Internal plasma potential measurements of a Hall thruster using plasma lens focusing

Magnetic field topology has been found to be a central design concern for high-efficiency Hall thrusters. For future improvements in Hall thruster design, it is necessary to better understand the effects that magnetic field topology has on the internal plasma structure. The Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory’s High-speed Axial Reciprocating Probe system is used in conjunction with a floating emissive probe to map the internal plasma potential structure of the NASA-173Mv1 Hall thruster [R. R. Hofer, R. S. Jankovsky, and A. D. Gallimore, J. Propul. Power 22, 721 (2006); 22, 732 (2006)]. Measurements are taken at 300 and 500 V500V with a xenon propellant. Electron temperature and electric field are also measured and reported. The acceleration zone and equipotential lines are found to be strongly linked to the magnetic field lines. Moreover, in some cases the ions are accelerated strongly toward the center of the discharge channel. The agreement between magnetic field lines and equipotential lines is best for high-voltage operation. These results have strong implications on the performance and lifetime optimization of Hall thrusters.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87754/2/103504_1.pd

Efficiency Analysis of a Hall Thruster Operating with Krypton and Xenon

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76277/1/AIAA-2005-3683-775.pd

Internal plasma potential measurements of a Hall thruster using xenon and krypton propellant

For krypton to become a realistic option for Hall thruster operation, it is necessary to understand the performance gap between xenon and krypton and what can be done to reduce it. A floating emissive probe is used with the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory’s High-speed Axial Reciprocating Probe system to map the internal plasma potential structure of the NASA-173Mv1 Hall thruster [R. R. Hofer, R. S. Jankovsky, and A. D. Gallimore, J. Propulsion Power 22, 721 (2006); and ibid.22, 732 (2006)] using xenon and krypton propellant. Measurements are taken for both propellants at discharge voltages of 500 and 600 V600V. Electron temperatures and electric fields are also reported. The acceleration zone and equipotential lines are found to be strongly linked to the magnetic-field lines. The electrostatic plasma lens of the NASA-173Mv1 Hall thruster strongly focuses the xenon ions toward the center of the discharge channel, whereas the krypton ions are defocused. Krypton is also found to have a longer acceleration zone than the xenon cases. These results explain the large beam divergence observed with krypton operation. Krypton and xenon have similar maximum electron temperatures and similar lengths of the high electron temperature zone, although the high electron temperature zone is located farther downstream in the krypton case.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87759/2/093502_1.pd

Internal Langmuir Probe Mapping of a Hall Thruster with Xenon and Krypton Propellant

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77012/1/AIAA-2006-4470-572.pd

Internal Plasma Structure Measurements of a Hall Thruster Using Plasma Lens Focusing

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76358/1/AIAA-2005-4402-911.pd

Krypton Performance Optimization in High-Voltage Hall Thrusters

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76962/1/AIAA-18531-999.pd

Statistical Analysis of the Acceleration Zone Location in Hall Thrusters

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76137/1/AIAA-2008-4721-848.pd

Diode Laser-Induced Fluorescence of Xenon Ion Velocity Distributions

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77011/1/AIAA-2005-4406-547.pd

Hydrodynamic Modeling of Krypton and Xenon Propellant Performance in a Hall Thruster

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76147/1/AIAA-2007-5210-907.pd

Efficiency Analysis of a Hall Thruster Operating with Krypton and Xenon

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76560/1/AIAA-19613-425.pd