Abstract
Electrical breakdown characteristics of liquid nitrogen($LN_2$) taking into consideration for application of high $T_c$ superconductor is very important. Also $LN_2$ will be used as both coolant and insulator in superconducting generator. In this paper, we investigated ac breakdown characteristics of cryogenic nitrogen gas above a $LN_2$ for rod-to plane electrode configuration. As result the breakdown mechanism of $LN_2$is dependence on bubble effect. And breakdown voltage is a ratio on bubble s size but electrodes arrangement is to make no difference. The breakdown voltage decreases slightly with increasing flow velocity, it again decreases abruptly with increasing flow velocity. These results were interpreted as the within pressure of rod electrode and Maxwell force.