AbstractThe effects of a radio-frequency (RF) power on the ion generation and electrostatic acceleration in a helicon electrostatic thruster were investigated with a constant discharge voltage of 300 V using argon as the working gas at a flow rate either of 0.5 Aeq (Ampere equivalent) or 1.0 Aeq. A RF power that was even smaller than a direct-current (DC) discharge power enhanced the ionization of the working gas, thereby both the ion beam current and energy were increased. However, an excessively high RF power input resulted in their saturation, leading to an unfavorable increase in an ionization cost with doubly charged ion production being accompanied. From the tradeoff between the ion production by the RF power and the electrostatic acceleration made by the direct current discharge power, the thrust efficiency has a maximum value at an optimal RF to DC discharge power ratio of 0.6 – 1.0.
HighlightsRF/electrostatic hybrid thruster has been developed with matched power balance.Even a small RF power efficiently enhances the ion beam current and energy.An excessively high RF power leads to an unfavorable increase in an ionization cost.The thrust efficiency has a maximum at RF to DC power ratio from 0.6 to 1.0.
Power matching between plasma generation and electrostatic acceleration in helicon electrostatic thruster
Acta Astronautica ; 139 ; 157-164
2017-06-28
8 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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