Two-Dimensional Electron Beam Charging Model for Polymer Films

Abstract

A two-dimensional model is developed to describe the charging of strips of thin polymer films above a grounded substrate exposed to a uniform mono-energetic electron beam. The study is motivated by the observed anomalous behaviour of geosynchronous satellites, which has been attributed to differential charging of the satellite surfaces exposed to magnetospheric electrons. Surface and bulk electric fields are calculated at steady state in order to identify regions of high electrical stress, with emphasis on behaviour near the material's edge. The model is used to study the effects of some of the experimental parameters, notably beam energy, beam angle of incidence, beam current density, material thickness and material width. Also examined are the consequences of a central gap in the material and a discontinuity in the material thickness.