Transition in Electron Transport in a Cylindrical Hall Thruster

J.B. Parker, Y. Raitses, and N.J. Fisch

关键词: CAMERAS;    CATHODES;    ELECTRON EMISSION;    ELECTRONS;    LANGMUIR PROBE;    MAGNETIC FIELDS;    PLASMA DENSITY;    THRUSTERS;    TRANSPORT Hall Thruster;    Electric Propulson;    Transport Phenomena;   

DOI  :  10.2172/981717
RP-ID  :  PPPL-4523
PID  :  OSTI ID: 981717
Others  :  TRN: US1004097

学科分类：原子、分子光学和等离子物理

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

Through the use of high-speed camera and Langmuir probe measurements in a cylindrical Hall thruster, we report the discovery of a rotating spoke of increased plasma density and light emission which correlates with increased electron transport across the magnetic field. As cathode electron emission is increased, a sharp transition occurs where the spoke disappears and electron transport decreases. This suggests that a significant fraction of the electron current might be directed through the spoke.