Influence of electrodes on D-C breakdown in gases at high pressure

THE INVESTIGATION of the influence of electrodes on breakdown in gases was prompted by the steadily increasing importance of gases at high pressure as the principal insulating medium for high-voltage apparatus. Particularly for Van de Graaff electrostatic generators and other direct forms of particle accelerators compressed-gas insulation has become essential to the attainment of high-energy particles in a compact and economic design.¹ It is likely that high-pressure gas insulation will gradually invade the realm of high-power engineering where high-voltage cables and transformers are the most obvious immediate applications.