On Voltage Acceleration Models of Time to Breakdown-Part I: Experimental and Analysis Methodologies

We propose and outline three independent experimental methodologies applicable to the investigation of voltage acceleration models of time to breakdown ( T BD ) for dielectric breakdown. The self-consistence requirement of voltage acceleration models and Poisson random statistics in terms of area scaling is discussed in detail. Three different T BD acceleration models, which are T BD exponential law ( E model), T BD power law, and T BD exponential law of reciprocal voltage and field (1/ V model or 1/ E model), as widely discussed in literature, are evaluated in the context of these new methodologies. We have found that the T BD exponential law of reciprocal voltage (1/ V model) is the best description for the T BD voltage acceleration in the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling regime while the T BD power-law model is the most appropriate in the direct tunneling regime.