ABSTRACT
This chapter is devoted to the study of space charge buildup and measurement of charge density within the dielectric in the condensed phase. When an electric field is applied to the dielectric, polarization occurs, and so far, we have treated the polarization mechanisms as uniform within the volume. However, in the presence of space charge, the local internal field is a function of both time and space, introducing nonlinearities that influence the behavior of the dielectrics. This chapter is devoted to the recent advances in experimental techniques of measuring space charge, methods of calculation, and the role of space charge in enhancing breakdown probability. A precise knowledge of the mechanism of space charge formation is invaluable in the analysis of the polarization processes and transport phenomena.
