Analysis of Anomalous Discharge Current in Low-Density Polyethylene

Abstract

An anomalous discharge current flowing in the same direction as the charging current was observed in a low-density polyethylene film with evaporated silver electrodes at room temperature (25°C) after the application of a very high field above 2×10⁸ V/m. The discharge transient current was computer-analyzed numerically by an explicit difference method. The anomalous current was attributed to the large amount of two types of injected space charge (electrons and holes) with ohmic electrodes, and not to one type of injected space charge (electrons or holes) with blocking electrodes.