Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Conductor-Dielectric Junctions In A Low Density Plasma, B. V. Vayner, J. T. Galofaro, D. C. Ferguson, Win De Groot, Clint Thomson, John R. Dennison, Robert Davies

All Physics Faculty Publications

A conductor-dielectric junction exposed to the space environment is a frequent spacecraft design feature. Due to spacecraft charging and/or solar array operation, the conductor can acquire a high potential with respect to the surrounding plasma. If this potential is positive the insulators adjacent to exposed conductors can collect current as if they were conductors themselves. This phenomenon, called snapover, results in a substantial increase in current collection, and may even result in a glow discharge if the potential is high enough. If a conductor has a negative potential, arcing can occur at the site of a junction. Both of these …