On Voltage Acceleration Models of Time to Breakdown—Part I: Experimental and Analysis Methodologies

We propose and outline three independent experimental methodologies applicable to the investigation of voltage acceleration models of time to breakdown (T _BD) for dielectric breakdown. The self-consistence requirement of voltage acceleration models and Poisson random statistics in terms of area scaling is discussed in detail. Three different T _BD acceleration models, which are T _BD exponential law (E model), T _BD power law, and T _BD exponential law of reciprocal voltage and field (1/V model or 1/E model), as widely discussed in literature, are evaluated in the context of these new methodologies. We have found that the T _BD exponential law of reciprocal voltage (1/V model) is the best description for the T _BD voltage acceleration in the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling regime while the T _BD power-law model is the most appropriate in the direct tunneling regime.