Electrification of Dielectric Satellites under the Influence of Electron Flows of the Earth’s Radiation Belts

Abstract

Abstract The effect of electron fluxes from the Earth’s radiation belts on satellites made of dielectric materials is studied theoretically. Spherical shaped nanosatellites of the BLITS and BLITS-M types are considered as a model. An analytical solution is obtained for the dependence of the electric field on the distance to the center of the satellite. Empirical formulas are used for the electron flux density and the track length in matter depending on the electron energy. The energy losses of incident electrons in the Debye shielding layer that surrounds the satellite, as well as the appearance of radiation conductivity in the surface layer of the dielectric, are taken into account. The reasons for the nonmonotonic dependence of the electric field on the satellite radius are established. Despite the fact that the electric field inside the satellite is smaller than the electrical breakdown threshold of the solid dielectric, it can be assumed that the dielectric micro-breakdown can occur in the surface layer of the dielectric and near inhomogeneities.