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

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 control...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Briggs,Donald C, Pollard,Howard E, Peterson,Darryl G
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
DAMAGE
DOPING
Electric Power Production and Distribution
ELECTRON DENSITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IRRADIATION
LITHIUM
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR RADIATION
Nuclear Radiation Shield, Protection & Safety
RADIATION SHIELDING
SOLAR CELLS
SPACE ENVIRONMENTS
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Summary: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)