An experimental method to determine the electrostatic field enhancement factor of a practical conductor surface

A method of determining the field enhancement factor of a practical conductor is presented. The method is developed from a modified theory of discharge onset in a gaseous medium. This modification incorporates the influence of conductor surface roughness. Onset data from an experimental study that utilized electrodes of varying surface roughness are examined, and the results obtained using the proposed method are discussed with reference to both the underlying theory and the practical aspects of the experimental measurements