Study of electron-extraction characteristics of an inductively coupled radio-frequency plasma neutralizer

Abstract

Inductively coupled radio-frequency (RF) plasma neutralizer (RPN) is an insert-free device that can be employed as an electron source in electric propulsion applications. Electron-extraction characteristics of the RPN are related to the bulk plasma parameters and the device's geometry. Therefore, the effects of different electron-extraction apertures and operational parameters upon the electron-extraction characteristics are investigated according to the global nonambipolar flow and sheath model. Moreover, these models can also be used to explain why the electron-extraction characteristics of the RPN strongly depend upon the formation of the anode spot. During the experimental study, two types of anode spots are observed. Each of them has unique characteristics of electron extraction. Moreover, the hysteresis of an anode spot is observed by changing the xenon volume-flow rates or the bias voltages. In addition, the rapid ignited method, gas-utilization factor, electron-extraction cost and other factors that need to be considered in the design of the RPN are also discussed.

Research on the neutralization control of the RF ion micropropulsion system for the ‘Taiji-1’ satellite mission

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Overall discussion on the key problems of a space-borne laser interferometer gravitational wave antenna

“…其中, 惯性传感器是无拖曳控制系统 的传感机构, 为了达到引力波探测的要求, 其加速度读出噪 声应低于 3×10 −15 m s − 2 Hz − 1/2 [60,61] . 微推进器可有多重选择, 比如 FEEP [62] , RIT [63,64] , 胶体 [65] , 冷气 [66] 以及霍尔 [67] 等, 要 求微推进器分辨率≤0.1 μN, 噪声水平≤0.1 μN/Hz 1/2 [68] . [71] , 帮助理解和 解决上述由复杂系统引出的科学问题.…”

Numerical simulation and experimental research on an inductively coupled RF plasma cathode

“…Jahanbakhsh et al discussed the relationship between the electron extraction capacity and the gas flow rate, the size of the extraction aperture, and the absorbed RF power [10,21]. According to another theory, the anode spot has an impact on the electron extraction property [22,23]. A comparison of numerical and experimental results showed that the effects of target voltage, aperture diameter, gas flow rate and RF power were consistent [24].…”