Ultraviolet tomography of kink dynamics in a magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
- Consorzio RFX, Euratom-ENEA Association, Corso Stati Uniti, 4-35127 Padova (Italy) and Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Padova, Via Marzolo, 8-35131 Padova (Italy)
In this paper the results of a project concerning the ultraviolet (UV) imaging of a plasma for space applications, produced in a magneto-plasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, are presented. MPD are a class of high-power electric space propulsion devices that accelerate a plasma to high velocities (>10 km/s), by exploiting the Lorentz force. This force arises from the interaction between the discharge electrical current and a self induced and externally applied magnetic field. The imaging system has been realized by inserting three arrays of UV-enhanced photodiodes directly into the plastic structure of the anode. The amplifiers are miniaturized and built into the detector. This advanced diagnostic design allows for a detailed tomographic reconstruction of the emissivity spatial structure, both in the axial direction z (corresponding to a wave number n) and azimuthal direction (wave number m) with high time resolution. A magneto-hydrodynamic instability, with mode numbers m=1 and n=1 has been observed, which might affect the performances of the thruster.
- OSTI ID:
- 20764561
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 12, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2012108; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AMPLIFIERS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
EMISSIVITY
KINK INSTABILITY
LORENTZ FORCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTODIODES
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA GUNS
PLASTICS
PROPULSION
THRUSTERS
TIME RESOLUTION
TOMOGRAPHY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION