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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Methods For Preparing And Characterizing Granular Materials For Electron Yield Measurements, Tom Keaton May 2023

Methods For Preparing And Characterizing Granular Materials For Electron Yield Measurements, Tom Keaton

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This work presents a systematic study on sample preparation methods and accuracy of electron yield (EY) measurements of highly insulating, granular materials. EY measurements of highly insulating materials, especially those with high EY, are challenging due to the effects of sample charging even for very low fluence electron probe beams. EY measurements of particulates are complicated by: (i) roughness effects from particulate size, shape, coverage, and compactness; (ii) particle adhesion; (iii) substrate contributions; and (iv) electrostatic repulsion and potential barriers from charged particles and substrates. Numerous methods were explored to rigidly affix particles on conducting substrates at varying coverages for …


Electron Emission And Transport Properties Database For Spacecraft Charging Models, Phil Lundgreen Aug 2020

Electron Emission And Transport Properties Database For Spacecraft Charging Models, Phil Lundgreen

Theses and Dissertations

Modeling the rate and likelihood of spacecraft charging during spacecraft mission is critical to determine mission length, proposed spacec­raft attitude, and spacecraft design. The focus of this work is the creation and utilization of a database of secondary electron yield (SEY) measurements for a host of materials to increase accuracy in spacecraft modeling. Traditional methods of SEY data selection for input into spacecraft charging codes typically include the use of compiled materials databases incorporated in charging codes or selecting values from a specific scientific study. The SEY database allows users to select data inputs based upon the details associated with …


Studies On Secondary Electron Emission Induced Charging In Dielectric Materials: Novel Methods And Applications For Space And Plasma Technologies, Leandro Olano Garcia Jan 2020

Studies On Secondary Electron Emission Induced Charging In Dielectric Materials: Novel Methods And Applications For Space And Plasma Technologies, Leandro Olano Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

The interaction of ionizing radiation with matter is of critical importance in many areas of science and technology such as space and plasma technology. Secondary electron emission is a direct consequence of electron irradiation on materials. To characterize materials in terms of secondary electron emission, the secondary emission yield (SEY) and the energy spectra of the secondary electrons are key physical properties. Secondary emission yields of materials are usually too high to avoid Multipactor effect or other related phenomena in applications for space. In addition, the measurement of electron energy spectra of secondary electrons in dielectric materials is a challenge …


Modeling The Defect Density Of States Of Disordered Sio2 Through Cathodoluminescence, Amberly Evans Jensen Jan 2014

Modeling The Defect Density Of States Of Disordered Sio2 Through Cathodoluminescence, Amberly Evans Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Spacecraft charging is the accumulation of an electrical charge on orbiting spacecraft induced by the space plasma environment and has harmful effects on the electrical functionality of a spacecraft. This is studied extensively, particularly in the Materials Physics Group (MPG) at Utah State University (USU). During charging studies performed by the MPG, another potentially problematic effect of the space plasma environment on spacecraft was observed: light emanating from the sample undergoing electron beam bombardment. Space-based observatories are one type of spacecraft on which this luminescence may occur. If the luminescence from the material caused by the space plasma is within …


Electron-Induced Electron Yields Of Uncharged Insulating Materials, Ryan Carl Hoffmann May 2010

Electron-Induced Electron Yields Of Uncharged Insulating Materials, Ryan Carl Hoffmann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Presented here are electron-induced electron yield measurements from high-resistivity, high-yield materials to support a model for the yield of uncharged insulators. These measurements are made using a low-fluence, pulsed electron beam and charge neutralization to minimize charge accumulation. They show charging induced changes in the total yield, as much as 75%, even for incident electron fluences of <3 fC/mm2, when compared to an uncharged yield. The evolution of the yield as charge accumulates in the material is described in terms of electron recapture, based on the extended Chung and Everhart model of the electron emission spectrum and the dual dynamic …


Hopping Conductivity And Charge Transport In Low Density Polyethylene, Jerilyn Brunson May 2010

Hopping Conductivity And Charge Transport In Low Density Polyethylene, Jerilyn Brunson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The properties and behaviors of charge transport mechanisms in highly insulating polymers are investigated by measuring conduction currents through thin film samples of low density polyethylene (LDPE). Measurements were obtained using a constant voltage method with copper electrodes inside a chamber adapted for measurements under vacuum and over a wide range of temperatures and applied fields. Field-dependent behaviors, including Poole-Frenkel conduction, space charge limited current (SCLC), and Schottky charge injection, were investigated at constant temperature. These field-dependent mechanisms were found to predict incorrect values of the dielectric constant and the field dependence of conductivity in LDPE was not found to …


Intergranular Phases In Cyclically Annealed Yba2cu3o7-X And Their Implications For Critical Current Densities, Andrew Peter Clarke Dec 2008

Intergranular Phases In Cyclically Annealed Yba2cu3o7-X And Their Implications For Critical Current Densities, Andrew Peter Clarke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We report changes in the intergranular material and grain morphology of YBa2Cu3O7-x during cyclic anneals between 780 and 980 ºC in oxygen at atmospheric pressure. Two endothermic reactions were detected: (a) the eutectic reaction of YBa2Cu3O7-x with CuO and BaCuO2 at 900 ºC (enthalpy ∆Ha) and (b) the peritectic reaction of YBa2Cu3O7-x with CuO at 950 ºC (∆Hb). During the first anneal, only reaction (b) is detected, and although it should only occur if there is an excess of CuO, …