Measurements have been obtained for the operating characteristics of a 30 cm diameter ring-cusp ion thruster (RCIT), quantitatively comparing its performance parameters to those of a divergent-field J-series cluster of the same size. The high level of performance established for the RCIT is due to its maintenance of both a higher primary-electron population and Maxwellian-electron temperature, as the beam-ion production cost is reduced to its baseline value. Ion losses to the discharge-chamber walls can be reduced by an applied electrostatic field.


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    Title :

    Characteristics of ring-cusp discharge chambers


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1991-12-01



    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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