Study on plasma characteristics from hypervelocity impacts by small space debris

Abstract

Dense plasma cloud can be produced by small debris impact on spacecraft surface, with the diffusion of plasma which can induce the electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). By this way, spacecraft will experience electrical anomalies. In this paper, a plasma drag particle accelerator is used to study the characteristics of impact-generated plasma due to crash of small debris with mass 10-5 g. The relation between plasma charge and debris velocity is acquired by analyzing experimental data. In addition, the diffusion velocity of the impact-generated plasma is observed by two retarding potential analyzers. By theoretical analysis, the change law of the electron density with time and dimension is calculated. Experiment results will be helpful to reveal the physical mechanism of spacecraft anomalies by small debris impacts.