Real Time Effects of Space and Nuclear Environments on Lithium-Doped Cells.

Lithium-doped silicon solar cells were irradiated at a real-time rate, with a strontium-90 radioisotope simulating the trapped electron environment. The irradiation was performed for a one-year period in a vacuum chamber. Four types of lithium cells and one type of conventional NP cell were controlled to temperatures typical of normal satellite operational conditions. At the six-month point, the cells were exposed to a pulsed neutron environment simulating a nuclear weapon detonation. The experiment was successful in providing high quality data characterizing the comparative performance of several solar cell types. Conventional NP cells outperformed lithium cells in the non-weapon environment and are recommended for all missions without hardening requirements. Author