Space Solar Power Review. Vol 8 Nums 1&2 1989

gas may neutralize the potential ramp. When accumulation of the sorpted gas and production of the potential ramp on the insulator reach some critical point, the discharge is initiated again. It is dangerous to apply this hypothesis to the plasma-induced discharge for real solar cells without some consideration because a scaling law for the discharge is not established. We do not have the data of o, Q and s for the materials of the solar cell. This hypothesis, however, can explain Synder's experiment [13] that the coverslides on the array became negative before discharges occurred. 7. Concluding Remarks At first, the scaling parameters for the plasma interference of the HVSA were derived from the fundamental equations and interpreted physically. The experimental simulation using a scale model was conducted in the laboratory and proved the validity of the similarity law. The simulation also contributed to the development of the 2D/HV system for flight testing in 1993. In addition to the well known interactions, the inducement of the ion force and the surface degradation by sputtering were confirmed, which had been predicted in Ref. [6]. The hypothesis on the plasma-induced discharge for negatively biased solar cells was presented, which contained the mechanism to initiate, terminate and restore. REFERENCES [1] Stevens, N.J. (1975) Review of interactions of large space structures with the environment, Prog. Astro. & Aero., 47, p. 437. [2] Kats, I. et al. (1981) Plasma collection by high-voltage spacecraft at low earth orbit, J. Spacecraft & Rockets, 18, p. 79. [3] McCoy, J.E. & Konradi, A. (1978) Sheath effects observed on a 10 meter high- voltage panel in simulated low earth orbit plasma, NASA CP-2071, p. 315. [4] Grier, N.T. & Stevens, NJ. (1978) Plasma interaction experiment (PIX) flight results, NASA CP-2071, p. 295. [5] Kuriki, K. et al. (1986) Energetic experiment on space station, Acta Astronau- tica, 14. [6] Kuninaka, H. & Kuriki, K. (1987) Numerical analysis on interaction of a high voltage solar array with the ionospheric plasma, J. Spacecraft & Rockets, 24, p. 512. [7] Kuninaka, H. et al. (1988) Interaction of high voltage solar array with ionospheric plasma, International Electric Propulsion Conference, W. Germany. [8] Johnson, F.S. (Eds) (1965) Satellite Environment Handbook (Stanford University Press). [9] Jongeward, G.A. et al. (1985) The role of unneutralized surface ions in negative potential arcing, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, NS-32, p. 4087. [10] Mandel, M.J. & Katz, I. (1983) Potentials in a plasma over a biased pinhole, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, NS-30, p. 4307. [11] Engel, A. (1965) Ionized Gas (Oxford University Press). [12] Madey, T.E. & Yates Jr, T. (1971) Electron-simulated desorption as a tool for studies of chemisorption: a review, J. Vacuum Science & Technology, 8, p. 525. [13] Snyder, D.B. (1983) Discharges on a negatively biased solar cell array in a charged-particle environment, AFGL-TR-85-00181 NASA CP-2359.

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