The effect of gaseous impurities such as water vapour and oxygen on the dielectric strength of compressed may be due to either gas composition or electrode surface protrusions. The assumption of a local field enhancement due to protrusions has been rejected due to the actual electrode roughness observed microscopically. It has been shown that the gaseous impurities lead to the creation of initiatory electrons through electron detachment from hydrated negative ions involving water vapour and oxygen, inducing changes in the breakdown regimes. Moreover, without hydration, electrode surfaces are passivated (fluorine deposition) and behave as covered with an insulating layer.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Berger et al. (1997) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context:
More from Journal of Physics D Applied Physics