Advanced Diagnostics for Millimeter-Scale Micro Pulsed Plasma Thrusters

Abstract

A class of Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (MicroPPTs) is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to provide precise attitude control and stationkeeping ability to 25-kg class satellites. Operating by means of a surface discharge across a Teflon(TM) propellant fuel bar only a few millimeters in diameter, the MicroPPT delivers a thrust-to-power ratio of 5 - 10 microN-s/J. Due to the low pulse energy and size, the MicroPPT produces a spatially-confined and diffuse plasma plume that is difficult to analyze with material probes. Efforts to characterize MicroPPT plume are underway. To this end, a Herriott Cell interferometer is introduced to establish the plume electron and neutral densities. Comparison of the measured electron density with modeling predictions shows close agreement. Additionally, a Pockels cell has been developed to provide a zero-impedance MicroPPT breakdown voltage measurement. Current research focuses on an infrared-emission measurement capability to determine propellant surface temperature during thruster operation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 02, 2002
Accession Number
ADA410781

Entities

People

  • Erik L. Antonsen
  • Gregory G. Spanjers
  • Iain D. Boyd
  • Michael Keidar
  • Rodney L. Burton

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Electromagnetic Properties
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Impedance
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Near Field
  • Pockels Cells
  • Pulsed Plasma Thrusters
  • Spacecraft
  • Surface Temperature

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster