Ion Beam Characterisation of the RIT 10 Ion Thruster

Author(s):  
Michael Zeuner ◽  
Frank Scholze ◽  
Michael Tartz ◽  
Horst Neumann ◽  
Hans Leiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Beam ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dobkevicius ◽  
D. Feili ◽  
M. Smirnova ◽  
A. M. Perez

2018 ◽  
Vol 122 (1255) ◽  
pp. 1425-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lu ◽  
P. Qiu ◽  
Y. Cao ◽  
T.P. Zhang ◽  
J.J. Chen

ABSTRACTCharge Exchange (CEX) ion is the main factor causing the plume pollution. The distribution of CEX ions is determined by the distribution of beam ions and neutral atoms. Hence, the primary problem in the study of the plume is how to accurately simulate the distribution of beam ions and neutral atoms. At present, the most commonly used model utilised for the plume simulation is the analytical model proposed by Roy for the plume simulation of the NASA Solar Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) ion thruster. However, this analytical model can only be applied to the ion beam with small divergence angles. In addition, the analytical model is no longer applicable to the simulation for the plume of a new type of ion thruster that appeared recently, which is called the annular ion thruster. In this paper, a 3D particle model is proposed for the plume simulation of ion thrusters consisting of the particle model for beam ions, the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model for neutral atoms and the Immersed Finite Element-Particle In Cell-Monte Carlo Collision (IFE-PIC-MCC) model for CEX ions. Then, the plume of the NSTAR ion thruster is simulated by both Roy's model and the 3D particle model. The simulation results of both models are then compared with the experimental results. It is shown that the numerical results of the 3D particle model agree well with those of the analytical model and the experimental data. And this 3D particle model can also be used for other electric thrusters.


1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Hayakawa ◽  
K. Miyazaki ◽  
S. Kitamura

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 10901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Dietz ◽  
Felix Becker ◽  
Konstantin Keil ◽  
Kristof Holste ◽  
Peter J. Klar

Neutralization of the extracted ion beam is a mandatory task for any ion thruster based space mission. The required lifetimes are in the order of ten thousand hours. This requirement is fulfilled by hollow cathodes operating with xenon, but has not been demonstrated for operation with iodine yet. Furthermore, the power consumption as well as the demand on mass flow should be kept as low as possible. Since the halogen iodine seems to be a viable alternative to xenon for operating ion thrusters, a suitable neutralizer concept that can operate with the corrosive gas for the time periods stated above is required. We propose to use a neutralizer based on an inductively coupled rf discharge as alternative to hollow cathodes. We studied the performance of a prototypical neutralizer operating with iodine as well as the inert gases xenon and krypton and compared the experimental studies with the results of global modeling.


1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. KOMATSU ◽  
J. SELLEN, JR. ◽  
S. ZAFRAN
Keyword(s):  
Ion Beam ◽  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Huong T. T. Nguyen ◽  
Hoai-Duc Vu ◽  
Jichul Shin

Phenomenological behavior of ion beam acceleration through the grid system in 50 W class RF ion thruster has been investigated using PIC simulation and evaluated by experimental test using Faraday probe. Beam trajectory for various grid voltages reveals that the metal engine cover of the ion thruster which is needed to seal RF coil around the discharge chamber affects the beam divergence angle. Simulation result shows that the divergence angle increases by 10.52% mainly because of the larger radial electric field in the presence of the metal engine cover. The divergence angle increases as the accelerator grid voltage increases. The current density distribution measured by the Faraday probe shows a bigger divergence angle with the engine cover installed. For the test cases with mass flow rates from 3 sccm to 4 sccm at the RF power of about 50 W, the current density distribution exhibits the 2nd peak at the radial position about 4 cm from the centerline.


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