Physics:Leakage current

The unwanted current leaking between two electrodes under voltage. In detectors, leakage currents can be observed in wire or semiconductor detectors, without ionization caused by the passage of a charged particle. Radiation damage can increase the leakage current, which translates into a decrease of the signal-to-noise ratio.

Leakage current has, of course, a wider meaning, like when occurring with improperly grounded electrical equipment; leakage currents are also relevant in the operation of semiconductor circuits, particularly at high temperatures.