Estimate of brittle fracture effects in sensor system exposed to heavy cosmic ray ions

Abstract

A near surface brittle fracture caused by the thermoacoustic stress wave from a heavy ion track passing through material is investigated. The size and shape of possible damage/destruction zone around the ion track are found by accounting for the ionization loss nonuniformity and attenuation of the generated stress wave and temperature. The probability of spacecraft sensor system damage is discussed on the basis of a damage zone around the ion trajectory.