Streamer/leaders from a metallic particle between parallel plane electrodes in transformer oil

Prebreakdown channels initiated at, and propagating from, an electrically floating wire particle located between two parallel electrodes under impulse voltage have been studied. The propagation characteristics do to some degree resemble what has been found in point to plane gaps. Channels will, when they meet a barrier or an electrode covering perpendicular to the field, stop and spread out on the surface leaving charge that may form Lichtenberg figures. Charge measurements and registration of the size of Lichtenberg figures do support a capacitance based model of the propagation.