"Telegraphing Without Wires (1884) \u2014 Finite-Difference Simulator and Synthetic Dataset Reconstruction (v1.0)"
Abstract
"This dataset provides a computational reconstruction of S. J. M. Bear\u2019s 1884 experiment \u201cTelegraphing Without Wires,\u201d originally presented before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. The project reproduces the conductive-water signaling configuration using a finite-difference solution of the variable-conductivity Laplace equation, enabling quantitative analysis of potential fields, current density distributions, and receiver behavior.The dataset includes multi-scenario simulations with spatially varying conductivity (uniform media, freshwater\u2013brine interfaces, insulating obstacles, conductive paths, and localized plumes). Receiver behavior is modeled using a Thevenin-equivalent formulation, incorporating relay resistance and threshold dynamics. Time-domain simulations capture keying signals, electrode polarization effects, and relay actuation behavior.Outputs include field arrays (electric potential, electric field, current density), experiment summaries, and time-series datasets for multiple conductivity configurations. All data are provided in CSV, JSON, and compressed NumPy formats to support reproducibility and further analysis.This dataset serves as both a historical reconstruction of early \u201cwireless\u201d conduction-based communication and a modern computational framework for studying signal transmission through conductive media."
Fields of Study & Subjects
Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods
Electrical and Electromagnetic Research
Electromagnetic Simulation and Numerical Methods
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE DataPort
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Dataset