Ion electric propulsion unit
Abstract
An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster is disclosed having a plasma chamber which is electrically biased with a positive voltage. The chamber bias serves to efficiently accelerate and expel the positive ions from the chamber. Electrons follow the exiting ions, serving to provide an electrically neutral exhaust plume. In a further embodiment, a downstream shaping magnetic field serves to further accelerate and/or shape the exhaust plume.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1118259
- Patent Number(s):
- 8635850
- Application Number:
- 12/201,071
- Assignee:
- U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F03 - MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS F03H - PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2008 Aug 29
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING
Citation Formats
Light, Max E, and Colestock, Patrick L. Ion electric propulsion unit. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web.
Light, Max E, & Colestock, Patrick L. Ion electric propulsion unit. United States.
Light, Max E, and Colestock, Patrick L. Tue .
"Ion electric propulsion unit". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1118259.
@article{osti_1118259,
title = {Ion electric propulsion unit},
author = {Light, Max E and Colestock, Patrick L},
abstractNote = {An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster is disclosed having a plasma chamber which is electrically biased with a positive voltage. The chamber bias serves to efficiently accelerate and expel the positive ions from the chamber. Electrons follow the exiting ions, serving to provide an electrically neutral exhaust plume. In a further embodiment, a downstream shaping magnetic field serves to further accelerate and/or shape the exhaust plume.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {1}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Whistler wave driven plasma thruster
conference, January 1993
- Bickford Hooper, E.; Stallard, Barry W.; Makowski, Michael A.
- Proceedings of the tenth symposium on soacpace nuclear and propulsion, AIP Conference Proceedings
The High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) Ion Thruster
conference, June 2012
- Foster, John; Haag, T.; Kamhawi, H.
- 40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Experiments with biased cylinder in electron cyclotron resonance ion source (plenary)
journal, May 2004
- Drentje, A. G.; Kitagawa, A.; Muramatsu, M.
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 75, Issue 5