Ion Velocity and Plasma Potential Measurements of a Cylindrical Cusped Field Thruster

摘要

Measurements of the most probable time-averaged axial ion velocities and plasma potential within the acceleration channel and in the plume of a straight channeled cylindrical cusped field thruster operating on xenon are presented. Ion velocities for the thruster are derived from laser-induced fluorescence measurements of the (5d 4)(7/2)-6p (3)(5/2) xenon ion excited state transition centered at (underline) = 834.72 nm. Plasma potential measurements are made using a floating emissive probe with a thoriated-tungsten filament. The thruster is operated in a power matched condition with 300 V applied anode potential for comparison to previous krypton plasma potential measurements, and a low power condition with 150 V applied anode potential. Correlations are seen between the plasma potential drop outside of the thruster and kinetic energy contours of ions with increasing velocity.