Electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) plasma acceleration

Sercel, Joel C.

doi:10.2514/6.1987-1407

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Generally, this leads to exclusion of neutralizer from the system, formation of the well localized plume in space, decrease of the induced charges, suppression of the different kind of power and efficiency losses in thruster and subsystems etc. A few devices propose the coincident extraction and acceleration of positive ions and electrons [1][2][3][4][5][6] or negative ions 7,8 . Different drawbacks of these thruster concepts like low efficiency, special propellant requirements, power limitations, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutralizer-free gridded ion thruster

Rafalskyi¹,

Aanesland²

2014

50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference

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The first proof-of-concept of a neutralizer-free gridded thruster called NEPTUNE which emits simultaneously ions and electrons producing thrust and high Isp is presented. The NEPTUNE prototype is built and tested in a 1m long beam propagation chamber. A broad quasi-neutral ion-electron beam with the ion energy up to 400 eV is successfully generated without the use of a neutralizer. This is achieved by the possibility of an efficient DC self-bias generation within the RF-powered multi-grid extraction system, which is in contact with plasma. A single RF power source is used for the gas ionization, ion acceleration and electron extraction; the NEPTUNE thruster prototype is therefore free of any additional DC power supplies. The beam extraction is investigated by measuring the ion and electron energies, fluxes and densities using a retarding field energy analyzer (RFEA) and different electrostatic probes. Comparison of the main beam parameters and efficiencies of the NEPTUNE source with a traditional gridded source equipped with a neutralizer is presented. It is concluded that the NEPTUNE concept allows generating a well-localized selfcompensated broad ion-electron beam with same thrust efficiency as traditional gridded ion thrusters.Nomenclature e 0 = electron charge n e = plasma density M i = ion mass m e = electron mass V DC = direct current (DC) voltage V RF = radio frequency (RF) voltage j i = ion current density I tgt = target current U tgt = target voltage ε 0 = vacuum permittivity ω = frequency of RF generator ω pe = electron plasma frequency ω pi = ion plasma frequency

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutralizer-free gridded ion thruster

Rafalskyi¹,

Aanesland²

2014

50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference

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“…These qualities make them an interesting device to produce thrust in space. Currently, several advanced plasma thrusters, including the helicon plasma thruster [1], [2], [3] (HPT), the electron cyclotron resonance thruster [4] (ECRT), the applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) thruster [5], [6], [7], and the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) [8], employ an MN as their main acceleration stage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Electron and Ion Thermodynamics on the Magnetic Nozzle Plasma Expansion

Merino

Ahedo

2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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A two-fluid 2-D model of the supersonic plasma flow in a propulsive magnetic nozzle (MN) is extended to include simple electron and ion thermodynamics to study the effects of electron cooling and ion thermal energy on the expansion. A faster electron cooling rate is seen to reduce plasma jet divergence, increase radial rarefaction, and enhance detachment from the closed magnetic lines. Ion thermal energy is converted to directed kinetic energy by the MN without the mediation of an ambipolar electric field, and alters the electric response of the plasma.

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“…In the middle of the 90s, Sercel performed a study on an ECR engine where the microwaves are launched in the plasma source from a cylindrical waveguide [6]. Stallard and Hooper, also studied these technologies and developed a prototype based on a bi-helical antenna [7,8].…”

Section: Lectrodeless Plasma Thrusters Are An Alternative Technology mentioning

confidence: 99%