Sunlight illumination models for spacecraft surface charging

Grey, S. , Marchand, R., Ziebart, M. and Omar, R. (2017) Sunlight illumination models for spacecraft surface charging. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 45(8), pp. 1898-1905. (doi: 10.1109/TPS.2017.2703984)

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Abstract

A model is developed to compute solar illumination of satellite components while accounting for multiple reflections, variable surface properties, and illumination source size. This model is implemented in OpenCL and integrated with the particle in cell satellite-environment simulation code, PTetra, enabling kinetic simulations in which photoelectron emission resulting from direct illumination and multiple reflections is taken into account. Simulation results obtained with a simple “toy geometry” are used to illustrate the effect of multiple reflections on the net current density at a satellite surface, and on the surrounding space charge potential. Results for the Solar Orbiter spacecraft show a small change in the overall charging and charge distribution around the solar wind analyzer instrument.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Grey, Dr Stuart
Authors: Grey, S., Marchand, R., Ziebart, M., and Omar, R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
Journal Name:IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Publisher:IEEE
ISSN:0093-3813
ISSN (Online):1939-9375
Published Online:29 May 2017

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