Title :
Charging of Spacecraft by Nuclear Electrons
Author :
de Plomb, Eugene P. ; Rich, W.Foster
Author_Institution :
Kaman Sciences Corporation P. O. Box 7463 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933
Abstract :
The effect of nuclear beta decay electrons upon orbiting spacecraft potentials is analyzed. Maximum spacecraft potentials of hundreds of kilovolts are predicted. Charging effects are shown to depend upon orbit altitude, spacecraft configuration, ambient plasma conditions, and the peak flux of nuclear beta decay electrons generated immediately after a detonation.
Keywords :
Earth; Electron traps; Electron tubes; Explosions; Magnetic confinement; Magnetic fields; Nuclear power generation; Plasma confinement; Plasma measurements; Space vehicles;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.1977.4329211
