Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume
40
Issue
2
Publication Date
2-2012
First Page
305
Last Page
310
Abstract
Charging of materials by incident radiation is affected by both environmental and physical conditions. Modifying a material’s physical surface will change its reflection, transmission and absorption of the incident radiation which are integrally related to the accumulation of charge and energy deposition in the material. General arguments for incident and emitted photons, electrons and ions are considered. An optical analysis of the effects of surface modification on spacecraft charging parameters on prototypical polyimide Kapton HNTM and Cu samples is presented. Samples were roughened with abrasive compounds ranging from 0.5 to 10 μm in size, comparable to the range of incident wavelengths. They were also contaminated with thin layers of DC 704 diffusion pump oil. Using a UV/VIS/NIR light source and a diffraction grating spectrometer, measurements were performed on pristine and modified materials. The measured spectra confirmed that surface modifications induce expected changes in optical reflection, transmission, and absorption. The generally increased absorption observed results in increased photon energy deposited in the material, leading to increased charge emission through the photoelectric effect.
Recommended Citation
Amberly Evans and JR Dennison, “The Effects of Surface Modification on Spacecraft Charging Parameters,” IEEE Trans. on Plasma Sci., 40(2), 305-310 (2012). DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2011.2179676
Comments
Published by IEEE in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. Author post print available for download through link above.
Research was supported by funding from the NASA James Webb Space Telescope Program through Goddard Space Flight Center and a Utah State University Eccles Research Fellowship and Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities grant.