A Study of the Positive Streamer Growth under Surface Discharge Configuration in Liquid Paraffin

The growth characteristics of positive impulse surface discharges using a point-plane electrode geometry in oil have been studied using schlieren optics and a special probe was used for the measurement of the voltage drop across the streamer. The experiments are made in growth lengths up to, approximately 4 cm. The growth characteristics are discussed in conjunction with the probe measurements. We examine mechanisms for the continuous reduction of the potential gradient in the streamer channel as the tip grows, and then propose a new model for streamer growth, adding some findings on light emission in the channel.