866
6, DECEMBER 2001
The Influence of Dielectric Surface Charge
Distribution Upon the Partial Discharge
Behavior in Short Air Gaps
Vladimir Nikonov, Ray Bartnikas, Life Fellow, IEEE, and Michael R. Wertheimer, Fellow, IEEE
Abstract—A two-dimensional breakdown model based upon the
continuity equations for electrons and ions and the Poisson equa-
tion is employed to examine the influence of surface charges upon
the partial discharge behavior of a short metallic-dielectric plane-
parallel electrode gap of 0.05 cm in an air-like mixture at atmo-
spheric pressure. The form of charge distribution at the dielectric
electrode surface is found to significantly affect a number of im-
portant discharge parameters, such as the uniformity of the elec-
tric field, the charge density and its radial distribution within the
gap, as well as the discharge propagation time.
Index Terms—Air, atmospheric pressure, dielectric electrode,
discharge development, partial discharges, photoionization, short
gap, surface charges.
I. INTRODUCTION
I NTEREST in partial discharge phenomena arises principally
from two different areas of endeavor. In high-voltage insula-
tion systems, the occurrence of discharges is highly undesirable
because insulating materials, in particular polymers, degrade
rapidly both physically and chemically when exposed to dis-
charges. On the other hand, in the surface treatment of polymers,
ceramics, and metals, discharges are intentionally created and
controlled to produce the desired surface modification. In both
fields of work, the nature or form of the discharges plays an im-
portant role, since the degradation or surface modification of the
material is affected substantially by whether the discharges are
of the pulse, glow, or pseudoglow type. The form which a dis-
charge may assume is determined by the gas pressure, gap sep-
aration, electric field intensity, type of the electrodes and their
surface conductivity, and the internal impedance of the voltage
source [1]–[4]. Spark discharges are characterized by a rapid
rise time, which decreases with increasing overvoltage across
the gap. Pulseless discharges emit visually a diffuse glow, in
contrast to the high luminosity constricted discharge channel of
spark discharges. Pseudoglow discharges exhibit features that
are common to both spark and pulseless glow discharges—al-
though visually they also emit a glow, they are comprised of
minute, slow rise time pulses. In the area of surface treatment by
Manuscript received August 24, 2000; revised March 5, 2001. This work
was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council of Canada.
V. Nikonov and M. R. Wertheimer are with the Department of Engi-
neering Physics, École Polytechnique, Montréal, PQ H3C 3A7, Canada
(e-mail: mwertheimer@courriel.polymtl.ca).
R. Bartnikas is with the Institut de Recherche d’Hydro-Québec, Varennes, PQ
J3X 1S1, Canada.
Publisher Item Identifier S 0093-3813(01)11204-X.
0093–3813/01$10.00 © 2001 IEEE
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, VOL. 29, NO.
gas discharges, pulseless, true glow, and pseudoglow discharges
are often indiscriminately referred to as “microdischarges.”
Under ac conditions at atmospheric pressure, a pulseless or
true glow discharge is difficult to establish over the entire half
portions of the sinusoidal applied voltage wave [3], [5]. Much
simpler to obtain is a pseudoglow discharge and very frequently
all three forms of discharge, namely pulse or spark, pseudoglow,
and pulseless glow are found to appear simultaneously over dif-
ferent portions of each half cycle [1]–[4]. Moreover, if the dis-
charges are maintained for a sufficiently long period in non-
vented cavities to induce chemical and physical changes upon
the surface of polymeric electrodes, the discharge pattern, con-
sisting of pulse, pseudoglow, and glow discharge segments over
each half cycle, does itself undergo pronounced change with
time [6], [7].
Changes in the form of discharge patterns may occur even
over a much shorter time scale as a result of charge deposi-
tion and injection into the dielectric-surfaced electrodes at the
base of previous discharge events. A recent theoretical study has
shown that even during the formation of the incipient discharge,
the electric field at the discharge axis is progressively reduced as
a result of negative charge accumulation at the dielectric surface
of the anode [8]. As a consequence, the development of sub-
sequent discharges is thus influenced by the deposited charge
upon the dielectric electrodes by previous discharges. The sur-
face charge density and its distribution left behind by previous
discharges will alter the electric field distribution within the gap,
which, in turn, will determine the development and form of sub-
sequent discharges. The manner in which surface charge distri-
bution on a dielectric electrode may influence the form of the
discharges is of great practical interest and the intent of this
paper is to examine its effect on the initial stages of discharge de-
velopment, involving dielectric electrodes in an air-like mixture
at atmospheric pressure. Since the present paper considers the
influence of the surface charge deposited by previous discharges
upon the dielectric electrode, it represents a direct sequel to a
previous paper which examined the effect of a dielectric elec-
trode surface upon incipient discharges in a short gap [8].
II. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
Early experimental studies of breakdown in short electrode
gaps in various gases have demonstrated that pseudoglow and
pulseless glow discharges may be obtained under atmospheric
pressure with both metallic and dielectric electrodes [1]–[4].
This work was subsequently confirmed by numerical model
NIKONOV et al.: THE INFLUENCE OF DIELECTRIC SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION 867

studies of the short gap breakdown in helium [9]–[11], hy- the equations being expressed in cylindrical coordinates, thus
drogen [12], air admixture in helium [13], and in air [14], [15]. taking advantage of the rotational symmetry of the circular
However, it was observed experimentally that variations of the electrode system. Three continuity equations are employed
surface conductivity of the dielectric electrodes, induced either that take into account the respective contributions of electrons,
by the acidic chemical decomposition products arising with positive ions, and negative ions. These equations are numer-
organic dielectrics subjected to partial discharges [7] or through ically integrated by means of a finite-difference technique,
intentionally controlled surface conductivity deposited ceramic known as the flux-corrected transport (FCT) technique, that
films [16], could result in the appearance of pseudoglow or has been first devised to model one-dimensional (1-D) shock
pulseless glow discharges. Since surface conductivity of the processes in fluids [17]. An algorithm proposed later [18] with
electrodes is likely to play a major role in determining the a multidimensional flux corrector for fluid related problems
distribution in the charge density deposited on the dielectric by is applied in our mathematical model. The Poisson equation
each successive discharge event, it must be expected to exert in axially symmetric coordinates is solved directly by means
a marked influence in determining the nature of the discharge of a fast Fourier transform algorithm proposed in [19]. The
itself. The exact geometrical form of the surface charge dis- continuity equations for the simulation model are thus given as
tribution associated with a given surface charge deposited by follows:
a discharge should vary within certain limits. However, if the
discharge is of a spark or pulse type, then one would anticipate
the peak value of the charge distribution to occur at the tip of the
spark channel, where it impinges upon the dielectric surface.
Assuming a uniform surface conductivity, it would then be
reasonable to surmise that the charge density in the radial (1)
direction moving away from its peak value diminishes with
time, according to a Gaussian or, at least, in a quasi-Gaussian
manner.
In this paper, two possible types of surface charge distribu-
tion on a dielectric electrode are considered. For calculation
(2)
expediency, it is assumed that an incipient spark or pulse type
discharge takes place at the center of a circular, parallel-plane
electrode system [later called case (a)]. Our initial calculation
is then carried out to determine the manner in which a subse-
quent discharge of like polarity develops in the presence of a
Gaussian-distributed charge density, at the center of the cylin- (3)
drically symmetrical electrode system [case (b)]. For our second
numerical example, we assume an annular configuration of the and the Poisson equation is
charge density distribution on the dielectric surface, with its
peak value situated at a radial distance cm from
its axis of symmetry [case (c)]. This particular form of charge
density distribution can conceivably arise, following the occur-
rence of a second spark discharge of opposite polarity at the (4)
same site as that of the preceding spark discharge, such that
a recombination of the surface charges of opposite sign asso- where
ciated with the two spark discharges results in the absence of electrons;
charge at the center of the discharge site. Such an annular sur- positive ions;
face charge density distribution further implies that the charge negative ions;
transfer, taken to be associated with the second spark-type dis- density of the species;
charge of opposite polarity, must necessarily be less than that diffusivity of the species;
of the first spark-type discharge, in order to account for the net
drift velocity of the species;
surface charge remaining after the two spark discharge events.
electric potential;
permittivity in vacuo;
elementary charge;
III. SIMULATION MODEL
charge density;
In the modeling of the discharge development process in a first ionization coefficient in air;
short gap breakdown in air between parallel-plane metallic-di- attachment coefficient.
electric electrodes, use is made of the classical approach The terms , and denote the particle source and loss
involving the continuity equations and the Poisson equation. associated with photoionization and recombination, respec-
Detachment is neglected and only one species of negative tively. Other variables and constants appearing in the remaining
ions is considered. The model is two-dimensional (2-D), with source-loss terms on the right hand side of (1)–(3) are defined
868 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, VOL. 29, NO. 6, DECEMBER 2001

as follows. The impact ionization coefficient for air, in cm , of the specimen insulation under test, and to prevent fluctua-
is given by the empirically derived relation [15], [20] tion in the applied voltage at each discrete spark-type break-
down of the cavity or gap over the alternating voltage cycle. In
if
(5) an RC-type detection circuit, in which the detection impedance
if is a resistance of 50 , the overall stray inductance of the
where is the atmospheric pressure of air in torr, and is the circuit loop containing the gap may be neglected in a first ap-
electric field in V/cm. The attachment coefficient , expressed proximation. The equivalent circuit containing the specimen gap
in cm , depends upon the applied electric field and pressure of may be represented by a large capacitance in parallel with the
the air; it is given by the following expressions [15], [20], [21]: gap capacitance, comprised of the air gap itself, in series with
the capacitance of the dielectric layer covering the surface of the
anode. The applied voltage, , has a sinusoidal form, at power
if frequency of 50 or 60 Hz; since its period is much longer than
the discharge duration, the voltage at the instant of breakdown
if
can be considered to be a quasi-static potential. For expediency,
if the cathode is considered to be situated at the axial coordinate
if 0 and the anode at the air gap separation distance ,
(6) with the air gap and of the dielectric layer thickness both fixed
at identical values of 0.05 cm. The boundary conditions may be
The value for the mobility of electrons, , in cm /V s in air expressed as follows: the metallic cathode surface is considered
is found by using the electron swarm data of Dutton for the to be a nonemitting surface of negative ions and an absorbing
electronic drift velocity, [22] surface for the case of positive ions. The electric potential at the
cathode and across the air gap are respectively given by
torr cm V s (7)
(12)
The mobility of the electrons may thus be computed using the
general relation
where , the gap current in the axial direction, is given by [27]
cm s (8)
(13)
Combining (7) and (8), we find
where is the gas volume. At the dielectric-gas interface, the
cm V s (9) boundary conditions are
Similarly, the expression for the mobility of positive ions is
found to be [8], [14], [23]
(14)
cm V s (10)
where
and for negative ions [8], [14], [23]
surface charge density accumulated at the solid
dielectric-gas boundary;
cm V s (11) axial field in a thin layer of the dielectric of
thickness ;
The value of the transverse electron-diffusion coefficient
axial field in vicinity of the dielectric surface
in air is approximated, again utilizing the data provided by
within a small gas volume region ;
Dutton [22], as 0.035 cm s . Since the
radial electric field;
longitudinal electron-diffusion coefficients are taken to be
radius of the electrode.
the same for both nitrogen and oxygen in [24], [25], we have
The value of the breakdown voltage across the air gap can
decided to apply the same value of 1800 cm s to
be estimated from the empirical relation [28]
our air-like mixture. The diffusion coefficient of the negative
ions, assumed to be equal in the radial and axial directions, is (15)
taken as 0.11 cm s [23]; while for positive ions, the
diffusion coefficient is assumed to be 0.046 cm s where is in kV, and is the normalized dimensionless air
[23]. The corresponding electron-positive ion recombination density (equal to unity under the actual operating conditions).
coefficient in air, 10 cm s , is also retrieved from Our particular case is selected to correspond to an electric field
[23]. It should be emphasized that the values of , , and value of 54.4 kV/cm in the gap volume and 13.6 kV/cm within
utilized here are the same as those employed in the short gap the dielectric, calculated from the applied breakdown voltage.
breakdown model simulations in [8], [14]. An initial Gaussian-shaped surface charge distribution is as-
In conventional partial discharge detection circuits, the ac sumed on the cathode at 0, instead of modeling the discharge
voltage source is shunted by a large capacitance to simulate that development from a single electron avalanche at the cathode to
NIKONOV et al.: THE INFLUENCE OF DIELECTRIC SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION 869

bypass the Townsend phase, as done in [25]. To simulate an

anode-directed discharge, we assume a surface charge at the
cathode to be approximated by a 2-D Gaussian profile [24],
having a peak electron density of cm at an 1/
radius of 0.1 mm

(16)

where and are the grid indices for radial and axial di-
rections respectively, and the decay parameter . The
time step in the program is evaluated directly from the
Courant–Friedricks–Lewy condition that ensures stability of
the calculations (a)

(17)

where and are the grid spacings in the radial and axial
directions, respectively, and denotes the maximum value
of drift velocity of electrons in the gap. Photoelectron density
due to emission in the gas volume of the gap is calculated by
means of an algorithm proposed in [29], which has been applied
in the numerical calculations for spark propagation in a cylin-
drical coordinate gap system [30]. Both the photoionization rate
and photoelectric effect at the cathode are considered in much
detail in another discourse by the authors [31]. It was found that
the photoelectric effect at the cathode and photoionization in the
gas volume do not strongly influence the production of elec-
trons during the first nanosecond of discharge propagation. The
photoelectric effect is taken into account in order to determine
the secondary electron emission at the cathode and to obtain
the total electron density in the gas volume of the gap. This is
accomplished by employing the algorithm given by Davies et
al. [32]. In their approach, the total photon flux at the cathode
is given by
(18)
where
excited atom densities;
three-dimensional (3-D) array expressed
through an elliptic integral;
radius on the cathode surface subjected to the
photon flux emitted from the excited species in
the gas;
radius of the emitting gas volume;
axial distance between emitting volume and
cathode surface.
IV. INFLUENCE OF SURFACE CHARGES
It has been demonstrated by Novak and Bartnikas [8] that the
presence of surface charge on an electrode surface modifies the
axial electric field as well as radial distribution of the electron
density in the gap volume and, consequently, affects the dis-
charge mechanism itself. According to their results, the charge
accumulated on a dielectric electrode surface leads to changes
in the axial components of electric field distribution in the gap;
this causes a discharge channel to expand over the electrode sur-
(b)
Fig. 1. Electron density on the dielectric anode surface: (a) “case (b)”
represents a Gaussian distribution at the center of the electrode system
following a single spark-type discharge; and (b) “case (c)” represents an
annular-like distribution, with a peak of electron density equal to 1/5 of that
of “case (b),” displaced a distance r = 0:025 cm from the axis of symmetry,
following the occurrence of two consecutive discharges of opposite polarity
and unequal charge transfer.
face, thereby indicating a definite predisposition toward the for-
mation of a glow (or pulseless) discharge. In this investigation,
we have gone a step further and have applied our simulation
model software to examine the discharge development process
following the deposition of a local charge with a given distribu-
tion on the dielectric surface as a result of previous spark-type
discharges. As discussed previously, two particular cases of ini-
tial distributions of electronic charge density on the dielectric
surface of the anode were considered, and they are depicted in
Fig. 1; Fig. 1(a), henceforth denoted “case (b),” represents the
initial Gaussian distribution remaining after the occurrence of
a single spark discharge at the center of the electrode axis, and
Fig. 1(b) that of the charge distributed in the form of an an-
nular-like surface as a result of successive discharge events, de-
scribed earlier in Section II, henceforth denoted “case (c),” also
at the axis of the cylindrical electrode system. In the latter case,
it is assumed that the charge density at an arbitrary radial dis-
tance 0.025 cm from the axis of symmetry is taken to evince
a peak one fifth the height of the peak in the Gaussian distribu-
tion depicted in Fig. 1(a), resulting from the occurrence of the
first discharge at the axis of symmetry.
The form of the charge distribution on the dielectric surface is
found to significantly influence the photoionization rate as the
discharge propagates within the gas volume of the gap. As al-
870
Fig. 2. Profiles of the rate of photoionization in the gas volume, as a function
of axial distance, with discharge development time as parameter.
ready mentioned at the end of Section III, this is discussed in
detail in another article [31]. Fig. 2 compares the photoioniza-
tion rate across the gas volume within the gap as a function of
the axial distance, with the time of a discharge required to tra-
verse the interelectrode space as a parameter for both cases (b)
and (c), as well as that of an initially uncharged anode, hence-
forth “case (a).” The photoionization rate increases toward the
anode and, as anticipated, becomes greatest for case (a). Note
the similarity in the shapes of the curves for cases (a) and (c),
for which the surface charges at the center of the dielectric elec-
trode are both zero. The calculated photoelectron density close
to the anode for all three cases is seen to be two to three or-
ders of magnitude less than the value of electron space charge
density. So, the photoelectric effect does not significantly influ-
ence the charge density in the gap volume for the considered
discharge time, unlike the case of the direct ionization process.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, VOL. 29, NO. 6, DECEMBER 2001
Fig. 3. Profiles of electron charge density in the gap volume versus axial
distance, for the three states of the dielectric anode surface, at its mid-point
=
(r 0 cm) and at 1 ns after discharge initiation.
Fig. 4. Profiles of electron charge density at the mid-point of the gap (z =
0.025 cm) versus radial distance, for the three states of the dielectric anode
surface at 1 ns after discharge initiation.
From our calculations, we observed that in the very early stages
of discharge development, the chosen amount of surface charge
on the dielectric anode does not appreciably alter the electronic
charge density within the gap. However, after a discharge devel-
opment time of 1 ns, the electron charge density within the
gap is already perceptively lower for the two cases [(b) and (c)]
of the charged anode surface. Moreover, also at 1 ns, the dif-
ferences in the electron density volume profiles as a function of
the axial distance as well as the radial distance at the mid-point
within the air gap become significant for all three surface states
(a)–(c) (cf. Figs. 3 and 4, respectively). Figs. 5 and 6 depict the
equivalent differences in the positive and negative ion density
profiles with respect to the radial distance, at the midgap point
( 0.025 cm).
Fig. 7 confirms what may already have been anticipated at
the outset of the calculations, namely that the potential across
the gap is higher in value at the middle of the gap in case (b)
than in case (c) of deposited charge on the dielectric. This ef-
fect arises from the initial distribution of potential in the gas
NIKONOV et al.: THE INFLUENCE OF DIELECTRIC SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION 871

=
Fig. 5. Profiles of positive ion charge density at the mid-point of the gap (z Fig. 7. Potential at the mid-point of the gap (z = 0.025 cm) as a function of
0.025 cm) versus radial distance, for the three states of the dielectric anode the radial distance after a discharge development time of 1 ns.
surface at 1 ns after discharge initiation.

Fig. 8. Radial electric field at the midpoint of the gap (z = 0.025 cm) as a
=
Fig. 6. Profiles of negative ion charge density at the mid-point of the gap (z function of radial distance after a discharge development time of 1 ns.
0.025 cm) versus radial distance, for the three states of the dielectric anode
surface at 1 ns after discharge initiation.

volume, as a consequence of the different charge distributions

on the dielectric surface; it is especially pronounced in short gap
cavities. The corresponding variations of the radial component
of the electric field, which follow from the potential distribution
across the gap, are portrayed in Fig. 8. The highest field magni-
tude is observed to occur with case (a), as one would expect for
an initially charge-free surface at the anode. Furthermore, the
electron cloud traverses the intervening electrode space in 1.2 ns
under the quiescent conditions of an uncharged anode [case (a),
as the axial field attains a value of more than 103 kV/cm], com-
pared to 1.38 ns (with an axial field of 90.2 kV/cm) in case (b).
Case (c) is seen to result in a behavior intermediate to those of
cases (a) and (b). The electron drift velocity reaches its max-
imum value of 3.6 10 cm/s for both cases (a) and (c); in Fig. 9. Surface charge spreading/migration over a dielectric anode in the radial
contrast, a value of 3.25 10 cm/s is seen to typify the second direction with time as parameter.
discharge following the occurrence of a preceding single spark
discharge in case (b). Once again, it is seen that the behavior in zero surface charge density at 0, the axis of the elec-
observed with case (c), the condition where two discharges of trodes, bears appreciable similarity to that characterizing a di-
opposite polarity but different magnitudes are assumed to result electric surface completely free of charge, namely case (a).
872 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, VOL. 29, NO. 6, DECEMBER 2001

Fig. 10. Effect of charge spreading over a discharge degraded epoxy resin surface with an increased surface conductivity of 10 S per square: (a) electronic
charge; (b) total net charge density; (c) potential; and (d) radial field along the dielectric surface as a function of radial distance, with time as a parameter.

V. EFFECTS OF CHARGE SPREADING ON THE ANODE neglects any influence of space charge distribution and inten-
sity within the gas volume. It would be difficult to predict ex-
The effect of charge spreading, or radially-directed charge
actly the manner in which the space charge would influence the
migration, along the anode surface, arising from a finite sur-
calculated result, particularly since, the time constant of charge
face conductivity may be ascertained by assuming ohmic be-
spreading process being much longer than that of the single dis-
havior to prevail and deploying the analytical solution proposed
charge development. For a discharge-degraded dielectric sur-
by Somerville and Vidaud [33]. According to their model, the
face of epoxy resin, characterized by a surface conductivity of
radial field due to a surface point charge is defined by
10 S [7], [26], charge spreading or diffusion, as a conse-
quence of decay or conduction of charge along the surface fol-
(19) lowing the deposition of charge at the center of the cylindrical
anode by a preceding single discharge event with discharge de-
where is the constant velocity defined by velopment time of a subsequent discharge as a parameter, is typ-
ified by the behavior portrayed in Fig. 9. Note that the time in-
terval of 1.4 s, selected between the individual decay curves,
(20) is very much less than the period of the power frequency wave.
From Fig. 10(a) it is seen that at a discharge development time
where is the time of charge decay, and is the effective rela- 1 ns, the electron charge density in the midgap ( 0.025
tive permittivity defined as cm) exhibits an increase as surface charge spreading is occur-
ring; however, from Fig. 10(b) it is readily observed that the net
(21) value of charge density, defined as , dimin-
ishes appreciably toward 0. This induces a decrease in the
where charge spreading occurs between two dielectric media of absolute value of the potential at 0 cm and in the radial elec-
relative permittivities and , where in air case. It tric field at 0.018 cm, as is manifest in Fig. 10(c) and (d),
should be emphasized that the surface charge spreading model respectively. The surface charge spreading process depicted in
NIKONOV et al.: THE INFLUENCE OF DIELECTRIC SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
Fig. 9 influences the time of discharge propagation, decreasing
it from 1.38 ns over a time interval of 1.4 s to 1.32 ns
over a time interval of 7 s. Over the same time intervals,
the corresponding maximum value of the axial electric field is
augmented from 90.2 to 97.3 kV/cm, respectively, impelling the
maximum value of the electronic drift velocity to reach 3.5
10 cm/s.
VI. CONCLUSION
A mathematical model was employed to examine the influ-
ence of surface charge density and its distribution on a dielectric
anode, upon the charged particle density in the gas volume of the
gap, the radial and axial electric field distribution, the electronic
drift velocity and the time of discharge propagation across the
electrode gap.
Charges localized on the dielectric surface of an anode were
found to induce modification of the axial electric field between
the electrodes, strongly reducing its value in the proximity
of the anode. While during the incipient formative stages of
the discharge at the cathode surface, there occurred relatively
moderate differences in the electron and ion charge densities
within the gap that were directly attributable to variations in
the charge distribution on the anode surface, the accumulation
of surface charge (particularly in short gaps) can more appre-
ciably influence the discharge characteristics even before the
discharge completely trasverses the interelectrode distance,
because discharge propagation in its subsequent or latter stages
of development is controlled by the field created by space and
surface charges, in addition to the external applied field. This
observed effect on discharge behavior is found to occur because
the charge on the dielectric anode surface, remaining from
a preceding discharge, decreases the axial component of the
applied electric field that may, if sufficiently large, substantially
alter the electron and ion charge density within the gap. The
calculations demonstrate that in the case of a charged anode,
the radial electric field may reach exceptionally high values
due to the distributed electron charge on the dielectric anode
surface.
The results of our mathematical model indicate that the extent
of dispersion or broadening of the surface charge distribution,
which is contingent upon the amount of the charge deposited
upon the surface as well as the surface conductivity itself, exerts
a pronounced influence on the radial electric field distribution,
which determines whether the channel of the discharge is likely
to expand. Another consequence of surface charge accumula-
tion is a decrease in the photoelectron emission density in the
gap volume with increasing time; however, the amount of pho-
toelectron emission associated with the different surface charge
states appears to be negligible in its effect in comparison to that
exerted by the electron density within the discharge channel it-
self.
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874 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, VOL. 29, NO. 6, DECEMBER 2001

[32] A. J. Davies, C. J. Evans, P. Townsend, and P. M. Woodison, “Computa- Michael R. Wertheimer (SM’75–F’86) received
tion of axial and radial development of discharges between plane parallel the B.A.Sc. and M.A. degrees from the University
electrodes,” Proc. IEE, vol. 124, pp. 179–182, 1977. of Toronto, ON, Canada, in engineering physics and
[33] I. Somerville and P. Vidaud, “Surface spreading of charge due to ohmic physics, and the Ph.D. degree in low temperature
conduction,” Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A, vol. 399, pp. 277–293, 1985. physics from the University of Grenoble, France, in
1962, 1963, and 1967, respectively.
After several years in industrial research, he
joined the faculty of Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal,
Vladimir Nikonov received the M.Sc. degree in PQ, Canada, in 1973, where he is a Professor in the
physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Engineering Physics Department. Since 1996, he
Technology, Moscow, Russia, and the M.Sc.A. has held the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in
degree in engineering physics from École Polytech- low-pressure plasma processing of materials. His research interests over the
nique, Montreal, PQ, Canada, in 1992 and 1999, years have included various fields of materials science, including the physics of
respectively. solid dielectrics, deposition and applications of thin films by plasma-enhanced
His research interests include computational chemical vapor deposition, and applied plasma science and technology in
physics and optics. general—his current principal area of activity. He has authored or co-authored
more than 200 journal articles and book chapters, has co-edited three books,
and has 20 patents. From 1976 to 1996, he served on the editorial board of
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON DIELECTRICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATION. He is
currently the Co-Editor in-Chief of Plasmas and Polymers (Kluwer: Norwell,
MA/Plenum:New York).
Ray Bartnikas (S’56–M’58–SM’69–F’77–LF’96)
received the B.A.Sc. degree in electrical engineering
from the University of Toronto, ON, Canada, and the
M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering
from McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada, in
1958, 1962, and 1964, respectively.
In 1958, he joined the Cable Development
Laboratories, Northern Electric Company, Ltd. (now
Nortel), Lachine, Canada, where he carried out
research work on ionization discharges in dielectric
cavities and on dielectric losses in insulating mate-
rials of the type employed in cables. In 1963, he joined the Northern Electric
Research and Development Laboratories (now Nortel), Ottawa, ON, Canada,
where he continued his work on ionization discharges and dielectrics, and thin
film dielectrics with application to integrated circuits and semiconductor de-
vices. In 1968, he joined the Institut de Recherche d’Hydro-Quebec, Montreal,
Canada, where he continued the research on dielectric materials and discharge
phenomena in gases. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo,
Waterloo, ON, Canada, the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Montreal, PQ,
Canada, and McGill University. He is Editor of the ASTM monograph series
Engineering Dielectrics and of the books: “Elements of Cable Engineering,”
“Power Cable Engineering,” and “Power and Communication Cables.”
Dr. Bartnikas is a Registered Professional Engineer in Quebec, a Fellow of
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a Fellow of the Insti-
tute of Physics, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Academy of Science),
and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He held the position of
Chairman of the ASTM Committee on Electrical and Electronic Insulating Ma-
terials and served as President of the IEEE Electrical Insulation Society. He also
has been active in the IEEE Energy Committee, the IEEE Insulated Conductors
Committee and Materials Subcommittee of the IEEE Machinery Committee.
He is a member of the committees on electrical insulation of the Canadian Stan-
dards Association and the International Electrotechnical Commission.