Low Energy Plasma Source (LEPS)

The LEPS 250 system produces very low energy ions (<20eV) and very low energy electrons in a diffuse plasma plume. Plasma ion flux levels are variable from zero to tens of milliamperes. Producing negligible contaminants, the LEPS 250 system is ideally suited for ultra-clean vacuum processing and may be used with confidence to sastify the most stringent substrate cleanliness requirements.

Applications include substrate component surface cleaning, energy addition during coating and deposition processes, precise substrate charge control, and volume plasma generation for diagnostic functions and space plasma environment simulation.

Systems are delivered as ready-to-operate packages.  Mounting and interconnects are simple.  Flexible orientation and small size permit installation in space-confined vacuum facilities.  The LEPS 250 system is a complete package which includes operating power systems, vacuum feed-throughs and all in-vacuum and out-of-vacuum wiring and mounting connections for immediate customer use.

The LEPS 250 system requires a clean gas feed system and 90-250 VAC at 50/60 Hz for operation.  EPL recommends use of its gas flow set point system (GFSP) to take advantage of the extremely low flow rates that may be used with the LEPS 250 plasma source.

 

LEPS-250 Power Controller

The SHIELD^® system (Stop High Intensity Electric Discharges) is the last line of defense for spacecraft experiencing hazardous surface charging. The SHIELD^® system uses miniaturized, highly integrated gas storage,  power conditioning, plasma source, command and control, in a small, robust, enclosure.  An optional, integral charge-state sensor continuously  monitors spacecraft surface charging and triggers the SHIELD^® system when hazardous charging environments are detected.

EPL’S Hollow Cathode Plasma Contactor (HCPC™) system supports electrodynamic tether applications and other space plasma contacting functions. The system is qualified to over 10,000 plasma electron emission contacting operations. The highly integrated HCPC™ system includes all gas storage and power conditioning in a small, robust, enclosure.