THE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF PERFORATED ION EMITTERS.
Abstract
The feasibility of utilizing emitters of perfor ated solid sheet rather than a sintered powder structure was investigated with the objective of increasing the reliability and durability of ion engines. Various techniques for drilling micron-size holes in refractory metals were explored. Two of these processes, electron beam drilling and chemical photo-etching, were used to provide test emitters with hole sizes in the 10-micron range. An electron beam drilled emitter was Cs flow tested for 83 hours and exhibited, within experimental limits, no dis cernible change in hole size or flow conductance. In separate tests correlation was made of theoretical and measured flow rates of N and Cs through the emitters. It was determined that the measured Cs flow rate exceeded the theore tically calculable value based on available sur face diffusion formulae. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0418226
Entities
People
- E.n. Petrick
- J.j. Krauss