Assessment of measuring conditions with the pulse electro-acoustic system adapted to work under electronic irradiation

Abstract

Materials that are covering satellites can get charge when in orbit. In any case, this charging state can lead to hazardous discharge that might cause electronic interference and result in anomalies on electronic devices. Such kind of problems motivates the studies of materials charging in vacuum chamber where space environment is reproduced. Pulse Electro-Acoustic (PEA) system has been recently developed to perform measurements of space charge in-situ during materials electronic irradiation. A specific configuration has been adopted for the measuring electrodes with the consequences of a possible loose contact between the sample and the acoustic sensor. Solutions have to be found to overcome this problem. A series of assessments regarding the contact between the sample and the detection electrode has been performed in the air by using different glues and several types of polymeric films (PolyMethylMetAcrylate, Polyimide Kapton/spl reg/, PolyFluoroEthylene Teflon/spl reg/, PolyStyrene...). A survey of the best combinations is given.