Condensed Matter Physics Commons^™

Determining Intrinsic Electron Emission Yields Of High Resistivity Ceramic Materials, Jr Dennison, Justin Christensen, Justin Dekany

Presentations

We describe and contrast methods for measuring the intrinsic—or zero-accumulated charge limit—electron emission yields of highly insulating materials with relatively large yields. The intrinsic electron yield is an essential measure of how charge will accumulate in such materials exposed to space environment fluxes and for predicting and mitigating spacecraft charging effects. There are three commonly used methods to determine the intrinsic electron yield: (i) the DC-yield method, which ratios constant incident and emission currents; (ii) the pulsed-yield method, which ratios integrated charge of short-duration, low-current pulses, thereby minimizing the amount of charge being deposited into the material during a measurement, …

Dependence Of Electrostatic Field Strength On Voltage Ramp Rate For Spacecraft Materials, Krysta Moser, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Conference Proceedings

This work investigated the dependence of electrostatic field strength for spacecraft materials on voltage ramp rate, by applying an increasing electrostatic field until electrostatic breakdown occurred.

Tests on the polymeric material Kapton ETM found that at ramp rates two or three orders of magnitude lower than the maximum recommended rate, FESD was lower than at rapid rates by a factor or two or more this suggests that tabulated values of FESD which have been used by the spacecraft charging community can substantially overestimate FESD in common slowly evolving spacecraft situations. Similar measurements on other polymeric materials have been performed to …

Absolute Electron Emission Calibration: Round Eobin Tests Of Au And Graphite, Jr Dennison, Justin Christensen, Justin Dekany, Clint Thomson, Neal Nickles, Robert E. Davies, Mohamed Belhaj, Kazuhiro Toyoda, Kazutaka Kawasaki, Isabel Montero, Maria E. Dávil, Leandro Olano, Luis Galán

Conference Proceedings

This study presents a round robin comparison of absolute electron yields of conducting and insulating materials performed in four international laboratories. Measurements are reported for two standard elemental conducting samples with reproducible sample preparation for Au and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The primary objectives of the study were to determine the consistency and uncertainties of these absolute yields measurements, and to investigate the effects of the similarities and differences of the diverse facilities. In this initial round robin study, HOPG total electron yield results were found to be more reproducible than those for Au. Surface contamination significantly affected the …

Temporal And Spatial Correlations In Electron-Induced Arcs Of Adjacent Dielectric Islands, Justin Christensen, Jr Dennison, Justin Dekany

Conference Proceedings

This study investigated coincidence behaviour of a common form of electron-induced light emission [6]. These very short duration(

Pulsed Electroacoustic System Development For Volume Charge Distribution Measurement In Thin Dielectric Films, Lee H. Pearson, Jr Dennison, Erick W. Griffiths, Anthony C. Pearson

Conference Proceedings

This paper discusses an effort to develop advanced pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) measurement system capabilities that incorporate state-of-the-art hardware and improved signal processing and modeling to characterize embedded charge distributions in thin dielectric films. Objectives in developing this system include: (1) improved spatial resolution, while maintaining reasonable temporal resolution; (2) improved signal processing tools for increased signal/noise ratios; (3) integrated PEA modeling tools; and (4) integrated environmental controls. We emphasize system improvements required to achieve high spatial resolution for in vacuo measurements of thin dielectrics charged using electron beam injection, which are most applicable for spacecraft charging tests. PEA measurement systems …

Extremely Low Secondary Electron Emission From Metal/Dielectric Particulate Coatings, Isabel Montero, L Aguilera, Leandro Olano, María E. Dávila, Luis Galán, Jr Dennison, Gregory Wilson

Presentations

Research on low secondary electron emission coatings is essential for the design and manufacture of space high-power RF devices without multipactor discharge. This paper discusses some of the factors that reduce secondary electron emission for metal-dielectric surfaces. We have studied the total electron yield (TEY) behavior of a particulate coating composed of a mixture of a metal (aluminum) nanoparticulates in solid state contact with a particulate dielectric material (polyimide thermosetting resin). Surface charging, roughness, and volume fraction are utilized as the main parameters to characterize the electron emission behavior, which can effectively be determined by continuous (total dose 42.5 nC/mm …

Extremely Low Secondary Electron Emission From Metal/Dielectricparticulate Coatings, Isabel Montero, L Aguilera, Leandro Olano, María E. Dávila, V. Nistor, L. Galán, Jr Dennison, Gregory Wilson

Conference Proceedings

We have studied the SEY behaviour of a particulate coating composed of a mixture of a metal (aluminum) in solid state contact with a particulate dielectric material (polyimide thermosetting resin). Surface charging, roughness, and volume fraction are utilized as the main parameters to characterize the electron emission behaviour. Apart from the important role played by surface composition in the SEY, the influence of the dielectric volume fraction has demonstrated to be critical to achieve a significant reduction of SEY. it was found that E1 of the particulate sample increased with increasing dielectric volume fraction. An extremely high first crossover energy, …

Synergistic Models Of Electron Emission And Transport Measurements Of Disordered Sio2, Jr Dennison, Jodie Corbridge Gillespie, Allen Andersen, Amberly Evans Jensen, Gregory Wilson, Justin Dekany, Alec Sim, Ryan C. Hoffmann

Conference Proceedings

An important way for the spacecraft charging community to address the expanding necessity for extensive characterization of electron emission and transport properties of materials is to expand the role of more fundamental materials physics. This includes the development of unifying theoretical models of the charge transport equations based on the creation, distribution, and occupancy of defect densities of states. Models that emphasize the synergistic relation between fitting parameters for diverse measurements can also lead to a better understanding of materials and facilitate solutions to spacecraft charging issues. As an example of this approach, we present results of many different measurements …

Pea System Modeling And Signal Processing For Measurements Of Volume Charge Distributions In Thin Dielectric Films, Lee H. Pearson, Jr Dennison, Erick W. Griffiths, A. C. Pearson

Posters

This paper discusses an effort to develop advanced pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) measurement system capabilities that incorporate state-of-the-art hardware and improved signal processing and modeling to characterize embedded charge distributions in thin dielectric films. Objectives in developing this system include: (1) improved spatial resolution, while maintaining reasonable temporal resolution; (2) improved signal processing tools for increased signal/noise ratios; (3) integrated PEA modeling tools; and (4) integrated environmental controls. We emphasize system improvements required to achieve high spatial resolution for in vacuo measurements of thin dielectrics charged using electron beam injection, which are most applicable for spacecraft charging tests. PEA measurement systems …

Synergistic Models Of Electron Emission And Transport Measurements Of Disordered Sio2, Jr Dennison, Jodie Corbridge Gillespie, Allen Andersen, Amberly Evans Jensen, Gregory Wilson, Justin Dekany, Alec M. Sim, Ryan Hoffmann

Posters

A critical component in the prediction and mitigation of spacecraft charging issues is an accurate model of the charging, transport and electron emission properties of a broad array of materials used in the construction of spacecraft. The increased sensitivity, longer-duration missions, and ventures into more demanding environments only serve to heighten this need. One important way for the spacecraft charging community to address this issue is to expand the role of more fundamental materials physics. This includes the development of unifying theoretical models of the charge transport equations based on the creation, distribution, and occupancy of defect densities of states. …

Perspectives On The Distributions Of Esd Breakdowns For Spacecraft Charging Applications, Allen Andersen, Krysta Moser, Jr Dennison

Presentations

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) continues to pose significant risks to space missions despite decades of intense study. We emphasize here the advantages to spacecraft designers and modelers from considering the stochastic distributions of breakdown and how it can be affected by factors including spacecraft environment conditions, design geometries, material temperature, material purity, charging history, and appropriate timescales. Spacecraft charging models and spacecraft designs typically rely on tabulated values or ranges of breakdown strength, often based on cursory measurements with little or no experimental detail. Depending on the timescales and history of environmental and orbital changes or durations of specific missions, it …

Absolute Electron Emission Calibration: Round Robin Tests Of Au And Polyimide, Jr Dennison, Justin Christensen, Justin Dekany, Clint Thomson, Neal Nickles, Robert E. Davies, Mohamed Belhai, Kazuhiro Toyoda, Arifur R. Khan, Kazutaka Kawasaki, Shunsuke Inoue, Isabel Montero, Maria E. Davila, Leandro Olano

Presentations

Accurate determination of the absolute electron yields of conducting and insulating materials are essential for models of spacecraft charging and related processes involving charge accumulation and emission due to electron beams and plasmas. Apparatus using low-fluence pulsed electron beam sources and various methods to minimize charge accumulation have been developed at facilities around the world. This study presents a round robin comparison of such tests performed in CSIC at Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, LaSeine at Kyushu Institute of Technology, DESSE at ONEREA, and the Space Environment Effects Materials (SEEM) test facility at Utah State University. The primary …

Validation Of Enhanced Electron Yield Measurements Of Low-Conductivity, High-Yield Materials, Justin Christensen, Gregory Wilson, Jr Dennison

Presentations

Materials exposed to electron bombardment can charge positively or negatively, depending on the number of electrons ejected from the material. This electron emission is the main mechanism which drives spacecraft charging, which can induce electrostatic breakdown of insulators and damage pertinent electrical, optical, and mechanical components. The electron yield (ratio of emitted to incident electrons) is an intrinsic property which characterizes how a material will charge under these types of conditions. However electron yield of insulators is very difficult to measure because measurement causes charge buildup.

To measure the intrinsic yield (yield of uncharged material) of insulators new methods have …

Predictive Formula For Electron Range Over A Large Span Of Energies, Anne C. Starley, Gregory Wilson, Lisa Montierth Phillipps, Jr Dennison

Posters

An empirical model developed by the Materials Research Group that predicts the approximate electron penetration depth—or range—of some common materials has been extended to predict the range for a broad assortment of other materials. The electron range of a material is the maximum distance electrons can travel through a material, before losing all of their incident kinetic energy. The original model used the Continuous-Slow-Down-Approximation for energy deposition in a material to develop a composite analytical formula which estimated the range from 10 MeV with an uncertainty of v, which describes the effective number of valence electrons. N_V was empirically …

Dependence Of Electrostatic Field Strength On Voltage Ramp Rate For Spacecraft Materials, Krysta Moser, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Posters

This work investigated the dependence of electrostatic field strength for spacecraft materials on voltage ramp rate, by applying an increasing electrostatic field until electrostatic breakdown (a permanent, catastrophic failure of a dielectric material) occurs. Enhanced understanding of prolonged exposure to high static electric fields (DC aging) of insulating materials based on expanded experimental studies is of critical to understand the physics of highly disordered insulating materials, as well as for applications in spacecraft charging, high voltage DC power transmission cables and switching, thin film dielectrics, and semiconductor devices and sensors. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the associated material breakdown at the …

Fabrication And Photonics Properties Of Iii-V Semiconductor Nanowire Structures, Tzu-Ging Lin

Open Access Dissertations

III-V semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have shown great potential to be building blocks for optical, optoelectronic, and electronic devices due to their special transverse confinement of electrons and photons along the nanowire axis. In addition, semiconductor nanowires with subwavelength structures exhibit strong optical Mie resonance, making them ideal platforms for realizing novel optical devices, such as extreme solar energy absorbers and broadband light trapping devices. This special 1D optical Mie resonance can be enhanced by using semiconductor-core dielectric-shell (CS) and metal-core semiconductor-shell dielectric-outer shell (CSS) nanowire heterostructures. Those advantages can be even leveraged up by utilizing nanowire arrays, attributing to the …

Effects Of Voltage Ramp Rates On Electrostatic Field Strength In Highly Disordered Insulating Materials, Krysta Moser, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Posters

At high enough electrostatic fields or after long exposure times, insulators can break down, causing large current flow through the material: this breakdown is called electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD is a permanent, catastrophic failure of a dielectric material: what was an insulator is now essentially a conductor. Previous tests done by the USU Materials Physics Group (MPG) using our ESD custom vacuum chamber have found that, for the polymeric materials biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyimide (PI), and low density polyethylene (LDPE), the electrostatic field strength at breakdown depends on the ramp rate of voltage applied across some materials, but possibly …

Temporal And Spatial Correlations In Electron-Induced Arcs Of Adjacent Dielectric Islands, Justin Christensen, Jr Dennison, Justin Dekany

Presentations

This study investigates very short duration (

The data for this project were collected at Marshall Space Flight Center. The epoxy “glue dot” samples were mounted inside a high vacuum (<10^-4 Pa) chamber on a Black Kapton substrate attached to a large grounded metal plate, cooled with liquid nitrogen to ~120 K. An electron gun was used to bombard the sample with electrons of a known energy (12 to 40 keV) and flux density (0.3 to 5 nA/cm²), similar to what would be seen in a typical space environment. Light emitted from the samples was monitored with …

Dependence Of Electrostatic Field Strength On Voltage Ramp Rate For Spacecraft Materials, Krysta Moser, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Presentations

This work investigated the dependence of electrostatic field strength for spacecraft materials on voltage ramp rate, by applying an increasing electrostatic field until electrostatic breakdown (a permanent, catastrophic failure of a dielectric material) occurs. Enhanced understanding of prolonged exposure to high static electric fields (DC aging) of insulating materials based on expanded experimental studies is of critical to understand the physics of highly disordered insulating materials, as well as for applications in spacecraft charging, high voltage DC power transmission cables and switching, thin film dielectrics, and semiconductor devices and sensors. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the associated material breakdown at the …

Pea System Modeling And Signal Processing For Measurement Of Volume Charge Distributions In Thin Dielectric Films, Lee H. Pearson, Jr Dennison, Erick W. Griffiths, A. C. Pearson

Presentations

This paper discusses an effort to develop advanced pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) measurement system capabilities that incorporate state-of-the-art hardware and improved signal processing and modeling to characterize embedded charge distributions in thin dielectric films. Objectives in developing this system include: (1) improved spatial resolution, while maintaining reasonable temporal resolution; (2) improved signal processing tools for increased signal/noise ratios; (3) integrated PEA modeling tools; and (4) integrated environmental controls. We emphasize system improvements required to achieve high spatial resolution for in vacuo measurements of thin dielectrics charged using electron beam injection, which are most applicable for spacecraft charging tests. PEA measurement systems …