Accession Number:

AD0760795

Title:

Shielding Lengths in Magnetospheric and Interplanetary Plasmas.

Descriptive Note:

Research rept., Aug-Oct 72,

Corporate Author:

AEROSPACE CORP EL SEGUNDO CALIF LAB OPERATIONS

Personal Author(s):

• Cauffman,David P.

Report Date:

1973-04-06

Pagination or Media Count:

27.0

Abstract:

A method is presented for estimating the characteristic shielding length of a spherical object that is immersed in a plasma when photoelectrons are being emitted by the object. In agreement with experimental evidence, the calculation reveals that shielding lengths for small probes are significantly closer to the Debye length than previously thought. These arguments are important for objects 1m or less in diameter that are in the magnetosphere beyond the plasmasphere and in interplanetary space. This method of estimation is specifically applicable to thick sheaths previous methods have assumed that sheaths would be thin compared with the size of the shielded object. Author

Descriptors:

• (*MAGNETOSPHERE
• *PLASMA SHEATHS)
• SPACECRAFT
• MAGNETOSPHERE
• SPACE ENVIRONMENTS
• SHIELDING
• SOLAR WIND
• LANGMUIR PROBES
• ELECTROSTATICS

Subject Categories:

• Astrophysics
• Atmospheric Physics
• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE