AFRL Round-Robin Test Results on Plasma Propagation Velocity

The speed plasma propagates across a charged solar panel after a primary arc is one of the most important, yet poorly known, quantities in determining Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) currents for spacecraft arcing events. A review of the literature over the last two decades reveals that measured propagation velocity varies by as much as an order of magnitude. To overcome this deficiency, a round-robin set of tests was initiated with partners from industry, academia, NASA and the U.S. Air Force. This paper will provide the most recent results from the Air Force Research Laboratory testing conducted at the Spacecraft Charging and Instrument Calibration Laboratory.

[1]  J. M. Bodeau,et al.  Preliminary Measurements of ESD Propagation on a Round Robin Coupon , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[2]  M. Crofton,et al.  ESD Propagation Dynamics on a Radially Symmetric Coupon , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[3]  Patrice Pelissou,et al.  Measurements of the Flashover Expansion on a Real-Solar Panel—Preliminary Results of EMAGS3 Project , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[4]  D. D. Snyder,et al.  Expansion of a Surface Flashover Plasma , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[5]  D. Ferguson,et al.  Flashover Current Pulse Formation and the Perimeter Theory , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[6]  C. Baur,et al.  Plasma Bubble Expansion Model of the Flash-Over Current Collection on a Solar Array-Comparison to EMAGS3 Results , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[7]  John L. Prebola,et al.  First Preliminary Results From U.S. Round-Robin Tests , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[8]  John L. Prebola,et al.  Further Results from the U.S. Round-Robin Experiment on Plasma Expansion Speed , 2013 .

[9]  John L. Prebola,et al.  A U.S. Round-Robin Experiment on Characteristics of Arc Plasma Expansion , 2012 .

[10]  V. Inguimbert,et al.  Parametric Study of a Physical Flashover Simulator , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[11]  S. Close,et al.  Model of plasma dynamics and electromagnetic pulses associated with hypervelocity particle impacts on satellites , 2011, 2011 XXXth URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium.

[12]  A. Wada,et al.  Preliminary ESD ground tests on meter-class solar panels in simulated GEO environments , 2008 .

[13]  M. Cho,et al.  Charge Neutralization via Arcing on a Large Solar Array in the GEO Plasma Environment , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[14]  D. Ferguson,et al.  Arc Inception Mechanism on a Solar Array Immersed in a Low-Density Plasma , 2001 .

[15]  C. V. Doreswamy,et al.  Electrical Breakdown of Anodized Structures in a Low Earth Orbital Environmental , 1999 .

[16]  H. C. Miller.  Flashover of insulators in vacuum: review of the phenomena and techniques to improved holdoff voltage , 1993 .

[17]  J. Vaughn,et al.  Current flow in a plasma caused by dielectric breakdown , 1992 .

[18]  B. Passenheim,et al.  Charging and Discharging of Spacecraft Thermal Control Dielectrics. , 1982 .

[19]  G. T. Inouye,et al.  Implications of arcing due to spacecraft charging on spacecraft EMI margins of immunity , 1981 .

[20]  David B. Snyder,et al.  Dynamic interactions between ionospheric plasma and spacecraft , 1995 .