The effects of high-energy electrons on the charging of spacecraft dielectrics

Results are presented of a laboratory investigation of discharges in spacecraft dielectrics using both a low-energy electron and a combined low- and high-energy electron environment. Comparison of the charging and discharge characteristics indicates that the presence of high-energy electrons in spac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on nuclear science 1979-12, Vol.NS-26, p.5102-5106
Main Authors: Treadaway, M J, Mallon, C E, Flanagan, T M, Denson, R, Wenaas, E P
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Results are presented of a laboratory investigation of discharges in spacecraft dielectrics using both a low-energy electron and a combined low- and high-energy electron environment. Comparison of the charging and discharge characteristics indicates that the presence of high-energy electrons in space will result in significantly different behavior from that predicted for low-energy electron simulation alone. For Kapton, fiberglass, and second-surface mirrors, the effect of the high-energy electrons is primarily to increase the conductivity, thus often limiting surface potentials to below discharge threshold values. Variation of the relative fluxes of low- and high-energy electrons can lead to discharge; however, the magnitude of the charge blowoff is significantly smaller than that observed upon exposure to low-energy electrons alone. Astroquartz, which for low-energy electron exposures exhibited no measurable charge blowoff, exhibited significant charge blowoff (about 2 amp) upon exposure to a combined high- and low-energy electron environment.
ISSN:0018-9499