Method for detection of non-thermal radiation by colliding debris

Abstract

A system and method for detecting space debris which is based on measurements of broadband non-thermal radiation and/or light emitted by either sparks or the expansion of the plasma-fragments cloud generated during high-speed collisions of solid materials. The method is based on the concept that broadband nonthermal radiation and/or light can be used to detect the formation of new debris and for tracking debris clouds. The emission of broadband nonthermal radiation and/or light is based on theoretical and observational evidence that the collision of particles of solid materials with each other transfer enough charge to create electric fields large enough to produce small electric discharges or sparks and that the expansion of the plasma-fragments cloud generated by collisions at orbital velocities produce thermal and non-thermal electromagnetic signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.