townsend discharge

Questions

What does townsend discharge mean?

A gas ionization process where free electrons, accelerated by a sufficiently strong electric field, give rise to electrical conduction through a gas by avalanche multiplication caused by the ionization of molecules by ion impact.

Where does townsend discharge come from?

Named after John Sealy Townsend, who discovered the fundamental mechanism.

How to pronounce townsend discharge

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “townsend discharge”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “townsend discharge”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “townsend discharge” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.