Title :
Development of small scale microwave discharge ion thruster with variable magnetic field
Author :
Takao, Y. ; Iwata, I. ; Chou, Nan-Hung
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Digital Eng., Nishinippon Inst. of Technol., Kanda, Japan
Abstract :
A microwave discharge ion thruster of 5cm size was fabricated and its next concept improved in plasma ignition and sustention was reported. As we have already developed 10cm and 2cm size microwave discharge type ion thrusters, the development of 5cm one on the basis of the previous ones is carried out. It is sometimes difficult to generate plasma in it. Several magnetic configurations in the discharge chamber were calculated for the development of 5cm thruster with variable magnetic field.
Keywords :
high-frequency discharges; ignition; ion engines; plasma sources; discharge chamber; magnetic configuration; microwave discharge ion thruster; plasma generation; plasma ignition; size 10 cm; size 2 cm; size 5 cm; sustention; variable magnetic field; Discharges (electric); Electromagnetic heating; Magnetic fields; Magnetic flux; Microwave antennas; Microwave theory and techniques; Plasmas; Electric propulsion; Ion source; Ion thruster; Microwave discharge; Variable magnetic field;
Conference_Titel :
Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA), 2012 International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Nagasaki
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4673-2328-4
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4673-2329-1
DOI :
10.1109/ICRERA.2012.6477330
