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At least 127 records · Page 7

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NASA NTRS1980

Radiation damage in high voltage silicon solar cells

Three high open-circuit voltage cell designs based on 0.1 ohm-cm p-type silicon were irradiated with 1 MeV electrons and their performance determined to fluences as high as 10 to the 15th power/sq cm. Of the three cell designs, radiation induced degradation was greatest in the high-low emitter (HLE cell). The diffused and ion implanted cells degraded approximately equally but less than the HLE cell. Degradation was greatest in an HLE cell exposed to X-rays before electron irradiation. The cell regions controlling both short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage degradation were defined in all three cell types. An increase in front surface recombination velocity accompanied time dependent degradation of an HLE cell after X-irradiation. It was speculated that this was indirectly due to a decrease in positive charge at the silicon-oxide interface. Modifications aimed at reducing radiation induced degradation are proposed for all three cell types.

Weinberg, I.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Radiation damage in high voltage silicon solar cells

High open circuit voltage cell designs based on 0.1 Ohm cm p-type silicon were irradiated with 1 MeV electrons and their performance determined to fluences as high as 10 to the 15th power per sq cm. Of the three cell designs, radiation induced degradation was greatest in the high low emitter (HLE) cell. The diffused and ion implanted cells degraded approximately equally but less than the HLE cell. Degradation was greatest in an HLE cell exposed to X-rays before electron irradiation. The cell regions controlling both short circuit current and open circuit voltage degradation were defined in all three cell types. An increase in front surface recombination velocity accompanied time dependent degradation of an HLE cell after X-irradiation. It was speculated that this was indirectly due to a decrease in positive charge at the silicon oxide interface. Modifications aimed at reducing radiation induced degradation are proposed for all three cell types.

Weinberg, I.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Radiation damage in high voltage silicon solar cells

Three high open-circuit voltage cell designs based on 0.1 ohm-cm p-type silicon were irradiated with 1 MeV electrons and their performance determined to fluences as high as 10 to the 15th/sq cm. Of the three cell designs, radiation induced degradation was greatest in the high-low emitter (HLE) cell. The diffused and ion implanted cells degraded approximately equally but less than the HLE cell. Degradation was greatest in an HLE cell exposed to X-rays before electron irradiation. The cell regions controlling both short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage degradation were defined in all three cell types. An increase in front surface recombination velocity accompanied time dependent degradation of a HLE cell after X-irradiation. It was speculated that this was indirectly due to a decrease in positive charge at the silicon-oxide interface. Modifications aimed at reducing radiation induced degradation are proposed for all three cell types.

Weinberg, I.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Effects of particle drift on the transport of cosmic rays. IV - More realistic diffusion coefficients

Results from numerical simulations of cosmic-ray modulations by the solar wind are presented which show that the scattering mean free path should be larger than the particle gyroradius in the average magnetic field. It is found that the difference between drift and no-drift solutions is not as great as in previous simulations, which violated the mean free path constraint stated. Profound effects are still noted for the drifts, which determine the origin of the bulk of the cosmic rays seen at any given time in the inner solar system. Accordingly, during the 1975 solar minimum, the positively charged cosmic rays seen in the inner solar system came primarily from the outer boundary near the heliospheric poles while negative particles came from the equatorial regions of the boundary.

Jokipii, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Research on electrical properties of severe thunderstorms in the Great Plains

Techniques, equipment, and results of studies (1978-1980) to determine the relationships between electrical phenomena and the dynamics and precipitation of storms are reported. Doppler and conventional radar, video tapes and movies, and VHF recording devices were used to monitor an area 200 x 100 km, aligned SW to NE. The 23 cm radar and a Doppler radar were employed to acquire radar echoes from lightning. Observations of a squall line, a severe storm, and radar echoes from electrical discharges are described. Positively charged cloud-to-ground lightning was observed during the severe and final stages of severe storms; average lightning rates and total flashes for normal and severe storms are provided. Comparisons of lightning echoes and electric field changes indicated that abrupt increases in radar reflectivity were correlated with return strokes and K-type field changes.

Rust, W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

XPS study of interface formation of CVD SiO2 on InSb

The interfacial chemistry of CVD SiO2 films deposited on thin native oxides grown on InSb substrates is examined using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and a relatively benign chemical etching technique for depth profiling. An intensity analysis of XPS spectra is used to derive the compositional structure of the interfaces obtained in the SiO2/native oxide/InSb system. Peak positions in these spectra are used to follow the change in substrate surface potential during the etch sequence, and to establish the chemical nature of the species formed during deposition and subsequent processing. Reaction of the substrate with oxygen resulted in an In-rich native oxide and 1-2 monolayers of excess elemental Sb at the native-oxide/substrate interface, incompletely oxidized silane reduced the native oxide, leaving less than 1 monolayer of elemental In at the SiO2/native oxide interface. Etch removal of this thin In-rich layer leads to a change in the substrate surface potential of 0.06 eV, corresponding to a net increase in positive charge. The results are consistent with simple thermodynamic considerations; they are also compared to previously reported studies of deposited dielectrics on III-V compound semiconductors.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The rigidity dependence of cosmic ray solar modulation

Continuous particle flux measurements above rigidity thresholds of 1.2, 2.2, 5.5 and 11 GV were made by using the thresholds of two Cerenkov detectors aboard the ISEE-3 spacecraft. The ISEE-3 was launched in August 1978, near the beginning of the current solar cycle's heavy modulation phase, and the data presented represent the first direct measurement made at these energies with such a long time base. The measured long term modulation rigidity spectrum is compared with other data and with the spectrum of Forbush decreases, and it is found that the agreement between electron and positively charged particle results must be considered a constraint on cosmic ray modulation models involving the mechanism of gradient and curvature drift in the interplanetary magnetic field.

Evenson, P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Search for interstellar superheavy hydrogen

Models for fundamental physical interactions allow for the existence of stable or nearly stable elementary particles much heavier than the proton. Stellar spectra were searched for a positively charged superheavy particle, X(+), which, with a bound electron, should appear as apparently superheavy neutral hydrogen in the interstellar medium. An upper limit for the abundance of X relative to normal hydrogen in the line of sight toward the bright star gamma Cassiopeiae is 2 x 10 to the -8th.

Jura, M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The hidden ion population of the magnetosphere

The presence of a cold ion population in the magnetosphere which is normally hidden from particle detector observation by the positive charging of the spacecraft is reported. Ion and electron data were obtained from particle detectors on the ATS 6 and SCATHA satellites designed to measure the 1-eV to 80-keV plasma population. The cold, isotropic ion population, with temperature 1 eV and density 10-100/cu cm, was detected only when the spacecraft were in eclipse, when spacecraft potential had dropped from +10 V in sunlight to +4 to +5 V. The hidden ion population was found at geosynchronous altitude only during geomagnetically quiet times and when there has been an absence of geomagnetic activity for several hours, and appears to coexist with the plasma sheet. More consistent measurements of the cold ion population at midnight or at other local times would require the biasing of the ion detector with respect to the spacecraft, or the controlling of spacecraft potential.

Olsen, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Electromagnetic studies of redox systems for energy storage

Both chromium and iron couples were studied on various electrode surfaces in acidic perchlorate solution by using rotating ring-disk techniques. It was found that chloride which forms inner sphere coordination complexes with the redox species enhances the electrode kinetics dramatically. The effects of lead underpotential deposition and surface alloy formation on the kinetics of the chromium couple on gold were studied using both linear sweep voltammetry and potential step techniques. The lad underpotential deposition was found to slow down the kinetics of the reduction of the Cr species on gold surfaces although increase the hydrogen overvoltage. The effect on the chromium kinetics can be explained in terms of principally a double layer effect. The underpotential deposition lead species with its positive charge results in a decrease in the concentration of the Cr species at the electrode surface. Similar phenomena were also observed with bismuth underpotential deposition on gold for the iron couple.

Wu, C. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Effect of surfactants and temperature on the hyperfiltration performance of poly(ether/urea) membranes

The individual and combined effects of pasteurization temperature (347 K) and surfactants (anionic, cationic, and neutral) on a poly(ether/urea) thin-film hyperfiltration membrane were studied. Performance of this positively charged membrane was measured in terms of sodium chloride rejection and water flux. The observed effect was mostly on water flux and minimal on salt rejection. Pasteurization temperature caused an irreversible flux decline (flux decline slope of 0.09). The gradual flux reduction caused by neutral and cationic surfactants was reversible, whereas the flux reduction caused by anionic surfactant was irreversible and of similar magnitude to flux reduction caused by pasteurization temperature. The effects of anionic surfactant and pasteurization temperature were additive. Because of flux decline at elevated temperatures the poly(ether/urea) membrane is not very attractive for long-term spaceflight use.

Leban, M. I.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the unidentified infrared emission bands - Auto exhaust along the Milky Way

The unidentified infrared emission features (UIR bands) are attributed to a collection of partially hydrogenated, positively charged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This assignment is based on a spectroscopic analysis of the UIR bands. Comparison of the observed interstellar 6.2 and 7.7-micron bands with the laboratory measured Raman spectrum of a collection of carbon-based particulates (auto exhaust) shows a very good agreement, supporting this identification. The infrared emission is due to relaxation from highly vibrationally and electronically excited states. The excitation is probably caused by UV photon absorption. The infrared fluorescence of one particular, highly vibrationally excited PAH (chrysene) is modeled. In this analysis the species is treated as a molecule rather than bulk material and the non-thermodynamic equilibrium nature of the emission is fully taken into account. From a comparison of the observed ratio of the 3.3 to 11.3-micron UIR bands with the model calculations, the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is estimated to be about 20. The abundance of interstellar PAHs is calculated to be about 2 x 10 to the -7th with respect to hydrogen.

Allamandola, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the diffuse interstellar bands

This paper discusses some of the thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which make them attractive candidates as carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs). It is pointed out that, in the diffuse medium, many of these species will be partially hydrogenated and positively charged, and will absorb in the visible. The observed lineshapes and widths of the DIBs can be explained by rovibronic band contours and linebroadening due to internal conversion. Since little information is available concerning the spectroscopic properties of such species in the gas phase, a considerable amount of laboratory and theoretical work is needed.

Van Der Zwet, G. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the diffuse interstellar bands

A good case has recently been made that the unidentified infrared emission features arise from positively charged, partially hydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this letter it is suggested that these exceedingly stable ions are also the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands. Although a large variety of PAH isomers is possible, the more condensed forms are substantially more stable than the less condensed forms and are expected to be dominant in the harsh interstellar environment. While neutral PAHs do not absorb in the visible, their ionized counterparts do. Because of their low ionization potential, a substantial fraction of the interstellar PAHs will be ionized. Visible spectra of the most stable PAH cations isolated in glasses are compared directly to the interstellar band spectra. Although the laboratory spectra are on an extremely compressed scale and solid state shifts are present, the comparison is favorable. Since little information is available concerning the spectroscopic properties of these species in the gas phase, a considerable amount of laboratory and theoretical work is called for to test this hypothesis.

Crawford, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Parametrized equation of state for electron liquids in the Singwi-Tosi-Land-Sjolander aproximation

Results are reported of a theoretical study of an equation of state for electron liquids (one-component plasmas of electrons embedded in a uniform neutralizing background of positive charges), where there is an interplay between the strong Coulomb-coupling effect and the degrees of Fermi degeneracy. Calculations are based on the Singwi-Tosi-Land-Sjolander approximation (1968). The calculated results are parametrized in the form of analytic formulas for the interaction and excess free energies, which are applicable over a wide range of parameters as long as the electrons are in a paramagnetic fluid state. Unlike the present study, earlier studies concentrated on plasmas where the Fermi degeneracy parameter tended either to zero or to infinity, thus excluding many actual plasmas (stellar interiors, heavy planets such as Jupiter, plasmas in projected inertial confinement fusion experiments, and the liquid metals).

Tanaka, S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Improved High/Low Junction Silicon Solar Cell

Air-mass-zero open-circuit voltage increased to 650 mV. Oxide-chargeinduced high/low emitter solar cell, electron accumulation layer induced by positive charge. High/low emitter suppresses dark emitter recombination current, resulting in power-conversion efficiencies significantly higher than previously achieved.

Neugroschel, A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in space

The mid-infrared spectrum of a continuously increasing number of stellar objects, planetary and reflection nebulae, H-II regions and extragalactic sources show a distinctive set of broad emission features at 3.3, 3.4, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 micron known collectively as the unidentified infrared emission bands. A model is summarized in which the bands arise from positively charged polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH's) on the basis of their low ionization potential and the excellent agreement between the emission bands and laboratory spectra of auto exhaust which contains these types of molecules. The proposed presence of PAHs in such a variety of objects points to their presence in the interstellar medium. Out of a previously published collection of solid state PAH radical cation spectra five were selected on the basis of the unique thermodynamic stability of their carrier and compared directly to the wavelengths of the DIB's. Although the match seems quite favorable, strongly suggesting that PAH radicals are the long sought after carrier of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands, much laboratory work must be done to test this hypothesis.

Barker, J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

1985 Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 22nd, Monterey, CA, July 22-24, 1985, Proceedings

Basic mechanisms of radiation effects in structures and materials are discussed, taking into account the time dependence of interface state production, process dependent build-up of interface states in irradiated N-channel MOSFETs, bias annealing of radiation and bias induced positive charges in n- and p-type MOS capacitors, hole removal in thin-gate MOSFETs by tunneling, and activation energies of oxide charge recovery in SOS or SOI structures after an ionizing pulse. Other topics investigated are related to radiation effects in devices, radiation effects in integrated circuits, spacecraft charging and space radiation effects, single-event phenomena, hardness assurance and radiation sources, SGEMP/IEMP phenomena, EMP phenomena, and dosimetry and energy-dependent effects. Attention is given to a model of the plasma wake generated by a large object, gate charge collection and induced drain current in GaAs FETs, simulation of charge collection in a multilayer device, and time dependent dose enhancement effects on integrated circuit transient response mechanisms.

Jones, C. W.↗