In response to the unavailability of a stable electron source in our laboratory, we focus on the development and construction of a hollow cathode. Throughout the course of this research endeavor, we successfully engineered a heaterless hollow cathode capable of delivering a current ranging at least from a minimum of 0.5A to 2A. Our research paper presents the cathode’s structural configuration and recorded breakdown voltages observed at various flow rates from 35 sccm to 50 sccm. Additionally, we provide precise measurements through the oscilloscope of both keeper and anode voltages during stable operation to understand the designed cathode’s operational characteristics. Furthermore, the paper encompasses simulation results, offering the estimation of inner pressure and electric field distributions at the cathode’s orifice. These simulations significantly provided the initial experimental parameters of the cathode like ignition, stable operation flow rate and keeper voltage. Within the purview of our research, we have also delineated the ignition process and experimental setup for the heaterless hollow cathode while cataloging several challenges encountered throughout the experimental phase.
Development of heaterless hollow cathode for low-power Hall thruster
2023-10-26
702623 byte
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Characterization of a Heaterless Hollow Cathode
AIAA | 2013
|Characterization of a Heaterless Hollow Cathode
Online Contents | 2013
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