Robert,
          
           
          
          
          The
          "delay" allows you to "statically" charge the
          beast, get off it with the charger, and then have the
          "static" charge turn itself automatically into a dynamic
          dissipation.  It follows
          that all the scalar potential energy one gets in there, will then be
          discharged in the circuit's loads and losses.
          
          
          
          
          If
          you get a millisecond delay, which is possible with that type of
          material, microwave switching techniques then easily allow you to
          switch away, and connect the load across that still momentarily
          "fixed" static charge. 
          Simply check with someone who is experienced in such switching. 
          Any high quality electronic technician can do it.
          
          
          
          
          Cheers,
          
          
          Tom
          Bearden
          In
          response to a July 4th query as to how to measure the relaxation time:
          
          
          For
          openers you can just hit it with a very square-edged pulse, and
          capture the response time of the current on a good oscilloscope. 
          Or better yet, I would recommend you check with your local
          university on how they would recommend measuring it more precisely
          
           
          Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 20:27:35 +0200
          
          I have some contacts who are able to manufacture the Al/Fe alloy (as
          described by Tom) and will do that in a week or two. But what I need
          now is  a relatively easy way of measuring the relaxation time of
          the electrons in the alloy (to test actual relaxation time). I have a
          couple of ideas:
          
          1. Measuring voltage over a resistor in series with the DSM
          (degenerate semiconductor material). There shouldn't be a voltage over
          the resistor  until electrons in the DSM start moving.... or ?
          2. Measuring magnetic flux (with a hall-element) in a coil in series
          with the DSM. There shouldn't be any flux in the coil before electrons 
          start moving, right ??
          
          One other thing I was thinking about: If I would be able to remove the
          potential over the DSM before the electrons start moving, there
          wouldn't  really be any need to wait the same amount of time,
          i.e. I switch on an FET for say 1 ms, and just have it switched off 1
          microsec. Or is the on-time accumulative ??
          
          Please get back a.s.a.p. as I don't have any other source which could
          provide me with tips on this.
          Regards,
          Correspondent