Review of space charge measurements in dielectrics

In the last two decades, a significant effort has been directed to understand the internal charge distributions in dielectrics. This has resulted in the development of a number of methods which give detailed information about space charge distributions. This review presents the evolution of several experimental approaches for the determination of spatial charge and field distributions in dielectrics, including the nondestructive methods of direct probing such as the thermal-pulse methods and the methods using pressure waves that propagate through the charged sample. Detailed information is also provided on the principles used in each technique, typical resolution, limitations and advantages associated with each method. The applications of the methods to several insulating materials charged with various mechanisms are described. The paper concludes with a discussion on a number of quite interesting techniques which seem most promising.