Title :
Plasma formation and microdischarges on piezoelectric transformers
Author :
Hutsel, B.T. ; Kovaleski, S.D. ; Almedia, R. ; Kwon, J.W.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Abstract :
Summary form only given. The ferroelectric plasma thruster utilizes plasma formation on the surface of an RF driven dielectric to produce ions. The ions are accelerated away from the device to produce thrust. Plasma formation relies on surface microdischarges due to large electric fields produced along the surface of the lithium niobate dielectric. In order to improve thruster performance the surface microdischarges are investigated to determine the requirements for reliable plasma formation. Surface discharges are compared when created with external power supplies and with high electric fields generated due to the piezoelectric transformer effect of the lithium niobate. Plasma characteristics are compared using optical spectroscopy and ion energy measurements.
Keywords :
high-frequency discharges; piezoelectric devices; plasma devices; plasma diagnostics; plasma production; surface discharges; RF driven dielectric surface; external power supply; ferroelectric plasma thruster; ion energy measurement; ion production; large electric field production; lithium niobate dielectric; optical spectroscopy; piezoelectric transformers; plasma characteristics; plasma formation; surface microdischarge; Dielectrics; Ferroelectric materials; Lithium niobate; Plasma accelerators; Plasma devices; Plasma measurements; Plasma properties; Radio frequency; Surface discharges; Transformers;
Conference_Titel :
Plasma Science, 2010 Abstracts IEEE International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Norfolk, VA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-5474-7
Electronic_ISBN :
0730-9244
DOI :
10.1109/PLASMA.2010.5534227
