Interferometric Density Measurements in the Arc of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster

Abstract

Spatial and temporal measurements of the electron density were made using a He-Ne laser. The multiple pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer detects densities above ten to the fifteenth power particles/cubic centimerers. Using these data and free streaming solutions to the Boltzmann equation, which model the expansion of the exhaust, we determine the ion temperature and total charge in the exhaust. The percentage ionization can than be found, and estimates made of the gas dynamic portion of the thrust.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 17, 1972
Accession Number
AD0744384

Entities

People

  • David Tong
  • Keith I. Thomassen

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boltzmann Equation
  • Dielectric Permittivity
  • Distribution Functions
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Interferometers
  • Mach Zehnder Interferometers
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Forces
  • Measurement
  • New York
  • Phase Shift
  • Pulsed Plasma Thrusters
  • Thrust
  • Vacuum Chambers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster