Natural SciencesElectrical EngineeringPhysicsElectronic MaterialsInstrumentationPlasma PhysicsDevice CharacterizationDielectric ResponseDielectricsElectrical CharacterizationElectronic Material CharacterizationMicrowave MeasurementsBandwidthBandwidth MeasurementDielectric MeasurementPolyethylenePulse CharacterizationPulse Shape AnalysisRadio-frequency Discharges
This paper gives a short introduction in time-resolved discharge measurements and elucidates this detection method with the results obtained from measurements with 1 GHz bandwidth on polyethylene samples under prolonged discharge activity. It is shown that a correlation between the pulse shape and the physics of the discharge process is possible and that the start of severe degradation of the dielectric can be recognized in the shape of the discharge pulses.