Precision of the inverse matrix technique for space charge measurement with the thermal step method

The thermal step method (TSM) is a nondestructive technique for measuring space charge distribution in thick and thin insulating materials. Although the measurements are relatively simple and the required apparatus is inexpensive, the numerical analysis to deconvolute TSM currents into the space charge and electric field distributions is complex and time consuming. This paper describes the precision of a newly developed deconvolution technique based on the inverse matrix calculations. The effects of the specimen thickness, matrix size, number of iterations and the polymer-electrode interface on the error of the calculations are discussed