TESTING OF LOWER POWER ELECTODELESS PLASMA THRUSTER
WITH RADIO FREQUENCY IONIZATION
OF WORKING MEDIUM
A.I. Tsaglov, A.V. Loyan, N.N. Koshelev, O.P. Rubalov
Features
of electodeless plasma thrusters development and results of engineering model
testing are presented in article. Results of temperature measuring, plume
parameters measuring and thrust measuring are described. Indicated that plume
parameters are depended from pressure level in vacuum chamber, efficiency of
thruster is depended from RF losses level and configuration of outer magnetic
field. The analysis of obtain results, conclusions and future plans of further
work are presented.
Key words: electrodeless
plasma thruster, engineering model, helicon discharge, double electric layer,
magnetic nozzle.