Hollow Cathode for Electron Bombardment Mercury Ion Thruster Pulse Ignition Characteristics,

Abstract

A high voltage pulse ignitor with positive pulse output of 0.1kV-6kV has been developed. The pulse ignition voltage of the hollow cathode has been measured as a function of pulse width, pulse repeat frequencies and mercury blow rate, respectively. The comparison of the D.C. ignition voltage and pulse ignition voltage has been made under the same operation condition of the cathode. By lowering the cathode operation temperature, two group of photograph of pulse voltage and current waveform during the cathode fire extinction have been taken. Within the test range, the pulse ignition voltage decreases while the pulse width increases and the pulse ignition voltage decreases as a straight line function while the pulse repeat frequency increases. This paper discussed the advantages of the pulse ignition.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA173398

Entities

People

  • Hui-yen Hong
  • Ni Ren
  • Shi-linag Zhang
  • Yong-nian Hu
  • Yu-zhu Sun

Organizations

  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accumulators
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Circuits
  • Diagrams
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Foreign Technology
  • Frequency
  • High Voltage
  • Impedance
  • Ion Thrusters
  • Power Supplies
  • Pulse Transformers
  • Resistance
  • Test Equipment
  • Thrusters
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster