Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effects Of Evolving Surface Contamination On Spacecraft Charging, W. Y. Chang, John R. Dennison, Jason Kite, R. E. Davies

All Physics Faculty Publications

The effects of evolving surface contamination on spacecraft charging have been investigated through (i) ground-based measurements of the change in electron emission properties of a conducting surface undergoing contamination and (ii) modeling of the charging of such surfaces using the NASCAP code. Specifically, we studied a Au surface as adsorbed species were removed and a very thin disordered carbon film was deposited as a result of exposure to an intense, normal incidence electron beam. As a result of this contamination, we found an ~50% decrease in secondary electron yield and an ~20% reduction in backscattered yield. The type and rates …