Charge transport dynamics in surface flashover arcs

Summary Form only given, as follows. Charge transport in a surface flashover arc has been analyzed using a transmission line model. The generator is a charge spot whose capacitance is taken to be large compared to the capacitance of the charge path. Resistance per unit length, R, is assumed to satisfy a local arc welder\´s ansatz, R mod I mod =E.*, where I is the local current and E* is a constant with the dimensions volts per meter. If charge flow is in the interval 0or=E(1+x/sub 1//L)/2, charge will not arrive at the far end of the line. The current will first abruptly terminate everywhere on the line. For configurations of different lengths but fixed x/sub 1/, the inequality shows that, for a flashover to occur, the minimum value of V/sub 0//L is a decreasing function of the path length, L. The inequality can also be used to show that if the initial charge on the line is localized near the generator, then, for a flashover to occur, the initial potential gradients must be very large compared to E*.<>