Title :
A Compact Permanent-Magnet Helicon Thruster
Author :
Chen, Francis F.
Author_Institution :
Univ. of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Abstract :
A small helicon source using a permanent magnet has been tested for possible application as a spacecraft thruster. Ion energy distributions measured with a retarding-field ion analyzer show that ions are ejected with energies of ~5 KTe, in agreement with theory. The specific impulse can be increased by applying a positive bias to the endplate of the discharge.
Keywords :
discharges (electric); helicons; permanent magnets; plasma density; plasma sources; compact permanent magnet helicon thruster; discharge; electron density; helicon source; ion energy distribution; retarding-field ion analyzer; spacecraft thruster; Acceleration; Discharges (electric); Fault location; Plasmas; Radio frequency; Space vehicles; Ambipolar thruster; compact thruster; helicon; helicon thruster; permanent-magnet helicons; permanent-magnet helicons; spacecraft thruster; thrusters; thrusters.;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2014.2361476
