Effects of Magnetic Nozzle Configurations on Plasma Thrusters. Semiannual Program Report,December 5, 1987-December 4, 1988.

摘要

Magnetoplasmadynamics (MPD) arc devices have been operated at power levels from 10 KW to 0.1 MW. When these devices have magnetic fields applied to them, they show marked increases in thrust in direct proportion to the magnitide of the applied field. Electrode erosion may be influenced by applied fields. This proposal will study the application of variable magnetic fields over a range of thruster powers, gas densities, and thruster configurations. It is proposed to examine this behavior with numerical codes and limited but relevant experimental tests.