Stochastic Nature of Electrical Breakdown in Vacuum

This paper presents measurement results for the random variable "vacuum breakdown voltage", obtained by the application of pulse, dc, and ac voltage. Parameters varied during the measurements were: 1) vacuum pressure and 2) inter-electrode gap width. The measurements were performed under strictly controlled laboratory conditions. Conclusions about the influence that the variable parameters in the experiment exert on the parameters of theoretical statistical distributions have been drawn, based on the statistical analysis of the obtained experimental results. The obtained results have been explained by the mechanisms constituting the process of electrical breakdown in vacuum.