The Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) thruster is a proposed electrodeless space electric propulsion device with interesting and little understood physics. A laboratory ECR thruster was run in a vacuum tank at pressures in the 10 exp -5 torr range using 2.12 GHz microwave beam and Ar gas propellant. Movable diagnostic probes (a Faraday cup and a gridded energy analyzer) measured plasma characteristics as propellant gas flow rate and input microwave power level were varied. Ion energy and flux data were used to calculate I(sp), propulsive efficiency, and thrust. The ion flux profiles show an unexpected depression on the thruster axis for low tank pressures that disappears as the tank pressure increases. Ion energies decrease as the flow rate and pressure increase, but the microwave power level affects the energy only negligibly. The calculated propulsion parameters demonstrate that the efficiency of the laboratory device is low, and that tank pressure greatly changes the performance.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Experimental studies of an ECR plasma thruster


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE, Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit ; 1993 ; Monterey, CA, United States


    Publication date :

    1993-06-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Experimental studies of an ECR plasma thruster

    KAUFMAN, D. / GOODWIN, D. / SERCEL, J. | AIAA | 1993


    MPD thruster plasma instability studies

    KELLY, A. / JAHN, R. | AIAA | 1987


    Pulsed plasma thruster contamination studies

    RUDOLPH, L. / JONES, R. | AIAA | 1979


    Pulsed Plasma Thruster Electromagnetic Compatibility Studies

    Hoskins, Andrew / Sarmiento, Charles / Rayburn, Christopher et al. | AIAA | 2003


    Low Power RF Plasma Thruster Experimental Characterization

    Pavarin, Daniele / Lucca Fabris, Andrea / Trezzolani, Fabio et al. | AIAA | 2012