Characteristics of Electromagnetic Noise from a Conically Shaped Electrode

Microgap discharges have been identified as primary sources of television interference from electric power lines. At the same time information on characteristics of this type of noise source is very limited. In particular consequences of a change in the shape of the active electrode are little known. With the aim of improving the situation, the paper presents experimental results obtained at the University of Toronto in studies of a point to plane microgap with a conical active electrode. Waveshape characteristics of the gap current and their associated frequency spectra are presented and cornpared with these obtained using a hemispericaily shaped electrode.