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Title: Effect of Anode Dielectric Coating on Hall Thruster Operation

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/820110· OSTI ID:820110

An interesting phenomenon observed in the near-anode region of a Hall thruster is that the anode fall changes from positive to negative upon removal of the dielectric coating, which is produced on the anode surface during the normal course of Hall thruster operation. The anode fall might affect the thruster lifetime and acceleration efficiency. The effect of the anode coating on the anode fall is studied experimentally using both biased and emissive probes. Measurements of discharge current oscillations indicate that thruster operation is more stable with the coated anode.

Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH03073
OSTI ID:
820110
Report Number(s):
pppl-3888; TRN: US0305687
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 20 Oct 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English