Development of a miniature microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasma ion thruster for exospheric micro-propulsion

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2015 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4937353· OSTI ID:22482642

Dey, Indranuj ^[1]; Toyoda, Yuji; Yamamoto, Naoji; Nakashima, Hideki ^[2]

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1. Department of Nuclear and Atomic Physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005 (India)
2. Department of Advanced Energy Engineering Science, Kyushu University, Kasuga 816-8580 (Japan)

A miniature microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasma source [(discharge diameter)/(microwave cutoff diameter) < 0.3] has been developed at Kyushu University to be used as an ion thruster in micro-propulsion applications in the exosphere. The discharge source uses both radial and axial magnetostatic field confinement to facilitate electron cyclotron resonance and increase the electron dwell time in the volume, thereby enhancing plasma production efficiency. Performance of the ion thruster is studied at 3 microwave frequencies (1.2 GHz, 1.6 GHz, and 2.45 GHz), for low input powers (<15 W) and small xenon mass flow rates (<40 μg/s), by experimentally measuring the extracted ion beam current through a potential difference of ≅1200 V. The discharge geometry is found to operate most efficiently at an input microwave frequency of 1.6 GHz. At this frequency, for an input power of 8 W, and propellant (xenon) mass flow rate of 21 μg/s, 13.7 mA of ion beam current is obtained, equivalent to an calculated thrust of 0.74 mN.

• OSTI ID: 22482642
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 86; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BEAM CURRENTS
CONFINEMENT
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
FLOW RATE
FUELS
GHZ RANGE 01-100
ION BEAMS
ION THRUSTERS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PROPULSION
XENON