Fundamental Research on Erosion in Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters

Abstract

Significant developments have been made toward a comprehensive theory of Onset and erosion in steady-state self-field MPD thrusters. The Back-EMF onset theory predicts that the middle region of the cathode (i.e. away from the inlet and exit) and the near inlet and exit regions of the anode are susceptible to severe erosion. This erosion occurs due to excessive electron bombardment at a critical value of the local sheath voltage drop (or current density). Furthermore, this theory predicts that the regions of potential and magnetic field oscillations observed at Onset occur predominantly in the high current density regions of the cathode (i.e. near the inlet and exit regions) and in the low current density regions at the anode. Past experimental observations at Princeton, and recent observations from Stuttgart support the predictions of this theory. The research described here provides a summary of the accomplishments and progress made during the final year under grant AFOSR-87- 0360.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA241809

Entities

People

  • V. V. Subramaniam

Organizations

  • Ohio State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Charged Particles
  • Current Density
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Engineering
  • Heat Transfer
  • Heat Transfer Coefficients
  • Ion Bombardment
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Oscillation
  • Steady State
  • Surface Temperature
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster