Microwave electrothermal thruster performance in helium gas

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Propul. Pow.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.22965· OSTI ID:6761485

Whitehair, S; Asmussen, J; Nakanishi, S

The microwave electrothermal thruster presented uses an internally tuned, single-mode cylindrical cavity applicator to focus and match microwave energy into an electrodeless, high pressure flowing gas discharge that is located within a quartz discharge chamber. Experimental measurements of microwave coupling efficiency, thruster energy efficiency, and specific impulse, are obtained for N and He discharges; the efficiency of microwave energy transfer to the discharge is found to be of the order of 95 percent. Higher temperature nozzle materials and more efficient discharge chambers will further enhance performance. 25 references.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansin; Analex Corp., Cleveland, OH
• OSTI ID: 6761485
• Journal Information: J. Propul. Pow.; (United States), Vol. 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
THRUSTERS
PERFORMANCE
COUPLING
EQUIVALENT CIRCUITS
HELIUM
MATERIALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NONMETALS
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
420201* - Engineering- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices