NDLI: What measurements in space weather are needed for predicting spacecraft charging?

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Lai, S.T.
Copyright Year	1996
Description	Author affiliation: Phillips Lab., Hanscom, MA, USA (Lai, S.T.)
Abstract	Summary form only given. By solving the current balance equations, the author obtains solutions for various space plasma conditions under which spacecraft surface charging may occur. When the space plasma is quiet, the photoemission from surfaces in sunlight often exceeds the ambient plasma current collected by the surfaces. In that situation, positive charging likely occurs but the charging level must be low (a few volts). Without sunlight or when the space plasma becomes energetic, negative charging is more likely to occur. A Maxwellian distribution is often a good approximation for modeling the space plasma at equilibrium. Without sunlight, the current balance equation in the Maxwellian model gives a unique solution: the plasma temperature. When the plasma temperature exceeds a critical value, negative charging occurs. The critical temperature depends on the surface property. The author presents a table of critical temperatures for common surface materials. In a Maxwellian plasma without sunlight, the plasma temperature is the only parameter needed for predicting charging. During magnetic disturbances, energetic plasma may arrive and, as a result, the distribution sometimes resembles a double Maxwellian. In such a situation, the interplay between the two Maxwellian components is often crucial in determining charging. While the low energy (few hundred eV) Maxwellian component may favour outgoing secondary electrons, the high energy (keVs) component does not. The author presents examples showing that when the first Maxwellian density (and the average plasma density) is decreasing, negative charging appears not only rapidly but also to high levels during eclipse. In such a situation, measurements of the average plasma density or temperature are insufficient for predicting charging. Instead, one needs to measure the Maxwellian densities and temperatures. When the space plasma distribution cannot be fitted well with a single and double Maxwellian, one can still use the distribution for spacecraft charging calculation. Although one can input into a computer model any given distributions as they appear and output numerical results, the author advocates decomposing the distribution into a sum of several Maxwellians in a Fourier fashion. Measurements of the several Maxwellian densities and temperatures would be more useful. The interplay between the various Maxwellian components gives deeper physical insight, better prediction of the evolution of the components and hence better prediction of spacecraft surface charging.
File Size	128043
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0780333225
ISSN	07309244
DOI	10.1109/PLASMA.1996.551459
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	1996-06-03
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Extraterrestrial measurements Weather forecasting Plasma temperature Plasma measurements Surface charging Space charge Space vehicles Plasma properties Plasma materials processing Plasma density
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics Condensed Matter Physics Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Miniaturized high performance sensors for space plasmas

Spacecraft charging, an update

Spacecraft charging thresholds in single and double Maxwellian space environments

Spacecraft charging, an update

Surface-Charging Analysis of the Radiation Belt Storm Probe and Magnetospheric MultiScale Spacecraft

Some common errors in measurement of spacecraft potential

Review of electrical resistivity measurements of dense aluminum

Simulation of the Cluster-Spacecraft Floating Probe Potential

Effects of charge exchange in ion beams emitted from spacecraft

What measurements in space weather are needed for predicting spacecraft charging?

Similar Documents

Miniaturized high performance sensors for space plasmas

Spacecraft charging, an update

Spacecraft charging thresholds in single and double Maxwellian space environments

Spacecraft charging, an update

Surface-Charging Analysis of the Radiation Belt Storm Probe and Magnetospheric MultiScale Spacecraft

Some common errors in measurement of spacecraft potential

Review of electrical resistivity measurements of dense aluminum

Simulation of the Cluster-Spacecraft Floating Probe Potential

Effects of charge exchange in ion beams emitted from spacecraft

What measurements in space weather are needed for predicting spacecraft charging?