Laser-Induced Fluorescence Velocity Measurements of a Diverging Cusped Field Thruster
Abstract
Measurements are presented of the most probable time-averaged ion velocities within the acceleration channel and in the plume of a diverging cusped field thruster operating on xenon. Xenon ion velocities for the thruster are derived from laser-induced fluorescence measurements of the 5d[4]7/2- 6p[3]5/2 xenon ion excited state transition centered at = 834.72 nm. The thruster is operated in both a high current mode, where the anode discharge current is shown to oscillate periodically, and a low current mode where operation is relatively quiescent. In the low current mode, ion emission is predominantly in the form of a conical jet, whereas in the high current mode, the emission is still divergent but more diffuse througout the cone angle. The diffuse plume may be related to the oscillatory nature of the high current mode, where the regions of ionization and ion acceleration may oscillate between the second and third outer cusps in the channel.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 15, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA533434
Entities
People
- Manuel Martinez-sanchez
- Mark Cappelli
- Natalia A. Macdonald
- Stephen R. Gildea
- William A. Hargus , Jr.
Organizations
- Stanford University