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Ion Energy Distributions from a Permanent-Magnet Helicon Thruster

Ion Energy Distributions from a Permanent-Magnet Helicon Thruster. Francis F. Chen, UCLA. Low Temperature Plasma Physics Webinar, January 17, 2014. The “New Stubby” helicon source. Note “skirt”. Antenna: 1 turn at 27 MHz, 3 turns at 13 MHz. Aluminum top plate.

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Ion Energy Distributions from a Permanent-Magnet Helicon Thruster

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  1. Ion Energy Distributions from a Permanent-Magnet Helicon Thruster Francis F. Chen, UCLA Low Temperature Plasma Physics Webinar, January 17, 2014

  2. The “New Stubby” helicon source Note “skirt” Antenna: 1 turn at 27 MHz, 3 turns at 13 MHz. Aluminum top plate

  3. The top plate reflects the backward wave

  4. The B-field is from a Neodymium magnet The magnet is 5” OD, 3” ID, and 1” thick. We use the almost uniform field below the stagnation point.

  5. The tube was designed with the HELIC code D. Arnush, Role of Trivelpiece-Gould Waves in Antenna Helicon Wave Coupling, Phys. Plasmas 7, 3042 (2000).

  6. Sample loading curves from HELIC R should be > 1W at operating density

  7. Operating point on “Low-field peak” UCLA

  8. Different magnet arrays were calculated

  9. Final design: single 3 x 5 x 1” magnet

  10. Setting the antenna at 60 G

  11. Discharge with the original magnet

  12. Downstream density vs B and Prf This shows that only 30 - 60 G is necessary.

  13. Only an off-the-shelf magnet is needed The magnet is 4” OD, 2” ID, and 1/2” thick The plasma potential is set by grounding the top plate.

  14. The experimental chamber

  15. Typical density profiles at Ports 1-3

  16. The SEMion ion energy analyzer by Impedans, Ltd., Ireland 4” diam x 1 cm thick

  17. The sensor height can be varied continuously When the sensor is too close to the discharge, it forms an endplate, and the discharge is double-ended. We know that the discharge is affected because the tuning is changed.

  18. Gridded and Hall ion thrusters

  19. A helicon thruster

  20. Double-layer thrusters A review of recent laboratory double layer experiments Christine Charles, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 16 (2007) R1–R25

  21. Cause and location of the “double layer” F.F. Chen, Phys. Plasmas 13, 034502 (2006) Maxwellian electrons Bohm sheath criterion A sheath must form here Single layer forms where r has increased 28%

  22. Ion energy distribution functions (IEDF) Expect about 5 the KTe of 1.5-2 eV

  23. Where a diffuse “double layer” would occur UCLA

  24. IEDFs vs distance from source close to tube further downstream There is no sign of a double layer jump. This is probably because the sensor changes the effective length of the discharge.

  25. IEDFs vs RF power

  26. Evidence of ion beam

  27. IEDFs vs. pressure

  28. Can we increase the ion drift speed? Yes! Applying +24V to top plate increases vi by ~16eV, while applying -24V reduces vi by ~6eV. The voltage is applied with a Pb-acid battery from an electric scooter.

  29. Effect of top plate bias

  30. Summary A small helicon discharge was developed using a permanent magnet for the B-field.  Ions are ejected with a drift velocity of about 5KTe, measured with a retarding- field energy analyzer.  The ion drift can be increased by biasing the top plate of the discharge relative to nearby grounded surfaces.  This device could be developed into a spacecraft thruster.

  31. Title

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