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U.S. Department of Energy
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Solar cell radiation handbook. [Degradation of solar cells in space radiation environment]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5200311

The purpose of this document is to detail a method of predicting the degradation of a solar array in a space radiation environment. The text contains a discussion of solar cell technology which emphasizes the cell parameters which degrade in a radiation environment. The experimental techniques used in the evaluation of radiation effects are discussed. The theoretical aspects of radiation damage are discussed, and the experimental data, on which the concept of damage equivalent 1-MeV electron fluence is based, are presented. The methods of developing relative damage coefficients from the experimental data are detailed. In this regard, it was found necessary to institute two separate equivalent fluences to properly describe the changes of solar cell parameters under space proton irradiation. The nature of the space radiation environment is discussed, and predicted solar flare proton fluences are presented for the twenty-first solar cycle based on a proposed model. The method of calculating equivalent fluence from electron and proton energy spectra and relative damage coefficients is detailed. In addition, computer-calculated equivalent fluence contributions from trapped electrons and protons are tabulated for an extensive series of circular earth orbits. The estimated annual equivalent fluence contributions due to solar flare protons are tabulated for the remainder of the current solar cycle. The estimation of degraded solar cell output characteristics from equivalent fluence values is discussed. Flight data from satellites are compared with estimated degradation.

Research Organization:
Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5200311
Report Number(s):
JPL-77-56
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English