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ABSTRACTThe formation of space charge packets in XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene) tapes from unaged cable insulation has been studied utilising the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) technique.The 150 m thick sheets were studied under constant applied dc field of 120 kV/mm at a temperature of 20 C for a period of 48 hours. After an inception period of about 3.5 hours, during which heterocharge accumulates at the anode and increases the local field there, a sequence of positive charge packets were observed to transit the sample starting from near the anode. This is shown as a moving image at the following web site: . Calculation of the internal field showed that the packets required a field of 140 kV/mm for their initiation. Reduction of the applied field step-wise from 120 kV/mm to 80 kV/mm indicated that the charge packet would keep moving as long as the local field at its front exceeded 100 kV/mm, but with a reducing magnitude. A return to an applied field of 120 kV/mm confirmed that the local field required to initiate a new packet was in excess of 135 kV/mm. The results are discussed in terms of current theories of charge packet formation. The first packet appears to be a moving front of field ionisation. The generation of subsequent packets is governed by the field at the anode and the balance of charge See, Dissado and Fothergill 9/16/08 2:31 PM 2 injection and extraction process, which occur there. The nature of the negative charges produced at the ionisation front is not clear, but they are unlikely to be electrons.