High frequency plasma generators for ion thrusters

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6854530

Divergilio, W F; Goede, H; Fosnight, V V

The results of a one year program to experimentally adapt two new types of high frequency plasma generators to Argon ion thrusters and to analytically study a third high frequency source concept are presented. Conventional 30 cm two grid ion extraction was utilized or proposed for all three sources. The two plasma generating methods selected for experimental study were a radio frequency induction (RFI) source, operating at about 1 MHz, and an electron cyclotron heated (ECH) plasma source operating at about 5 GHz. Both sources utilize multi-linecusp permanent magnet configurations for plasma confinement. The plasma characteristics, plasma loading of the rf antenna, and the rf frequency dependence of source efficiency and antenna circuit efficiency are described for the RFI Multi-cusp source. In a series of tests of this source at Lewis Research Center, minimum discharge losses of 220+/-10 eV/ion were obtained with propellant utilization of .45 at a beam current of 3 amperes. Possible improvement modifications are discussed.

• Research Organization: TRW Defense and Space Systems Group, Redondo Beach, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6854530
• Report Number(s): N-83-28072; NASA-CR-167957
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
ARGON
BEAMS
CONFINEMENT
ECR HEATING
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
ION BEAMS
ION THRUSTERS
NONMETALS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA HEATING
RARE GASES
RF SYSTEMS
THRUSTERS