Insight into the plasma structure of the Quad Confinement Thruster using electron kinetic modelling

Williams, Rhys D.; Fabris, Andrea Lucca; Knoll, Aaron

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.04.021

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…2) shows a brighter plasma emission coming from the regions characterized by an outward E × B vector suggesting that the combination of electric and magnetic topologies drives electrons into this volume causing a higher number of excitationradiative relaxation events. A recent study of the QCT discharge using electron kinetic modeling 15 has identified the E × B driven electron transport and the ambipolar diffusion as the physical mechanisms causing these peculiar visible light emission structures. Moreover, in the central magnetic-null region electrons may find a direct path to the anode leading to an increased axial electron current density in this portion of the channel crosssectional area, as experimentally observed in cusped field thrusters 16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of a free-space ion acceleration layer in the plume of a quad confinement plasma source

Fabris

Young

Knoll

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Physics

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The Quad Confinement Plasma Source is a novel plasma device developed for space propulsion applications, whose core is an E × B discharge with open electron drift. The magnetic field is produced by independently powered electromagnets able to generate different magnetic field topologies with the ultimate aim of manipulating the ion flow field for achieving thrust vectoring. In this work, we map the ion velocity in the plasma ejected from the Quad Confinement Thruster with different magnetic configurations using nonintrusive Laser-Induced Fluorescence diagnostics. Measurements show a steep ion acceleration layer located 8 cm downstream the exit plane of the discharge channel, detached from any physical boundary of the plasma source. In this location, the ion velocity increases from 3 km/s to 10 km/s within a 1 cm axial region. The ion acceleration profile has been characterised under multiple testing conditions in order to identify the influence of the magnetic field intensity and topology on this peculiar ion acceleration layer.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%