MEMS Gate Structures for Electric Propulsion Applications

Abstract

A MEMS gate prototype is under development to extract and accelerate charged particles for use with field emission cathodes and the nanoparticle field extraction thruster at the University of Michigan. Preliminary simulations suggest the desirability of a unity aspect ratio in the emission channel design to achieve electric field uniformity. Low emission threshold cubic boron nitride films have been grown, and gated testing with these films along with carbon nanotubes is in progress.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 12, 2006
Accession Number
AD1006150

Entities

People

  • Alec D. Gallimore
  • Brian E. Gilchrist
  • Codrin N. Cionca
  • David P. Morris
  • Roy Clarke
  • Thomas M. Liu

Organizations

  • University of Michigan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aspect Ratio
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Charged Particles
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Emission
  • Electronics Laboratories
  • Electrons
  • Fabrication
  • Field Emission
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Microscopy
  • Spacecraft

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Semiconductor Device Technology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster