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Arcing in LEO - Does the Whole Array Discharge?The conventional wisdom about solar array arcing in LEO is that only the parts the solar array that are swept over by the arc-generated plasma front are discharged in the initial arc. This limits the amount of energy that can be discharged. Recent work done at the NASA Glenn Research Center has shown that this idea is mistaken. In fact, the capacitance of the entire solar array may be discharged, which for large arrays leads to very large and possibly debilitating arcs, even if no sustained arc occurs. We present the laboratory work that conclusively demonstrates this fact by using a grounded plate that prevents the arc-plasma front from reaching certain array strings. Finally, we discuss the dependence of arc strength and arc pulse width on the capacitance that is discharged, and provide a physical mechanism for discharge of the entire array, even when parts of the array are not accessible to the arc-plasma front. Mitigation techniques are also presented.
Document ID
20050182060
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Ferguson, Dale C.
Vayner, Boris V.
Galofaro, Joel T.
Hillard, G. Barry
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 9th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference
Location: Tsukuba
Country: Japan
Start Date: April 4, 2005
End Date: April 8, 2005
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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