Discharges on insulator surfaces after voltage reversal

Abstract

An avalanche effect along insulator surfaces in a metal-insulator-metal structure was studied experimentally. A physical model is proposed to explain the observed current spikes. According to this model, during negative poling, voltage corona charging from the edge of the electrode to the neighboring insulator surface occurs. The charges are trapped in surface states. The voltage ramp releases these charges in opposite directions by coulombic attraction. The charges are then accelerated towards the electrode and initiate an avalanche. The waiting time t/sub w/ influences the threshold voltage in a specified way. The trapped charges seem to increase their own trap depth during t/sub w/.<>