Project Title:

The Stability of High-Temperature Superconducting Materials in Low-Earth Orbits

04.10-6410A
The Stability of High-Temperature Superconducting Materials in Low-Earth Orbits
Physical Sciences Inc.
635 Slaters Lane, Suite G101
Alexandria
VA
22314
J. T.
Schriempf
(703-548-6410)
LeRC

Abstract:

The new high temperature superconducting materials attractive for use aboard spacecraft
because components utilizing such materials would require minimal refrigeration.
Whether these materials can be used in space depends, in part, on their resistance
to the deleterious conditions encountered in the space environment. This project
focuses on determining the effects of the atomic oxygen found in low earth orbits
(LEO) upon the material, YBa2Cu3Ox, which has a critical temperature, Tc, as high
as 92 K and can be prepared as a thin or thick film by various techniques.
The approach is to prepare films of YBa2Cu3Ox with different initial concentrations
of oxygen and to expose these to atomic oxygen bombardment simulating that encountered
in LEO. The principal objective will be to correlate damage with oxygen content (in
Phase I) to optimize the formulation of the candidate films which will be radiation-hardened
for application in the LEO environment (in Phase II).

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  These results could aid in the use of superconducting
materials on the surfaces of spacecraft for free-space communications from LEO.