Investigation of physical processes in CAMILA Hall thruster using electrical probes

Abstract

The CAMILA (co-axial magneto-isolated longitudinal anode) concept was developed to improve the anode efficiency in low-power Hall thrusters. Previous measurements, performed in Asher Space Research Institute, have shown that the thruster has the highest efficiency for its class. This paper presents an analysis of the discharge structure in an effort to improve understanding of the physical processes in CAMILA type thrusters. Internal measurements of the discharge parameters were performed using an emissive probe, a biased probe and a Faraday cup. The probes were mounted on a positioning system capable of mapping the channel in two dimensions. Maps for the plasma potential, the ion current density and the electron temperature were obtained. In addition, a one-dimensional fluid model was developed in order to compute the distribution of the plasma density and the ion velocity. The experimental investigations confirmed the basic assumptions used in the physical model of the CAMILA concept and revealed phenomena related to the radial non-uniformity of the discharge. In particular, focusing equipotentials were discovered in the area of intense ionization, reducing ion loss to the walls of the channel. This mechanism is principal in obtaining the high efficiency of the thruster. When operated with strengthened longitudinal magnetic field, the plasma density inside the anode cavity was significantly higher in the middle than near the anodes. The fraction of ion current generated inside the anode cavity was greater than in the simplified case, 19% compared with 13% respectively. In addition, it was shown that electrons in the cusp region, the region between predominately radial to predominately axial magnetic fields, were not well confined, however, no potential hump is created and ions are able to cross this region to the acceleration channel.