AN APPROXIMATE CALCULATION OF THE BREAKDOWN CONDITION FOR EXTERNAL SLOT ANTENNAS,
Abstract
A calculation of the conditions for the voltage breakdown in air outside a slot antenna, including the nonuniform electromotive force field, is presented. The approximation is developed by using the equation of conservation of electrons and experimental data describing the ionization rate. For pulsed and continuous waves the effects of the nonuniform electric field can be interpreted as a changed diffusion length. For pulsed breakdown the initial distribution of electrons is generally more important than the free diffusion of electrons. Each of these factors tends to increase the pulse breakdown voltage above the value estimated by the uniform field approximation. In view of the differences between uniform and nonuniform field breakdown characteristics, it is suggested that the experimental definition of antenna breakdown be reconsidered. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0692760
Entities
People
- Eugene E. Covert
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology