Re-emergence of an Old Problem with Potentially Catastrophic Consequences

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Re-emergence of an Old Problem with Potentially Catastrophic Consequences

	Reported to be present on electronic hardware in 1946 (there may have been an even earlier report)
	Studied intensively but randomly ever since
	Until 1991, principle concern was effects at atmospheric pressure where whiskers fuse open at <10 mA to >50mA
	First report of “plasma arc” failure mechanism in 1992
	Plasma arcs occur in vacuum - vaporizing whisker leads to plasma formation fed by tin from plated surface
	*Plasma arcs can conduct currents > 200 amps!!!!*
	Minimum initiation voltage for plasma arc unknown but the higher the voltage, the greater the risk

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Responsible NASA Officials: Michael Sampson/NASA GSFC Code 306 Dr. Henning Leidecker/NASA GSFC Code 562	Additional Researchers: Jong Kadesch/Orbital Sciences Corp. Jay Brusse/QSS Group, Inc.	Last Updated: April 20, 2005
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