A method for modeling DC potential fields in charged lossy dielectric media

Abstract Numerical modeling of the direct current (DC) potential field for the mise-a-la-masse (MALM) method traditionally depends on the specific source under loss-free dielectric consideration. In this paper, we propose a numerical technique for modeling DC potential fields in charged lossy dielectric media. A numerical solver of charged current transportation is first presented using finite different method, then the DC potential is integrated from all unit current elements with the Legendre function polynomial. A new preconditioner is also proposed for MALM surveying to reduce the condition number to accurately solve the equation. This new technique is verified through comparisons with numerical cases and field surveys. The basic problem formulation is general, but it is directly applicable in MALM surveying as a geophysical technique where the DC potential produced by charged lossy dielectric media is of interest.