disruptive discharge

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. the sudden, large increase in current through an insulating medium resulting from complete failure of the medium under electrostatic stress.

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disruptive discharge British  

noun

1. a sudden large increase in current through an insulating medium resulting from failure of the medium to withstand an applied electric field

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Example Sentences

It follows, therefore, that the number of equipotential surfaces per unit length can represent this limit, or rather the stress which leads to disruptive discharge.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 288, July 9, 1881 by Various

With the disruptive discharge coil they glow intensely merely by holding them in the hand and connecting the body to the terminal of the coil.

From The inventions, researches and writings of Nikola Tesla With special reference to his work in polyphase currents and high potential lighting by Martin, Thomas Commerford

The brush form of disruptive discharge may be obtained not only in air and gases, but also in much denser media.

From Experimental Researches in Electricity, Volume 1 by Faraday, Michael

Thus the three very different modes of discharge, namely, conduction, electrolyzation, and disruptive discharge, agree in producing the important transverse phenomenon of magnetism.

From Experimental Researches in Electricity, Volume 1 by Faraday, Michael

But the lion and the lamb are not more different than are the disruptive discharge while passing through a non-conductor and the same current passing through a good conductor.

From Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 26, August, 1880 of Popular Literature and Science by Various