On exponential growth (of gas breakdown)

The agreement obtained between measured breakdown voltages and predicted breakdown values is frequently used as a means of assessing the validity of the theory/model in question. However, owing to the mathematical nature of exponential growth, it is easy to formulate a criterion that provides acceptable breakdown values, although the criterion may contain totally unrealistic features. An example from the work of A. Pedersen (1989) showing unrestricted exponential growth in SF/sub 6/ is used to highlight the insensitivity of breakdown voltages with respect to modeling.<
>