BUBBLE FORMATION IN SYNTHETIC INSULATING LIQUIDS IN A PULSED DIVERGENT ELECTRIC-FIELD

This is a study of high field conduction phenomena in two aromatic ins ulating liquids (monobenzyltoluene and dibenzyltoluene) in a point-pla ne electrode geometry. These liquids behave qualitatively like saturat ed hydrocarbons; current instability (electron avalanche) for high eno ugh fields near the negative point giving rise to a current pulse regi me, which causes the formation of bubbles by local heating. The genera tion and dynamics of these bubbles as a function of various parameters (injected energy, hydrostatic pressure and the nature of the liquid) are presented and discussed.