Abstract
Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is used to measure the volumetric and total sputtering yield of Boron Nitride (BN) and Boron Nitride Silicon Dioxide (BNSiO2) bombarded by Xenon ions in the energy range of 100 eV to 550 eV. Sputtering yield shape profiles are reported at various angles of incidence 0-85° with surface normal and compared with modified Zhang model. The yield shape profile is found to be symmetric at normal incidence and asymmetric at oblique incidence. Both the materials show a sudden jump in the sputtering yield above 500 eV and at an angle of incidence in the range of 45-65°. Erosion of BN at as low as 74 eV ion energy is predicted using generalized Bohdansky model. BNSiO2 show a marginally higher sputtering yield compare to BN.
Highlights
Plasma based electric propulsion systems are under investigation as a technology to produce thrust at very high efficiency for the satellite applications
Angles of beam incidence are 0◦, 10◦, 50◦, and 70◦ for the each ion beam energy mentioned above. It can be seen in Fig. 4; at normal incidence volumetric sputtering yield profile is symmetric, while at oblique incidence (10◦, 50◦, and 70◦) it becomes asymmetric in nature
Volumetric sputtering yield is found to be maximum for all energies at beam incident angle of around 55◦
Summary
Plasma based electric propulsion systems are under investigation as a technology to produce thrust at very high efficiency for the satellite applications. The eroded material may eventually deposit on the crucial parts of the satellite and degrade their efficiency, most prone in this case are solar cells. If the thruster plume is not correctly focused, it can lead to spacecraft charging and arc formation on the solar panel surfaces, which is not good for the overall satellite life time.[1,2,3,4] Once the ceramic wall is completely eroded, the pole piece erosion will begin and there is possibility of modifying the magnetic field profile, which in turn will affect the performance of the thruster. Ceramic wall erosion investigation and choice of material is very important for the design of a plasma thruster
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