Dielectric breakdown in a dilute plasma.

Description of tests performed to determine the effects of high voltages on dielectrics that are to insulate solar cell arrays operating at voltages up to 16 kV from the electrically active plasma of the space environment at 500 km altitude. The tests were performed on dielectrics considered for this application at positive bias voltages as high as 20 kV dc relative to ground in an argon plasma with electron number densities of approximately one million per cu cm. Teflon specimens displayed higher breakdown voltages than all other dielectrics tested.