Instabilitaeten in MPD-Triebwerken Endbericht

Abstract

This final report of the research project carried out under the promotional identification number 50TA90095 covers the three-year theoretical and experimental work carried out at the Institute for Space Systems (IRS) of Stuttgart University. The theoretical investigations comprised both the formulation and solution of the linear dispersion equation for identification of instabilities in the flow of MPD self-consistent field accelerators and the development of appropriate high-resolution methods for multi-component plasma flow simulation. Two major instabilities were found: a modified space charge instability, which may lead to current interruptions, and a macroscopic electrostatic wave instability, which may cause energy deprivation of the electrons. In accompanying experiments a series of diagnostics was tested and used for measurements in the region of the instabilities. This was carried out both for nozzle-shaped and for purely cylindrical MPD engine types. Diagnostics mainly involved the use of current and voltage measurements, probe measurements (various types of electrostatic triple probes) and Fabry-Perot interferometry. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RR 1814(1993,6)+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman