Plasma Interactions with Biased Concentrator Solar Cells

Concentrator solar arrays are being proposed for future space missions as replacements for less efficient (power/mass) planar arrays. While planar solar arrays have been used in space and their characteristics evaluated, concentrator cell interactions have not. This study investigates the possible interactions between a biased concentrator cell and a plasma environment. This study involved experimental and preliminary analytical work. It has been found that the electric fields associated with the biased cell are confined to the light collector region of the cell configuration and that the cell arcs in dense plasma environments at negative voltages of less than -200 volts, similar to the arcing experienced by planar cells.