While an insulating film having a near-field light generating element placed thereon is being irradiated with light in an electrolytic solution, or after the film that has been irradiated with light is disposed in the electrolytic solution, a first voltage is applied between the two electrodes installed in the electrolytic solution across the film, a second voltage is then applied between the two electrodes, and a value of a current that flows between the two electrodes due to the application of the second voltage is detected. This procedure is stopped when the current value reaches or exceeds a pre-set threshold value, whereby a hole is formed at a desired location in the thin-film.

The present invention provides a plasma torch which comprises: a first pipe having a first flow channel through which a liquid can flow, a first exit through which the liquid is sprayed being provided on an one end side; a second pipe body that surrounds the first pipe body, and has a second flow channel through which a gas can flow, a second exit through which the gas is sprayed being provided on the one end side; and an electrode extending into the second flow channel. The second exit is provided further to the one end side than the first exit, some of the inner peripheral surface of the second pipe decreases in diameter towards the second exit, and the diameter of the inner peripheral surface closer to the second exit than the first exit is equal to or larger than the opening diameter of the first exit.

A method of mud logging is disclosed which the chemical constituents and concentrations of formation fluid are calculated based on pulse power plasma parameters and the constituent species and concentrations of drilling mud, including reaction products, upon which the pulse power plasma has acted. Based on correlation between pulse power plasma parameters, including drilling parameters, drilling can be optimized for identified formation and formation fluid species. An offset between the chemical makeup of the drilling mud exposed to pules power plasma and the chemical makeup of formation fluid is calculated. Based on the calculated offset, pulse power plasma drilling can be controlled as a function of drilling mud concentration including in other wellbores in the formation or field.

Described herein are dielectric fluid testers for determining dielectric breakdown of fluid samples, systems comprising such testers, and methods using thereof. A dielectric fluid tester comprises a container and two electrodes. The test heads of these electrodes protrude inside the container and face each other, forming a gap. In some examples, one or both electrodes are movable for adjusting the gap and/or the volume inside the container available for a fluid sample. For example, the container includes two internal seals, one of which has a fixed position and is slidably coupled to a respective electrode. The other seal is slidably coupled to the container and moves together with the corresponding electrode. The container comprises an access port, providing a fluid communication between the fluid sample and an external pressure-controlling source. In some examples, the access port is used to deliver and remove the fluid sample from the container.

The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for characterizing the electrical resistance of a measurement object, comprising an electric energy source having two poles, a voltage measuring device having two measuring inputs, four connecting contacts for the connection of four contact electrodes, and a switching device for the variable electrical pairwise connection of each one of the poles and measuring inputs to each one of the connecting contacts, forming different wiring configurations, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out at least two measuring sequences with different wiring configurations and to determine the series resistance of the measurement object by incorporating the current and voltage signals acquired in these wiring configurations.

The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for characterizing the electrical resistance of a measurement object, comprising an electric energy source having two poles, a voltage measuring device having two measuring inputs, four connecting contacts for the connection of four contact electrodes, and a switching device for the variable electrical pairwise connection of each one of the poles and measuring inputs to each one of the connecting contacts, forming different wiring configurations, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out at least two measuring sequences with different wiring configurations and to determine the series resistance of the measurement object by incorporating the current and voltage signals acquired in these wiring configurations.

A sensor for detecting properties of a gas, gas mixture, or a gas or gas mixture containing particles, all collectively referred to as a gas. A flow tube contains a pair of electrodes arranged such that at least a portion of the gas flows between the electrodes. A controller applies voltage to the electrodes and measures response data from the electrodes representing the voltage-current relationship and voltage breakdown between the electrodes while the gas is between the electrodes. Based on the response data, the controller determine a concentration of the gas or a concentration of particles within the gas.

Systems and methods for real-time monitoring of electrical discharge events across a tribological contact are provided. The systems comprise a signal generator, a test device comprising a tribological contact, a reference device and a signal comparator. The systems recognize changes between states where electrical discharge across a tribological contact does or does not occur and produce distinct output signals for each state and, further, may maintain a count of how often such events occur.

An electrical stability testing device includes a cup configured to receive a fluid sample. The testing device also includes a pair of electrodes positioned at least partially within the cup. The electrodes are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined gap. The electrodes are configured to have the fluid sample positioned within the predetermined gap while performing an ES test on the fluid sample in the cup. The testing device also includes a wiper positioned at least partially within the cup. The wiper is configured to pass between the electrodes after the ES test has concluded. A width of the wiper is greater than the predetermined gap between the electrodes. The wiper is configured to deform as the wiper passes through the predetermined gap such that the width becomes substantially equal to the predetermined gap and sides of the wiper contact ends of the electrodes to clean the electrodes.

The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for characterizing the electrical resistance of a measurement object, comprising an electric energy source having two poles, a voltage measuring device having two measuring inputs, four connecting contacts for the connection of four contact electrodes, and a switching device for the variable electrical pairwise connection of each one of the poles and measuring inputs to each one of the connecting contacts, forming different wiring configurations, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out at least two measuring sequences with different wiring configurations and to determine the series resistance of the measurement object by incorporating the current and voltage signals acquired in these wiring configurations.