Ion velocites of the micro-cathode arc thruster were studied using a time-of-flight (TOF) method using an enhanced ion detection system (EIDS). The EIDS utilizes double electrostatic probes to measure plasma propagation in front of the plasma source by measuring current perturbations and spiking when denser plasma bunches propogate. A new concept design, named the Bi-Modal micro-cathode arc thruster (BM-μCAT), has been introduced utilizing the same mechanism of the μCAT system but using two different electrode materials. Using the different geometry, titanium ion velocites were measured to be around 1.5 × 10~4 m/s without a magnetic field and up to 2.7 × 10~4 m/s for a magnetic field of 330 mT at a distance of 100mm from the source while nickel ion velocities were measured to be 2.2 × 10~4 m/s. It was previously proposed that the plasma is accelerated due to the Lorentz force from the acting magnetic field.
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机译：使用增强型离子检测系统（EIDS）的飞行时间（TOF）方法研究了微阴极电弧推进器的离子速度。 EIDS利用双静电探针通过测量电流扰动和密集的等离子体束传播时的尖峰来测量等离子体在等离子体源前面的传播。采用了与μCAT系统相同的机制，但使用了两种不同的电极材料，引入了一种新的概念设计，称为双模微阴极电弧推进器（BM-μCAT）。使用不同的几何形状，测得的钛离子速度约为1.5×10〜4 m / s（无磁场），对于330 mT的磁场，在距金属表面100mm处的速度高达2.7×10〜4 m / s。镍离子速度测得为2.2×10〜4 m / s。先前提出，由于来自作用磁场的洛伦兹力而使等离子体加速。
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