Radio Frequency Plasma Applications for Space Propulsion
Recent developments in solid-state radio frequency (RF) power technologies allow for the practical consideration of RF heated plasmas for space propulsion. These technologies permit the use of any electrical power source, de-couple the power and propellant sources, and allow for the effcient use of both the propellant mass and power. Effcient use of the propellant is obtained by expelling the rocket exhaust at the highest possible velocity, which can be orders of magnitude higher than those achieved in chemical rockets. Handling the hot plasma exhaust requires the use of magnetic nozzles, and the basic physics of ion detachment from the magnetic eld is discussed. The plasma can be generated by RF using helicon waves to heat electrons. Further direct heating of the ions helps to reduce the line radiation losses, and the magnetic geometry is tailored to allow ion cyclotron resonance heating. RF eld and ion trajectory calculations are presented to give a reasonably self-consistent picture of the ion acceleration process.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 7837
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/CP-103513; AT 50 20 10 0; ON: DE00007837
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Int. Conf. on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications, Torino, Italy, September 13-17, 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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