Accession Number:

AD1026589

Title:

Microwave Plasma Propulsion Systems for Defensive Counter-Space

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,01 Sep 2007,31 May 2008

Corporate Author:

Starfire Industries LLC Champaign United States

Personal Author(s):

• Jurczyk, Brian E.

Report Date:

2007-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

72.0

Abstract:

The key result from this project period was measurement of plasma acceleration in both over-dense and under-dense modes with the former generating high ion currents in the 12-60 eVbeam energy range and the latter generating plasma in the 50-500 eV range. As hypothesized in the Phase I proposal, resonantly exciting electrons near the peak of the magnetic nozzle expansion region leads to large am bipolar field generation and quasi-static ion acceleration.Variation in propellant mass flow and magnetic field produce observable changes in downstreamion energy. Interpretation of published literature on ECR-plasma Monte Carlo simulations suggests that high jet power efficiency exceeding 65, rivaling modem Hall-Effect Thrusters

Descriptors:

• MONTE CARLO METHOD
• hall thrusters
• propulsion systems
• plasma accelerators

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE