ELECTRODELESS PLASMA THRUSTER

摘要

A plasma propulsion system with no internal electrodes is described. Gas is flowed into an insulated axisymmetric plasma liner. A radio frequency antenna generates an inductive or helicon plasma discharge within the liner. The plasma is accelerated through a converging/diverging magnetic field out of the liner, generating thrust.

主权项

1. A plasma thruster for providing a motive force, said plasma thruster comprising:
a propellant tank containing a propellant; a plasma discharge system being operably coupled to said propellant tank for receiving said propellant and outputting an accelerated plasma; a magnet system outputting magnetic field lines along at least a portion of said plasma discharge system, said magnet system operable to define a converging section, a throat section downstream of said converging section having a flow boundary smaller than a flow boundary of said converging section, and a diverging section downstream of said throat section having a flow boundary larger than said flow boundary of said throat section, said converging section, throat section, and diverging section collectively receiving and accelerating said propellant through said plasma discharge system; and a radio frequency (RF) source outputting an RF field along at least a portion of said plasma discharge system, said RF field ionizing said propellant to a plasma.