Plasma Processes in Pulsed Plasma Microthrusters

Abstract

This final technical report summarizes research on low-power pulsed Teflon(Trademark) plasma propulsion for satellites. Section I discusses a compact thrust stand used to make thrust and impulse bit measurements. Section II describes experimental measurements on a gasdynamic-type PPT in which measurements of magnetic field, electron number density, electron temperature, ion speed ratio and gas velocity are carried out by magnetic and advanced Langmuir probes. This section also describes thrust and heat-loss measurements. Section III outlines research with an electromagnetic-type PPT, intended to achieve very high specific impulse and efficiency.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA371805

Entities

People

  • E. A. Antonsen
  • M. J. Wilson
  • Rodney L. Burton
  • S. S. Bushman

Organizations

  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Charge Carriers
  • Charged Particles
  • Efficiency
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Electrostatic Probes
  • Heat Loss
  • Heat Transmission
  • Lepidoptera
  • Mach Number
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Pulsed Plasma Thrusters
  • Specific Impulse
  • Thrust

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Business Analytics
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster