Time lags to breakdown in n-hexane have been measured in high over-voltages, using approximately 100 ns width rectangular pulses. At a constant field, the time lags are divided into two types, N and B, at a 'critical distance' d. Above dc, Laue plots have almost similar kinked-line characteristics; below dc, a straight line is obtained. From the prebreakdown current estimated from the voltage waveforms, the ionisation coefficient, which increases with increasing applied fields, is estimated to be 6.4*103 cm-1 at 3.5 MV cm-1, provided a single-electron avalanche is occurring.
An anomalous discharge current flowing in the same direction as the charging current was observed in a low-density polyethylene film with evaporated silver electrodes at room temperature (25°C) after the application of a very high field above 2×108 V/m.
The discharge transient current was computer-analyzed numerically by an explicit difference method. The anomalous current was attributed to the large amount of two types of injected space charge (electrons and holes) with ohmic electrodes, and not to one type of injected space charge (electrons or holes) with blocking electrodes.
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