Mentor
JR Dennison & Allen Andersen
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2019
First Page
1
Last Page
8
Abstract
Spacecraft charging is one of the leading causes of space environment induced anomalies [1]. Spacecraft charging occurs when an electric charge builds up on a spacecraft; one way for the charge to accumulate is from natural space plasma [1]. The charge can lead to many different problems, including electrostatic discharge (ESD). Insulating materials such as highly disordered polymers do not allow charge to move freely; this can result in areas of localized charge to build up creating differing electric potentials [2]. Once the difference in potentials is great enough, electrostatic discharge occurs causing irreversible damages to the insulating polymers.
ESD is not a straightforward problem to understand. When dealing with ESD for a certain polymer, breakdown will not occur at the same field strength for each sample tested; this is caused by the highly disordered nature of the polymers. For every sample there are many different factors that can affect the ESD of a material. Some of these include the structure and temperature of the material [3]. Research has been done to better understand the temperature dependence of the conductivity and ESD of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) [2], [4]. One of the structural factors that effect ESD are structural defects [3].
Structural defects create areas of localized positive charge known as trap states. In the trap states electrons are stuck in-between the valance band and conduction band. An electron in a trap state is at a lower energy level than the conduction band but a higher energy than the valance band. Energy must be added to the electron in order for it to escape the trap state. One way to create these trap states in a material is to irradiate them [5]. The purpose of this research is to understand how the contributions of radiation-induced trap states affect the electrostatic discharge of LDPE.
Recommended Citation
Kip Quilter (with JR Dennison), "The Effects of Beta Radiation on the Electrostatic Discharge of LDPE," Senior Thesis, Utah State University, Logan, UT, May 2019.