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Magnetic shielding of large high-power-satellite solar arrays using internal currentsPresent concepts for solar power satellites involve dimensions up to tens of kilometers and operating internal currents up to hundreds of kiloamperes. A question addressed is whether the local magnetic fields generated by these strong currents during normal operation can shield the array against impacts by plasma ions and electrons (and from thruster plasmas) which can cause possible losses such as power leakage and surface erosion. One of several prototype concepts was modeled by a long narrow rectangular panel 2 km wide and 20 km long. The currents flow in a parallel across the narrow dimension (sheet current) and along the edge (wire currents). The wire currents accumulate from zero to 100 kiloamp and are the dominant sources. The magnetic field is approximated analytically. The equations of motion for charged particles in this magnetic field are analyzed. The ion and electron fluxes at points on the surface are represented analytically for monoenergetic distributions and are evaluated.
Document ID
19790015855
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Parker, L. W.
(Parker (Lee W.), Inc., Concord Mass., United States)
Oran, W. A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Lewis Res. Center Spacecraft Charging Technol., 1978
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Accession Number
79N24026
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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