Dielectric Breakdown in Solids

Abstract

A theoretical model of dielectric breakdown in solids has been proposed by Budenstein. In this model the breakdown process starts with the development of a critical local charge density. This density, in turn, causes chemical bonds to be broken and leads to the formation of a high density gaseous plasma, the conducting path for destructive breakdown. The present work explores the magnitude of the critical charge density by comparison of the bonding energies of the H2(+), H2, H2(-) and H2(--) molecules. An ab initio calculation of the ground state of the H2(--) molecule is performed and is the major contribution of this work. The implications of this calculation on the breakdown problem and on other problems are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 16, 1975
Accession Number
ADA018550

Entities

People

  • Paul P. Budenstein

Organizations

  • Auburn University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chain Reactions
  • Charge Density
  • Chemical Bonds
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Coefficients
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Explosives
  • Ground State
  • Heat Transmission
  • Ionization
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Kinetics
  • Specific Heat

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Theoretical Analysis.