Anomalous Paschen effect

Summary form only given. The aim of this paper is to discuss the area left from the Paschen minimum, i.e. the area where anomalous Paschen effect occurs. According to our research, anomalous Paschen effect is in fact edge effect, i.e. d is the length of spark distance rather than inter-electrode gap. To the left of Paschen minimum, spark takes longer path, so the value of pd product corresponds to the minimum in Paschen curve. Also, the following is noticed: 1) dependence of gas breakdown voltage versus pd product is the consequence of the similarity law for electrical discharge in gases, i.e. a single breakdown voltage value corresponds a single value of pd product, 2) anomalous Paschen effect occurred in all gases we have examined (Ar, Xe, N/sub 2/, O/sub 2/, SF/sub 6/). Comparison of experimental data to numerically predicted results, clearly verifies our conclusions.