Factors affecting the insulation performance of gaseous dielectrics

The author describes how the rate at which discharge initiatory electrons are produced is just one process which can affect the apparent erratic behaviour of a spark gap. He states in an introduction, that there are numerous other and perhaps more significant factors contributing to these statistical effects in voltage and timing jitter. He argues that often, improved performance in spark gaps or general insulation can be achieved by applying simple design rules based on an understanding of these effects