Numerical calculation and measurement of transient fields from electrostatic discharges

The paper compares measured and numerically calculated results of currents and transient fields caused by electrostatic discharges (ESDs). An algorithm based on the magnetic field integral equation was combined with an arc model. It takes the nonlinearity of the arc and the dependence of the breakdown process on the arc length into account. It can calculate the discharge currents and the transient fields for perfectly conducting bodies of revolution.