Phenomenon of skipping sparks in discharges on a dielectric surface

Gliding sparks are associated with channel breakdown in air near a corona precharged dielectric layer backed by ground. Characterized by high current, their bright channels usually end in sudden branching/dimming. Infrequently, there occur cases in which channel brightness is interrupted, with no evident local branching but a new leader continuing on propagating after momentary delay. This skipping-spark phenomenon has been studied in an experimental system intended for taking Kirlian photographs. Operated in a Lichtenberg-figure mode, the method yields evidence in some detail. The authors report on observations of spark-channel touchdown and subsequent rebounding. A model based on nonuniform surface charging is proposed for explanation