Corona propagation and charge deposition on a PTFE surface

A description is given of some properties of the corona discharge when propagating over a cylindrical polytetrafluoroethylene insulator surface placed along the axis of a rod-plane electrode arrangement. A scanning electrostatic probe has been used to measure the density of charge deposited on the surface; it is shown that the total net deposited charge is small compared with the total charge injected into the gap. The velocity of propagation has been measured. Effects of preceding coronas on succeeding ones and the nature of deposited charge after breakdown are described. Discussion is given in terms of electron lifetimes and attachment and photoemission processes.