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U.S. Department of Energy
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CHARGE-EXCHANGE EFFECTS ON THE ACCELERATOR IMPINGEMENT OF AN ELECTRON- BOMBARDMENT ION ROCKET

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4720678
A systematic investigation of accelerator-grid-ion impingement was made with electron-bombardment ion rockets operated over a range of propellant utilization efficiencies from 0.11 to 0.95. Three ion rockets of 5, 10, and 20 cm in diameter were used to produce mercury-ion beams of 0.01 to 0.55 amp at net accelerating potentials of 600 to 7000 v. Experimental impingement values were near those predicted by ion charge-exchange equations, particularly below propellant utilization efficiencies of 0.6. Calculations were made to estimate the maximum lifetime of a molybdenum accelerator grid based upon the rocket operation parameters. (auth)
Research Organization:
ational Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, cleveland
NSA Number:
NSA-17-024043
OSTI ID:
4720678
Report Number(s):
NASA-TN-D-1657
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English