Dr Michael Hubbard

The main aim of this project is to transfer knowledge between The OU and Microlink to enable faster development of Microlink’s solar devices through better understanding of the radiation environment and aid the OU in translating its expertise in silicon detectors to solar cells, opening up new future funding avenues for both parties. One of the limiting factors in device performance and lifetime in the space environment is exposure to radiation. Understanding the different types of device damage and predicted performance limitation is crucial before hardware is tested or deployed and this is usually done initially by modelling. The radiation environment differs based on a spacecrafts orbital profile, therefore identifying the radiation sources of concern aids in qualification testing of future devices. The Open University has expertise in modelling radiation for CCD and CMOS detectors and will use this to develop understanding of radiation considerations for Microlink’s solar cells. Microlink has been working in the area of solar devices for many years and are now extending their reach into the space sector. As Microlink move into this area, they require more understanding of modelling and testing requirements and methods. This project directly addresses Microlink’s challenges in understanding the radiation environment for deployment of their novel solar devices.