Interplanetary space weather effects on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter avalanche photodiode performance

Abstract

Space weather is a major concern for radiation‐sensitive space systems, particularly for interplanetary missions, which operate outside of the protection of Earth's magnetic field. We examine and quantify the effects of space weather on silicon avalanche photodiodes (SiAPDs), which are used for interplanetary laser altimeters and communications systems and can be sensitive to even low levels of radiation (less than 50 cGy). While ground‐based radiation testing has been performed on avalanche photodiode (APDs) for space missions, in‐space measurements of SiAPD response to interplanetary space weather have not been previously reported. We compare noise data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) SiAPDs with radiation measurements from the onboard Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument. We did not find any evidence to support radiation as the cause of changes in detector threshold voltage during radiation storms, both for transient detector noise and long‐term average detector noise, suggesting that the approximately 1.3 cm thick shielding (a combination of titanium and beryllium) of the LOLA detectors is sufficient for SiAPDs on interplanetary missions with radiation environments similar to what the LRO experienced (559 cGy of radiation over 4 years).

Space Weather: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

“…Radiation can also cause components on satellites to become radioactive. Errors will be induced in computer logic systems and solid-state memories (e.g., Lohmeyer et al 2015;Clements et al 2016). Radiation will induce false signals in scientific optical instruments and in sun and star trackers that are used for spacecraft attitude control (Birnbaum 1996).…”

Nanosatellite optical downlink experiment: design, simulation, and prototyping

“…While testing of similar electrical components has shown sensitivity to radiation effects, 79,80 the board with the most sensitive components will have sufficient shielding to protect against high dose levels for the expected particle energy levels. Studies of the radiation effects on optical components, such as PDs, 81 the FBG filter, 82 and EDFA, 83 have suggested that radiation does not significantly affect the performance of these components for typical radiation levels. Therefore the shielding provided by the chassis walls of the host spacecraft and the transmitter trays is likely to mitigate radiation effects of the trapped particle environment.…”