Prebreakdown Electron Emission
- 1 June 1983
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation
- Vol. EI-18 (3), 194-203
- https://doi.org/10.1109/tei.1983.298599
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that the prebreakdown currents that flow between vacuum-insulated high voltage electrodes frequently originate from a non-metallic emission mechanism which is thought to be assocaited with some form of insulating/ semiconducting surface oxide or impurity concentration. This paper develops this theme by giving a brief review of the growing body of experimental evidence that can be cited in support of the above contention, a summary of the recent findings of on-going experimental investigations into this new emission mechanism, a discussion of possible new physical models and, finally, an assessment of our present understanding of prebreakdown electron emission and the technological implications.Keywords
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