INSTABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MAGNETO-PLASMA-DYNAMIC THRUSTERS (MPDT)

摘要

A magneto-plasma-dynamic thruster (MPDT) modified by adding a non-conductive wall (15) dividing longitudinally the plasma volume generated by the thruster itself in order to avoid the onset of a critical regime characterized by an instability known as 'kink mode', the main effect of which is the creation of helicoidal currents inside the plasma, leading to a consistent power dissipation.