Development of electrodeless electric propulsion systems using high-density helicon plasmas: The HEAT project

Author

Motomura, Taisei ; Shinohara, Shunjiro ; Tanikawa, Takao ; Hada, Tohru ; Funaki, Ikkoh ; Nishida, Hiroyuki ; Shamrai, Konstantin P. ; Matsuoka, Takeshi ; Otsuka, Fumiko ; Rudenko, Timofei S. ; Ohno, Eiji ; Yokoi, Kenji ; Nakamura, Takahiro

Author_Institution

Dept. of Adv. Energy Eng. Sci., Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka, Japan

fYear

2011

fDate

13-20 Aug. 2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

In order to develop completely electrodeless next generation plasma thrusters for deep space missions, we have initiated the HEAT (Helicon Electrodeless Advanced Thruster) project. In our scheme, source plasmas are generated by means of the highly efficient helicon-wave discharge; they are then electromagnetically accelerated using external antennas to yield a thrust. The entire process can be achieved without using any eroding electrodes, leading to plasma thrusters of a limitless lifetime.

Keywords

antennas in plasma; discharges (electric); plasma density; plasma devices; HEAT project; electrodeless electric propulsion system; electrodeless next generation plasma thrusters; eroding electrode analysis; external antenna system; helicon electrodeless advanced thruster project; helicon-wave discharge; high-density helicon plasma; space missions; Acceleration; Educational institutions; Electrodes; Magnetic fields; Plasmas; Radio frequency; Temperature measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, 2011 XXXth URSI

Conference_Location

Istanbul

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-5117-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/URSIGASS.2011.6051085

Filename

6051085