LOW-POWER MICROWAVE ELECTRON SOURCE FOR ION ENGINE NEUTRALIZER

Operation of an ion engine in space requires an electron source to mai ntain the spacecraft's electrical neutrality. To neutralize exhausted ions, a low-power, compact microwave electron source was developed. An 18-mm-diameter noncavity-type discharge chamber consisting of an L-sh aped antenna and a magnetic circuit was developed, and electron emissi on current of 100 mA was obtained at the power level of 10 W. maintain ing the mass flow rate of xenon at 0.5 sccm.