Corona effect studied by lab

The High Power Radio Frequency Laboratory's activities include a close study of corona discharge effects. They are induced by the presence of vestigial gases around the space-based RF system, perhaps due to outgassing as system components heat up or else the leaking of air trapped inadvertently inside spacecraft parts. This air is ionised by high-power RF signals, causing glowing discharges which can lead to localised heating as well as signal degradation and sometimes harmful electrical discharges.