Floating Potentials and the Hot Plasma Generated by an Electron-Beam-Emitting Rocket in the Ionosphere,

Abstract

This paper summarizes some recent experimental results concerning the potentials of a large vehicle emitting a powerful electron beam in the ionosphere. Many such experiments have been conducted in the last decade (see Winckler 1) and these experiments indicate that if a constant electron beam is emitted in the ionosphere from a large rocket or other space vehicle, a return current may be drawn from the ionospheric plasma that will stabilize the potential of the vehicle in the range of a few tens of volts to perhaps several hundred volts.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 25, 1983
Accession Number
ADP002107

Entities

People

  • J. R. Winckler

Organizations

  • University of Minnesota

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Buildings And Structures
  • Electron Beams
  • Electrons
  • Geophysics
  • Ionosphere
  • Large Space Structures
  • Orbits
  • Polar Orbits
  • Research Facilities
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster