Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

12th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference; 13-18 May 2012 Kitakyushu, Japan

Publication Date

5-14-2012

Abstract

The range of temperature measurements have been significantly extended for an existing space environment simulation test chamber used in the study of electron emission, sample charging and discharge, electrostatic discharge and arcing, electron transport, and luminescence of spacecraft materials. This was accomplished by incorporating a new cryostat system and sample mount, which maintained compatibility with an existing ultrahigh vacuum chamber (base pressure

The new two-stage, closed-cycle helium cryostat has an extended sample temperature range from450 K, with long-term controlled stability of

The new capabilities in this chamber have been employed to study the temperature dependence of materials properties critical to spacecraft charging (particularly highly insulating materials) as predicted by theory. We provide details of the implementation and results of such studies, including conductivity, electrostatic discharge, electron emission, and luminescence measurements. Such studies will add both to basic understanding of materials properties and to a materials knowledgebase critical for accurate spacecraft charging simulations.

Comments

Poster presented at the 12th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference; 13-18 May 2012 Kitakyushu, Japan.

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