Abstract
A miniature electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source is operated as a neutralizer, and the effect of orifice diameter on the output is studied. The output is quite promising for accompanying 1-mN-class ion thrusters with an output ion-beam current of 12–15mA. The optimum orifice diameter is independent of neutral mass flow rate, implying that factors other than electron-neutral collisions are dominant. The variation in orifice diameter is expected to alter the microwave field boundary conditions inside discharge chamber (DC), and also influence the dc-electric field existing between the orifice and collector. The convolution of these two factors would be primarily responsible for the optimum orifice diameter.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 259-262 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Aerospace Engineering
- Space and Planetary Science