Laser Hardened Coatings for Advanced Satellite Solar Cell Arrays

Currently deployed defense space systems are hardened against naturally occurring environmental radiation. Man-made radiation threats such as lasers and other directed energy weapons pose a different danger entirely. Solar cell arrays can be disabled or damaged during a high power directed energy attack. In the proposed Phase I program, Infoscitex will characterize the damage mechanism to advanced solar cell arrays and evaluate active responsive thin film materials for threat reduction. The active response will reduce damage at the initial attack site and effectively increase survivability of the surrounding cells, dramatically reducing propagation of damage. The materials-based countermeasures will not require external power, respond almost instantaneously and have minimal impact on solar cell efficiency. In the Phase II effort, it is envisioned that different generations of optimized systems will be tested on actual solar cell systems to evaluate survivability after a simulated attack. Qualified DoD platform vendors, coating materials and solar cell arrays will be active participants in both the Phase I and Phase II programs to ensure incorporation of the technology into deployable systems.