SPACE-CHARGE IN DIELECTRICS ENERGY-STORAGE AND TRANSFER DYNAMICS FROMATOMISTIC TO MACROSCOPIC SCALE

The consequence of the coupling of a charged particle with a polarizat ion field is the formation of a quasi-particle called the 'polaron'. T he degree of 'localization' of such charge depends on the nature of th is coupling. In this way, trapping at an atomic scale is described as resulting from the evolution of a coupling involving successively: the electronic polarization field, the infrared polarization field, and t he quasi-static ionic polarization field. The internal energy stored i n the surrounding medium polarized by the charge is high because the c harge is so well localized. The maximum of this energy is obtained for the quasi-static polarization field; its magnitude is of the order of 5 to 10 eV per trapped charge. This work addresses the physics of agi ng and of the breakdown process on the basis of an unsustainable incre ase in local internal energy within the material, due to charge trappi ng - the polarization around a trapped charge increases the local ener gy; the relaxation of the material lattice then follows a rapid detrap ping of charges from their sites, releasing the local excess site regi on energy into the material. Such a release executes transient virtual work on the material, producing macroscopic dielectric damage, and wh en critical, unstable conditions are achieved in the time domain, this is followed by electrical breakdown. This interpretation of electrica l material breakdown is related to bulk breakdown as observed in thin film laminate structures (similar to mu m) and surface flashover as se en in large structures (similar to mm to cm).