Examination of Laser-Produced Pressure Pulses in a Gallium Arsenide Solar Cell.
Abstract
Pressure pulses caused by irradiation of a model gallium arsenide solar cell with a Carbon Dioxide TEA Laser were examined using power densities of the order of 10 to the 7th power watts/sq cm. The pressure pulses were monitored with a Sandia type quartz pressure gauge. It was discovered that the relatively low power densities used were capable of removing the silicon dioxide antireflective and gold contact layers of the solar cell after only a few shots of the laser. An exponential relationship between the initial thicknesses of these layers and the pressure pulse generated in the gallium arsenide substrate was indicated for gold contact layers of less than 5000 A thickness. Evidence was found that the principal pressure generation mechanism is thermo-mechanical. Gold films of thickness greater than 5000 A were found to be able to absorb the power densities used with no apparent damage. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA031893
Entities
People
- John Frank Jacobson
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School