Mutual contribution of area and volume effects on breakdown strength in liquid nitrogen

We investigated breakdown characteristics of pressurized liquid nitrogen (LN/sub 2/) over a very wide range of electrode size. Experimental results revealed that the breakdown mechanism changed from an area effect to a volume effect when increasing the highly stressed liquid volume in LN/sub 2/. Moreover, we discussed the contribution of area and volume effects to the breakdown strength in LN/sub 2/. It was suggested that a mutual contribution of area and volume effects appeared in breakdown characteristics in LN/sub 2/ under thermal bubble conditions as a phenomenon peculiar to cryogenic liquids.