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It is found that the surface conditions of both anode and cathode influence the static electric strength of liquefied argon when 20 parts per million of oxygen are present. When this oxygen is removed the influence of the anode disappears although that of the cathode remains. If microsecond pulse voltages are used no anode effects are observed and there is no dependence on oxygen concentration except when large quantities are added. It is believed that negative oxygen ions are responsible for the effects at the anode and that these must have sufficient time to migrate to that electrode. Both the static and pulse strengths are strongly dependent on cathode oxidation and these results seem to indicate that positive ions also play an important role in the breakdown process.
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Gallagher et al. (1964) studied this question.
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