EVALUATION OF A HOLLOW, CYLINDRICAL, CONTACT-ION SOURCE
Abstract
An aluminum oxide tube, coated on the inside by a thin film of platinum, was maintained between 1590 and 1725 K for contact ionization of cesium. Cesium vapor was injected at one end of the tube, and the effect on the maximum ion current of a potential gradient applied across the ends of the film was measured. The current densities obtained were less than 1 ampere per square meter, which would make this device inapplicable for space propulsion. Heat loss from the cylinder was very great, more than 10 to the sixth power electron volts per ion, which produced efficiencies of less than 1 percent. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0270926
Entities
People
- J. Thomas Kotnik
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration