Nonlinear Spark Resistance and Capacitive Circuit Models of Electrostatic Discharge

Journal Article · Mon Jan 13 00:00:00 UTC 2020 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2019.2960951· OSTI ID:1822722

Rose, John W. ^[1]; Coffey, Mark W. ^[1]; Flammer, P. David ^[1]; Peery, Travis B. ^[2]; Mace, Jonathan Lee ^[2]; Durfee, Charles ^[1]

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1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Over the past century, several models of spark discharge have been developed that approximate the effect of a spark channel in a circuit as a nonlinear resistance. In this article, we review the physical derivations of a set of spark models, and give analytical and numerical solutions to spark discharges in simple capacitive circuits. In electrostatic discharge (ESD), we find the drop in spark resistance is limited by the initial stored charge in the system. For a simpler ESD model (spark resistance in series with the electrode capacitance), we obtain the analytical solutions for a spark resistance model of a general integral form, consisting of the time integral of the current raised to an arbitrary power. Herein, we also consider a circuit with an additional fixed “victim” resistance in series with the spark resistance, and capacitance. Here, although the general case requires numerical solution, it is possible to find asymptotic limits for the case of the Rompe and Weizel spark model. Our analysis provides insights into system response that can, for example, be used to evaluate risk zones of parameter space for ESD protection.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1822722
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--19-20975
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 48; ISSN 0093-3813
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ESD
analytical solutions
circuit model
electric breakdown
electrostatic discharge
nonlinear spark resistance
spark discharge