Atmospheric Pulsed Dielectric Surface Flashover between Nanoscale Thickness Electrodes

The aim of the study is obtaining the characteristics of surface pulsed discharge between nanoscale thickness electrodes evaporated on dielectric substrates. Two coplanar metal electrodes (aluminum and zinc) of tens nm thickness were used to determine the surface breakdown voltage of submillimeter air gaps ranged from 50 to 1000 um. The surface flashover was investigated on polymeric substrates at atmospheric pressure. On the base of experimental data, the breakdown channel dynamic resistance characteristics were calculated. Unlike previous studies, the Rompe-Weizel equation was found to be unsuitable for discharge channel resistance description. The surface breakdown strength in sharply inhomogeneous field was evaluated. The effect of charge injection phenomenon on breakdown strength is discussed.