Title :
Charging and Discharge in Vacuum and Space
Author_Institution :
Kyushu Inst. of Technol., Kitakyushu
Abstract :
Success of vacuum electronic devices often depends on secure electrical insulation of the components. The presence of solid insulator significantly decreases the insulation strength of the vacuum apparatus. Charging of solid insulator in the pre-breakdown process enhances the electric field near the triple junction and leads to electrical discharge. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) on spacecraft surface is similar to other vacuum electronics devices with insulator bridge but differs in two points that there is no secure electrical ground and no distinct anode. ESD phenomena on spacecraft solar array are reviewed as typical example of discharge in space.
Keywords :
electrostatic discharge; vacuum arcs; ESD; electrical insulation; electrostatic discharge; solid insulator; spacecraft solar array; spacecraft surface; triple junction; vacuum discharge; vacuum electronic devices; Aerospace electronics; Anodes; Bridges; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Electrostatic discharge; Solids; Space charge; Space vehicles; Surface charging; Surface discharges; charging; discharge; electrostatic discharge; high voltage; solar array; space; triple junction;
Conference_Titel :
Vacuum Electronics Conference, 2007. IVEC '07. IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Kitakyushu
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0633-1
DOI :
10.1109/IVELEC.2007.4283197