Microwave Breakdown of Air in Nonuniform Electric Fields

Abstract

A new approach to the problem of diffusion-controlled breakdown in nonuniform fields is presented. Two specific cases are considered in detail. The geometrical configurations involved are, respectively, a rectangular microwave cavity with a small hemispherical boss on one of its walls and a similar cavity without a boss. The theoretical predictions of the method are compared with a series of microwave breakdown measurements in air. The theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with the observed experimental data.