The Low Temperature Electronics Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center emphasizes development of electronics for low-temperature space missions. In this program, silicon-germanium-based transistors and diodes were developed to obtain efficient and reliable operation under cryogenic temperatures. The graph shows a significant gain increase at cryogenic temperatures of a silicon germanium power transistor that was developed for Glenn by GPD Optoelectronics, Inc., under a Small Business Innovation Research contract. This increase in gain at low temperatures is a desirable feature because typical silicon transistors do not operate well at lower temperatures and lose the ability to amplify signals.
Direct-current gain of a new silicon germanium transistor as a function of temperature. SiGe HBT (serial number HBT-16-25); collector emitter voltage, 8 V; base current, IB, 50 mA.
Long description of figure.
The environmental temperature in many of NASA space-exploration missions, such as deep-space probes and outer planetary exploration, is significantly below the range for which conventional commercial-off-the-shelf electronics are designed. Presently, spacecraft in a low-temperature environment carry radioisotopes or other heating elements to maintain the onboard electronics at approximately 20 °C. Cryogenic electronics not only tolerate the harsh environment of deep space but reduce system size and weight by eliminating the heating units, thereby reducing system development and launch costs. Cryogenic electronics also have potential uses in terrestrial applications, including magnetic-levitation transportation systems, medical diagnostics, cryogenic instrumentation, and superconducting magnetic energy-storage systems.
These research efforts are being conducted with the support of the NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program, and through collaboration with other Government agencies, industrial and aerospace companies, and academia. The NEPP supports missions as well as technology development efforts at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the NASA Langley Research Center, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Find out more about the research of Glenn’s Electro-Physics Branch: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/epbranch/ephome.htm
Glenn contact:
Richard L. Patterson, 216-433-8166, Richard.Patterson@nasa.gov
QSS Group, Inc., contact:
Dr. Ahmad Hammoud, 216-433-8511, Ahmad.Hammoud@nasa.gov
Authors:
Richard L. Patterson and Dr. Ahmad Hammoud
Headquarters program office:
Exploration Systems, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance
Programs/Projects:
Lunar landers, Mars orbiters and landers, JWST, Shuttle Orbiter GPS, NEPP, NEPAG, and Europa Lander
Last updated: October 16, 2006
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