Fast camera imaging of hall thruster ignition

C. L. Ellison, Y. Raitses, N. J. Fisch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hall thrusters provide efficient space propulsion by electrostatic acceleration of ions. Rotating electron clouds in the thruster overcome the space charge limitations of other methods. Images of the thruster start-up, taken with a fast camera, reveal a bright ionization period which settles into steady-state operation over 50 μs. The cathode introduces azimuthal asymmetry, which persists for about 30 μs into the ignition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5741860
Pages (from-to)2950-2951
Number of pages2
JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume39
Issue number11 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Keywords

  • Plasma devices
  • plasma diagnostics

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