Beam extraction from a Hall-type ion accelerator

Abstract

Fundamental characteristics of beam extraction from a Hall-type accelerator working with permanent magnets were investigated. Ions were extracted by an axial electric field E(z) in a small annular plasma channel with a radial magnetic field B(r). Effects of discharge current and voltage, length of discharge channel, and gas flow rate were examined. It can deliver a large beam current density of more than 100 mA/cm(2) with low beam energy of 50 eV. By biasing an additional plasma chamber attached at the extraction area, the beam energy was controlled independently of the beam current.

Hall Thruster Development for Japanese Space Propulsion Programs

“…Based on this experience, several Hall thrusters have recently been developed at the University of Tokyo, 27,28) Osaka University/Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT), 29,30) Tohoku University, 31) Nagoya University, 32) Gifu University, 33) Kyushu University, 34) Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU), 35) and The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) in the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 36) This work has not been confined to universities and JAXA, industry has also been involved, in collaboration with universities; the IHI Corporation and Osaka University 37) developed a 1 kW class Hall thruster, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 38) developed a 250 mN class Hall thruster.…”