Plume reduction in segmented electrode Hall thruster

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2000 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.373813· OSTI ID:20217018

Raitses, Y ^[1]; Dorf, L A ^[1]; Litvak, A A ^[1]; Fisch, N J ^[1]

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)

A segmented electrode, which is placed at the thruster exit, is shown to affect thruster operation in several ways, whether the electrode produces low emission current or no emission current, although there appear to be advantages to the more emissive segmented electrode. Measured by plume divergence, the performance of Hall thruster operation, even with only one power supply, can approach or surpass that of nonsegmented operation over a range of parameter regimes. In particular, the low gas flow rate can exhibit low plume divergence. This allows flexibility in operation of segmented electrode thrusters in variable thrust regimes. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.

• OSTI ID: 20217018
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 88, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: 1 Aug 2000; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ION THRUSTERS
PLUMES
ELECTRODES
OPERATION
GAS FLOW
CURRENT DIVERGENCES