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This question (What is the capacitance between the Earth and Moon?) on EESE makes me wonder: How can a vacuum have a breakdown voltage?

If electrons can find the shortest path through a vacuum, how is that possible? With nothing to carry the charge, I can't understand how the charge can traverse a vacuum.

The value for dielectric strength of a vacuum comes from Wikipedia

Community
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David Wilkins
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1 Answers1

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The electrons (torn from one surface (electrode) through, say, electron field emission, just move in vacuum in electric field to the other surface (electrode).

akhmeteli
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