A Panorama of Electrical Conduction Models in Dielectrics, With Application to Spacecraft Charging

Abstract

Conduction models in disordered materials are described, with a special focus on the transient behavior appearing on a broad timescale as a consequence of disorder. Multiple trapping models, hopping models, or random walks coupled with waiting-time distributions are commonly used to describe charge transport in semiconductors. Important concepts have been introduced in this field, such as demarcation energy, percolation, or transport energy. Dispersive transport appears as a consequence of the disorder, together with a memory effect, that may be described using various mathematical tools. The interest of this research field concerning the charging behavior of materials used in spacecraft applications, especially polymers, is underlined and a practical model of the insulator is suggested.