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Low Temperature Cathodoluminescence In Disordered Sio2, Amberly Evans, Gregory Wilson, Jr Dennison
Low Temperature Cathodoluminescence In Disordered Sio2, Amberly Evans, Gregory Wilson, Jr Dennison
Gregory Wilson
Disordered SiO2 is commonly used for optical instrumentation and coatings. In space telescope applications, these materials can be exposed to low temperature (particularly for IR telescopes) and simultaneous electron fluxes from the space plasma environment. During recent charging tests of this dielectric material, a discernable glow was detected emanating from the surface of the SiO2, indicating that the incident electron beam induced a luminescent effect, termed cathodoluminescence. As the sample cooled from 300 K to 120 K, a change in the intensity and energy spectrum of the glow was observed between 250 nm and 1700 nm, demonstrating that the SiO2 …
Low Temperature Cathodoluminescence Of Space Observatory Materials, Amberly Evans, Gregory Wilson, Justin Dekany, Alec Sim, Jr Dennison
Low Temperature Cathodoluminescence Of Space Observatory Materials, Amberly Evans, Gregory Wilson, Justin Dekany, Alec Sim, Jr Dennison
Justin Dekany
In recent charging studies, a discernable glow was detected emanating from sample surfaces undergoing electron beam bombardment that resulted from a luminescent effect termed cathodoluminescence. This suggests that some of the materials used as optical elements, structural components, and thermal control surfaces in the construction of space-based observatories might luminesce when exposed to sufficiently energetic charged particle fluxes from the space plasma environment. If these visible, infrared and ultraviolet emissions are intense enough, they can potentially produce optical contamination detrimental to the performance of the observatory optical elements and sensors, and act to limit their sensitivity and performance windows. As …