Source: http://knit.mao.kiev.ua/en/archive/2003/1/11
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 05:57:25+00:00

Document:
We investigate effects of protons, electrons, and residual nitrogen ions in the Earth's atmosphere on the electrical properties of space-used solar cells, namely, the short-circuit current Isc and the idle running voltage Ulr. The KIFK and UPI space environment simulators were used as irradiation equipments. The energy and fluense ranges for these particles were E = 60...200 keV and F = 10 ...10 part/cm2 , respectively. In order to simulate changes of the curve I – U at altitudes H = 300...36000 km for orbit lifes Δt = 1...20 years, the irradiation results of the uncovered K-208 solar cells and the covered K-208 solar cells were compared in the fluence range between 1010 and 1016 part/cm2 . For the uncovered solar cells, the short-circuit current Isc and the idle running voltage Ulr degraded by 50 percent and more when the fluence is F = 5-1014 part/cm2 . In the case of the covered solar cells, the short-circuit current Isc and the idle running voltage Ulr decreased by nearly 25 percent when the combined fluence of electrons and protons is F = 1016 part/cm2 (such a fluence corresponds to a 20-year geostationary Earth orbit). However, the nitrogen ion irradiation (N+ ) under the same condition caused the short-circuit current to decrease nearly to zero. The experimental results are analysed within the framework of irradiation-induced damage theories of the solar cells. The ratio of the current after the irradiation to the current before the irradiation Id/Io, is in good agreement with the solar cell irradiation-induced damage theory given by G. Rauschenbah.
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