Optimization of discharge triggering in micro-cathode vacuum arc thruster for CubeSats

Zolotukhin, Denis B.; Keidar, Michael

doi:10.1088/1361-6595/aacdb0

Cited by 38 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Low-power vacuum arc thrusters have the known problem of a limited lifetime, which may vary from 10 3 ( 26 ) to 10 5 pulses ( 27 ), while the special constructions with the cathode feeding mechanism allow the achievement of several million pulses ( 28 ). In our previous study ( 29 ), we found that the lifetime of the μCAT firing in the high-power regime can be extended to more than 1 million pulses by optimizing the anode-cathode gap (extending it to around 1 mm) and providing the magnetic field, causing the movement of cathodic spot along the cathode surface. Thus, the configuration of the first-stage electrodes of the newly designed μCAT-MPD thruster was chosen to provide the maximal lifetime even at a high-power performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstration of electric micropropulsion multimodality

et al. 2022

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Electric propulsion has become popular nowadays owing to the trend of miniaturizing the size and mass of satellites. However, the main drawback of the most popular approach—Hall thrusters—is that their efficiency and thrust-to-power ratio (TPR) markedly deteriorate when its size and power level are reduced. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach—a minute low-power (<50 W), lightweight (~100 g), two-stage propulsion system. The system is based on a micro-cathode vacuum arc thruster with magnetoplasmadynamic second stage (μCAT-MPD), which achieves the following parameters: a thrust of up to 1.7 mN at a TPR of 37 μN/W and an efficiency of ~50%. A μCAT-MPD system, in addition to “traditional” inverse, displays the anomalous direct (growing) “TPR versus specific impulse I sp ” trend at high I sp values and allows multimodality at high efficiency.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstration of electric micropropulsion multimodality

et al. 2022

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“…Water cooling of the cathode units of both the magnetron and the vacuum arc is supplied through insulating water decoupling with a channel length of 5 m and diameter 3 mm. The discharge plasma of a magnetron discharge, supported by the plasma of a vacuum arc, fills the expander (9), which is electrically connected to anodes 2 and 6 unless otherwise specified. The expander metal grid with mesh size of 0.7 mm × 0.7 mm forms the plasma emission surface.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of such a plasma in an ion source will ensure the formation of metal ion beams. The demand for metal ions is associated with their use in accelerator technology [8], ion thrusters [9], as well as in technological installations of ion implantation for hardening the surface properties of various materials [10]. At present, ion sources based on a vacuum arc with a cathode spot are mainly used to generate beams of metal ions [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of a Metal Ion Beam Using a Vacuum Magnetron Discharge

Vizir

Окс

Shandrikov

et al. 2021

Plasma

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We have designed, fabricated and characterized an ion source based on a vacuum magnetron discharge. The magnetron discharge is initiated by a vacuum arc discharge, the plasma of which flows onto the magnetron sputtering target working surface. The vacuum arc material is usually the same as that of the magnetron target. The discharges operate at a residual pressure of 3 × 10−6 Torr without working gas feed. Pulses of vacuum arc (30 μs) and magnetron discharge (up to 300 μs) are applied simultaneously. After ignition by the vacuum arc, the magnetron discharge runs in a self-sustained mode. Cu–Cu, Ag–Ag, Zn–Zn, and Pb–Pb pairs of magnetron target material and vacuum arc cathode material were tested, as well as mixed pairs; for example, Cu vacuum arc cathode and Pb magnetron target. An ion beam was extracted from the discharge plasma by applying an accelerating voltage of up to 20 kV between the plasma expander and grounded electrodes. The ion beam collector current reached 80 mA. The ion beam composition, analyzed by a time-of-flight spectrometer, shows that the beam consists mainly of singly-charged (about 90%) and doubly-charged (about 10% current fraction) magnetron target material ions. The ion beam radial current density non-uniformity was as low as ±5% over a diameter of 6.6 cm, which is the diameter of the source output aperture.

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“…Постійний інтерес вчених до плазмових технологій ґрунтується на досить широких можливостях їх використання, наприклад для осадження тонких металевих плівок [1,2], генерації лазерної плазми [3,4] або як джерело енергії для космічних плазмових двигунів [5,6]. Численні дослідження процесів, які відбуваються у плазмовому середовищі [7,8], та їх параметрів [9,10] дають нові можливості для удосконалення технологій та їх використання.…”

Section: вступunclassified

Моделювання Електроерозійних Процесів На Графітових Електродах При Формуванні Наноструктур У Плазмовому Середовищі

Широкий¹

2022

oikit

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The theoretical model of erosion processes in electrode spots during vacuum discharge during nanostructure formation is developed in the work. In this model the sources and drains of heat in electrode spots are considered in detail. Thus, the heat flux density generated by ions taking into account the emission cooling, reverse electric current and Nottingham heat is taken into account for the cathode, and both positive anode and negative potential declines are considered in describing the surface heat source for the anode. The distribution of current density in the element of the considered electrode volume was considered in sufficient detail for describing the volumetric heat source. Heat transfer from plasma radiation and convective heat transfer, and heat dissipation due to the shift of the plasma evaporation front and its radiation were considered for a more comprehensive description of the heat balance equation. The heat flux due to the movement of the stain was also taken into account. Thanks to the proposed model, the temperature fields near the spots and the rate of evaporation of the material during the life of the spot were determined, which allowed to determine the erosion coefficient for the electrode spot. According to the proposed model, calculations were performed for graphite electrodes. The dependence of the erosion coefficient on the lifetime of the spot and the current density at the electrodes is obtained. It is determined that at current density of more than 1011 A / м2 the probability of material emission in the form of clusters increases, which will prevent the appearance of nanostructures. Dependences of the erosion coefficient on the lifetime were obtained for both stationary and moving spots. The obtained dependences indicate the significant decrease in the erosion coefficient with increasing velocity of the spots. The determined theoretical values of current density coincide in order with the experimental values. The model can be used to determine the critical values of technological parameters in obtaining nanostructures for different electrode materials.

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Optimization of discharge triggering in micro-cathode vacuum arc thruster for CubeSats

Cited by 38 publications

References 27 publications

Demonstration of electric micropropulsion multimodality

Demonstration of electric micropropulsion multimodality

Generation of a Metal Ion Beam Using a Vacuum Magnetron Discharge

Моделювання Електроерозійних Процесів На Графітових Електродах При Формуванні Наноструктур У Плазмовому Середовищі

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