Power Density of a Bare Electrodynamic Tether Generator

Abstract

= tether cross-sectional area = surface magnetic field intensity at equator = motional electric field projected along the tether = Lorentz force = average dimensionless current = dimensionless current at the load = tether length = electron mass, m, = 9.10938188 x lO^^' kg = perimeter of the tether cross section = electron charge, q, = 1.60217646 x lO"'' C) = planet radius = orbit radius = magnetic field unit vector = tether line unit vector = plasmasphere velocity = spacecraft velocity = load power = magnetic power = dimensionless load power = tether-plasma contact impedance = effective plasma contact impedance = tether ohmic impedance = maximum power density = load power efficiency = planet gravitational parameter = nondimensional anodic segment length = tether material density = tether material conductivity = dimensionless bias at the load = angular velocity of planet-corotating plasmasphere