We analyze the multipactor effect – resonance type discharge in low pressure and high power conditions in satellites radio electronic equipment of space telecommunication systems.
The multipactor effect occurs in high frequency resonators, vacuum amplifiers, microstrip lines and coaxial elements. Increasing the degree of integration of the apparatus, the using of the new materials, expansion of the frequency, and, especially, increasing of transmitted power in the satellite radio system with reducing dimensions and mass characteristics leads to increasing multipactor effect influence on the quality and reliability of the functioning of on-board equipment.
The existence of multipactor it results in microwave power reducing, a sharp noise increasing in output signal waveguides, return losses in radio frequency components increasing or their characteristics degradation and even component’s burnout.
Physics mechanism of multipactor is studied depending on environment of the effect appearance (single-surface multipactor and two-surface multipactor on metals and on dielectrics). The analyze is fulfilled and is given the examples of multipactor occurrence in micro transmission lines and coaxial components of sputnik radio electronic equipment. The recommendations by the choice of the components that can be used in microwave high power conditions without of multipactor.
Existing calculation methods of multipactor simulation are reviewed. The article presents еhe results of the full-scale simulation multipactor on-board transmitter and recommendations experimentally tested additional effect multipactor reserve power.
The conclusion is that there is the urgent need for research and testing on-board radio frequency electronics for space applications before launching into operation by multipactor effect.