Conceptual design of a novel electron radiation and spacecraft charging test platform for CubeSat dimensioned devices based on laser-driven electron accelerator

Abstract

Conceptual design of a radiation environment test platform based on the laser wakefield accelerator has been developed using SIMION finite-difference method and FLUKA Monte Carlo numerical models. Developed models include the permanent magnet dipole electron beam spectrometer with two orthogonal luminescent screens and tungsten beam collimator. Parameters of the test platform have been evaluated for the kinetic energies of electron beams in the rage of 0.1 – 100 MeV. The platform is proposed as a laboratory analogue of the radiation of relativistic electrons trapped at Van Allen radiation belts. The instrument is expected to be used for tests of the radiation tolerance of components of nano- and picosatellite class spacecrafts, such as CubeSat, designed for the low Earth orbit missions. Concept proof generation of the electron beam accelerated to energies above 1 MeV have been performed using a novel ALFA nitrogen gas target kHz laser plasma accelerator recently built at ELI-Beamlines facility. Profile of the generated electron beam has been measured.