ECRA thruster advances: 30W and 200W prototypes latest performances

Désangles, Victor; Packan, Denis; Jarrige, Julien; Peterschmitt, Simon; Dietz, Patrick; Scharmann, Steffen; Holste, K.; Klar, Peter J.

doi:10.1007/s44205-023-00046-x

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…In this work, the absorbed microwave power (at frequency 2.45 GHz) is around 30 W. The thruster is fed with xenon at 1 and 2 SCCM flowrates. More details about the ECR thruster can be found in [12,[30][31][32][33][34].…”

Section: Results Inside the Ecr Thruster Plumementioning

confidence: 99%

A sheath correction method for electron density measurements with the microwave resonant curling probe

Boni,

Désangles,

Jarrige

2023

Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.

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A correction method accounting for plasma sheath effects that appear when performing an electron density measurement with a microwave resonant probe immersed in plasma is described. The diagnostic is the novel curling probe that has already shown promising capabilities in various plasma sources. The correction method is based on the evaluation of two effects relative to the resonant probe operation and its interface with the plasma. First, the characteristic decay length of the electromagnetic field emitted by the curling probe, which defines the probed volume, has been characterized for the different harmonic resonance modes. Second, a semi-analytical model has been adapted to describe the plasma structure forming near the probe, which quantitively describes the electron density profiles across the sheath structure. The correction method is then developed uniquely from numerical simulations and is independent of other diagnostics. Experimental results inside two plasma sources, an inductively coupled plasma and an ECR plasma thruster, are presented and discussed. The validity of the method is assessed (i) by comparing curling probe corrected densities with Langmuir probe results, (ii) by varying the probe orientation to the expanding plasma flow, and (iii) by using two harmonics of the probe. The method is shown to significantly improve the accuracy of electron density measurements. Possible improvements to the method are also discussed.

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Section: Results Inside the Ecr Thruster Plumementioning

confidence: 99%

A sheath correction method for electron density measurements with the microwave resonant curling probe

Boni,

Désangles,

Jarrige

2023

Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.

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“…In all instances, an applied magnetic field B a enables the propagation and absorption (resonant or not) of R waves in the plasma, reduces the plasma flux to the lateral walls, and conforms an external magnetic nozzle (MN) where the plasma is accelerated, producing magnetic thrust [12][13][14][15]. Currently, HPTs and ECRTs are still under development, and laboratory-demonstrated thrust efficiencies are still below 15%, with few exceptions [10,16,17].…”

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Magnetic arch plasma expansion\in a cluster of two ECR plasma sources

Boyé,

Navarro-Cavallé,

Merino

2024

Preprint

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The feasibility of a novel 'magnetic arch' topology for controllecd contactless plasma beam acceleration is experimentally demonstrated using a pair of coaxial electron cyclotron resonance sources with opposing magnetic polarities, such that their respective magnetic nozzles connect to form a closed-line configuration. Retarding potential analyser measurements are taken for a single source and the two sources with same and opposing polarities, as well as no applied magnetic field, showing that the magnetic arch yields higher maximum ion current and lower plume divergence angle than other configurations, albeit the mean ion energy is lower, in agreement with existing models. This validation paves the way to clustering magnetic-nozzle-based plasma thrusters for space propulsion.

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Experimental characterization of thrust production mechanisms in a magnetic nozzle ECR thruster

2022

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Direct thrust measurements have been performed on a low-power (30 W) ECR plasma thruster operated with xenon. The total thrust, the force exerted on the walls of the source (thermal thrust), and the force exerted on the permanent magnet (magnetic thrust) have been measured separately for various operating conditions (power and flowrate). The results are compared for two magnetic field topologies (with a different magnetic field gradient and divergence). The magnetic thrust dominates thermal thrust for most operating conditions, and its contribution to total thrust can be as high as 80%. A saturation of magnetic thrust with increasing power has been observed and is correlated with a decrease in thrust efficiency. A high degree of electron anisotropy can be inferred from the thrust measurements.

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ECRA thruster advances: 30W and 200W prototypes latest performances

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

A sheath correction method for electron density measurements with the microwave resonant curling probe

A sheath correction method for electron density measurements with the microwave resonant curling probe

Magnetic arch plasma expansion\in a cluster of two ECR plasma sources

Experimental characterization of thrust production mechanisms in a magnetic nozzle ECR thruster

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