Abstract
The high efficiency multi-staged plasma (HEMP) thruster, also known as the cusped field thruster, becomes a candidate microthruster of new generation space observation missions for its low complexity and potential long life over a wide range of thrust. Since there is a lack of relevant research of the wall material effects on the HEMP thruster, a low-power HEMP thruster with three different dielectric wall materials is tested to discover the effects on performance and discharge characteristics. A Faraday probe, a retarding potential analyzer, and a Langmuir probe are employed to diagnose the plume, and the plasma behavior differences in ionization and acceleration processes are indicated. The result shows that the secondary electron emission coefficient of the wall material has definite effects under a low mass flow rate, which is similar to the effects on the Hall thrusters, but no distinct difference is found in high flow rate conditions.
Highlights
The demand of microelectric thrusters goes a step further due to the development of microsatellites, as well as new generation space observation missions
The high efficiency multi-staged plasma (HEMP) thruster, named “High Efficiency Multi-staged Plasma Thruster (HEMPT)”, was first put forward by Thales, and a series of prototypes were developed for practical applications
The earliest research on downscaling was carried out by Keller et al in 2010.7 At the same time, the cusped field thruster was studied by MIT8 and Stanford,9 and it was considered to reduce the plasma– wall interaction, which is an inevitable problem in downscaling of the Hall thrusters due to the increase in the surface to volume ratio
Summary
The demand of microelectric thrusters goes a step further due to the development of microsatellites, as well as new generation space observation missions. Microelectric thruster research studies are carried out in several countries, such as microradio frequency ion thruster, FEEP (field emmision electric propulsion) thruster, electrospray thruster, and high efficiency multi-staged plasma (HEMP) thruster.. The HEMP thruster, named “High Efficiency Multi-staged Plasma Thruster (HEMPT)”, was first put forward by Thales, and a series of prototypes were developed for practical applications.. The earliest research on downscaling was carried out by Keller et al in 2010.7 At the same time, the cusped field thruster was studied by MIT8 and Stanford, and it was considered to reduce the plasma– wall interaction, which is an inevitable problem in downscaling of the Hall thrusters due to the increase in the surface to volume ratio. With advantages of low complexity, strong robustness, and potential long lifetime, the HEMP thruster becomes a candidate thruster of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna mission.
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