Statistical mechanics of dielectric breakdown

A statistical picture of dielectric breakdown in solids is presented and di scussed in this paper. The morphology selection mechanism is described by t he stochastic model or eta model. The approach is formulated in terms of tw o functions alpha(eta) and beta(eta) which play the role of a free energy a nd that of an inverse temperature, respectively. Numerical evidence for a d escription of the probability distribution of branched structures grown on a square lattice is reported. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.