Bubble formation due to current pulses in a synthetic insulating liquid in a divergent electric field

High field conduction in two synthetic insulating liquids is studied in a point plane electrode geometry. The liquids, both blends of benzyltoluene isomers are called BT01 and BT02; the latter being far more viscous than the former. These liquids behave qualitatively like hydrocarbons; electron avalanche for sufficiently high fields near the point gives rise to a plasma in the liquid, which causes the formation of a cavitation bubble by local heating. Similar phenomena are observed in both BT01 and in C₆H₁₂: electron avalanche, light emission, current impulses, and bubble formation. In both cases, the calculated electric field at the point tip is of the order of 4MV/cm, easily high enough to sustain an electron avalanche