Title:
Design and construction of an annular helicon closed drift thruster
Design and construction of an annular helicon closed drift thruster
Author(s)
Walker, Mitchell L. R.
Kieckhafer, Alexander W.
Kieckhafer, Alexander W.
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Abstract
The Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech) has completed a three-phase process which developed an annular helicon plasma source and integrated it into a Hall Effect Thruster (HET). Phase 1 designed the annular helicon source and began plasma measurements using an RF-compensated Langmuir probe. Phase 2 extended the operating conditions of the annular helicon and used a highly-efficient commercial Langmuir probe unit for rapid data acquisition and development of design criteria for the Annular Helicon Closed Drift Thruster (AHCDT) device. Phase 3 took the results of Phase 2, developed the design for the AHCDT, and began performance testing. Initial tests of the AHCDT show that when operated at conditions similar to a HET, the thrust output of the AHCDT is within 10% of the original HET. Additionally, the AHCDT has shown the capability to operate at discharge voltages much lower than a HET, thus enabling future performance characterization and optimization at high thrust-to-power ratios.
Sponsor
United States. Air Force. Office of Scientific Research
Date Issued
2009-01
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Text
Resource Subtype
Technical Report