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Low Temperature Cathodoluminescence Of Space Observatory Materials, Amberly Evans, Gregory Wilson, Justin Dekany, Alec Sim, Jr Dennison

Gregory Wilson

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 …