Thomson-Scattering Diagnostics of Plasmas Produced in Miniature Microwave Discharge Ion Engine

摘要

THE adoption of small satellites, with their flexibility, shortndevelopment time, and low cost, has been a breakthrough innspace applications [1,2]. Until recently, however, size restrictionsnhave limited the capacity of the available propulsion systems. Hence,nthe demand for millinewton-class miniature propulsion systems isnexpected to grow in the future with miniature microwave dischargenion engines as ideal candidates for use on these satellites [3–5].nConventional ion engines produce high thrust efficiency (60–70%)nwith specific impulses above 3000 s [6–8].