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Hollow cathode thrust measurement using a target: system calibration and development

Hollow cathode thrust measurement using a target: system calibration and development
Hollow cathode thrust measurement using a target: system calibration and development
The presence of high-energy ions, observed in hollow-cathode plumes, suggests that these devices might be converted into simple micro-ion thrusters. In order to investigate the ion emission, a target system for the measurement of thrust and ion current has been developed by the Astronautics Research Group at the University of Southampton. The cantilever beam target deflection is measured with a laser opticallever, also developed for this purpose. A direct calibration of the target has been performed, confirming that the predictions of the theory of slender beams are verified. This has been accomplished by applying known forces, in the form of weights, to target beams with the same shape but different thickness. An initial version of the measurement system has been set up and two different versions of the T6 ion thruster hollow-cathode are ready to be investigated in a vacuum rig.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Gessini, Paolo
85d676ff-05b5-4b3d-97d5-a2a5af976af1
Gabriel, Stephen B.
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Fearn, DavidG.
047227b9-36f6-45dc-bd9d-872b8f45f989
Gessini, Paolo
85d676ff-05b5-4b3d-97d5-a2a5af976af1
Gabriel, Stephen B.
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Fearn, DavidG.
047227b9-36f6-45dc-bd9d-872b8f45f989

Gessini, Paolo, Gabriel, Stephen B. and Fearn, DavidG. (2002) Hollow cathode thrust measurement using a target: system calibration and development. In, 38th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibition. 38th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibition (06/07/02 - 09/07/02) Reston, USA. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

The presence of high-energy ions, observed in hollow-cathode plumes, suggests that these devices might be converted into simple micro-ion thrusters. In order to investigate the ion emission, a target system for the measurement of thrust and ion current has been developed by the Astronautics Research Group at the University of Southampton. The cantilever beam target deflection is measured with a laser opticallever, also developed for this purpose. A direct calibration of the target has been performed, confirming that the predictions of the theory of slender beams are verified. This has been accomplished by applying known forces, in the form of weights, to target beams with the same shape but different thickness. An initial version of the measurement system has been set up and two different versions of the T6 ion thruster hollow-cathode are ready to be investigated in a vacuum rig.

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More information

Published date: 2002
Additional Information: AIAA 2002-4104
Venue - Dates: 38th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibition, Indianapolis, USA, 2002-07-06 - 2002-07-09

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 22307
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/22307
PURE UUID: 05b8e303-e6be-44c0-bcd1-cf4335ee3b2c

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Mar 2007
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 14:37

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Contributors

Author: Paolo Gessini
Author: Stephen B. Gabriel
Author: DavidG. Fearn

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