Electrical discharge properties in dielectric-loaded diodes

Properties of the electrical discharge in a dielectric-loaded diode are inv estigated. An analytical expression of the saturated voltage phi (s) in the gap between the dielectric materials is obtained in terms of parameter xi related to the rise time of the applied voltage. It is shown that the satur ated gap voltage approaches unity very closely, initiating an electrical br eakdown, when parameter xi increases to a large value (typically 1000). Thi s corresponds to the usual high-pressure discharge. On the other hand, if a bundant triggering electrons are provided by radiation or by any other mean s, the saturated gap voltage is considerably less than unity and therefore electrical breakdown in the gap never occurs. (C) 2000 American Institute o f Physics. [S1070- 664X(00)01111-3].