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Cited by 1,425High voltage insulation and dielectric phenomenaElectrical and Electromagnetic ResearchVacuum and Plasma Arcs

A theory of the electrical breakdown of solid dielectrics

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Zener, Clarence·1934·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Containing Papers of a Mathematical and Physical Character
DOI 10.1098/rspa.1934.0116
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Abstract

Abstract In the modern theory of metallic conduction initiated by Bloch, conductors, semi-conductors, and non-conducting crystals may be represented by the same model. In this model each electron is supposed to move freely in the periodic field of the lattice. Owing to this field, not all electronic energy levels are allowed; the allowed levels are grouped into bands, separated by energy intervals which are disallowed. If all the energy levels of a given band are occupied by electrons, then, according to the theory, these electrons can make no contribution to an electric current in the crystal. If all the bands are full, the crystal must be an insulator. Thus in an insulator there exist a number of energy bands which are completely full, and a number of bands of higher energy which, for a perfect crystal at the absolute zero of temperature, are empty. In a real non-conducting crystal, however, there will be a few electrons in the first unfilled band, owing to thermal excitation, impurities, etc. Their number is, however, too small to give an appreciable current at ordinary field strengths. As the field strength is increased, the current due to these few electrons increases steadily, but it will not show the sudden rise observed in dielectric breakdown. For this sudden rise it is necessary that the number of electrons in an unfilled band should suddenly increase as the field strength passes a critical value. Two distinct mechanisms have been suggested for this sudden increase. Of these, the first is a process analogous to the electrical breakdown of gases. In the absence of an external field, the few electrons in the upper band are in the lowest energy state of this band; under the action of an electric field, they are raised to higher levels. When one of these electrons reaches a sufficiently high level, it will give up energy to an electron in a lower (full) band, both electrons making a transition to a low level of the upper band. The process will then be repeated; the number of electrons in the upper band will thus increase exponentially with time as long as the electric field is maintained.

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  • Bloch oscillations are accompanied by tunnelling to higher order bands, known as Zener tunnelling.

    “Bloch oscillations come along with tunnelling to higher order bands [41], which is known as the Zener tunnelling [42].”

    From Discrete optics in femtosecond-laser-written photonic structures (2010) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Zener tunnelling strongly dampens Bloch oscillations, and the larger width of higher propagation bands impeded investigation of the interplay between Bloch oscillations and Zener tunnelling.

    “But this process strongly dampens the Bloch oscillations and, more importantly, the larger width of higher propagation bands impeded the investigation of the interplay between Bloch oscillations and Zener tunnelling.”

    From Discrete optics in femtosecond-laser-written photonic structures (2010) · cites this paper as [42]

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Authors
Zener, C.
Affiliations
University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author
Zener, Clarence
Venue
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Containing Papers of a Mathematical and Physical Character
Publisher
The Royal Society
Published
1934-07-02
Volume
145
Issue
855
Pages
523-529
ISSN
  • 0950-1207 (ISSN-L)
  • 2053-9150
DOI
10.1098/rspa.1934.0116
OpenAlex
W2006405770
Cited by
1,425
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 47
FWCI
2.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ (tdm)
Locations
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A Containing Papers of a Mathematical and Physical Character (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › High voltage insulation and dielectric phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Electrical and Electromagnetic Research
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Vacuum and Plasma Arcs
Keywords
electrical breakdown, solid dielectrics, band theory, Bloch theory, insulators, thermal excitation, impurities, avalanche breakdown, dielectric breakdown mechanism

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