Effect of multiply charged ions on the performance and beam characteristics in annular and cylindrical type Hall thruster plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4897948· OSTI ID:22350874

Kim, Holak; Lim, Youbong; Choe, Wonho ^[1]; Seon, Jongho ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701 (Korea, Republic of)
2. Department of Space Science and Astronomy, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deokyoungdaero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701 (Korea, Republic of)

Plasma plume and thruster performance characteristics associated with multiply charged ions in a cylindrical type Hall thruster (CHT) and an annular type Hall thruster are compared under identical conditions such as channel diameter, channel depth, propellant mass flow rate. A high propellant utilization in a CHT is caused by a high ionization rate, which brings about large multiply charged ions. Ion currents and utilizations are much different due to the presence of multiply charged ions. A high multiply charged ion fraction and a high ionization rate in the CHT result in a higher specific impulse, thrust, and discharge current.

• OSTI ID: 22350874
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 14; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BEAMS
CURRENTS
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
EXPLOSIVES
IONS
MASS
PLASMA
PLUMES
PULSES
THRUSTERS