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The electron trapping characteristic of a solid dielectric material (polymethylmethacrylate) is exploited to study electrical discharge propagation in laboratory‐scale space charge clouds. Similarities with the static and dynamic behaviors of thundercloud electricity are identified, and a combination of theoretical and empirical scaling relationships enables a rough translation of parameters from laboratory scale to thundercloud scale. Applications of the laboratory technique to specific thunderstorm situations reinforce the value of discharge structure studies in exposing the very important space charge configuration that gives rise to lightning.

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Abstruct-High-voltage breakdown measurements were made in two similar particle contaminated coaxial test systems, one with AC and the other with DC voltages. Information is presented on the effects of particle size, shape, and material for both SF6 and N2 gases at pressures up to 15 atm in a plain coaxial gap and a coaxial gap including a posttype support spacer. Particle motion and location were found to strong ly influence insulation performance. Measured values of electric fields which lifted and drove the particles, so that they bounced vertically and laterally, compare favorably with calculated levels. Movement into the the higher stress region at the center conductor was correlated with the initiation of sparkover. These breakdowns could be at levels more than a factor of five lower than those obtained when contamination was not introduced. Large variations in breakdown voltage of as much as 3 to 1 encountered under DC correspond to conditions where particle motion could be restricted, presumably by corona discharge, to motion near the outer electrode. AC sparkover levels were typically at the lower limits of the DC range. Both free and attached particles on the dielectric spacer surface would trigger flashover at the same low levels as were measured in the gas gap.

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