Performance of a Linear Hall Discharge with an Open Electron Drift (Postprint)

摘要

This paper presents a recent characterization of the thrust efficiency and specific impulse of a low power, linear-geometry (non-coaxial) Hall thruster with an open electron-drift current. The thruster was constructed with a boron-nitride insulating channel surrounded by a magnetic circuit served by four electromagnet coils, and was designed to operate in the 100-Watt power class. A survey of the thruster operation demonstrated promising performance (T (question mark) 2.1 mN, &(question mark)61544; = 14.6%, Isp = 1070 sec) in the very low power range.