English

Stochastic Model of Breakdown Nucleation under Intense Electric Fields

Plasma Physics 2018-03-28 v1

Abstract

Plastic response due to dislocation activity under intense electric fields is proposed as a source of breakdown. A model is formulated based on stochastic multiplication and arrest under the stress generated by the field. A critical transition in the dislocation population is suggested as the cause of protrusion formation leading to subsequent arcing. The model is studied using Monte Carlo simulations and theoretical analysis, yielding a simplified dependence of the breakdown rates on the electric field. These agree with experimental observations of field and temperature breakdown dependencies.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1803.09360,
  title  = {Stochastic Model of Breakdown Nucleation under Intense Electric Fields},
  author = {Eliyahu Zvi Engelberg and Yinon Ashkenazy and Michael Assaf},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1803.09360},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

6 pages, 4 figures + Supplemental Material

R2 v1 2026-06-23T01:04:34.920Z