Some Aspects of Breakdown in Gases

Abstract

A universal feature of practical importance in the breakdown of solids, liquids, gases and vacuum is the sensitivity or otherwise of these media to breakdown due to the effects of imperfections in the dielectric and electrode system. High local electric stresses adjacent to protrusions or edges of electrodes can lead to self-propagating failures in the insulating medium. This paper discusses the occurence of corona stabilisation and space charges in various situations in small highly-stressed regions in large apparatus.