Multilayer high gradient insulator technology

We are investigating a novel insulator concept that involves the use of alternating layers of conductors and insulators with periods on the order of <1 mm. These structures perform many times better (/spl sim/1.5 to >4/spl times/ higher breakdown electric field strength) than conventional insulators in long pulse, short pulse, and alternating polarity applications. A previously defined scaling law of d/sup 0:5/, where d is the insulator length, appears to apply to these new structures when the scaling parameter d is replaced by the layer period d/sub 1/. This observation implies that each layer within the structure behaves independently in the breakdown process. We present our ongoing studies investigating the degradation of the breakdown electric field strength resulting from surface roughness, the effect of gas pressure, and the performance of the insulator structure under bipolar stress. Further, we present our initial work on scaling and modeling studies.