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Utah State University

2003

All Physics Faculty Publications

Spacecraft

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Materials Characterization At Utah State University: Facilities And Knowledgebase Of Electronic Properties Of Materials Applicable To Spacecraft Charging, John R. Dennison, C. D. Thomson, J. T. Kite, V. V. Zavyalov, Jodie Corbridge Oct 2003

Materials Characterization At Utah State University: Facilities And Knowledgebase Of Electronic Properties Of Materials Applicable To Spacecraft Charging, John R. Dennison, C. D. Thomson, J. T. Kite, V. V. Zavyalov, Jodie Corbridge

All Physics Faculty Publications

In an effort to improve the reliability and versatility of spacecraft charging models designed to assist spacecraft designers in accommodating and mitigating the harmful effects of charging on spacecraft, the NASA Space Environments and Effects (SEE) Program has funded development of facilities at Utah State University for the measurement of the electronic properties of both conducting and insulating spacecraft materials. We present here an overview of our instrumentation and capabilities, which are particularly well suited to study electron emission as related to spacecraft charging. These measurements include electron-induced secondary and backscattered yields, spectra, and angular resolved measurements as a function …


Charge Storage, Conductivity And Charge Profiles Of Insulators As Related To Spacecraft Charging, John R. Dennison, A. R. Frederickson, Prasanna Swaminathan Jan 2003

Charge Storage, Conductivity And Charge Profiles Of Insulators As Related To Spacecraft Charging, John R. Dennison, A. R. Frederickson, Prasanna Swaminathan

All Physics Faculty Publications

Dissipation of charges built up near the surface of insulators due to space environment interaction is central to understanding spacecraft charging. Conductivity of insulating materials is key to determine how accumulated charge will distribute across the spacecraft and how rapidly charge imbalance will dissipate. To understand these processes requires knowledge of how charge is deposited within the insulator, the mechanisms for charge trapping and charge transport within the insulator, and how the profile of trapped charge affects the transport and emission of charges from insulators. One must consider generation of mobile electrons and holes, their trapping, thermal detrapping, mobility and …