There is interest in the use of a helicon plasma source in propulsive applications as both an ion source and a thruster. Development of a helicon thruster requires a performance baseline as a basis for future optimization and modification. For the first time, the thrust of a helicon plasma source is measured using a null-type inverted pendulum thrust stand at an operating pressure of through the operating range of 215–840 W RF power, 11.9 and 13.56 MHz RF frequency, 150–450 G magnetic field strength, and propellant flow rate for argon. Maximum thrust is found to be 6.3 mN at a specific impulse of 140 s and a maximum specific impulse of 380 s at 5.6 mN. Thrust efficiency is less than 1.4% and demonstrates very-low-power coupling to ion acceleration.
Thrust Measurements of a Radio Frequency Plasma Source
Journal of Propulsion and Power ; 29 , 3 ; 520-527
2013-05-01
Conference paper , Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Thrust Measurements of a Radio Frequency Plasma Source
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