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Condensed Matter Physics

Conference Proceedings

2014

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Pre-Breakdown Arcing And Electrostatic Discharge In Dielectrics Under High Dc Electric Field Stress, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison Oct 2014

Pre-Breakdown Arcing And Electrostatic Discharge In Dielectrics Under High Dc Electric Field Stress, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Conference Proceedings

Highly disordered insulating materials exposed to high electric fields will, over time, degrade and fail, potentially causing catastrophic damage to devices. Step-up electrostatic discharge (ESD) tests were performed for two common polymer dielectrics, low density polyethylene and polyimide. Prebreakdown transient current spikes or pre-arcs were observed, using both slow and high speed detection. These pre-ESD discharge phenomena are explained in terms of breakdown modes and defect generation on a microscopic scale. The field at which pre-breakdown arcing begins was compared to the onset field for electrostatic discharge at which complete breakdown begins to occur for each material. We present evidence …


Small Satellite Space Environments Effects Test Facility, Jr Dennison, Kent Hartley, Lisa Montierth Phillipps, Justin Dekany, James S. Dyer, Robert H. Johnson Aug 2014

Small Satellite Space Environments Effects Test Facility, Jr Dennison, Kent Hartley, Lisa Montierth Phillipps, Justin Dekany, James S. Dyer, Robert H. Johnson

Conference Proceedings

A versatile test facility has been designed and built to study space environments effects on small satellites and system components. Testing for potentially environmental-induced modifications of small satellites is critical to avoid possible deleterious or catastrophic effects over the duration of space mission. This is increasingly more important as small satellite programs have longer mission lifetimes, expand to more harsh environments (such as polar or geosynchronous orbits), make more diverse and sensitive measurements, minimize shielding to reduce mass, and utilize more compact and sensitive electronics (often including untested off-the-shelf components). The vacuum chamber described here is particularly well suited for …


Density Of State Models And Temperature Dependence Of Radiation Induced Conductivity, Jodie Corbridge Gillespie, Jr Dennison, Alec M. Sim Jun 2014

Density Of State Models And Temperature Dependence Of Radiation Induced Conductivity, Jodie Corbridge Gillespie, Jr Dennison, Alec M. Sim

Conference Proceedings

Expressions are developed for radiation induce conductivity (RIC) over an extended temperature range, based on density of states models for highly disordered insulating materials. A general discussion of the DOS of can be given using two simple types of DOS distributions of defect states within the bandgap for disordered materials are considered, one that monotonically decreases within the bandgap and one with a distribution peak within the band gap. Three monotonically decreasing models (exponential, power law, and linear), and two peaked models (Gaussian and delta function) are considered, plus limiting cases with a uniform DOS for each type. Variations using …


The Dynamic Interplay Between Spacecraft Charging, Space Environment Interactions And Evolving Materials, Jr Dennison Jun 2014

The Dynamic Interplay Between Spacecraft Charging, Space Environment Interactions And Evolving Materials, Jr Dennison

Conference Proceedings

While the effects on spacecraft charging from varying environmental conditions and from the selection of different construction materials have been studied extensively, modification of materials properties by exposure to the space plasma environment can also have profound effects on spacecraft charging. Given the increasingly demanding nature of space missions, there is a clear need to extend our understanding of the dynamic nature of material properties that affect spacecraft charging and to expand our knowledge base of materials’ responses to specific environmental conditions so that we can more reliably predict the long term response of spacecraft to their environment. This paper …


Variations In Cathodoluminescent Intensity Of Spacecraft Materials Exposed To Energetic Electron Bombardment, Justin Dekany, Justin Christensen, Jr Dennison, Amberly Evans Jensen, Gregory Wilson, Todd Schneider, Charles W. Bowers, Robert Meloy Jun 2014

Variations In Cathodoluminescent Intensity Of Spacecraft Materials Exposed To Energetic Electron Bombardment, Justin Dekany, Justin Christensen, Jr Dennison, Amberly Evans Jensen, Gregory Wilson, Todd Schneider, Charles W. Bowers, Robert Meloy

Conference Proceedings

Many contemporary spacecraft materials exhibit cathodoluminescence when exposed to electron flux from the space plasma environment. A quantitative, physics-based model has been developed to predict the intensity of the glow as a function of incident electron current density and energy, temperature, and intrinsic material properties. We present a comparative study of the absolute spectral radiance for several types of dielectric and composite materials based on this model which spans three orders of magnitude. Variations in intensity are contrasted for different electron environments, different sizes of samples and sample sets, different testing and analysis methods, and data acquired at different test …


Defects Density Of States Model Of Cathodoluminescent Intensity And Spectra Of Disordered Sio2, Amberly Evans Jensen, Jr Dennison Jun 2014

Defects Density Of States Model Of Cathodoluminescent Intensity And Spectra Of Disordered Sio2, Amberly Evans Jensen, Jr Dennison

Conference Proceedings

Electron beam measurements have been made that show disordered SiO 2 exhibits luminescent behavior, and that it varies with incident beam energy and current density, sample temperature and wavelength. A simple model based on the electronic band structure and defect density of states—initially used to explain electron transport in highly disordered insulating materials—has been extended to predict the relative cathodoluminescent intensity and spectral radiance for disordered SiO 2 as a function of these variables. Insulating SiO 2 has a band gap of ~8.9 eV. Hence thermal excitation from the valence to conduction band is highly improbable; excitation is through collisions …


Electrostatic Discharge And Endurance Time Measurements Of Spacecraft Materials: A Defect-Driven Dynamic Model, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison, Alec M. Sim, Charles Sim Jun 2014

Electrostatic Discharge And Endurance Time Measurements Of Spacecraft Materials: A Defect-Driven Dynamic Model, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison, Alec M. Sim, Charles Sim

Conference Proceedings

Electrostatic breakdown leads to the majority of anomalies and failures attributed to spacecraft interactions with the plasma space environment. It is therefore critical to understand how electrostatic field strength (FESD) of spacecraft materials varies due to environmental conditions such as duration of applied electric field, rate of field change, history of exposure to high fields, and temperature. We have developed a dual-defect, thermodynamic, mean-field trapping model in terms of recoverable and irrecoverable defect modes to predict probabilities of breakdown. Fits to a variety of measurements of the dependence of FESD of insulating polymers on endurance time, voltage ramp rate, and …