A current conservation relation experimentally checked

Abstract

We discuss a simple rule relating the corona current incident upon a polymer film in a vibrating corona triode to the discontinuity in the displacement current across the sample when the corona is turned off. By analyzing experimental results, we show that this relation, equivalent to the equation of continuity, often seems violated; we prove the limited resolution of voltmeters responsible for the discrepancy. In addition, we show that a violation of the rule indicates partial, direct injection of the corona current into the sample.