A study of plasma propulsion system with RF heating

Some experiments and computer simulations to develop a plasma propulsion sy stem by using electron and ion cyclotron resonance (EICR) plasma are report ed. The EICR thruster is an advanced space propulsion concept that has poss ible uses in satellite station keeping and interplanetary travel. An experi mental apparatus to generate EICR plasma was constructed in 1999. It consis ts of a cylindrical vacuum chamber (inner diameter of 21 cm and axial lengt h of 150 cm), RF power supply, and eight electromagnets. It is run at a pre ssure in the 10(-2) Pa range with Ar or He gas as propellant. This experime nt aims to generate plasma (without electrode) by ECR and to accelerate ion s (without grid) by ICR under a proper magnetic held configuration. We also plan to develop a compact ECR plasma source that uses hot electron ring fo r ion acceleration. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.