Dielectric surface flashover in a simulated low Earth orbit environment

Author

Hegeler, Frank ; Krompholz, Hermann G. ; Hatfield, L.L. ; Kristiansen, M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Texas Tech. Univ., Lubbock, TX, USA

Volume

25

Issue

2

fYear

1997

fDate

4/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

300

Lastpage

305

Abstract

Surface flashover on insulators under UV irradiation or with a plasma background was investigated with high-speed electrical and optical sensors in order to clarify differences in the breakdown development compared to the pure vacuum case. Results with a plasma background show a more rapid development in the breakdown initiation compared to measurements in vacuum with no plasma. With a magnetic shielding technique using permanent magnets, the duration of an applied voltage pulse can be increased by a factor of 2-3 without causing flashover. UV illumination on the electrodes decreases the flashover voltage (for the dc case) or the voltage pulse duration without breakdown (for the pulsed case), whereas UV illumination on the dielectric surface increases the flashover potential

Keywords

Earth orbit; electric breakdown; electric sensing devices; flashover; high-speed optical techniques; optical sensors; surface discharges; UV irradiation; dielectric surface flashover; high-speed electrical sensors; high-speed optical sensors; insulators; magnetic shielding technique; permanent magnets; plasma background; simulated low Earth orbit environment; Breakdown voltage; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Extraterrestrial measurements; Flashover; Lighting; Low earth orbit satellites; Optical sensors; Plasma measurements; Plasma simulation; Vacuum breakdown;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.602503

Filename

602503