Direct measurement of axial momentum imparted by an electrothermal radiofrequency plasma micro-thruster

Frontiers in Physics

Vadim eKhayms¹  Edwin F Scholz²  Christine eCharles³  Andrew eBish³  Roderick William Boswell³ 

[1] Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company;Lockheed Martin;The Australian National University;

关键词: radiofrequency plasmas;    Electrothermal;    micro-thruster;    Axial momentum;    thrust balance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fphy.2016.00019

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Gas flow heating using radio frequency plasmas offers the possibility of depositing power in the centre of the flow rather than on the outside, as is the case with electro-thermal systems where thermal wall losses lower efficiency. Improved systems for space propulsion are one possible application and we have tested a prototype micro-thruster on a thrust balance in vacuum. For these initial tests, a fixed component radio frequency matching network weighing 90 grams was closely attached to the thruster in vacuum with the frequency agile radio frequency generator power being delivered via a 50 Ohm cable. Without accounting for system losses (estimated at around 50~$%$), for a few 10s of Watts from the radio frequency generator the specific impulse was tripled to $sim$48 seconds and the thrust tripled from 0.8 to 2.4 milli-Newtons.

【 授权许可】

Unknown