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Electrostatic charging of spacecraft in response to electron beam injectionElectron beam injections from spacecraft now constitute a major activity in space research. Here, the charging level of a conducting surface when an electron beam is injected from it is investigated. Injections into both vacuum and an ambient plasma are considered. When a Maxwellian beam is injected into vacuum, the surface changes to a potential much greater than the average beam energy. The dependence of this excess is examined by considering beams with water-bag types of velocity distribution functions in which no electron has a velocity V(max) above a certain value. The electric field distribution in the electron sheath near the surface is determined by the pressure distribution. Thus, the surface potential is determined not only by V(max) but by all the beam parameters. The ambient plasma reduces the charging level and causes an oscillation in the surface potential. The oscillation frequency is the electron-plasma frequency associated with the ambient plasma.
Document ID
19890065973
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Singh, Nagendra
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hwang, K. S.
(Alabama, University Huntsville, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Physica Scripta
Volume: 40
Issue: 3 Se
ISSN: 0031-8949
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Accession Number
89A53344
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-37107
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1563
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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