A Disruptive discharge is the result of a dielectric being stressed beyond its dielectric strength. This results in the sudden transition of part of the dielectric material from an insulating state to a highly conductive state. This transition is characterized by the formation of an electric spark, and possibly an electric arc through the material. If this occurs within a solid dielectric, physical and chemical changes along the path of the discharge will cause permanent degradation and significant reduction in the material's dielectric strength.

See also

• Discharges : Electrostatic discharge, corona discharge, Partial discharge, Direct current discharge
• Coils: Ignition coil, Oudin coil, Induction coil, Tesla coil
• People : Nikola Tesla, Nikolay Semyonov, Robert J. Van de Graaff, Thomas Burton Kinraide
• Other: Lichtenberg figure

Plasma physics | Electrical phenomena