Laser beamed power: Satellite demonstration applications

It is possible to use a ground-based laser to beam light to the solar arrays of orbiting satellites, to a level sufficient to provide all or some of the operating power required. Near-term applications of this technology for providing supplemental power to existing satellites are discussed. Two missions with significant commercial pay-off are supplementing solar power for radiation-degraded arrays and providing satellite power during eclipse for satellites with failed batteries

Silver-palladium Thick-film Conductors

The trends in integrated circuit packaging technology are toward high speed, high density, reliability, and low cost. These demand the improvement of material formulations and processing technology. Among the thick-film materials systems, conductor materials generally represent an important and the most expensive element. Therefore, attention has been centered on the performance of the fired metal film and its cost. Silver and palladium (Ag/Pd) conductors are important components of thick-film paste technology. Thick-film Ag/Pd conductors find applications in many aspects of electronics and electronic packaging, such as hybrid microcircuits, multichip modules, packaging for integrated microcircuits, and in passive electronic components such as multilayer capacitors, varistors, and inductors. in this paper, the performance and properties of fired Ag/Pd films are discussed through their physical and chemical aspects. the final film properties are correlated to a number of factors, including thermodynamics and kinetics of Pd oxidation during burnout and firing; chemical and physical reaction of the Ag/Pd with the ceramic substrate, organic vehicle, and solder; Ag diffusion and migration; inorganic and organic additives; powders characteristics; and paste properties