Mass spectral measurements in the plume of an SPT-100 Hall thruster

Citation
Lb. King et Ad. Gallimore, Mass spectral measurements in the plume of an SPT-100 Hall thruster, J PROPUL P, 16(6), 2000, pp. 1086-1092
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Aereospace Engineering
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PROPULSION AND POWER
ISSN journal
07484658 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
6
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1086 - 1092
Database
ISI
SICI code
0748-4658(200011/12)16:6<1086:MSMITP>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Knowledge of the ion species emitted by the SPT-100 Hall thruster provides considerable insight to basic thruster performance. To gain detailed inform ation concerning the composition of the plume plasma, a unique molecular be am mass spectrometer was constructed to interrogate the exhaust plume, An i nvestigation using this technique yielded both the ionization fraction of t he xenon propellant and a qualitative analysis of the minority plasma speci es attributed to ground-test facility interactions. The plasma was found to consist of 89% Xe+, 11% Xe2+, and 0.2% Xe3+. The existence of parasitic fa cility gasses including nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor was documented, a s well as trace carbon ions caused by sputtering of graphite surfaces in pr oximity of the thruster.