Prebreakdown currents: Basic interpretation and time-resolved measurements

The relation between the motion of charges in an electrode gap and the current induced in the external circuit is described on the basis of energy considerations and on the basis of the Ramo-Shockley theory. It is shown that both approaches are applicable, and mutually consistent, not only for gas-filled gaps but, if applied properly, also when the gap is partially filled with a solid dielectric. Energy considerations are especially useful for two-electrode gaps. If more than two electrodes are involved, the Ramo-Shockley theory has to be invoked. Based on the theoretical description, fast measuring systems with a subdivided measuring electrode can be constructed (typically 400 MHz bandwidth, 1 ns risetime). Fundamental and electrotechnical bandwidth limitations are discussed. The derived techniques and insights are applied to perform and interpret time-resolved measurements of currents induced by avalanches in homogeneous fields corona discharges in inhomogeneous fields and partial discharges in voids