Re: charged parallel plate capacitor

[William Beaty <billb@ESKIMO.COM>]

On Wed, 27 Feb 2002, Farrell-Gray, Catherine wrote:

> If there were a vacuum between the plates would the charge leak or would the
> capacitor be able to hold the charge? Is there such a thing as a capacitor
> with a vacuum between the plates?

Yes.  Do a google.com search on keywords "vacuum capacitor."  These are
typically used in high voltage applications such as large radio
transmitters.

However, even a vacuum capacitor must have insulators supporting the
plates.  The surface of the glass insulator provides a leakage path
(especially significant in humid environments!)


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