UV LED Space Qualification
Abstract
Electric charges induced by cosmic rays tend to accumulate on the free floating proof mass at the core of a drag-free satellite. The Lorentz force will affect stationarity of the proof mass. Generation of photoelectrons via ultraviolet (UV) light is an effective method of charge management. Previous missions have relied on mercury lamps as a UV light source. We have proposed the use of UV LEDs as a source for UV light generation, because they have significantly lower mass and power requirements. Since 2005, we have conducted systematic UV LED power and spectral lifetime tests. The UV LED has now been operated more than 16,668 hours (as of submission of this abstract) without significant power decay. At the 10,000 hour mark, the UV LED spectral shift was measured to be approximately 1 nm towards shorter wavelengths. To fully simulate the space environment, we have initiated another UV LED lifetime test in 1E-7 torr vacuum chamber starting in January 2008. Thus far the UV LED output has been stable without noticeable degradation.
We have conducted a large dose radiation test using an accelerator source for 59.0 64.8 MeV proton generation. For proton flux from 10E10 to 2E12 protons per square centimeter, there was no significant power drop and spectral shift for UV LED light output, This level of radiation test exceeded 100 years of radiation dose at deep space LISA orbits. The combination of the successful tests in power lifetime, spectral stability, and radiation hardness have proven that UV LED should be the primary choice for the charge management system for LISA and other high precision space flights.- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
- Pub Date:
- January 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AAS...21344911B