Synchronized Measurement of Plasma Characteristics In a Hall Effect Thruster

Authors

David A. Cunningham, Air Force Institute of Technology
David Liu, Air Force Institute of Technology
Carl R. Hartsfield, Air Force Institute of TechnologyFollow
Casey Farnell, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
John D. Williams, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
William A. Hargus Jr., Air Force Research Laboratory

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-4-2016

Abstract

Hall effect thrusters are a key propulsion technology for many satellite missions in low Earth orbit and beyond. A method of synchronized data collection was developed by combining high speed imaging data, emissive probe measurements of plasma potential, and magnetic measurement of the Hall current with effective temporal resolution of ± 0.75 µs. This new method allows the comparison of features in the visible plasma emission with variations in the plasma potential and Hall current. Observation of plasma characteristics during the breathing mode and passage of azimuthal oscillations in the thruster was demonstrated.

Comments

This conference paper is published by AIAA and is available by subscription or purchase at the DOI link below.

Author note: David Cunningham was an AFIT graduate student (M.S.) at the time of this article. (AFIT-ENY-MS-16-M-203, March 2016.)

DOI

10.2514/6.2016-1943

Source Publication

54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting

Recommended Citation

Cunningham, D. A., Liu, D., Hartsfield, C. R., Mullins, C. R., Farnell, C., Williams, J. D., & Hargus, W. A. (2016). Synchronized Measurement of Plasma Characteristics In a Hall Effect Thruster. 54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2016-1943. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2016-1943