Erosion Measurements in a Low-Power Cusped-Field Plasma Thruster

Gildea, Stephen; Matlock, Taylor S.; Martı́nez-Sánchez, Manuel; Hargus, William A.

doi:10.2514/1.b34607

Cited by 24 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Various configurations of the magnetic and electric fields provide shielding to prevent erosion in the discharge chamber which is caused due to ion flux and ion energy at the wall [63]. Many configurations have been explored with some less mature HTs such as: the wall-less hall thruster [69] and the cusped field plasma thruster [70]. The choice of materials used at the walls is also a potential avenue to improve the lifetime and performance, in particular selecting materials with low sputtering yield [63].…”

Section: Hall Thrustermentioning

confidence: 99%

Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

2021

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Over 2500 active satellites are in orbit as of October 2020, with an increase of ~1000 smallsats in the past two years. Since 2012, over 1700 smallsats have been launched into orbit. It is projected that by 2025, there will be 1000 smallsats launched per year. Currently, these satellites do not have sufficient delta v capabilities for missions beyond Earth orbit. They are confined to their pre-selected orbit and in most cases, they cannot avoid collisions. Propulsion systems on smallsats provide orbital manoeuvring, station keeping, collision avoidance and safer de-orbit strategies. In return, this enables longer duration, higher functionality missions beyond Earth orbit. This article has reviewed electrostatic, electrothermal and electromagnetic propulsion methods based on state of the art research and the current knowledge base. Performance metrics by which these space propulsion systems can be evaluated are presented. The article outlines some of the existing limitations and shortcomings of current electric propulsion thruster systems and technologies. Moreover, the discussion contributes to the discourse by identifying potential research avenues to improve and advance electric propulsion systems for smallsats. The article has placed emphasis on space propulsion systems that are electric and enable interplanetary missions, while alternative approaches to propulsion have also received attention in the text, including light sails and nuclear electric propulsion amongst others.

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Section: Hall Thrustermentioning

confidence: 99%

Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

2021

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“…[1] One experimental measurement indicates that the maximum erosion rate of a diverging cusped field thruster (DCFT) designed by MIT is found to be lower than the rates measured in low-power Hall thrusters, and the lifetime of this laboratory prototype is estimated at 920 h-1220 h based on the time needed to erode through the insulator in one of the ring-cusps. [2] On the other hand, it has been confirmed experimentally that the cusped field thruster has a wide range of operational parameters [3] with good performance. Consequently, the cusped field thruster has received much attention recently by many organizations, such as the Thales Research Institute's HEMPT, [4] MIT's DCFT, [5] and Stanford Univer-sity's CCFT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle-in-cell simulation for different magnetic mirror effects on the plasma distribution in a cusped field thruster

et al. 2015

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Magnetic mirror used as an efficient tool to confine plasma has been widely adopted in many different areas especially in recent cusped field thrusters. In order to check the influence of magnetic mirror effect on the plasma distribution in a cusped field thruster, three different radii of the discharge channel (6 mm, 4 mm, and 2 mm) in a cusped field thruster are investigated by using Particle-in-Cell Plus Monte Carlo (PIC-MCC) simulated method, under the condition of a fixed axial length of the discharge channel and the same operating parameters. It is found that magnetic cusps inside the small radius discharge channel cannot confine electrons very well. Thus, the electric field is hard to establish. With the reduction of the discharge channel’s diameter, more electrons will escape from cusps to the centerline area near the anode due to a lower magnetic mirror ratio. Meanwhile, the leak width of the cusped magnetic field will increase at the cusp. By increasing the magnetic field strength in a small radius model of a cusped field thruster, the negative effect caused by the weak magnetic mirror effect can be partially compensated. Therefore, according to engineering design, the increase of magnetic field strength can contribute to obtaining a good performance, when the radial distance between the magnets and the inner surface of the discharge channel is relatively big.

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“…1 shows, and the inner wall is removed. Because of the magnetic mirror effect near the cusps and the strong magnetic field which is parallel to the wall, the electrons are difficult to collide with the wall, so the lifetime of the cusped field thrusters are longer than the traditional Hall thrusters [1,2]. Currently, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) [3], Stanford University [4] and the Thales Company in Germany [5] have made some researches about this kind of thrusters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluid Simulation of a Cusped Field Thruster

Liu

Meng

et al. 2015

Contrib. Plasma Phys.

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The cusped field thruster is a kind of newly developed electric propulsion device. The electric field at the channel exit and the low frequency oscillation were measured by former experiments. While the formation mechanism of them have not been fully interpreted yet. Through studying two distinguishing typical electron paths in the thrusters, a fluid model is built up along two electron paths, and then the model is completed by synthetically analyzing the effect of two electron paths. Time-averaged electric potential distribution, anode current oscillation curve and time-synchronized atom density and ion density distribution are obtained by simulation.

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Erosion Measurements in a Low-Power Cusped-Field Plasma Thruster

Cited by 24 publications

References 38 publications

Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

Particle-in-cell simulation for different magnetic mirror effects on the plasma distribution in a cusped field thruster

Fluid Simulation of a Cusped Field Thruster

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