Abstract
Detailed performance characteristics are presented for a porous tungsten ion source with an electrostatic Pierce accelerator system. This system is similar in principle to proposed space propulsion systems. Cesium ion production was accurately predicted from free molecular flow calibrations of the porous tungsten ionizer. Measured critical emitter temperatures exhibited a hysteresis that was explained by Taylor and Langmuir's data for cesium contact ionization on solid tungsten. Hot-wire calorimeter surveys of the beam were used to evaluate the performance of a cylindrical Pierce accelerator system employing a virtual or plasma-potential decelerator.'' The loss of performance due to the exit electrode aperture was compared with theory for accelerator aspect ratios ranging from 0.6 to 1.3. The total beam power available from a given geometry (Child' s law) was greatiy increased by a countercurrent electron flow, which issued from a local electron emitter placed within the accelerator. This countercurrent electron configuration may offer a means of obtaining large improvements in engine efficiency. (auth)
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