Research of heaterless thermionic hollow cathode for micro electric propulsion systems

Summary form only given. Hollow cathode based on thermionic electron emission serves as crucial component in electric propulsion systems where this cathode used as source of electrons for propellant ionization and ion beam neutralization. In this research, a novel design of the hollow cathode without the heater was studied in the diode mode operation. The simplicity of the cathode design and its unique ignition characteristics (few ms) are attractive features for microsatellite propulsion applications. However, physical processes involved in the cathode ignition, heating and main discharge formation are still poorly understood.