Chapter III the breakdown of dielectrics

In this review a year ago a good deal of space was devoted to an extensive development by Heller (1951) of a “steady-state” theory of breakdown of solids. Almost simultaneously W. Franz developed a similar theory, reports of which appeared in German journals in January (1) and June (2) of 1952. The underlying ideas of the work of Franz are in most instances very close to those of Heller, so that the present review will occupy itself with a discussion of the points of difference In the two works, and with some account of the features of both which distinguish them from earlier theories.