ESD generated unipolar fields at fixed electrodes

Experimental analysis was performed to study electrostatic discharge (ESD) impulsive unipolar fields generated in the space near fixed electrodes. An isolated unipolar (positive going/negative going) impulse field exists only for a very short time (below about 100 psec) at the time of a low-voltage (below about 1 kV) ESD. The study indicates that ESD-generated impulse fields penetrate electronic systems with their EMI causing system malfunctions or digital circuit interruptions.