Controlling the Plasma Flow in the Miniaturized Cylindrical Hall Thruster

A. Smirnov, Y. Raitses and N.J. Fisch

Princeton University. Plasma Physics Laboratory.

关键词: Plumes;    Cathodes;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology;    Ion Beams;    Thrusters Hall Thruster, Plasma Flow;   

DOI  :  10.2172/959399
RP-ID  :  PPPL-4303
RP-ID  :  DE-ACO2-76CHO3073
RP-ID  :  959399

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

A substantial narrowmg of the plume of the cylindrical RaIl thruster (CRT) was observed upon the enhancement of the electron emission from the hollow cathode discharge, which implies the possibility for the thruster efficiency increase due to the ion beam focusing. It is demonstrated that the miniaturized CRT can be operated in the non-self-sustained regime, with the discharge current limited by the cathode electron emission. The thruster operation in this mode greatly expands the range of the plasma and discharge parameters normally accessible for the CRT.