Experimental Investigation of Carbon Contamination Inside Discharge Chamber of Ion Thruster

摘要

Contamination taking place in a discharge chamber of an ion thruster was investigated using carbon-carbon composite grids. The contamination was caused by the grid materials that were damaged and eroded by the ion sputtering. The contaminant has the possibility to cause a short circuit between the electrodes, resulting in a total loss of the ion thruster. We have investigated the property of the carbon contamination with respect to its size and shape experimentally. For prevention of such an accident, the statistical features of the carbon contamination were evaluated and a method to eliminate the contaminant was demonstrated.