Direct thrust measurement of a permanent magnet helicon double layer thruster

K. Takahashi, T. Lafleur, C. Charles, P. Alexander, R. W. Boswell, M. Perren, R. Laine, S. Pottinger, V. Lappas, T. Harle, D. Lamprou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Direct thrust measurements of a permanent magnet helicon double layer thruster have been made using a pendulum thrust balance and a high sensitivity laser displacement sensor. At the low pressures used (0.08 Pa) an ion beam is detected downstream of the thruster exit, and a maximum thrust force of about 3 mN is measured for argon with an rf input power of about 700 W. The measured thrust is proportional to the upstream plasma density and is in good agreement with the theoretical thrust based on the maximum upstream electron pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number141503
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume98
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Apr 4
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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