Real Time Effects of Space and Nuclear Environments on Lithium-Doped Cells.

Abstract

Lithium-doped silicon solar cells were irradiated at a real-time rate, with a strontium-90 radioisotope simulating the trapped electron environment. The irradiation was performed for a one-year period in a vacuum chamber. Four types of lithium cells and one type of conventional N/P cell were controlled to temperatures typical of normal satellite operational conditions. At the six-month point, the cells were exposed to a pulsed neutron environment simulating a nuclear weapon detonation. The experiment was successful in providing high quality data characterizing the comparative performance of several solar cell types. Conventional N/P cells outperformed lithium cells in the non-weapon environment and are recommended for all missions without hardening requirements. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0745992

Entities

People

  • Darryl G. Peterson
  • Donald C. Briggs
  • Howard E. Pollard

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cells
  • Chambers
  • Detonations
  • Electrons
  • Environment
  • Hardening
  • Isotopes
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Solar Cells
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Strontium
  • Vacuum
  • Vacuum Chambers
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Software Engineering
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space