Laser-Induced-Fluorescence-Derived Hall Effect Thruster Ion Velocity Distribution Visualization

Author

Hargus, William A., Jr.

Author_Institution

Spacecraft Propulsion Branch, Air Force Res. Lab., Edwards AFB, CA, USA

Volume

39

Issue

11

fYear

2011

Firstpage

2918

Lastpage

2919

Abstract

Laser-induced fluorescence is used to measure ion velocity distributions in a Hall effect thruster plume. Images of ion velocity scaled to fluorescence peak magnitude provide a graphical illustration of the complex interactions between accelerated ion populations. Both axial and radial velocities are sampled at a single cross section approximately 0.6 diameters downstream of the thruster exit.

Keywords

aerospace propulsion; fluorescence; ion mobility; plasma diagnostics; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma transport processes; Hall effect thruster plume; accelerated ion populations; axial velocity; complex interactions; fluorescence peak magnitude; graphical illustration; ion velocity images; laser-induced-fluorescence-derived Hall effect thruster ion velocity distribution visualization; radial velocity; single cross section; thruster exit; Acceleration; Hall effect; Ions; Plasma measurements; Plasmas; Propulsion; Velocity measurement; Hall effect thruster; laser-induced fluorescence (LIF); spacecraft propulsion; velocity distribution;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2011.2132149

Filename

5762364