At NTP gases are very ConductionIfcurrent

the voltage isis

increased further,
good insulators.
Initially theabout
current 10 exponential
-10 A/cm2.rise in
is almost current is observed.
proportional to the
applied voltage.
I
Then it remains
almost constant

Io

V
 Suppose n0 is the number
Cathode Anode
of electrons ejected from
cathode surface
Townsend’s first ionization coefficient,  is
defined by the number of electrons
After traveling produced
a distance of x in
the gap, the number of
by one electron in moving unit
electrons has beendistance
increased to
In traveling ansmall distance of dx, this n
number of electrons produce additional dn
number of electrons by collision.

 dn   n dx
x After some manipulation,
d
n  n 0e
dx
 d
d
n  n 0e
Current reaching at anode
I  I0e

d Is known as electron
e Avalanche

Electron Avalanche is
defined by the number of
electrons produced by one
electron while traveling from
cathode to anode.
 d
d
n  n 0e
Current reaching at anode
I  I0e

d Is known as electron
e Avalanche

It is defined by the
number of electrons
produced by one electron
while traveling from
cathode to anode.
 x Taking ln of both side,
I  I0e
ln I  ln I 0  x
Ln I We get a equation
of a straight line.

But experience shows that for larger gap

distances, the current growth does not
Ln I0 follow the straight line rule rather the
increment is further exponential.

x
Townsend’s second It is defined as the
ionization coefficient,  number of additional
electrons emitted from
Suppose the number of the cathode, due to
electrons emitted initially positive ion collision.
from the cathode = n0

The number of electrons

emitted from the cathode Total number of
due to positive ion electrons reached at
bombardment = n+ anode = n

Therefore the number of electrons released

from the gas = n - (n0+n+)
Therefore the number of electrons released
from the gas = n - (n0+n+)

Therefore the number of positive ion released

from the gas = n - (n0+n+)

Hence the number of electrons emitted from the

cathode surface due to positive ion
bombardment = [n - (n0+n+)]

 n+ = [n - (n0+n+)]

Also we have, n= (n0+n+)ed

 n+ = [n - (n0+n+)] Also we have, n= (n0+n+)ed

Combining these two equations and after some

manipulation, we get, (see page 6)

d Breakdown means this

I0e
I current should be infinite.
d
1   e 1  1  e  d

1  0
d
e 1 This is the Townsend’s
Breakdown criteria.
 d This is the Townsend’s
e 1 Breakdown criteria or
threshold for breakdown

d
If e 1 Breakdown is ensured

d
If e 1 No Breakdown
 Breakdown in Uniform field -VE electrons are
scattered
Avalanche
+VE ions
are crowded


+++ 
+++   
+++
+++ 

Air can withstand  30kV/cm

under uniform field.
 Breakdown in Non-Uniform field
Secondary
Avalanche

Primary
Avalanche



 
+++ 
+++   
+++ 
+++ 
+++
+++
+++
+++   

Dense charged area

known as streamer, can Avalanche area, can
withstand  5kV/cm withstand  30kV/cm
Breakdown in Extremely Non-Uniform field
High charged area
known as leader, can
withstand  1kV/cm

 
      
+++  
 +++  

+++     +++
+++  
+++ +++     
  +++
+++
+++
+++
+++ 
+++



 +++
+++ 

+++
+++   
+++
+++      +++ 
+++
++++++ +++    
   +++ +++
+++ +++
 
   
+++   
+++
+++
+++   

Dense charged area

known as streamer, can Avalanche area, can
withstand  5kV/cm withstand  30kV/cm
 Breakdown
Actually in Extremely
it is extremely Non-Uniform
non-uniform field be a
field, it would
combination of leader,
If it were weakly streamer and
non-uniform field,avalanche. Suppose
a portion would be
2cm is leader,
streamer 3cm
and restiswould
streamer and rest is Suppose
be avalanche. avalanche.
4cm is
If streamer
it were uniform field,
and rest it would sustain 10X30=300kV
is avalanche.
Therefore it would sustain 2X1 + 3X5 + 5X30=167kV
Therefore it would sustain 4X5 + 6X30=200kV

2cm 3cm 5cm

10cm