The electrode-liquid interface under high fields

The mechanisms which occur at the interfaces between insulating liquids and metal electrodes and are significant for the initiation of electrical breakdown under high fields are considered. These include not only electronic processes but also hydro-mechanical ones involving the Lippmann effect in which the electrical fields of the double layers at the electrodes reduce the interfacial tension and lead to the generation of low pressure micro-cavities. It is suggested that the coupling of this mechanical mechanism to efficient electron transfer by Auger processes at the electrodes will be highly conducive to streamer initiation.