The Kindling of Electric Sparkover Based on Lichtenberg Figures

A simple, experimental method is described for studying the kindling mechanism of electric sparkover. Experimental evidence is presented which tends to prove that electrons and not protons or positive ions are the active carriers in the kindling mechanism; that Lichtenberg figures form the initial step in the kindling process; that the sparkover channel develops from the positive Lichtenberg figure and that the sparkover path tends to follow the positive and negative Lichtenberg figures streamers.