Rocket Propulsion Through Multiply-Charged Ions From a Mirror Plasma

Journal Article · Fri Sep 28 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2800543· OSTI ID:21035918

Leung, L ^[1]; Petty, C C ^[2]

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1. University of California--Berkeley, Berkeley, California (United States)
2. General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California (United States)

This paper evaluates a new type of ambipolar plasma thruster that uses multiply-charged ions as propellant. Beginning with an electron cyclotron heated (ECH) mirror plasma with energetic electrons, the ion charge state distribution and confining electrostatic potentials are self-consistently modeled for different fill gases using the particle, charge, and energy conservation equations and Pastukhov-flow confinement. The specific impulse is found to be high ({approx}6000 s) and easily varied. Although the thrust efficiency is low, 24% for double-ended operation and 45% for single-ended operation, this ambipolar thruster is capable of producing high thrust in a compact source because ECH mirror plasmas can operate at high density.

• OSTI ID: 21035918
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 933; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CHARGE STATES
ECR HEATING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
IONS
MIRRORS
OPERATION
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
PROPULSION
PULSES
RF SYSTEMS
TAIL ELECTRONS
THRUSTERS