Particulate irradiations of an advanced silicon solar cell

The results of irradiation testing of a recently developed advanced high efficiency, production-available, silicon solar cell are covered. Particulate irradiation tests conducted include electrons, high energy protons, and low energy protons. Although the high efficiency cell was found to display a higher percentage of radiation induced degradation, it still produced a power output superior to conventional cells through 1 x 1016 e/cm2. The cell exhibits a significant improvement over conventional cells in performance at beginning of life, a performance advantage it maintains with proper shielding at end of life for most common mission environments, e.g., 7 years synchronous orbit (1). In addition to reporting the results of particulate irradiation testing of the high efficiency solar cell, covered and uncovered, irradiation testing results for a blue (shallow junction) solar cell and the Hughes standard solar cell are also reported