Theoretical investigation on barrier effect on point-plane air gap breakdown voltage based on streamers criterion

Abstract

A model is developed for the computation of the electric field and potential in the presence of a space charge, which is determined after the knowledge of the efficient ionisation factor. The computation is performed in a point–barrier–plane air gap under a positive voltage using finite elements. As a typical electrostatic application, the electric field distribution is computed in the presence of a space charge and a dielectric barrier in the air gap. The proposed model deals with the phase of electronic avalanches.