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Title: 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 Laboratory (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 = {Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Ion source having auxillary ion chamber
patent, April 1992


Cyclotron resonance ion engine
patent, August 1993


Compact coupling for microwave-electro-thermal thruster
patent, March 2001


Apparatus for Generating High Current Electrical Discharges
patent-application, March 2006


Spacecraft thruster
patent-application, October 2007


Extreme ultra violet light source device
patent-application, February 2008


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
  • https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43245

The High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) Ion Thruster
conference, June 2012


Experiments with biased cylinder in electron cyclotron resonance ion source (plenary)
journal, May 2004