Understanding hollow cathode thrust production mechanisms
Grubisic, A.N. and Gabriel, S.B. (2009) Understanding hollow cathode thrust production mechanisms. In, 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference, Ann Arbor, USA, 20 - 24 Sep 2009. USA, Electric Rocket Propulsion Society27pp.
Download
Full text not available from this repository.
Description/Abstract
This paper reviews some of the design considerations for improving hollow cathode thrust efficiency and investigates propellant acceleration mechanisms based on experimental testing of a T5, T6 and ¼ inch cathode. A pendulum micro-thrust-balance was built for the measurement of thrust levels in the T5, T6 cathodes while a hemispherical energy analyzer was used for ion energy measurements in the ¼ inch hollow cathode. The data suggest that the thrust mechanism of hollow cathodes is composed primarily of gas dynamic mechanisms, particularly as a result of an intense electron pressure at the cathode exit. At high currents and low flowrates magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) forces arising from the self-induced azimuthal magnetic field within the orifice become significant in the acceleration process
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Related URLs: | |
| Keywords: | hollow cathode, plasma, propulsion |
| Subjects: | U Military Science > U Military Science (General) T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics Q Science > QC Physics |
| Divisions: | University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Engineering Sciences > Astronautics |
| Item ID: | 72469 |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Feb 2010 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Aug 2012 08:29 |
| Contributors: | Grubisic, A.N. (Author) Gabriel, S.B. (Author) |
| Date: | 24 September 2009 |
| Status: | Published |
| Publisher: | Electric Rocket Propulsion Society |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72469 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
