown for a number of model distributions, as well as for experimental data from a layered polyvinylidene fluoride film sandwich},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HarrisMellinger2014,
  author    = {Harris, Scott and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Towards a better understanding of dielectric barrier discharges in ferroelectrets: Paschen breakdown fields in micrometer sized voids},
  series = {Journal of applied physics},
  volume    = {115},
  journal   = {Journal of applied physics},
  number    = {16},
  publisher = {American Institute of Physics},
  address   = {Melville},
  issn      = {0021-8979},
  doi       = {10.1063/1.4871678},
  pages     = {5},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Charged cellular polypropylene foams (i.e., ferro-or piezoelectrets) demonstrate high piezoelectric activity upon being electrically charged. When an external electric field is applied, dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) occur, resulting in a separation of charges which are subsequently deposited on dielectric surfaces of internal micrometer sized voids. This deposited space charge is responsible for the piezoelectric activity of the material. Previous studies have indicated charging fields larger than predicted by Townsend's model of Paschen breakdown applied to a multilayered electromechanical model; a discrepancy which prompted the present study. The actual breakdown fields for micrometer sized voids were determined by constructing single cell voids using polypropylene spacers with heights ranging from 8 to 75 mu m, "sandwiched" between two polypropylene dielectric barriers and glass slides with semi-transparent electrodes. Subsequently, a bipolar triangular charging waveform with a peak voltage of 6 kV was applied to the samples. The breakdown fields were determined by monitoring the emission of light due to the onset of DBDs using an electron multiplying CCD camera. The breakdown fields at absolute pressures from 101 to 251 kPa were found to be in good agreement with the standard Paschen curves. Additionally, the magnitude of the light emission was found to scale linearly with the amount of gas, i.e., the height of the voids. Emissions were homogeneous over the observed regions of the voids for voids with heights of 25 lm or less and increasingly inhomogeneous for void heights greater than 40 lm at high electric fields.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerMellinger2011,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Mellinger, Olena},
  title     = {Breakdown threshold of dielectric barrier discharges in ferroelectrets where Paschen's law fails},
  series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers},
  address   = {Piscataway},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2011.5704491},
  pages     = {43 -- 48},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {The piezoelectric activity of charged cellular foams (so-called ferroelectrets) is compared against simulations based on a multi-layer electromechanical model and Townsend's model of Paschen breakdown, with the distribution of void heights determined from scanning electron micrographs. While the calculated space charge hysteresis curves are in good agreement with experimental data, the onset of piezoelectric activity is observed at significantly higher electric fields than predicted by Paschen's law. One likely explanation is that the commonly accepted Paschen curve for electric breakdown in air poorly describes the critical electric field for dielectric barrier discharges in micrometer-size cavities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SinghMellinger2015,
  author    = {Singh, Rajeev and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Measurement of through-thickness thermal diffusivity of thermoplastics using thermal wave method},
  series = {Indian journal of physics},
  volume    = {89},
  journal   = {Indian journal of physics},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science},
  address   = {Kolkata},
  issn      = {0973-1458},
  doi       = {10.1007/s12648-014-0579-2},
  pages     = {361 -- 368},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Thermo-physical properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat are important quantities that are needed to interpret and characterize thermoplastic materials. Such characterization is necessary for many applications, ranging from aerospace engineering to food packaging, electrical and electronic industry and medical science. In this work, the thermal diffusivity of commercially available polymeric films is measured in the thickness direction at room temperature using thermal wave method. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with theoretical and experimental values.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerWegenerWirgesetal.2006,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Mallepally, Rajendar Reddy and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Thermal and temporal stability of ferroelectret films made from cellular polypropylene/air composites},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Ferroelectrets are thin films of polymer foams, exhibiting piezoelectric properties after electrical charging. Ferroelectret foams usually consist of a cellular polymer structure filled with air. Polymer-air composites are elastically soft due to their high air content as well as due to the size and shape of the polymer walls. Their elastically soft composite structure is one essential key for the working principle of ferroelectrets, besides the permanent trapping of electric charges inside the polymer voids. The elastic properties allow large deformations of the electrically charged voids. However, the composite structure can also possibly limit the stability and consequently the range of applications because of, e. g., penetration of gas and liquids accompanied by discharge phenomena or because of a mechanical pre-load which may be required during the application. Here, we discuss various stability aspects related to the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene ferroelectrets. Near and below room temperature, the piezoelectric effect and the stability of the trapped charges are practically independent from humidity during long-time storage in a humid atmosphere or water, or from operating conditions, such as continuous mechanical excitation. Thermal treatment of cellular polypropylene above -10 degrees C leads to a softening of the voided structure which is apparent from the decreasing values of the elastic modulus. This decrease results in an increase of the piezoelectric activity. Heating above 60 degrees C, however, leads to a decrease in piezoelectricity},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuMellingerWirgesetal.2007,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Mellinger, Axel and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Spectroscopic study of dielectric barrier discharges in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets},
  doi       = {10.1063/1.2786597},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The transient light emission from the dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets subjected to high electric poling fields was spectroscopically measured. The spectrum shows strong emission from the second positive system of molecular nitrogen, N-2(C (3)Pi(u))-> N-2(B (3)Pi(g)), and the first negative system of N-2(+), N-2(+)(B (2)Sigma(+)(u))-> N-2(+)(X (2)Sigma(+)(g)), consistent with a DBD in air. When a dc voltage is applied stepwise to the ferroelectret film, light emission starts above a threshold, coinciding with the threshold voltage in obtaining piezoelectricity. From selected vibronic band strength ratios, the electric field in the discharge was determined and found to agree with Townsend breakdown.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerFloresSuarezSinghetal.2006,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Singh, Rajeev and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Lang, Sidney B. and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {High-resolution space-charge and polarization tomography with thermal pulses},
  isbn      = {3-8007-2939-3},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Die Arbeit wurde am 13.03.2006 mit dem "BEST PAPER AWARD" des deutschen IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement (I\&M) Chapter ausgezeichnet.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BassoAltafimAltafimetal.2007,
  author    = {Basso, Heitor Cury and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Mellinger, Axel and Fang, Peng and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Three-layer ferroelectrets from perforated Teflon-PTFE films fused between two homogeneous Teflon-FEP films},
  isbn      = {978-1-4244-1482-6},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuMellingerWirgesetal.2007,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Mellinger, Axel and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Dielectric barrier discharges during the generation of ferroelectrets : optical spectroscopy for process monitoring},
  isbn      = {978-1-4244-1482-6},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}