Townsend avalanche

The Townsend avalanche refers to a process that occurs in gases when a high electric field causes free electrons to collide with gas molecules, leading to ionization. As an electron collides with a molecule, it can knock out additional electrons, generating more free electrons. This cascading effect can result in a large number of ions and electrons, creating a conductive path in the gas. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding how gas breakdown occurs in electric discharges, such as lightning or in gas-filled tubes used in various electronic devices.