A plasma engine includes a plasma source having a gas input for receiving a first molecular gas species and that generates ions at an output from the received first molecular gas species. An ion extractor positioned proximate to the output of the plasma source extracts ions from the plasma source with an electric field. A housing includes a region that receives ions extracted from the ion extractor, wherein at least some of the extracted ions react with a second molecular gas species present in the housing to generate thrust.
Plasma engine using ion extraction
2024-07-09
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
AIAA | 1971
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