ON GUNS FOR SPACE PROPULSION
Abstract
AeroChe Research Labs., Inc., Princeton, N. J. THE USE OF A LOW TEMPERATURE, NONEQUILIBRIUM PLASMA JET AS A PLASMA SOURCE FOR ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS. A FEASIBILITY STUDY, by J. B. Wilkinson. Mar 61, 13p. illus. 19 refs. ( c nic l publica ion no. 34) (Contract Nonr-277300) U cl ifi d report DESCRIPTORS: (*Electric propulsion, *Ion rockets Pla a physics, Magneto ydrody amics, Low temperature research, Plasma jets, Elec trical discharges, Ion sources, Gas ioniza tion, Supersonic flow, Hypersonic flow, Elec trical properties, Dissociation, Recombina tion reactions, Ion accelerators, Theory, Feasibility studies.) Wi d tunnels.A low te perature nonequilibrium plasma jet facility was studied as a plas a source for p ce propulsion systems and found to be a much more efficient means of utilizing electrical energy to produce a plasma than the conventional plasma arc jet. Ion loss mechanisms in he jet ream are discussed. Preliminary ion decay measurem nts lead to he conclusion that the faster ion-loss mechanism (dissociative recombination) is no opera ive and h t the dominant loss mechanism is by diffusion and th s will become less significant as the jet diameter is increased. Attempts to set up a BxJ accelerator channel around the plasma jet have been made, but the results obtained were inconclusive. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0267134
Entities
People
- John B. Fenn