Investigations of time delays in microwave breakdown initiation

Abstract

A detailed theoretical as well as experimental investigation has been made of the statistical properties of rf corona breakdown thresholds, relevant to situations where no artificial electron seeding is used and the electron breakdown avalanche is initiated from the weak naturally occurring electron seeding, primarily due to cosmic radiation. Good qualitative as well as quantitative understanding has been obtained concerning the statistical properties of the breakdown initiation process and its consequences for the observed breakdown threshold. Comparisons between theoretical predictions and experimental results show a good agreement.