Plasma Properties Downstream of a Low-Power Hall Thruster (POSTPRINT)

Abstract

Triple Langmuir probes and emissive probes were used to measure the electron number density, electron temperature, and plasma potential downstream of a low-power Hall thruster. The results show a polytropic relation between electron temperature and electron number density throughout the sampled region. Over a large frat ion of the plume, the plasma potential obeys the predictions of ambipolar expansion. Near the thruster centerline, however, observations show larger gradients of plasma potential than can be accounted for by this means. Radial profiles of plasma potential in the very-near-field plume are shown to contain large gradients that correspond in location to the boundaries of a visually intense plasma region. [Copyright 2005 American Institute of Physics.]

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 11, 2005
Accession Number
ADA441485

Entities

People

  • A. Gallimore
  • B. Beal
  • W. Hargus

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Boundaries
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electrons
  • Electrostatic Probes
  • Engineering
  • Far Field
  • Fluids
  • Hall Effect
  • Hall Thrusters
  • Langmuir Probes
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Near Field
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster