Abstract High density and conductivity plasma will be induced when space debris impacts with spacecraft. The plasma can lead to a temporary discharge tunnel and triggering discharge. This has been reported as the mechanism of space debris impact inducing discharge and might be a big threat to spacecraft. The solar array is of vital importance to spacecraft and is regarded as vulnerable to space debris impact inducing discharge. Research of space debris larger than 1 mm impact solar array discharge has already carried out. Space debris smaller than 1 mm are predominant and will impact with spacecraft more frequently compared to space debris larger than 1 mm. If the impact of such debris with solar array can induce discharge, the threat will be more serious. However, the study of space debris smaller than 1 mm impacting solar array inducing discharge has not been reported. In this paper, the analogue experiment of smaller than 1 mm space debris impact solar array inducing discharge is carried out. Our results show that the space debris with 200 μm in diameter can trigger solar array discharge. If the voltage is high and the discharge current is large enough, secondary discharge can be triggered too. The discharge can make noticeable mechanical damage on the surface of solar cells.

中文翻译：

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小空间碎片撞击诱发太阳能电池阵的模拟实验☆放电

摘要 空间碎片撞击航天器会产生高密度、高导电性的等离子体。等离子体可导致临时放电隧道并触发放电。据报道，这是空间碎片撞击引发放电的机制，可能对航天器构成巨大威胁。太阳能电池阵列对航天器至关重要，并且被认为容易受到空间碎片撞击诱发放电的影响。对大于 1 毫米的空间碎片撞击太阳能电池阵列放电的研究已经开展。小于 1 毫米的空间碎片占主导地位，与大于 1 毫米的空间碎片相比，它们会更频繁地撞击航天器。如果这些碎片与太阳能电池板的撞击能够引起放电，威胁将更加严重。然而，对小于 1 毫米的空间碎片撞击太阳能电池阵列引起放电的研究尚未见报道。本文开展了小于1 mm空间碎片撞击太阳能电池阵诱发放电的模拟实验。我们的研究结果表明，直径为 200 μm 的空间碎片可以触发太阳能电池阵列放电。如果电压高，放电电流足够大，也可以触发二次放电。放电会对太阳能电池表面造成明显的机械损伤。也可以触发二次放电。放电会对太阳能电池表面造成明显的机械损伤。也可以触发二次放电。放电会对太阳能电池表面造成明显的机械损伤。