Abstract This study experimentally examined several magnetic field topologies for the miniature microwave discharge cathode driven by water, which is indispensable for realizing water ion thrusters. The electron emission currents were measured for various operating conditions; microwave power, mass flow rate, and microwave frequency. The magnetic field topology with the magnetic field lines passing through the orifice hole without intersecting the cathode increased the electron emission current. This result agreed with the prediction derived from the 3D-Particle-in-Cell simulations with Monte Carlo collisions. The measured performance was 11.1 mA electron emission current at 2.0 W microwave forward power and 20 μ g /s water mass flow rate. On the other hand, the dependency of electron emission current on magnetic field topology became smaller as the mass flow rate or microwave power decreased. Additionally, the performance dependency on mass flow rate was remarkably different by the magnetic field topology. We explained those newly found trends by the difference in electron temperature dependency for the electron transport against the magnetic field lines.

    Highlights Magnetic field topology of the cathode was changed to improve the performance. Electron emission current of 11.1 mA was achieved with input power of 2 W. Performance trends against mass flow rate varied between magnetic field topologies. Electron transport model explains performance trends against mass flow rate.


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    Titel :

    Experimental study on the performance characteristics of a miniature microwave discharge cathode


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 196 ; 231-237


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2022-04-15


    Format / Umfang :

    7 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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