ABSTRACT
Gases are the simplest and the most widely used dielectrics. In order to utilize these dielectrics efficiently, it is necessary to know their electrical behavior, especially the physical processes which lead to ionization and breakdown under different practical electrode systems. Each gas will breakdown at a certain electric stress. The breakdown voltage is defined as the peak value of the applied voltage at the instant of a spark discharge. This chapter highlights the basic mechanisms of gas breakdown in order to provide the base for understanding its engineering implications.
