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A method for obtaining plasma electron temperature and density, as well as the Mach number and flow velocity from the current-voltage characteristic of a flat-faced double probe, is presented. Calculated momentum fluxes of a flowing argon plasma obtained with this probe are compared with experimentally determined momentum fluxes. Reasonable agreement is obtained.
The mission of Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit another planet, was to make scientific observations of the surface of Mars. Throughout this unique mission, the Mariner 9 solar array successfully supported the power requirements of the spacecraft without experiencing anomalies. Basically, the design of the solar array was similar to those of Mariners 6 and 7; however, Mariner 9 had the additional flight operational requirement to perform in a Mars orbit environment mode. The array special tests provided information on the current-voltage characteristics and array space degradation. Tests indicated that total solar array current degradation was 3.5 percent, which could probably be attributed to the gradual degradation of the cover glass and/or the RTV 602 adhesive employed to cement the cover glass to the solar cell.
The design activities are divided in the handbook into three parts, which are concerned with the light-generated current, the open-circuit voltage, and the fill factor. Each of these parts is further divided into sections, which take into account the individual regions of the device. The basis of the design data for light-generated current and of the design data related to the current-voltage characteristic is discussed together with sample design curves.
Solar cell reverse current-voltage characteristics have been found to vary widely and to be generally unstable. At reverse voltages greater than approximately 20 V and at cell power dissipations of more than 4 W, the probability of permanent breakdown, resulting in cell short-circuit failure, was found to increase with increasing voltage and exposure time. Shorted cells showed evidence of cell contact material and silicon melting in very localized areas with lava-like flow patterns and channels bridging the p and n contacts.
The current-voltage characteristics of cylindrical probes in a high velocity collisionless plasma flow have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The plasma was generated by a focused laser pulse incident on a metallic target in vacuum. An analysis, developed from a stationary plasma analog to the flowing case, demonstrated a failure of plasma shielding of probe potential in the electron attracting region. Modifications of relatively simple previous treatments were found to be valid for computing electron current to a probe. The electron characteristics derived from the present analysis agree well with experimental results. The ion and electron portions of the characteristics are consistent with each other and with independent diagnostic measurements.
The computer cost of a Poisson-Vlasov iteration procedure for the numerical solution of a steady-state collisionless plasma-sheath problem depends on: (1) the nature of the chosen iterative algorithm, (2) the position of the outer boundary of the grid, and (3) the nature of the boundary condition applied to simulate a condition at infinity (as in three-dimensional probe or satellite-wake problems). Two iterative algorithms, in conjunction with three types of boundary conditions, are analyzed theoretically and applied to the computation of current-voltage characteristics of a spherical electrostatic probe. The first algorithm was commonly used by physicists, and its computer costs depend primarily on the boundary conditions and are only slightly affected by the mesh interval. The second algorithm is not commonly used, and its costs depend primarily on the mesh interval and slightly on the boundary conditions.
Measurement of the altitude profile of electron temperature in the ionospheric D region with the aid of a symmetric double probe flown on a Nike-Cajun payload launched on Oct. 13, 1971. The procedure for determining the electron temperature from the parameters of the double probe's current-voltage characteristic under conditions of nonnegligible ion-atom collision frequencies is described. It is shown that in its first lower ionospheric application the technique of the symmetric double probe has yielded the lowest values of electron temperature yet measured and has provided the very first direct measurement of electron temperature in the D region.
We present a systematic perturbation theory, extendable in principle to all orders of magnitude, for the solution of the equations of motion of an ideal Josephson element shunted by a resistance and driven by a dc current source and a small time-dependent source. We present second-order results for the case in which the time dependence is that of a single sinusoid, and these results are compared with other numerical and analytical calculations. Near, but not on, the first constant voltage step where the perturbation theory appears divergent, the current-voltage characteristic is calculated by means of a nonperturbative adiabatic procedure. The impedance and responsivity agree with earlier results.
The effect of microwave radiation on the dc current-voltage characteristic of proximity effect bridges has been studied at frequencies of 10, 35, and 90 GHz. The properties of bridges fabricated in layered films of Nb and Ta are reported. The fraction, epsilon, of the incident radiant power absorbed by the bridge is measured calorimetrically, permitting determination of the intrinsic responsivity (volts per watt of power absorbed when operated in a current-biased mode). In the test geometry employed, epsilon is typically about .0001 for a 0.1 ohm Nb-Ta bridge, and increases roughly linearly with dc junction resistance. Broad-band responsivity is generally independent of incident power, increases with increasing critical current (decreasing temperature), and decreases with increasing frequency. Peak responsivities achieved to date are about 100,000 V/W (absorbed) at 10 GHz and about 100 V/W (absorbed) at 90 GHz.
The current-voltage characteristics of n(plus)-p silicon solar cells with 0.1, 1.0, 2.0, and 10 ohm-cm p-type base materials have been examined in detail. In addition to the usual I-V measurements, we have studied the temperature dependence of the slope of the I-V curve at the origin by the lock-in technique. The excess junction current coefficient (Iq) deduced from the slope at the origin depends on the square root of the intrinsic carrier concentration. The Iq obtained from the I-V curve fitting over the entire forward bias region at various temperatures shows the same temperature dependence. This result, in addition to the presence of an aging effect, suggest that the surface channel effect is the dominant cause of the excess junction current.
A mercury ion thruster has been developed for efficient operation at the nominal 1-mlb thrust level with a specific impulse of about 3,000 sec and a total power consumption of about 120 W. At a beam voltage of 1,200 V and beam current of 72 mA, the discharge chamber operates with a propellant efficiency of 93.8% at an ion-generation energy of 276 eV/ion. The 8-cm diameter thruster advances proven component technology to assure the capability for thruster operation over an accumulated beam-on time in excess of 20,000 hours with a capability for 10,000 on-off duty cycles. Discharge chamber optimization has combined stable current-voltage characteristics with high performance efficiency by careful placement of the discharge cathode near the location of a magnetic-field zero just upstream of the thruster endplate.
The power efficiency curves of photovoltaic solar cells were investigated as a function of the forbidden energy gap (E sub g) and the current-voltage characteristic of the diode. Minority carrier injection, depletion layer recombination, and interface recombination terms were considered in models for the I-V characteristic. The collection efficiency for photons with energy between (E sub g) and an upper energy cutoff (E sub w) was assumed to be 100% and zero otherwise. Results are presented in terms of a single parameter related to the ratio of depletion layer width and minority carrier diffusion length. It was found that increasing depletion layer recombination shifts the efficiency curves to larger values of the energy without changing the shape of the efficiency curve appreciably. It is believed that similar results would be obtained whenever the quality factors in the exponential energy gap and forward bias terms are equal.
The nonlinear current-voltage curves exhibited by tin films in the flux flow state have made studies of the amount of heating present in the sample necessary. The samples in this work consisted of an evaporated tin film on one side of a 2 mm thick crystal quartz substrate and a carbon film of the same configuration as the tin film on the back of the substrate. The carbon film was used as a thermometer to measure the temperature rise of the tin film above the bath temperature. The heating results indicate negligible effects in the samples. Temperature ratios as small as 0.80 for the tin samples have been investigated and the current-voltage characteristics are still nonlinear, indicating that the source of the nonlinearity is not Joule heating in the samples.
The presence of localized regions of poor current-voltage characteristic in heteroface solar cells made by liquid phase epitaxy of Al(x)Ga(1-x)As on GaAs was demonstrated by the formation of mesa diodes with better characteristics than the parent cell, and by direct observation with a flying spot scanner. The latter was also correlated with the characteristics of subsequently etched mesas. Visible features on the cells were found to be harmless or actually regions of enhanced collection in some cases, and responsible for cell performance degradation in others.
Twenty-nine n/p silicon and four p/n gallium arsenide solar cells were calibrated on board a high-altitude sounding rocket which provided a stable platform outside the earth's atmosphere. Approximately 75 characteristic current-voltage curves were obtained for each of thirty-two of the cells; the calibration accuracy for both current and voltage was 0.1%. For comparison, the short circuit current, open circuit voltage, and maximum power of the solar cells were also measured under solar simulators (air mass = 0) and on the ground (air mass = 1.2).
Electrical characteristics of thin films of tin vapor deposited on gold substrates are described. Favorable characteristics of these films include: (1) shiny and smooth finishes; (2) higher Josephson critical currents; (3) smaller electronic mean paths; and (4) consistent current-voltage curve shapes. One unfavorable characteristic is a much steeper increase of the Josephson critical current with decreasing temperature. The functional variation of the Josephson current with the control current is described. Two functional forms have been observed and a brief description as to possible mechanisms for this behavior have been included.
Electrical characteristics of supersonic MHD GENERATOR with arc heated argon plasma, noting discharge modes
Constant current load with negative resistance characteristics actively compensates for impedance variations in circuit components. Through a current-voltage balancing operation the internal impedance of the diodes is maintained at a constant value. This constant current load circuit can be used in simple telemetry systems.