PRE-BREAKDOWN PHENOMENA IN DIELECTRICS MATERIALS

Abstract The primary and secondary processes of anodic electrical breakdown in dielectric materials are considered. The primary process of formation of the breakdown channel is caused by the mechanism of generation of free electrons by means of interatomic Auger transitions in the valence band of the dielectric. The secondary processes are connected with destruction of the channel surface by bombardment with accelerated ions in a strong non-uniform field and impact multiplication of ions during collision with conglomerates of atoms of the substance in the region of its gas phase.