Hall effect thruster

摘要

A Hall effect thruster including a downstream end of its annular channel presenting a cross-section that is variable to vary a thrust and a specific impulse of the thruster.

主权项

1. A Hall effect thruster comprising:
an annular channel defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are coaxial about a central axis, the annular channel having a downstream end that is open and an upstream end that is closed, and the inner wall being movable in an axial direction and having a diameter that decreases in a downstream direction; an actuator for moving the inner wall in the axial direction; an electric circuit including an anode situated at the upstream end, a cathode at the downstream end, and an electric voltage source configured to supply a voltage between the anode and cathode; an injection circuit for injecting a mass flow of propulsion gas into the annular channel; a magnetic circuit for generating a magnetic field at the downstream end; and a control unit that is connected to the electric circuit, to the injection circuit, and to the actuator, and that is configured to vary the mass flow and/or the voltage and to regulate an axial position of the inner wall relative to the outer wall as a function of the mass flow and/or of the voltage to adapt a cross-section of the downstream end to maintain a plasma density at the downstream end.