Measurement of breakdown current in dielectric materials

A new method to determine the resistance of the breakdown channel, current, and characteristic time is based on the measurements of the breakdown current pulse in a wide range of parameters of the measurement circuit. A problem with time-dependent resistance of the breakdown channel is numerically solved. An experimental variation in the resistance of the breakdown channel can be used to estimate the breakdown time. The method is tested with the aid of computer experiments and employed in the analysis of oscillograms of breakdown current in experiments with a dielectric polymer.