Determination of electric current flow patterns

摘要

A method for determining the paths of current flow in an irregularly shaped conductor. A metal is plated onto a substrate in the desired geometric pattern. The metal is then brought to within about 4 percent of its melting point and a current is put through it. After an amount of time that depends upon the temperature and current utilized, there will have been a mass migration in the metal resulting in a corrugated surface having ridges and valleys that are parallel to the current flow. The ridges and valleys may be observed optically or by scanning electron microscope.