Software-based phase null technique for multipactor detection

Multipactor breakdown continues to grow as a significant technological risk for high power RF spacecraft components. With increasing demands for high capacity communications, higher number of RF carriers, and higher available power, these resonant electron discharges can perturb high fidelity RF signals and/or physically damage critical satellite components [1][2][3]. Multipactor breakdown occurs if/when electrons impact one or more electrode surfaces at integer number of RF half cycles, and the electron density is able to grow with each impact through secondary electron emission [4]. If the electrode secondary electron yield (SEY) provides sufficient emission to overcome electron losses from the system, the electron density can exponentially grow [5][6][7] and adversely affect susceptible RF components. In addition to generating signal noise and changing local impedances, multipacting electrons can cause desorption of surface gas molecules. This can, in turn, cause a rapid rise in the local gas pressure and allow transition to a multipactor plasma or even full RF Paschen ionization breakdown [8][9][10][11]. Such a multipactor-induced RF plasma can quickly degrade both signal integrity and component operability.