Plume Characteristics of an Electrothermal Plasma Microthruster

Author

Greig, A. ; Charles, Christine ; Boswell, Rod

Author_Institution

Res. Sch. of Phys. & Eng., Australian Nat. Univ., Canberra, ACT, Australia

Volume

42

Issue

10

fYear

2014

fDate

Oct. 2014

Firstpage

2728

Lastpage

2729

Abstract

High-resolution digital images of the expansion plume from an electrothermal capacitively coupled radio frequency (13.56 MHz) plasma microthruster were captured for argon and nitrogen discharges in lowand high-pressure operating regimes. The sheath near the thruster exit is clearly visible in all images, and the observed expansion plume features are consistent with previous experiments on electron density profiles within the discharge.

Keywords

argon; discharges (electric); nitrogen; plasma density; plasma devices; plasma diagnostics; plasma sheaths; argon discharges; electron density profiles; electrothermal capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma microthruster; electrothermal plasma microthruster; frequency 13.56 MHz; high-pressure operating regimes; high-resolution digital images; low-pressure operating regimes; nitrogen discharges; plasma sheath; plume characteristics; Argon; Digital images; Discharges (electric); Electron tubes; Nitrogen; Plasmas; Propulsion; Plasma applications; plasma devices; plasma devices.;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2014.2321176

Filename

6815965